The International Energy Agency’s annual benchmark for tracking energy investment, World Energy Investment 2019 provides a full picture of today’s capital flows and what they might mean for tomorrow’s energy sector.

The 18 countries covered in this report are fundamental to the clean energy transition. They account for 52% of the world’s population, represent 88% of the people living in the Asia Pacific region and account for 39% of the global primary energy supply.

Electricity and energy are key African issues: with 2/3 of its population still without access to electricity services and electricity demand assumed to triple until 2030, African nations’ energy policies are essential to achieve their development goals. Increased use of renewable energy can make this transition possible.

Cities are key players in the renewable energy transition. The Preliminary Findings of the Renewables in Cities Global Status Report illustrates how cities are using renewable energy in the electricity, heating and cooling and transport sectors.

Electricity revenue subsidies finance 10% to 30% of the revenue required by electricity distribution companies (DISCOMs) in India. Consequently, they have significant impacts not only on the state exchequer but also on DISCOM finances.

Once electricity connections are given, to improve quality of life and promote economic activities, it is essential to ensure sufficient and affordable electricity supply, delivered with good quality, and supported by good service.

Thailand, aiming to assess the flexibility of its electricity mix in line with national expansion plans, has engaged with the International Renewable Energy Agency (IRENA) to carry out an initial FlexTool study.

It is estimated that 1.1 billion people in the world today have no access to electricity. This is 14 per cent of the world’s population. Some 85 per cent of those without access to electricity live in rural areas, mainly in Africa. Furthermore, 2.8 billion people do not have access to clean forms of energy for cooking.