655 million people are deprived of electricity despite the expansion of renewable energy

Sub-Saharan Africa bears a disproportionate share of these gaps, with more than 560 million people living without electricity, and 970 million people lacking access to clean cooking.

While most regions are close to achieving universal energy access, progress in sub-Saharan Africa has slowed significantly, and the pace of electricity delivery must triple to achieve universal access by 2030, according to a new international energy progress report.

Getting energy is a health necessity

Dr. Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, Director-General of the World Health Organization, said that ensuring everyone’s access to clean and sustainable energy is not just an energy challenge, but a fundamental health necessity.

He added: “Domestic air pollution from cooking fuels is claiming millions of lives, causing chronic disease and disability, and damaging our environment. It also places a disproportionate burden on displaced people, as well as on women and girls who spend hours collecting fuel, exacerbating the inequalities experienced by the most vulnerable. In an unprecedented energy security crisis, shifting to clean cooking methods is vital to promoting health and gender equality, mitigating the effects of climate change, and reducing Costs borne by both families and governments.

Encouraging progress

Despite these challenges, the report highlighted encouraging progress in several areas of sustainable energy. Renewable energy has continued its strong expansion, representing more than 30% of global electricity consumption, and the global capacity for renewable energy generation has reached a record level of 544 watts per capita (enough to power a refrigerator).

International public financial flows supporting clean energy in developing countries also increased slightly, reaching $24.6 billion, and improvements in global energy efficiency continued to reach 3.76 megajoules per dollar, but this rate is still insufficient to achieve the goals. Seventh goal from Sustainable development goals.

However, the report warns that without urgent and widespread action, the world will fall short of achieving Sustainable Development Goal 7, which aims to ensure everyone has access to affordable, reliable, sustainable and modern energy by 2030.

Also, as the current global energy crisis continues, its effects on energy markets and the broader economy are expected to be significant and tangible.

In this context, accelerating the deployment of domestic renewable energy projects is increasingly seen as key to enhancing energy security and affordability, as well as supporting long-term climate and development goals.

Cost effective solutions

Decentralized renewable energy solutions, including off-grid and mini-grid solar systems, are cost-effective solutions for providing electricity and are already serving hundreds of millions of people. Electric cooking, bioethanol and biogas are also becoming increasingly popular as scalable, renewable cooking solutions, diversifying clean cooking pathways.

Affordability remains a major barrier to expanding access to electricity. Even in places where infrastructure is available, many families cannot afford connection fees, electrical installation costs, or basic energy services.

As countries strive to reach the remaining unconnected populations, targeted subsidies, innovative financing mechanisms and lower-cost electrification solutions will be essential to ensure that no one is left behind.

Financing constraints also hamper progress, as funding levels are either insufficient to achieve the goals of Goal 7 of the Sustainable Development Goals or are declining in the poorest countries. International financial flows supporting clean energy to least developed countries have decreased significantly, reaching $3.7 billion in 2024, a decrease of 11% compared to 2023.

Withstand turmoil

Francesco La Camera, Director-General of the International Renewable Energy Agency, said that recent global energy shocks have made one thing clear: that countries with strong renewable energy capabilities are best able to withstand economic and supply disruptions.

He stressed that it has become necessary for the process of accelerating the deployment of cost-competitive local renewable energy sources to be at the forefront of efforts aimed at enhancing energy security and economic flexibility, in conjunction with the pursuit of achieving the seventh goal of the sustainable development goals.

To this end, Francesco La Camera said that the international community must prioritize providing affordable financial support tailored to meet needs, especially to the least developed countries that face the greatest obstacles in this regard.

---

About the report

This report is issued by the sponsoring agencies of Sustainable Development Goal 7: the International Energy Agency, the International Renewable Energy Agency, the Statistics Division of the United Nations Department of Economic and Social Affairs, the World Bank, and the World Health Organization.

The report aims to provide the international community with a global dashboard to monitor progress made in the areas of energy access, energy efficiency, renewable energy, and international cooperation to advance progress towards achieving the seventh goal of the Sustainable Development Goals.