Aid for community-led energy

Energy lies at the core of the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development and the 2015 Paris Agreement on Climate Change. Yet, the international community remains largely off track in meeting these commitments. According to the International Energy Agency, around 750 million people lack access to electricity, and more than 2 billion people lack access to clean cooking fuels, predominantly in sub-Saharan Africa. Future energy systems need to be renewable, inclusive, and resilient. Decentralised energy, where generation and governance occur closer to the point of use, is gaining traction as a way to achieve these goals. ‘Community energy’ is one approach within this broader shift, ensuring that people play a central role in decision-making and ownership. Whether through local control or collective governance, these systems give communities a direct stake in their energy future. More broadly, decentralised energy models, ranging from cooperative solar projects to independent microgrids, can accelerate the deployment of renewables and generate significant local socio-economic benefits. However, challenges such as financing constraints, technical capacity, and regulatory hurdles continue to limit their expansion. This inquiry explored locally led development in the context of energy systems. It assessed the UK Government’s role in addressing global energy poverty while promoting clean energy and strengthening local communities abroad. It sought to understand how much Official Development Assistance (ODA) supports localised energy projects, how effective and transformative this funding is, and where gaps exist in financing, technology, and capacity-building. Join the conversation on X using @CommonsIDC