By shaban hedia
Off-grid renewable energy reached 11.1 GW globally by 2024, providing electricity to 86 million people and supporting sustainable development.
More than 666 million people worldwide still lack access to electricity, with the electricity-deprived population concentrated mainly in remote and low-income areas.
Due to their ease of deployment and cost efficiency, decentralised renewable energy (DRE) solutions are expected to play an increasingly important role in closing the electricity access gap in underserved communities.
Although off-grid renewable electricity generation remains largely unrecorded in many countries, it has been steadily expanding.
Each year, the International Renewable Energy Agency (IRENA) sheds light on key global trends through its annual Off-grid Renewable Energy Statistics report.
By the end of 2024, global off-grid renewable power capacity reached 11.1 gigawatts (GW), providing electricity access to approximately 86 million people.
Africa accounted for more than three-quarters of the total beneficiaries during the year, underscoring the continent’s leading role in off-grid renewable deployment.
More than two million off-grid renewable energy systems were supplying power to productive end-use sectors—including agriculture, healthcare, education, public lighting, tourism, and communications—excluding households.
However, most off-grid households had access to electricity for fewer than eight hours per day in 2024, primarily limited to basic lighting and the use of mobile phones and radios.
This highlights that many households still lack sufficient energy services to meaningfully improve their livelihoods.
Off-grid renewable energy holds significant potential to enhance livelihoods in rural and remote areas, while contributing directly to several Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).
By bringing electricity generation and distribution closer to end users, DRE solutions create local employment and stimulate economic activity (SDG 8: Decent Work and Economic Growth).
Off-grid solutions also improve access to clean water and sanitation (SDG 6). Reliable lighting and electricity enable students in remote areas to extend study hours, access digital learning tools, and improve education outcomes (SDG 4: Quality Education).
Furthermore, greater adoption of off-grid energy products supports women’s economic participation in the energy sector and makes electricity more affordable for female-headed households (SDG 5: Gender Equality).
Real-World Examples of DRE Supporting the SDGs
Decent Work and Economic Growth
In a coastal fishing community in Kwale County, Kenya, off-grid solar power provides reliable electricity for cold storage facilities.
This allows fishermen to preserve their catch during periods of rough seas, reduce dependence on an unreliable grid, secure fairer market prices, and sustain their incomes.
Gender Equality
In Bugesera, Rwanda’s Eastern Province, a group of women installed a solar-powered irrigation system after struggling with limited water access.
The project improved crop quality, boosted household incomes, and became a powerful example of how renewable energy can strengthen women’s livelihoods and benefit the wider community.
Clean Water and Sanitation
Following the installation of an off-grid, solar-powered water borehole, a school in Epworth, rural Zimbabwe, experienced transformative change.
Students who previously missed classes due to thirst and poor sanitation now attend school regularly.
The surrounding community also gained access to clean drinking water, while new income-generating activities, such as solar-powered mushroom farming, emerged.
Quality Education
In Hogave, Papua New Guinea, a mini-hydropower system has transformed community life. Shared facilities, including the local school, now have access to reliable electricity.
Teachers can charge and use digital devices as teaching tools, and students no longer have to study in the dark, benefiting from sustainable evening lighting.
Against this backdrop, Abu Dhabi Sustainability Week (ADSW) serves as a global platform for advancing sustainable development.
The week begins with the sixteenth session of the IRENA Assembly and brings together policymakers, industry leaders, innovators, and sustainability experts to share knowledge and accelerate implementation of practical solutions.
The World Future Energy Summit (WFES), now in its 18th edition, is the largest event within ADSW and acts as a key driver of innovation, collaboration, and thought leadership in renewable energy and sustainability.
As part of the week’s programme, IRENA will host and participate in several WFES events from 13 to 15 January at the Abu Dhabi National Exhibition Centre.
The flagship event, IRENA Innovation Day: Shaping a Competitive and Renewable-Powered Industry, taking place on 13 January, will convene policymakers and innovators to explore how emerging solutions can help build a competitive, decarbonised industrial sector.
Building on previous Innovation Days held in Uruguay, Thailand, Türkiye, Canada, and the UAE, the event follows discussions from IRENA Innovation Week 2025 and aims to inspire faster adoption of innovative renewable energy solutions worldwide.
