TEDSummit 2019
Rose M. Mutiso: How to bring affordable, sustainable electricity to Africa
Filmed:
Readability: 6
1,306,609 views
Energy poverty, or the lack of access to electricity and other basic energy services, affects nearly two-thirds of Sub-Saharan Africa. As the region's population continues to increase, so will the need to build a new energy system to grow with it, says Rose M. Mutiso. In a bold talk, she discusses how a balanced mix of solutions like solar, wind farms, geothermal power and modern grids could create a high-energy future for Africa -- providing reliable electricity, creating jobs and raising incomes.
Rose M. Mutiso - Energy scientist
As the Research Director of the Energy for Growth Hub, Rose M. Mutiso works with a global network of experts finding solutions for energy deficits across Africa and Asia. She is also cofounder of the Mawazo Institute, helping African women to become scholars and thought leaders. Full bio
As the Research Director of the Energy for Growth Hub, Rose M. Mutiso works with a global network of experts finding solutions for energy deficits across Africa and Asia. She is also cofounder of the Mawazo Institute, helping African women to become scholars and thought leaders. Full bio
Double-click the English transcript below to play the video.
00:13
So right now, nearly
one billion people globally
one billion people globally
0
1737
3277
00:17
don't have access
to electricity in their homes.
to electricity in their homes.
1
5038
2929
00:19
And in sub-Saharan Africa,
2
7991
1522
00:21
more than half of the population
remain in the dark.
remain in the dark.
3
9537
2866
00:25
So you probably all know
this image from NASA.
this image from NASA.
4
13869
2891
00:28
There's a name for this darkness.
5
16784
1630
00:30
It's called "energy poverty,"
6
18438
1500
00:31
and it has massive implications
for economic development
for economic development
7
19962
3389
00:35
and social well-being.
8
23375
1365
00:36
One unique aspect of the energy
poverty problem in sub-Saharan Africa --
poverty problem in sub-Saharan Africa --
9
24764
3685
00:40
and by the way, in this talk
when I "energy," I mean "electricity" --
when I "energy," I mean "electricity" --
10
28473
3866
00:44
one thing that's unique about it is
11
32363
1960
00:46
there isn't much legacy
infrastructure already in place
infrastructure already in place
12
34347
2582
00:48
in many countries of the region.
13
36953
2345
00:51
So, for example, according to 2015 data,
14
39322
3076
00:54
the total installed electricity capacity
in sub-Saharan Africa
in sub-Saharan Africa
15
42422
3278
00:57
is only about 100 gigawatts.
16
45724
2296
01:00
That's similar to that of the UK.
17
48044
1872
01:02
So this actually presents
a unique opportunity
a unique opportunity
18
50615
2760
01:05
to build an energy system
in the 21st century
in the 21st century
19
53399
3230
01:08
almost from scratch.
20
56653
1397
01:10
The question is: How do you do that?
21
58540
2346
01:13
We could look back to the past
and replicate the ways
and replicate the ways
22
61400
2961
01:16
in which we've managed to bring
stable, affordable electricity
stable, affordable electricity
23
64385
3240
01:19
to a big part of the world's population.
24
67649
2341
01:22
But we all know that that has
some well-known terrible side effects,
some well-known terrible side effects,
25
70518
3196
01:25
such as pollution and climate change,
26
73738
2250
01:28
in addition to being
costly and inefficient.
costly and inefficient.
27
76012
2593
01:30
With Africa's population set to quadruple
by the end of the century,
by the end of the century,
28
78629
3794
01:34
this is not a theoretical question.
29
82447
2271
01:36
Africa needs a lot of energy,
and it needs it fast,
and it needs it fast,
30
84742
2613
01:39
because its population is booming
and its economy needs to develop.
and its economy needs to develop.
31
87379
3602
01:44
So for most countries,
the general trajectory of electrification
the general trajectory of electrification
32
92212
3717
01:47
has been as follows.
33
95953
1398
01:49
First, large-scale
grid infrastructure is put in place,
grid infrastructure is put in place,
34
97375
3094
01:52
usually with significant
public investment.
public investment.
35
100493
2421
01:54
That infrastructure then powers
productive centers,
productive centers,
36
102938
2580
01:57
such as factories,
agricultural mechanization,
agricultural mechanization,
37
105542
2982
02:00
commercial enterprises and the like.
38
108548
2612
02:03
And this then stimulates economic growth,
39
111184
2525
02:05
creating jobs, raising incomes
40
113733
2267
02:08
and producing a virtuous cycle
41
116024
1494
02:09
that helps more people
afford more appliances,
afford more appliances,
42
117542
2675
02:12
which then creates residential
demand for electricity.
demand for electricity.
43
120241
3015
02:15
But in sub-Saharan Africa,
despite decades of energy projects,
despite decades of energy projects,
44
123946
3469
02:19
we haven't really seen these benefits.
45
127439
2440
02:22
The energy projects have often
been characterized by waste,
been characterized by waste,
46
130657
2805
02:25
corruption and inefficiency;
47
133486
2098
02:27
our rural electrification
rates are really low,
rates are really low,
48
135608
2804
02:30
and our urban rates could be better;
49
138436
2348
02:32
the reliability of
our electricity is terrible;
our electricity is terrible;
50
140808
3232
02:36
and we have some of the highest
electricity prices in the whole world.
electricity prices in the whole world.
51
144064
3465
02:39
And on top of all of this,
52
147553
1680
02:41
we are now facing the impacts of
the growing climate catastrophe head-on.
the growing climate catastrophe head-on.
53
149257
4094
02:46
So Africa will need
to find a different path.
to find a different path.
54
154145
2267
02:49
And, as it turns out,
we are now witnessing
we are now witnessing
55
157588
2099
02:51
some pretty exciting disruption
in the African energy space.
in the African energy space.
56
159711
3352
02:55
This new path is called off-grid solar,
57
163547
2472
02:58
and it's enabled by cheap solar panels,
58
166043
2221
03:00
advances in LED and battery technology,
59
168288
2421
03:02
and combined with
innovative business models.
innovative business models.
60
170733
2302
03:05
So these off-grid solar products
typically range from a single light
typically range from a single light
61
173059
3968
03:09
to home system kits
that can charge phones,
that can charge phones,
62
177051
3082
03:12
power a television
63
180157
1873
03:14
or run a fan.
64
182054
1483
03:15
I want to be clear:
65
183561
1409
03:16
off-grid solar is a big deal in Africa.
66
184994
2641
03:19
I have worked in the sector for years,
67
187659
1885
03:21
and these products are enabling us
to extend basic energy services
to extend basic energy services
68
189568
3410
03:25
to some of the world's poorest,
69
193002
1736
03:26
raising their quality of life.
70
194762
1889
03:28
This is a very good
and a very important thing.
and a very important thing.
71
196675
3243
03:31
However, off-grid solar will not solve
energy poverty in Africa,
energy poverty in Africa,
72
199942
4636
03:36
and for that matter,
73
204602
1195
03:37
neither will a top-down effort
to connect every unserved household
to connect every unserved household
74
205821
3139
03:40
to the grid.
75
208984
1250
03:42
See, I'm not here to rehash
that played-out "on-versus-off-grid"
that played-out "on-versus-off-grid"
76
210258
4655
03:46
or "old-versus-new" debate.
77
214937
1668
03:48
Instead,
78
216629
1155
03:49
I believe that our inability
to grapple with and truly address
to grapple with and truly address
79
217808
3351
03:53
energy poverty in Africa
80
221183
1210
03:54
stems from three main sources.
81
222417
1715
03:56
First, we don't really have
a clear understanding
a clear understanding
82
224616
2950
03:59
of what energy poverty is,
or how deep it goes.
or how deep it goes.
83
227590
3071
04:03
Second, we are avoiding
complex systemic issues
complex systemic issues
84
231023
2860
04:05
and prefer quick fixes.
85
233907
1776
04:07
And third, we are misdirecting
concerns about climate change.
concerns about climate change.
86
235707
3517
04:11
Combined, these three mistakes are leading
us to impose a Western debate
us to impose a Western debate
87
239694
3788
04:15
on the future of energy
88
243506
1271
04:16
and falling back on paternalistic
attitudes towards Africa.
attitudes towards Africa.
89
244801
2995
04:20
So let me try and unpack
these three questions.
these three questions.
90
248378
2260
04:22
First, what exactly is energy poverty?
91
250662
2319
04:25
The main energy poverty targeted indicator
92
253005
2518
04:27
is enshrined in the UN's Seventh
Sustainable Development Goal,
Sustainable Development Goal,
93
255547
2941
04:30
or SDG 7.
94
258512
1230
04:31
It calls for 100 percent
of the world's population
of the world's population
95
259766
2661
04:34
to have access to electricity
by the year 2030.
by the year 2030.
96
262451
2431
04:37
This binary threshold, however,
97
265457
1665
04:39
ignores the quality, reliability
or utility of the power,
or utility of the power,
98
267146
4309
04:43
though indicators
are currently being developed
are currently being developed
99
271479
2241
04:45
that will try and capture these things.
100
273744
2194
04:47
However, the question of when
a household is considered "connected"
a household is considered "connected"
101
275962
3225
04:51
is not quite clear-cut.
102
279211
1797
04:53
So, for example, last year
the Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi
the Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi
103
281032
3731
04:56
declared all of the villages
in India electrified,
in India electrified,
104
284787
2715
04:59
the criteria for electrification being
105
287526
2010
05:01
a transformer in every village
plus its public centers
plus its public centers
106
289560
3071
05:04
and 10 percent -- 10 percent --
of its households connected.
of its households connected.
107
292655
3835
05:09
Meanwhile,
108
297452
1171
05:10
the International Energy Agency,
which tracks progress against SDG 7,
which tracks progress against SDG 7,
109
298647
4536
05:15
defines energy access as
50 kilowatt hours per person per year.
50 kilowatt hours per person per year.
110
303207
4960
05:20
That's enough to power
some light bulbs and charge a phone,
some light bulbs and charge a phone,
111
308597
3725
05:24
perhaps run a low-watt TV or fan
for a few hours a day.
for a few hours a day.
112
312346
4476
05:28
Now, providing entry-level access
is an important first step,
is an important first step,
113
316846
4207
05:33
but let's not romanticize the situation.
114
321077
2737
05:35
By any standard, a few lights
and not much else
and not much else
115
323838
3244
05:39
is still living in energy poverty.
116
327106
2119
05:41
And what's more,
117
329979
1459
05:43
these energy poverty
indicators and targets
indicators and targets
118
331462
2822
05:46
cover only residential use.
119
334308
2174
05:48
And yet, households account
for just about one quarter
for just about one quarter
120
336506
3269
05:51
of the world's electricity consumption.
121
339799
1887
05:53
That's because most of our power
is used in industries and for commerce.
is used in industries and for commerce.
122
341710
4059
05:57
Which brings me to my main point:
123
345793
2247
06:00
countries cannot grow out of poverty
without access to abundant,
without access to abundant,
124
348064
3843
06:03
affordable and reliable electricity
to power these productive centers,
to power these productive centers,
125
351931
4232
06:08
or what I call "Energy for Growth."
126
356187
2325
06:10
As you can see from this graph,
127
358536
1620
06:12
there's simply no such thing
as a low-energy, high-income country.
as a low-energy, high-income country.
128
360180
3560
06:15
It doesn't exist.
129
363764
1377
06:17
And yet, three billion people in the world
130
365165
2511
06:19
currently live in countries without
reliable, affordable electricity --
reliable, affordable electricity --
131
367700
3675
06:23
not just to power their homes
but also their factories,
but also their factories,
132
371399
3292
06:26
their office buildings, their data centers
133
374715
2342
06:29
and other economic activities.
134
377081
1956
06:31
Merely electrifying households
and microenterprises
and microenterprises
135
379529
2996
06:34
cannot solve this deeper energy poverty.
136
382549
2596
06:37
To solve energy poverty,
137
385169
1525
06:38
we need to deliver reliable,
affordable electricity at scale,
affordable electricity at scale,
138
386718
4563
06:43
to power economy-wide job creation
and income growth.
and income growth.
139
391305
3950
06:47
This need, however, bumps
against an emerging narrative that,
against an emerging narrative that,
140
395279
4222
06:51
faced with climate change,
141
399525
1345
06:52
we all need to transition
from large, centralized power systems
from large, centralized power systems
142
400894
3647
06:56
to small-scale distributed power.
143
404565
2094
06:59
The growth of off-grid solar in Africa --
144
407722
1977
07:01
and let me repeat,
off-grid solar is a good thing --
off-grid solar is a good thing --
145
409723
2541
07:04
but that growth fits nicely
into this narrative
into this narrative
146
412288
3028
07:07
and has led to those claims that Africa
is leapfrogging the old ways of energy
is leapfrogging the old ways of energy
147
415340
4101
07:11
and building its power system
from the ground up,
from the ground up,
148
419465
2726
07:14
one solar panel at a time.
149
422215
1758
07:16
It's a nice, solicitous narrative,
but also quite naïve.
but also quite naïve.
150
424942
3937
07:21
Like many narratives
of technological disruption,
of technological disruption,
151
429660
2970
07:24
often inspired by Silicon Valley,
152
432654
1998
07:26
it takes for granted the existing systems
that underpin all of this transformation.
that underpin all of this transformation.
153
434676
4885
07:32
You see, when it comes
to innovating and energy,
to innovating and energy,
154
440067
3318
07:35
the West is working around the edges
of a system that is tried and tested.
of a system that is tried and tested.
155
443409
4391
07:39
And so all the sexy stuff --
156
447824
1967
07:41
the rooftop solar,
157
449815
1492
07:43
the smart household devices,
the electric vehicles --
the electric vehicles --
158
451331
3461
07:46
all of this is built on top of a massive
and absolutely essential grid,
and absolutely essential grid,
159
454816
4125
07:50
which itself exists within
a proven governance framework.
a proven governance framework.
160
458965
3381
07:55
Even the most advanced
countries in the world
countries in the world
161
463608
2205
07:57
don't have an example of an energy system
that is all edges and no center at scale.
that is all edges and no center at scale.
162
465837
4239
08:03
So ultimately, no approach --
163
471163
2638
08:05
be it centralized or distributed,
renewable or fossil-based --
renewable or fossil-based --
164
473825
3762
08:09
can succeed in solving energy poverty
165
477611
2591
08:12
without finding a way to deliver
reliable, affordable electricity
reliable, affordable electricity
166
480226
4154
08:16
to Africa's emerging industrial
and commercial sectors.
and commercial sectors.
167
484404
3380
08:20
So, it's not just lights
in every rural home.
in every rural home.
168
488312
3070
08:23
It's power for Africa's cities
that are growing fast
that are growing fast
169
491908
3346
08:27
and increasingly full
of young, capable people
of young, capable people
170
495278
2630
08:29
in desperate need of a job.
171
497932
1732
08:32
This in turn will require
significant interconnectivity
significant interconnectivity
172
500303
3756
08:36
and economies of scale,
173
504083
1523
08:37
making a robust and modern grid
174
505630
1941
08:39
a crucial piece of any
energy poverty solution.
energy poverty solution.
175
507595
2860
08:43
So, our second mistake is falling
for the allure of the quick fix.
for the allure of the quick fix.
176
511821
4221
08:48
You see, energy poverty exists
177
516417
1883
08:50
within a complex socioeconomic
and political context.
and political context.
178
518324
3347
08:54
And part of the appeal
of new electrification models
of new electrification models
179
522121
3076
08:57
such as off-grid solar, for example,
180
525221
1772
08:59
is they can often bypass the glacial pace
and inefficiency of government.
and inefficiency of government.
181
527017
4584
09:03
See, with small systems you can skip
the bureaucracies and the utilities
the bureaucracies and the utilities
182
531625
4496
09:08
and sell directly to customers.
183
536145
1912
09:10
But to confront energy poverty,
184
538914
2768
09:13
you cannot ignore governments,
you cannot ignore institutions,
you cannot ignore institutions,
185
541706
3174
09:16
you cannot ignore the many players
involved in making, moving
involved in making, moving
186
544904
3708
09:20
and using electricity at scale,
187
548636
2591
09:23
which is a way to say that when it comes
to providing energy for growth,
to providing energy for growth,
188
551251
3639
09:26
it's not just about
innovating the technology,
innovating the technology,
189
554914
2578
09:29
it's about the slow and hard work
of improving governance, institutions
of improving governance, institutions
190
557516
4531
09:34
and the broader macroenvironment.
191
562071
1920
09:37
OK, so this is all good and nice, you say.
192
565022
3285
09:40
But what about climate change?
193
568743
1635
09:42
How do we ensure a high-energy
future for everyone
future for everyone
194
570968
3404
09:46
while also curbing our emissions?
195
574396
1963
09:49
Well, we'll have to make
some complex tradeoffs,
some complex tradeoffs,
196
577411
3148
09:52
but I believe that
a high-energy future for Africa
a high-energy future for Africa
197
580583
2374
09:54
is not mutually exclusive
to a low-carbon future.
to a low-carbon future.
198
582981
2716
09:58
And make no mistake:
199
586239
1408
09:59
the world cannot expect Africa
to remain in energy poverty
to remain in energy poverty
200
587671
2940
10:02
because of climate change.
201
590635
1514
10:04
(Applause)
202
592173
3769
10:11
Actually, the facts show
that the opposite is true.
that the opposite is true.
203
599949
3296
10:15
Energy will be essential for Africa
to adapt to climate change
to adapt to climate change
204
603269
3194
10:18
and build resilience.
205
606487
1481
10:19
You see, rising temperatures will mean
increased demand for space cooling
increased demand for space cooling
206
607992
4004
10:24
and cold storage.
207
612020
1173
10:25
Declining water tables will mean
increased pumped irrigation.
increased pumped irrigation.
208
613217
3676
10:28
And extreme weather and rising sea levels
will require a significant expansion
will require a significant expansion
209
616917
3862
10:32
and reinforcement of our infrastructure.
210
620803
2231
10:35
These are all energy-intensive activities.
211
623058
2660
10:38
So balancing climate change
and Africa's pressing need
and Africa's pressing need
212
626535
3506
10:42
to transition to a high-energy future
213
630065
2041
10:44
will be tough.
214
632130
1231
10:45
But doing so is nonnegotiable;
we will have to find a way.
we will have to find a way.
215
633385
3861
10:49
The first step is broadening
the terms of the debate
the terms of the debate
216
637790
2575
10:52
away from this either-or framing.
217
640389
2689
10:55
And we also must stop
romanticizing solutions
romanticizing solutions
218
643102
2583
10:57
that distract us from the core challenges.
219
645709
2276
11:01
And let's not also forget that Africa
is endowed with vast natural resources,
is endowed with vast natural resources,
220
649572
4348
11:05
including significant renewable potential.
221
653944
2614
11:08
For example, in Kenya, where I'm from,
222
656979
2741
11:11
geothermal power accounts
for half of our electricity generation,
for half of our electricity generation,
223
659744
3764
11:15
and with hydro being
the other major source,
the other major source,
224
663532
2069
11:17
we are already mainly powered
by renewable energy.
by renewable energy.
225
665625
2451
11:20
We also just brought online
Africa's largest wind farm
Africa's largest wind farm
226
668100
3284
11:23
and East Africa's biggest solar facility.
227
671408
2914
11:26
(Applause)
228
674346
3639
11:30
In addition,
229
678906
1389
11:32
new technology means that we can now
run and design our power systems
run and design our power systems
230
680319
3789
11:36
and use energy more efficiently than ever,
231
684132
2458
11:38
doing more with less.
232
686614
1684
11:40
Energy efficiency
will be an important tool
will be an important tool
233
688322
2157
11:42
in the fight against climate change.
234
690503
2124
11:45
So in closing, I'd just like to say that
Africa is a real place with real people,
Africa is a real place with real people,
235
693998
5273
11:51
navigating complex challenges
and major transitions,
and major transitions,
236
699295
3207
11:54
just like any other region of the world.
237
702526
2296
11:56
(Applause)
238
704846
3152
12:02
And while each country and each region
239
710390
2665
12:05
has its social, economic
and political quirks,
and political quirks,
240
713079
2908
12:08
the physics of electricity
are the same everywhere.
are the same everywhere.
241
716011
2566
12:10
(Laughter) (Applause)
242
718601
3753
12:14
And the energy needs of our economies
243
722378
3022
12:17
are just as intensive as those
of any other economy.
of any other economy.
244
725424
3380
12:21
So, the expansion
of household electrification
of household electrification
245
729535
2825
12:24
through a mix of
on- and off-grid solutions
on- and off-grid solutions
246
732384
2158
12:26
has had an incredible impact in Africa.
247
734566
2342
12:28
But they are nowhere near sufficient
for solving energy poverty.
for solving energy poverty.
248
736932
3279
12:32
To solve energy poverty,
249
740628
1698
12:34
we need generation of electricity
from diverse sources at scale
from diverse sources at scale
250
742350
4130
12:38
and modern grids to power
a high-energy future,
a high-energy future,
251
746504
2467
12:40
in which Africans can enjoy
modern living standards
modern living standards
252
748995
2752
12:43
and well-paying jobs.
253
751771
1491
12:45
Africans deserve this,
254
753744
1788
12:47
and with one of every four people
in the world projected to be African
in the world projected to be African
255
755556
4087
12:51
by the year 2100,
256
759667
1646
12:53
the planet needs it.
257
761337
1251
12:54
Thank you.
258
762612
1166
12:55
(Applause)
259
763802
2969
ABOUT THE SPEAKER
Rose M. Mutiso - Energy scientistAs the Research Director of the Energy for Growth Hub, Rose M. Mutiso works with a global network of experts finding solutions for energy deficits across Africa and Asia. She is also cofounder of the Mawazo Institute, helping African women to become scholars and thought leaders.
Why you should listen
As a student in Nairobi, Kenya, Rose M. Mutiso dreamed of following her curiosity. Drawn to materials science and engineering -- which underpins ubiquitous features of modern life like plastics and electronics -- she received a PhD in the field, pursuing nanotechnology, polymer physics and creating materials for energy and electronic applications. As a postdoctoral fellow in the US Senate, Mutiso coauthored legislation signed into law by President Barack Obama.
Grateful for an education supported by financial aid and taxpayer-funded research, Mutiso resolved to help inspire Africa's next generation of female scholars. She cofounded the Mawazo ("Ideas") Institute, a nonprofit research institute based in Nairobi. She is also research director of the Energy for Growth Hub, working with global experts to find solutions for energy deficits in developing countries. Her dream is to see more African women shaping decision-making and public discourse on critical issues such as energy poverty.
Rose M. Mutiso | Speaker | TED.com