Newdigit’s Just Add Water is a modular Regenerative PEM fuel cell solution that uses grey water and the power of the sun to produce oxygen and electricity.

Lagos, Nigeria.  September 11, 2025

Newdigit, a Lagos-based clean energy company, is improving healthcare in Nigeria by providing hospitals with reliable electricity and medical-grade oxygen through a modular system. Supported by the Powering Healthcare Innovation Fund, its Just Add Water technology combines solar power and Proton Exchange Membrane (PEM) fuel cell technology to generate electricity, oxygen, and clean water for health facilities. Beyond healthcare, Newdigit’s innovation also supports agriculture and other small- to industrial-scale uses. 

“Many hospitals in Nigeria rely on unstable electricity from the grid, with 8-10 hours of power cuts every day, so they use polluting diesel generators for backup”, says Derick Nwasor, co-founder and CEO of Newdigit. “With Just Add Water, hospitals can power essential equipment, produce life-saving oxygen onsite and even recover clean water, leading to improved healthcare services.”

Turning sunlight and water into reliable energy for hospitals

The system combines a PEM electrolyzer that splits water to produce hydrogen and oxygen, a PEM fuel cell that converts hydrogen into reliable electricity, and a solar-powered array that runs the entire process using renewable energy. Together, these components provide hospitals with 12–15 kW of continuous clean power, 10–40 litres per day of medical-grade oxygen, and clean water as a by-product. Its plug-and-play design allows for fast installation and easy scaling.

Newdigit’s Just Add Water systems are being installed in three hospitals across Lagos, Nigeria, serving more than 24,000 patients each year. By reducing dependence on unreliable grids and costly diesel generators, the systems will generate around 274 MWh of clean electricity in their first year and avoid over 150 tonnes of CO₂ emissions annually. To ensure sustainability and local ownership, Newdigit is training hospital staff and local technicians to operate and maintain the systems—building capacity to keep facilities powered and self-reliant.

“We have started now in Lagos, but our goal by 2030 is to reach at least 1,000 hospitals across Nigeria”, says Joy Princess, and COO of Newdigit. “We aim to improve the lives of millions of patients, every single year”

Powering Healthcare Innovation Fund

This project is part of the first cohort of the Powering Healthcare Innovation Fund, launched by Sustainable Energy for All (SEforALL) in 2024 with support from UK aid through the Transforming Energy Access (TEA) initiative. The fund backs innovative approaches to healthcare electrification.

Out of 84 applicants, Newdigit Technologies was one of three grantees, receiving a USD 50,000 grant to implement its clean energy and oxygen generation system. Implementation began in September 2024 and is set to conclude this month.

 “Newdigit’s approach demonstrates the power of combining renewable energy and innovation to tackle multiple challenges in healthcare. This project shows how clean technologies can simultaneously provide reliable electricity, oxygen and water – which could be revolutionary in creating resilient health systems across Africa”, says Charlie Knight, Senior Energy Officer at SEforALL, who manages the Innovation Fund.

Sustainable Energy for All is proud to announce that it is joining the Africa Energy Efficiency Alliance (AEEA), further integrating AEEA into the Mission Efficiency global ecosystem. This collaboration was formally announced at the Africa Climate Summit 2 on 9th September 2025, marking an important milestone in efforts to double energy efficiency progress, aligned with the COP28 Renewables and Energy Efficiency Pledge.

“Joining the Africa Energy Efficiency Alliance is an opportunity to work hand in hand with the African Union to scale energy efficiency solutions that power growth and resilience across the continent.” - Elizabeth Wangeci Chege, SEforALL

AEEA was launched at COP29 by the African Energy Commission (AFREC), serving as the regional platform to advance energy efficiency programs in Africa. Africa’s energy demand is projected to double by 2040, and energy efficiency represents not just a climate solution but a foundation of resilient and green development that can maximize available generation capacity, reduce grid strain, lower energy costs, and accelerate universal electricity access. 

The launch builds on the Africa Energy Efficiency Strategy and Action Plan (AfEES), which targets a 50% increase in energy productivity by 2050 and 70% by 2063. By harmonizing policies, supporting national strategies, and transforming markets for efficient appliances and equipment alone, Africa could save up to 175 TWh of electricity by 2040—the equivalent of avoiding more than 80 new 500 MW power plants—while delivering over USD 175 billion in benefits to African consumers by 2030.

“AFREC is excited to welcome Sustainable Energy for All, to the African Energy Efficiency Alliance.SEforALL, has extensive experience in building strong partnerships, and will significantly contribute to the Alliance’s mission of positioning energy efficiency at the forefront of Africa’s energy development.” - Yagouba Traore, AFREC

Through this collaboration, SEforALL will operationalize the Elevate. Support. Invest. approach of Mission Efficiency, while positioning the region as an energy efficiency champion that demonstrates how African solutions can shape and accelerate a just and equitable energy transition worldwide.

Africa holds enormous potential, but also faces challenges that make action on energy efficiency urgent. In some countries, it takes more than 10 megajoules of energy to produce just one US dollar of GDP—over three times the level in Latin America and the Caribbean. At the same time, millions of people still lack access to electricity and clean cooking. This means Africa must maximize the value of every unit of energy to drive inclusive growth. The picture across the Africa Union is diverse: Central Africa uses relatively little total energy, yet it remains highly energy intensive – meaning it takes a lot of energy to generate each unit of economic output. In contrast, Northern Africa has the highest overall energy supply of the continent, but its energy intensity is still above the global average in 2022. These contrasts show why regional approaches matter and why sharing solutions across borders can help turn energy efficiency into a real driver of jobs, opportunity, and resilience.

Each year, the UN General Assembly (UNGA) provides a platform to engage world leaders whose commitments are key to advancing clean energy transitions. Alongside Climate Week NYC, it enables governments, businesses and civil society to accelerate universal energy access and scale solutions for a just, equitable transition.

At UNGA80, SEforALL emphasized expanding energy access, innovating in financing and delivery, establishing linkages with industrialization and ensuring equity in the energy transition. Led by the CEO and UN Secretary-General’s Special Representative for Sustainable Energy for All, our delegation joined partners to advance Mission 300, highlight progress on Energy Compacts and promote solutions to expand energy access and clean cooking to achieve SDG7 targets.

Below is a summary of our key activities at UNGA80 and Climate Week NYC 2025.

SEforALL Lights Up Times Square with the EmPower Campaign Launch

At UNGA80, SEforALL launched EmPower, a global campaign to shift the narrative around clean energy as the catalyst for economic transformation and the foundation for a future-ready generation. The launch featured a high-energy livestream from New York, streamed across multiple platforms, combining youth voices, global business leaders and policymakers in an interactive broadcast.

Through EmPower, SEforALL is reframing the energy story from problem to opportunity, from distant future to solutions already here, and from fragmented voices to collective action. The campaign will run through 2030, creating a platform to mobilize resources, reframe the energy story and ignite global action.

The launch was amplified by a month-long digital billboard in Times Square, symbolizing both the urgency and global reach of the campaign. At UNGA80, leaders emphasized business innovation, green industrialization and opportunities for Africa’s energy transition—setting the stage for how EmPower will drive awareness and engagement worldwide.

Southeast Asia is at a pivotal point in its energy transition. Rapid economic growth and rising energy demand mean the region’s choices will shape global climate outcomes. While each country faces distinct challenges, their energy systems are closely linked—making a coordinated regional approach essential to ensure a secure, affordable, and sustainable future.

From 28 to 31 July 2025, Sustainable Energy for All (SEforALL), in collaboration with the ASEAN Centre for Energy and with support from the ASEAN-UK Green Transition Fund, hosted the ASEAN Regional Capacity Building Workshop on Energy Transition and Investment Planning in Bangkok, Thailand. The event brought together 30 participants from 7 ASEAN Member States — Indonesia, Lao PDR, Malaysia, Myanmar, the Philippines, Thailand, and Viet Nam — as well as Timor-Leste, alongside 8 development agencies, to strengthen capacity in energy transition modelling, scenario planning, and investment pathway formulation.

A Regional Approach to Clean Energy Planning

This inaugural workshop forms part of the ASEAN Energy Transition and Investment for Green Value Chains initiative, designed to support the creation of an integrated ASEAN Energy Transition and Investment Roadmap, that SEforALL is helping to develop. The roadmap will play a pivotal role in delivering the upcoming ASEAN Plan of Action for Energy Cooperation 2026–2030, advancing the ASEAN Carbon Neutrality Strategy, and informing the ASEAN Energy Outlook 9.

“A comprehensive planning approach with robust tools, skills, and institutions is critical for the ASEAN region to mobilize clean energy investments to achieve common goals for development and climate.”– Alvin Jose, Head of Energy Transition and Energy Efficiency, SEforALL

Hands-On Learning with Practical Tools

Over the course of four days, participants gained hands-on experience with SEforALL Energy Systems Model (SEM), applying national contexts of the energy sector to explore tailored energy transition pathways. Guided by case studies, they learned how to set up key variables in SEM and interpret results for decision-making.

Highlights of the workshop included technical deep dives into power, transport, industry, buildings, and agriculture, alongside introductions to complementary tools such as energy access planning platforms, energy demand forecasting models, carbon sequestration models, and multi-criteria analysis frameworks, equipping participants with a well-rounded toolkit for integrated energy transition planning.

"The workshop was very insightful and informative. We gained a new perspective on energy transition and learned to view it in a more holistic way. It also provided valuable insights into possible policy recommendations for the Philippines. Grateful to SEforALL for its efforts in advancing net-zero and for organizing this meaningful workshop."— Charlene Gem Farro, Department of Energy, Philippines
 

South-South Exchange and Collaboration

Collaboration was a defining feature of the workshop. Country presentations revealed national priorities, modelling capabilities, and ongoing policy initiatives, enabling participants to identify both common challenges and opportunities for coordinated action. 

Development partners, including UNEP, UNESCAP, UNIDO, UNOPS and the Asian Development Bank shared their work in the region, helping participants connect modelling outcomes to real-world implementation.

"The workshop in Bangkok has been such a great learning experience. We spent four full days digging into energy modelling and planning tools, and honestly, it’s made the energy transition feel a lot more real and doable. Everyone was open to share, ask questions, and work together. Super grateful to be part of this journey." — Dr. Fitria Astuti Firman, Energy and Mineral Resources and the National Energy Council, Indonesia

Key Outcomes

A key outcome of the workshop was the validation of country-specific datasets and assumptions that will underpin the ASEAN Energy Transition and Investment Roadmap (ETIR). In addition, the workshop introduced the ASEAN ETIR modelling framework and methodology to the participants from ASEAN member states for their review and comments.

Through individual country consultations, participants refined inputs to ensure the roadmap reflects both regional consistency and national contexts. These contributions were essential as the regional roadmap cannot be actionable without reflecting the realities and perspectives of each Member State. 

Having countries directly shape the inputs strengthens alignment with domestic and regional policies to guide and attract investments to achieve ASEAN’s carbon neutrality goals. The workshop concluded with agreement on next steps to establish a process for validating country outputs and regional scenario development.

Looking Ahead

This workshop was just the beginning. Building on the momentum from Bangkok, the programme will focus on transforming the data, insights, and collaboration established here into a reliable, actionable Energy Transition and Investment Roadmap for ASEAN.

Once in place, this roadmap will serve as a powerful tool for unlocking investment opportunities and delivering on climate commitments while safeguarding energy security and supporting sustainable economic growth.

SEforALL extends its gratitude to all participants for their commitment and contributions. Together, we are turning shared ambition into concrete action, laying the groundwork for a sustainable and secure energy future for Southeast Asia.

Council for Critical Minerals Development in the Global South - One Year On

In a year defined by accelerating clean energy ambitions and growing geopolitical competition for resources, a transformative initiative has been taking shape across the Global South. The Council for Critical Minerals Development in the Global South—launched in mid-2024 by Sustainable Energy for All, Global South Centre for Clean Transportation, UC Davis, and Swaniti Global—was born from a simple but urgent premise: the developing countries, whether resource-rich or dependent, must have a more defining voice and role in global supply chains for energy transition technologies to ensure a just energy transition. In its first year, the Council has deepened engagements with governments, produced strategic research, convened over a dozen closed-door and public forums, and built action-oriented coalitions across continents. Together, they are reshaping how the Global South navigates its mineral future aligned with principles of equity and justice as emphasized by the United Nations Secretary General Panel on Critical Energy Transition Minerals.

Over the past year, the Council has emerged as a strategic platform to facilitate collaboration and exchange between countries worldwide—not just on sustainable extraction but also local beneficiation, manufacturing, trade, and equitable community benefits sharing. Countries are increasingly viewing the energy transition as a generational opportunity to build domestic industry, create jobs, and advance industrialization goals.

The Council’s first convening in July 2024 opened with a critical question: How can mineral development deliver long-term benefits for local communities? Experts from India, Brazil, and South Africa explored models for Community Benefit Agreements (CBAs). The roundtable highlighted the need for social infrastructure investment, going beyond compensation, and mitigation of long-term socioeconomic dependency on mining. Participants underscored that local communities must be partners in development—not passive recipients—to ensure the success and equitable development of these projects.

Momentum continued in September 2024, when the Council co-hosted a roundtable in Indonesia with the KADIN Net Zero Hub, focused on strengthening ASEAN green value chains for energy transition technologies. Discussions centered on how industrial clusters and Special Economic Zones could serve as platforms for building regional value chains and facilitating intra-ASEAN trade—from mineral extraction and processing to end-use products like batteries and electric vehicles. The discussions served as the basis for a deeper engagement beginning January 2025 on developing an ASEAN critical minerals demand-supply assessment analysis in support of key regional frameworks, including the ASEAN Carbon Neutrality Strategy, and the under development ASEAN Minerals Development Vision. 

Later that month, the Council hosted a high-level roundtable at the UN General Assembly 2024 with the Africa Program of the Carnegie Endowment for International Peace. The session convened Ministers from Nigeria, Ghana, and Malawi, alongside heads of financing institutions, UN agencies, and development partners. The roundtable identified gaps in data, tools, capacities, and policy frameworks that currently limit critical minerals development in the Global South and potential solutions. The discussion anticipated recommendations from the UN Secretary-General’s Panel on Critical Energy Transition Minerals. Alongside the high-level roundtable, the Council engaged with the Africa Minerals Strategy Group - an intergovernmental organization representing 16 African countries with the goal of promoting exploration, extraction, production, local beneficiation and commercialization to ensure a sustainable, transparent and secure supply of critical minerals.

The Council strengthened its south-south engagement activities hosting a public webinar Mineral Edge to Economic Boost in October 2024. Speakers from India, Brazil, and South Africa highlighted that while many critical minerals are found in the Global South, the majority of processing, manufacturing, and market power remains concentrated in the Global North. Discussants emphasized that without industrial policy, South–South cooperation, and strategic investment, mineral-rich countries risk remaining locked into low-value extraction. It explored specific areas of collaborations where action is needed to address pertaining barriers and what lessons are emerging from the Global South countries.

At COP29 in November 2024, the Council supported a private roundtable convened by Swaniti Global and the India Climate Collaborative. The focus was on cooperation between Brazil, India, and South Africa to develop local mineral value chains and implementation of ESG standards. Participants discussed how Global South countries can balance resource extraction with social equity and regional economic goals as they face similar constraints in investment, capacity, and trade.

In February 2025, the Council hosted two panels at Mining Indaba in South Africa, marking a milestone in engagement in key African policy forums. The first panel focused on how governments can enable mineral value chain development and the importance of south-south collaboration, featuring high-level decision makers from the Ministry of Solid Minerals Development, Nigeria and the Ministry of Mines, India. The second addressed what it would take to scale midstream and downstream investment, including insights from multilateral development banks, private equity, and industry leaders.

At Mining Indaba, the Council also shared an update with the Nigerian Minister for Solid Minerals Development on the national critical minerals demand-supply assessment being undertaken by the Council, which will highlight opportunities for Nigeria in the value chains of energy transition technologies such as batteries.

Building on its country-level data and analytics, the Council completed its minerals demand-supply assessment analysis for India, led by the UC Davis’s India ZEV Research Centre, with a deep-dive on lithium. Coming in the backdrop of the recently launched National Critical Minerals Mission, the study provides strategic inputs to the government on securing minerals supply chains and the role of south-south cooperation in advancing local value. In May 2025, the Council and the Indian Ministry of Mines hosted a closed-door roundtable in New Delhi focused on “Securing India’s Clean Energy Supply Chains: Upstream Lithium Sourcing Strategies for India”.

The session outlined a structured approach for India to build supply resilience through asset acquisition, strategic international cooperation, and the expansion of domestic recycling. Officials from India’s Ministry of Mines, National Security Council Secretariat, and NITI Aayog joined representatives from Australia, Argentina, the Netherlands, and the United States.

At the heart of the Council’s work is a commitment to evidence-based decision-making. Over the past year, it has produced a growing body of analysis to inform policy and guide implementation. A forthcoming report, led by Swaniti Global on behalf of the Council, examines how Community Development Agreements can serve as vehicles for domestic investments in infrastructure, jobs, and governance. A comparative brief Transition Minerals in South Africa, Brazil, and India: A Brief on Current Value Chains and Strategic Priorities analyzes the current state of critical mineral value chains in South Africa, Brazil, and India, identifying national strategies, gaps, and opportunities for collaboration among Global South countries. These insights are further consolidated in the Council’s Roadmap for South–South Collaboration, which outlines five priority areas for joint action: investment platforms, workforce development, regional R&D, interoperable ESG standards, and coordinated trade policy. Together, these publications form a strategic foundation already in-use by stakeholders that are exploring regional partnerships and cross-border initiatives.

As the world accelerates toward net-zero, demand for key energy transition minerals is set to skyrocket—lithium by nearly 12×, with strong growth projected for cobalt, graphite, nickel, and rare earth elements. This projected surge, based on the IEA's net-zero scenario, underscores the urgent need for investment in mineral value chains. For mineral-rich Global South countries, this is not just a supply challenge—it is an opportunity to lead across these value chains via sustainable, locally anchored development.

Governments and industry in the U.S., EU, and China are realizing national strategies to secure supply access. If Global South producers are to shape global markets, coordination is no longer optional—it’s essential. Africa alone holds over 30% of the world’s critical mineral reserves, including 70% of global cobalt and 85% of manganese; yet, the continent holds just a fraction of processing capacity.^[1]

In that landscape, the Council’s model stands out. It not only brings stakeholders together—it helps build the tools, data, and analyses needed to chart a new path. One year in, the Council is proving that critical minerals can power not just the clean energy transition, but a fairer global economy.

One year in, the Council is already demonstrating that the Global South can lead not only in supplying minerals—but in defining how they are produced, by whom, and to what end.

You can learn more about the Council for Critical Minerals Development in the Global South here.
You can access the publications here.

^[1] Atlantic Council, From greenfield projects to green supply chains: Critical minerals in Africa as an investment      challenge, 2024.

Dar es Salaam, Tanzania – 22 July 2025 – Sustainable Energy for All (SEforALL), the World Food Programme (WFP), in partnership with the Government of Tanzania, with support from UKAid - Modern Energy Cooking Services (MECS)launched the Kibasila eCooking Model Kitchen. The pilot school, Kibasila Primary School, has been successfully equipped and refurbished with modern cooking systems, laying the groundwork for scale-up across other schools in Tanzania. 

The unveiling of the Kibasila eCooking Model Kitchen marked the inauguration of the Accelerating Clean Cooking Transition in Schools in Tanzania initiative, a bold step forward in tackling the health, gender and environmental impacts of traditional cooking methods often used in school meal programs.

Kibasila Primary School is the first to be fully equipped and refurbished with modern electric cooking infrastructure under the partnership initiative, piloting in Tanzania. It sets the precedent for the roll-out of clean cooking technology in up to 50 government schools across Tanzania in 2025.

The newly equipped kitchen features a set of electric pressure cookers (EPCs) - including one 45-litre EPC, two 65-litre EPCs, and one 80-litre EPC - allowing for faster, cleaner, and more energy-efficient meal preparation. The retrofit also included comprehensive infrastructure upgrades such as the installation of a new electricity meter with proper grounding, complete re-wiring to support high-efficiency appliances, a water connection, and significant enhancements to hygiene and safety. The cooking space now features tiled floors and walls, two countertops, two sinks, new lighting, and four ceiling fans to ensure a comfortable working environment. The adjacent storage room was also refurbished to allow for both cooling and safe food storage.

Schools, due to the high volume of meals prepared daily, are among the largest consumers of biomass energy – second only to households. Over 400 million children around the world currently receive at least one meal a day at school. In sub-Saharan Africa, many of these meals are prepared using biomass stoves, which can place additional responsibilities on families and children, such as collecting firewood , and create an economic burden.

Transitioning to clean cooking in schools promises to deliver far-reaching health, environmental, and educational benefits. It reduces indoor air pollution, lowers greenhouse gas emissions, and strengthens school infrastructure, while also improving the health and working conditions of cooks and enabling more consistent, efficient meal delivery for students.

The successful launch of the Kibasila eCooking Model Kitchen represents a pivotal milestone in the clean cooking transition in schools, and the broader movement to ensure that every child is provided a meal that is cooked safely and reliably. As the initiative moves forward, it will not only support national policy goals on energy, climate, health, and education but also position Tanzania as a champion of clean cooking.

Quotes

“Transitioning to clean cooking requires a transformation. It begins with a change in mindset. Today at Kibasila, we are setting the springboard, where now we can jump to reach Tanzania’s national goal of 80% access by 203. We are therefore happy to collaborate with you (Sustainable Energy for All and the World Food Programme) on accelerating the clean cooking transition in schools.”

— Prof. Peter Lawrence Msoffe, Deputy Permanent Secretary, Vice President’s Office (Environment), the United Republic of Tanzania

“The UK is proud to support Tanzania’s clean cooking ambitions through our Modern Energy Cooking Services programme. Schools like Kibasila are leading the way, showing that clean, affordable, and sustainable energy is not only possible, but essential for every community.

This initiative will help transform schools into hubs of energy transition, shaping mindsets, empowering youth, and protecting both people’s health and Tanzania’s forests.

We thank Sustainable Energy for All and the World Food Programme for their innovation and drive, as well as the Government of Tanzania, school communities, and all supporting organisations and partners working alongside us on this shared journey.”

— Marianne Young, British High Commissioner to Tanzania

“This is a showcase of the power of partnerships, demonstrating how electrification and clean cooking can work hand in hand using homegrown electricity to create pathways that simultaneously address energy, health, and gender equality goals. The joint initiative also delivers significant environmental benefits by protecting forests, reducing CO₂ emissions, and eliminating harmful black carbon.

Championing a future-focused approach that emphasises the critical role of youth in scaling this transformation, the program has welcomed 8 STEM trainees who will serve as future leaders in expanding clean cooking access across Tanzania.”

— Mikael Melin, Director of Partnerships and Development, SEforALL

“The Kibasila Modern eCooking kitchen showcases our vision for clean cooking in schools in Tanzania. More than a cooking space for the school, it will serve as a hands-on learning facility for schools across the country - equipping school management and cooks with skills and knowledge needed to adopt electric cooking technologies. This initiative is an important step forward in raising awareness and building capacity required to scale up clean cooking solutions across the country.”

— Ronald Tran Ba Huy, Country Director and Representative, WFP

We were honored to welcome the management of NTPC Ltd led by Mr. Gurdeep Singh, Chairman and Managing Director, as well as a delegation from the Government of India, to discuss how to accelerate India’s clean energy transition.

Last month, NTPC Limited and Sustainable Energy for All (SEforALL) signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU)to collaborate on advancing NTPC’s Energy Compact Goals and broader sustainability initiatives. As part of the MoU, SEforALL will provide strategic support to NTPC in developing a comprehensive energy transition roadmap. This partnership aims to align NTPC’s long-term goals with global climate commitments, including the integration of renewable energy, decarbonization of operations, and enhancement of energy efficiency.

SEforALL, NTPC and the Government of India explored energy planning, energy efficiency, renewable energy, cooling and green industrialization that can support India’s growing demand while minimizing environmental impact. We also discussed the critical issue of data gaps to inform policy and management decisions and SEforALL committed to support NTPC and the Government of India to fill some of its data gaps.

The partnership will also focus on identifying opportunities to enhance energy efficiency across NTPC’s operations, contributing to reduced emissions and improved sustainability. Furthermore, SEforALL will assist NTPC in mobilizing investment mobilization to scale innovative pilot projects. This support will be critical in scaling NTPC’s clean energy projects and achieving its net-zero aspirations.

This collaboration marks a major milestone in NTPC’s journey toward becoming a leading sustainable energy player and reinforces India’s commitment to global climate action.

Universal access to affordable, reliable, sustainable, and modern energy by 2030 (SDG7) is within reach, but only if we find ways to unlock and accelerate investments where they are needed most, fueling inclusive growth and shared prosperity.

The Tracking SDG7: Energy Progress Report 2025 unveiled this week, points to the risk of leaving millions without clean and sustainable energy. According to the report, the number of people without electricity stands at 666 million,19 million fewer than the previous year, while progress on clean cooking has largely stagnated, with roughly a quarter of the world’s population, around 2.1 billion people remaining dependent on polluting fuels and technologies.

At the same time, the report indicates that the energy transition is not progressing fast enough to accomplish international climate and development objectives. A successful global energy transition depends on where the next billion people get their electricity and how they consume this electricity. If these communities are powered by coal and diesel, and do not utilize energy efficiency measures, the climate goals of Paris and beyond will fail.

While the 2025 report highlights areas where the world is off track, it also offers a blueprint for action. Here are seven key opportunities we see for accelerating progress towards SDG7.

1.  Expand Decentralized Renewable Energy Solutions

The 2025 report shows that rural areas continue to bear the brunt of the electricity access challenge, with 84 percent of those lacking electricity living in rural communities. Moreover, the report shows that decentralized renewables are often more fit-for-purpose in remote areas. 

Therefore to close the gap,reach universal electricity access and ultimately industrialize, we see an opportunity in investing in solar home systems, mini-grids, and off-grid solutions focused on productive use for rural communities.

At SEforALL, we manage the Universal Energy Facility (UEF), which is a multi-donor results-based financing (RBF) facility designed to pool funding from various partners and ensure ongoing delivery of energy access programmes. Since its launch in 2020 with an initial capitalization of USD 8.5 million, the UEF has grown into a USD 67.3 million facility and currently operates in six Sub-Saharan African countries and provides RBF grants to developers of green mini-grids, and standalone solar systems for productive use. The solutions we promote create local jobs, improve resilience, and reduce reliance on diesel and biomass.

2.  Triple Renewable Energy Capacity

Sustained action is needed to drive the uptake of renewable energy solutions, and the 2025 report indicates that current ambitions fall short of achieving the COP28 goal to triple global renewable power capacity by 2030. The gap risks slowing the penetration of renewables and electrification in key sectors such as industry, transport, and buildings, sectors that are critical for increasing the overall share of renewable energy.

We see an opportunity to accelerate electrification and renewable energy deployment to align with the COP28 target and advance the broader energy transition outcomes envisioned. 

Emerging economies have vast potential in wind, solar, hydro, and geothermal energy. Realizing this potential requires targeted policies that improve access to financing, support technology and knowledge exchange, and build local capacity, which are key to achieving equitable energy access and sustainable economic growth.

3.  Double the Rate of Energy Efficiency Improvements

SDG7 calls for doubling the rate of global improvement in energy intensity by 2030, relative to the 1990-2010 average. Sluggish global progress in recent years means that energy intensity will have to improve by 4 percent per year on average in order to meet the original SDG 7.3 target. This is consistent with the goal of doubling the global average annual rate of energy efficiency improvement by 2030 agreed on at COP28.

We see an opportunity in implementing stronger policies and incentives to scale up efficiency gains in buildings, transport, and industry. Although current improvement is only 0.8%, technical potential is high. Digital tools, smart meters and updated building codes are underused levers.

SEforALL, working with the Government of India and an ecosystem of partners - including the Bureau of Energy Efficiency of India, the Alliance for an Energy Efficient Economy and the International Energy Agency - has developed a Voluntary Action Plan on doubling the global rate of energy efficiency improvement by 2030, that outlines potential measures along key pillars such as energy efficiency financing and sustainable consumption patterns, to be implemented in line with national goals and objectives.

4.  Leverage Clean Cooking as a Health and Gender Equity Solution

The 2025 report shows that roughly a quarter of the world’s population remains dependent on polluting fuels and technologies for cooking, and if current trends continue, only 78 percent of the global population will have access to clean cooking by 2030. This shortfall would leave nearly 1.8 billion people without clean cooking fuels and solutions.

We see an opportunity in mobilizing multi-sector investment into clean cooking solutions. The recent Summit on Clean Cooking in Africa shows donor interest and policy momentum. The Summit, which mobilised USD 2.2 billion in financial pledges from governments and the private sector, included a pivotal announcement by SEforALL and the World Food Programme (WFP) on an innovative partnership that will bring clean and efficient cooking solutions to schools in Africa, helping them shift away from polluting and harmful cooking methods currently used for preparing student meals.

Working with the Government of Tanzania and the UK-funded Modern Energy Cooking Services (MECS) programme, the project kicked-off in Tanzania, where the first model eCooking kitchen in Kibasila Primary School was officially inaugurated in July 2025. The initiative aims to expand to up-to 50 grid-connected primary schools. Using learnings from Tanzania, SEforALL, WFP and partners will also explore opportunities to scale the initiative globally.

5.  Expand Results-Based and Innovative Financing Models

The SDG7 Tracking Report 2025 estimates that annual investments between USD 4.2 and 4.5 trillion are needed to achieve SDG7 targets by 2030. 

We see an opportunity for sector players to deliver investment to those who are most-in-need. This can be done through reforming multilateral and bilateral lending to expand the availability of public capital; mobilizing more concessional finance, grants, and risk mitigation instruments to attract private sector capital; improving risk tolerance among donors; and enacting appropriate national policy frameworks, regulations, and reforms through integrated and rigorous planning. 

At SEforALL, we are working with the World Bank, the African Development Bank, the Rockefeller Foundation and the Global Energy Alliance for People and Planet to implement Mission 300, the ambitious initiative to electrify 300 million people by 2030. To help achieve this objective, SEforALL is collaborating with partners to develop innovative financing instruments to enable private participation in local currency financing platforms with an aim to create a new pan-African local currency mechanism that will not only protect local investors from the risks associated with the volatility of currency markets, but also lays the groundwork to unlock currently unavailable sources of capital for developers across Africa. 

In March this year, together with Nigeria Sovereign Investment Authority (NSIA), Africa50, and International Solar Alliance (ISA), we unveiled the USD 500 million DRE Nigeria Fund, which is the first country-focused DRE fund established under the DRE Africa Platform that will develop and invest in distributed renewable projects across Africa.

6.  International Cooperation and Dialogue to Unlock Financing

International cooperation and dialogue are more critical than ever to advance energy action aligned with SDG7. 

The UN General Assembly’s decision last year to extend the UN Decade of Sustainable Energy for All to 2030 provides an important platform to mobilize a final push towards SDG7. Importantly, the review of SDG7 at the HLPF 2026 will be a unique opportunity to strengthen international cooperation on energy and its interlinkages, and to consider potential building blocks that could inform the intergovernmental discussions on a post-2030 development framework, which will be initiated at the SDG Summit 2026.

Here, we see an opportunity for the multilateral institutions, and the global community to step up efforts with bold, collaborative action to unlock the trillions sitting in global financial markets and channel them toward the world’s most underserved.

7.  Harness Digital and Data Technologies

The 2025 report shows that improved data on energy access gaps, cooking usage, and performance can sharpen policy and funding.

We see an opportunity to deploy digital platforms, satellite mapping, and smart meters to better target interventions. Further, open data tools (like those highlighted in the 2025 report) enhance transparency and accountability.

At SEforALL, we believe that integrating AI in the energy sector planning and evidence – especially for developing countries, will go a long way in designing comprehensive solutions for many of the developmental challenges currently facing those in developing countries. In collaboration with IBM, we developed the Open Building Insights (OBI) Tool, which is helping energy planners overcome critical data gap challenges to inform energy access and energy transition interventions and better deliver results for those most in need.

The global community has the tools, finance models, and technology to make SDG7 achievable by 2030. The seven opportunities that we have highlighted, if acted upon now, can deliver huge co-benefits for development, climate, health, and jobs.

Read the Tracking SDG7: Energy Progress Report 2025: https://trackingsdg7.esmap.org/downloads

Photo credit: P. Vasic/UN DESA

As the largest economy in Southeast Asia and one of the region’s top emitters, Indonesia sits at the heart of the global energy transition. Its choices today will shape not only its domestic development but also climate outcomes across the Global South. In 2024, Indonesia made its ambitions clear by launching a bold national Energy Compact—outlining a pathway to affordable, reliable, and sustainable energy in alignment with Sustainable Development Goal 7. Now, the Energy Compact Action Network (ECAN) is helping make that vision a reality.

Launched in 2022, ECAN serves as a global platform to match offers of support with requests for support, facilitating the implementation of Energy Compact commitments. It provides technical assistance, fosters partnerships, and monitors progress to ensure accountability and continuous improvement. Its recent work in Indonesia illustrates how this platform can accelerate systemic change—through convening, matchmaking, and results-based action.

We were honoured to welcome the UN Deputy Secretary-General Amina J. Mohammed to SEforALL’s headquarters in Vienna. Her visit was a powerful affirmation of both the urgency and the opportunity in achieving SDG7. Her words underscored the vital role SEforALL plays within the UN system and reinforced the importance of aligning climate action with national development—a mission that drives our support to countries designing inclusive, data-driven energy transitions.

Photo credits:  UNIS Vienna