Clean Energy Mini-Grids recognised in G20 Energy Access Action Plan
Brussels, 5 October 2015 – The Energy Access Action Plan delivered by the Sustainable Energy for All Initiative (SEforAll) to the G20 Energy Sustainability Working Group was adopted on October 2 in Istanbul at the G20 Energy Ministers meeting. In particular, it lends its support to collaborative efforts such as those of the SEforAll Clean Energy Mini-Grids High Impact Opportunity (HIO) including the Africa-focused Green Mini-Grid Market Development Program.
Brussels, 5 October 2015 – The Energy Access Action Plan delivered by the Sustainable Energy for All Initiative (SEforAll) to the G20 Energy Sustainability Working Group was adopted on October 2 in Istanbul at the G20 Energy Ministers meeting. In particular, it lends its support to collaborative efforts such as those of the SE4All Clean Energy Mini-Grids High Impact Opportunity (HIO) including the Africa-focused Green Mini-Grid Market Development Program.
The HIO welcomes the G20’s vision and leadership role to support collaborative efforts to ensure increased access to clean energy. The endorsement of the plan comes in a timely fashion with last week’s adoption by world leaders of the 17 new global Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) to end poverty and hunger by 2030. With goal seven to “ensure access to affordable, reliable, sustainable and modern energy for all”, clean energy is finally being recognised as a key enabler for sustainable development.
Tripta Singh, UNF (HIO Secretariat): “We welcome the G20 Energy Access Action Plan supporting the Sustainable Energy for All High Impact Opportunity on Clean Energy Mini-grids. Decentralised and mini-grid energy solutions have an important role to play in ensuring universal access to energy. This endorsement by G20 will help build the momentum to move the decentralised renewable energy sector forward.”
Marcus Wiemann, ARE (HIO Secretariat): “It is encouraging to see universal access to clean energy becoming an even higher global priority for sustainable development. To continue supporting clean energy mini-grids, ARE is committed to working through the HIO for Clean Energy Mini-Grids, to enable access to finance and support de-risking mechanisms. We are confident these tools will raise further interest amongst involved parties.”
Dean Cooper, UNEP (current Chair of the HIO Steering Committee): "This endorsement from the G20 reflects their understanding of the growing need for practical action to ensure increased access to clean energy. The HIO for Clean Energy Mini-Grids is bringing key players like UNEP together with financiers, policy makers and technology providers to deliver sustainable benefits to local people, and shows how SEforAll can add real value."
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For further information or request images please contact:
Ling Ng
Alliance for Rural Electrification
Communications and Marketing Officer
+32 2 709 55 42
l.ng@ruralelec.org
Note to the editor
The Clean Energy Mini-Grids High Impact Opportunity (HIO) was launched during the 1st annual SEforAll Forum in New York in June 2014. The Clean Energy Mini-Grids HIO is an international framework that strives to multiply the impact of existing and upcoming efforts in the area of clean energy mini-grids. With a current membership of 145, and under the leadership of a coordinating committee, this HIO focuses on supporting the establishment of an enabling ecosystem for accelerated investment, deployment and replication of clean energy mini-grids grids towards the target of 40% access via mini-grids by 2030.
The Alliance for Rural Electrification (ARE) is an international business association representing the decentralised energy sector working towards the integration of renewables into rural electrification markets in developing and emerging countries. We enable improved energy access through business development support for more than 90 members along the whole value chain for off-grid technologies.