Today, at the Sustainable Energy for All Global Summit, GOGLA, the global association for the off-grid solar energy industry, launched three key resources to better evaluate and enhance off-grid solar technologies’ contribution to climate resilience and adaptation:
- Off-Grid Solar Resilience and Adaptation Framework (beta version),
Developed with the support of the IKEA Foundation, in partnership with Efficiency for Access and Practical Action, these resources can be used by companies, climate funds, governments, and development organisations to design and implement off-grid solar business models, investments and programmes to improve resilience and adaptation.
Off-grid solar energy is a beacon of hope for the world's most climate-vulnerable communities. By providing essential solutions, climate-resilient livelihoods, and critical information systems, we can empower these communities to withstand and adapt to climate challenges. The resources launched today will play a pivotal role in demonstrating the impact of off-grid solar in building a sustainable economy that leaves no one behind.Jolanda van Ginkel, Head of Portfolio, IKEA Foundation
Today, 685 million people are still living without electricity to power their homes, farms and businesses. They are among the most climate-vulnerable, yet have contributed the least to climate change. Off-grid solar is a powerful enabler of resilience and adaptation across four key areas:
Energy access via off-grid solar should be prioritised in adaptation planning and financing to enhance the climate resilience of the world’s poorest communities, and ensure no one is left behind in the clean energy transition.
Solar-powered appliances and technologies can help vulnerable communities in low to middle income countries to sustain their livelihoods and improve quality of life amid climate change. This report strengthens the evidence base on how off-grid solar solutions can enhance climate resilience, and the investments needed to scale their impact.Jakub Vrba, Senior Research Lead, Energy Saving Trust, co-secretariat, Efficiency for Access
- Critical infrastructure and services: off-grid solar is the least-cost way to provide first-time electricity access to 400 million people by 2030, most of them living in countries highly vulnerable to climate change.
- Climate-resilient livelihoods: sales of off-grid solutions by GOGLA-affiliated companies have helped customers to generate over USD 9 billion in additional income since 2010, by providing power for local businesses, mobile charging stations and agricultural activities.
- Climate information and early warning systems: based on data from GOGLA affiliates, it is estimated that at least 4.5 million off-grid solar products have been sold in displacement settings since 2016.
- Post-disaster response and recovery: in a study in Bangladesh, 95% of SHS customers reported that their access to information through a mobile phone, TV or radio had improved by owning a system; for 92%, watching TV or listening to the radio had made them more informed about climate-related hazards including tornadoes and cyclones.
People still living without energy access today are also the most climate vulnerable. They are suffering drought, floods and other climate disasters without energy to power information systems, water their crops and light their homes and businesses. For almost half of them, off-grid solar is the quickest and most affordable way to access energy and become more resilient. The resources we’re launching today will help governments and other stakeholders make the case for off-grid solar’s impact and reach those who need it most.Patrick Tonui, Head of Policy and Regional Strategy, GOGLA
With this report and its accompanying resources we urge greater recognition by climate funds, governments and other influential stakeholders of the role that off-grid solar solutions can play in enhancing climate resilience and adaptation for the hundreds of million people still without electricity, most of whom are highly vulnerable to climate hazards. For Practical Action, it is a pivotal step toward being more intentional in ensuring that off grid solar not only provides communities with energy access but also equips them with the resilience to thrive in a changing climate.Mattia Vianello, Head of Energy at Practical Action
GOGLA is the global association for the off-grid solar energy industry, representing over 200 members working to transform lives through clean, affordable, and high-quality solar products and services.
More than 560 million climate-vulnerable people already benefit from off-grid solar to power their homes, farms, enterprises and public infrastructure. With the right support, our industry is poised to scale rapidly, aiming to improve the lives of 1 billion people by 2030.
GOGLA drives this progress by serving as a central hub for the sector, offering vital market data, advocating for supportive policies and increased investment, and providing value-added services to our members.
Learn more at gogla.org.
The IKEA Foundation is a strategic philanthropy that focuses its grant-making efforts on tackling the two biggest threats to children’s futures: poverty and climate change. It currently grants more than €200 million per year to help improve family incomes and quality of life while protecting the planet from climate change.
Since 2009, the IKEA Foundation has granted more than €1.8 billion to create a better future for children and their families. In 2021 the Board of the IKEA Foundation decided to make an additional €1 billion available over the next five years to accelerate the reduction of greenhouse gas emissions.
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