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 will explore locally led development in the context of energy systems. It will assess the UK Government’s role in addressing global energy poverty while promoting clean energy and strengthening local communities abroad. It will seek 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. It is interested in understanding the value-for-money of financing localised energy projects, accounting for their full environmental and social benefits.
This inquiry will explore locally led development in the context of energy systems. It will assess the UK Government’s role in addressing global energy poverty while promoting clean energy and strengthening local communities abroad. It will seek 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. It is interested in understanding the value-for-money of financing localised energy projects, accounting for their full environmental and social benefits.
The deadline date for submissions to this inquiry is Friday 16 May 2025, however, the Committee will strive to consider written evidence submissions that arrive after this date.
In your written evidence, please state if you wish for it to be anonymous and/or confidential.
Duplicate submissions
Please note that duplicated submissions will not be accepted.
Reasonable adjustments
If you need an adjustment to help you send your evidence, please get in touch with committee staff by e-mail at [email protected] or call 020 7219 1223. They’ll be able to talk about what we can do to help you send your evidence, so far as reasonably practical. That might include sending it to us in a different format or giving you more time to prepare your evidence. We will be happy to help you.
