Could you imagine not being able to charge your phone or turn on the TV in the morning to watch the news? Well, some people just don't have a choice and have been facing this problem on a daily basis.
More than 568 million people across sub-Saharan Africa don't have access to electricity. That number represents three-quarters of the world’s population that has no access to electric power. Does this number seem unreal to you?
Namely, a large number of people in Africa cannot cover the initial costs when it comes to connecting to the power grid. Many conventional grids powered by polluting fossil fuels tend to prioritize more privileged neighborhoods in urban areas as opposed to less fortunate rural areas.
The electricity shortage has an impact in so many different ways: it has repercussions on how communities can access information, on their capacity to provide cooked food that is healthy and disease-free, on their ability to provide access to education, health services, and hospital facilities, as well as on access to legal services and other services, with a variety of implications for a person's future.
Data shows that the average electrification rate in Africa is 48.4 percent, and in eight of the continent's nations, it is less than 20 percent. Recent data indicate a reversal of gains made during the COVID-19 pandemic despite an upward trend in access to electricity after 2013; it is estimated that as a result of the pandemic, 15 million sub-Saharan Africans who had just received basic electrical access lost the ability to pay for it. By 2030, 670 million people would still lack access to electricity, with 90% of them presumably living in sub-Saharan Africa unless electrification efforts are greatly increased.
One of the quickest and most economical methods to enable development advantages for the world's poorest people is through access to electricity. By providing reliable and affordable electricity, solar off-grid solutions can deeply improve people’s lives. But currently, these solutions are not being deployed at the scale and pace needed to bridge the energy access gap where it is most needed.
Off-grid street lights serve as connection hubs, giving individuals a convenient place to recharge their phones or small appliances. The solar street lights and public lighting have also boosted safety and security in the larger community at night.