2012-2-3   Source: WBCSD

The World Business Council for Sustainable Development (WBCSD) today released its publication Business solutions to enable energy access for all, to coincide with the launch of the International Year of Sustainable Energy for All by the United Nations’ Secretary-General, HE Ban Ki-moon. Featuring 19 member company case studies, the report shows how business is contributing to the provision of clean, reliable and affordable energy services.

The report explores how public and development finance mechanisms can be specifically designed to leverage additional private investment; how partnerships and cross-sector approaches can accelerate the wide provision of access to energy; and how business model innovation can be nurtured.

Business solutions to enable energy access for all was produced by the WBCSD’s Access to Energy Initiative which recognizes the major role that business plays in the expansion and transformation of the energy system. It provides recommendations to scale up business action and investment. The Initiative has 21 participating member companies and is led by ERM, GDF SUEZ and Schneider Electric.

Peter Bakker, President, WBCSD, said: “Increasing global demand for energy is governed by two factors:  significant and rapid population growth, and the fundamental role energy plays in helping people to escape poverty. The report provides business perspectives for addressing these pressing issues. By releasing it to coincide with the launch of UN’s International Year of Sustainable Energy for All, we are underscoring the key role business has to play in achieving these important ambitions.”

Gerard Mestrallet, CEO, GDF SUEZ, said: “For GDF SUEZ, the world’s leading utility company, sustainable development translates as an ambition to support responsible growth based on the Group’s strengths and activities, including providing access to sustainable energy to disadvantaged populations. Our contribution to the WBCSD’s work supplements the actions launched by the Group in 2011 through the innovative program, GDF SUEZ Rassembleurs d’Energies.”

Robin Bidwell, Group President, ERM, said: “As our report clearly shows, business is in a position to play a major role in delivering energy access – an essential underpinning of economic development. Of particular importance are the examples of innovative partnership approaches that are proving really successful around the world.”

Jean-Pascal Tricoire, President & CEO, Schneider Electric said: "As the global specialist in energy management, Schneider Electric proposes solutions that allow all of us to do more while using less. We are also engaged in providing access to energy solutions to the 1.3 billion people who currently don't have it with our BipBop program. By joining forces with the WBCSD and its members to find business and technology innovation on how we can change the life of these people, we do believe we can inspire new partnerships, new ways of approaching this major challenge and therefore accelerate the eradication of energy poverty whilst fostering sustainability."

Business solutions to enable energy access for allis targeted at governments, international organizations, financial institutions and companies seeking to enter or expand their engagement in low-income energy markets.

The reportwill be introduced at the World Future Energy Summit(WFES) in Abu Dhabi, with presentations by Jean-Pascal Tricoire, CEO, Schneider Electric and Marcel Engel, Managing Director, WBCSD Development Focus Area. The WFES is a major global energy event and has been chosen by the UN Secretary-General as a fitting platform at which to launch the International Year of Sustainable Energy for All.