Reaching Scale in Access to Energy: Lessons from practitioners

This report investigates barriers and solutions to scale for market-based approaches offering cleaner energy access to low-income customers in developing countries. The objective is not to provide an exhaustive view across all technologies and geographies, but rather to learn from a selection of the most innovative and successful practitioners, representing solutions with high potential and innovation dynamics: solar lanterns, solar home systems, clean energy microgrids, solar irrigation pumps, and improved cook stoves. The findings are based on an in-depth review of the performance and work of 26 practitioners, selected after a global scan of over 300 organizations. While the lessons drawn from them may not be applicable in all situations, they will hopefully inspire other practitioners, as well as donors, investors, companies, and policy makers, in their efforts to provide access to energy for all.