ABSTRACT

The global energy system faces many challenges in the 21st century. The major challenge is providing access to affordable and secure energy supplies. Today there are 1.3 billion people across the globe, mostly across the developing world, without access to electricity and 2.7 billion people who do not have clean cooking facilities. This problem is particularly severe in sub-Saharan Africa and developing Asia, which together account for 95% of people in energy poverty. Without a commitment to achieve universal energy access, it has been estimated that by 2030, there will be an additional 1.5 million premature deaths per year caused by household pollution from burning biomass/wood and dung and through lack of access to clean water, basic sanitation and healthcare. Modern/advanced energy technologies are essential to meet this challenge (World Coal Association 2012). The IEA projects that over 1,030 million people will be living without electricity in 2030. In addition, hundreds of millions more will have extremely limited access to electricity, which means just a few hours or days a week. For yet others, power will remain seriously unaffordable (NCC 2012).