Extending energy access to the least advantaged

Energy is a basic necessity in the same way as water or food, whether it is used to provide light or heat, keep goods fresh, or to get around. However, according to the World Bank, more than 1.3 billion people still do not have access to electricity.

We are leveraging all our knowledge and our capacity for innovation to deliver energy to as many people as possible. Ultimately this requires modern solutions adapted to the individual needs of disadvantaged communities throughout the world.

This commitment is a cornerstone of our climate strategy. Giving communities the widest possible access to cleaner energy is a key factor in the fight against climate change.

In 2010, we launched the Total Access to Energy programme, a project incubator that allows us to identify and test solutions to help communities gain access to energy. The programme is aligned with a social entrepreneurship approach to develop socially beneficial and economically viable solutions.

Our range of solar lamp solutions is the first large-scale project to emerge from the Total Access to Energy programme. Designed primarily for emerging markets, this range of photovoltaic solar products and services is designed for communities that don't have access to energy.

Millions of users from Africa to Asia benefit from a clean, reliable, affordable source of energy to light their villages and charge their cell phones.

25 million is our 2020 objective for the number of users in Africa.

Key figures