Ecosystem and markets
Any initiative in the energy access space needs to take due account of the local environment and address real needs to deliver social impact. Implementers need to develop a thorough understanding of the needs, preferences and wishes of the local communities and leverage existing infrastructure, entrepreneurs and solutions in order to not distort - but rather catalyze - local markets.
EAP member projects have demonstrated a particularly good understanding of local context and community needs and have implemented solutions and interventions that have delivered impact while leveraging existing structures and local skills. These projects have contributed to local skill development and excelled at integrating local content, including services, workers and/or local suppliers. The EAP also exchanges knowledge aimed at fostering national ecosystem reform to scale-up solutions, as well as examines methods and tools that can help better understand local needs.
Additional resources:
- The Hystra report 'Reaching Scale in Access to Energy':
- Lighting Global & GOGLA: and
- International Energy Agency and World Energy Outlook:
- Sun Connect:
How we make a difference
In Nigeria, 120 million people are either not connected to the grid or receive less than four hours of power a day. To help close this energy access gap, All On Partnerships for Energy Access was established by Shell in 2016 as an independent Nigerian company limited by guarantee, which is Nigeria's equivalent of charitable status.
The purpose of the Total Access to Energy program is to achieve social, environmental and economic gains. Since the launch of the program in 2010, Total has been able to demonstrate a strategy that leverages local structures. Social gains are evident not only through the number of users of its solar lamps. Resellers also benefit, both through the training they receive and the revenue generated by the lamps sold. Moreover, the promotional campaigns raise awareness about the potential and availability of solar products.
Expansion of LPG access at scale is very sensitive to the policy, regulatory and legal environment established and enforced by national government and its institutions. Government is therefore a vital, overt stakeholder regarding LPG ecosystem development. Government capacity and / or knowledge in countries with very low levels of LPG access must address barriers to LPG expansion at scale. This may require outside help, such as the provision of information about best practice and how to adapt those practices to local conditions.
The Healthy Homes project supported by OMV New Zealand since 2010, aims to support low income families by providing insulation, water proofing and energy solutions to more than 200 homes in the Taranaki District in New Zealand. The project has also supported the creation of local jobs and helped the vulnerable people from the surrounding community and has been awarded with "Excellence in Community Partnership and Engagement" at the New Zealand Petroleum Conference.