Question to the Department for International Development:

To ask the Secretary of State for International Development, what support her Department is providing to clean energy projects in developing countries.

UK support over the last six years has resulted in 17 million people having improved access to clean energy, and 590MW of clean energy capacity being installed.

DFID’s support to clean energy in developing countries is delivered through a range of programmes. For example, DFID provides funding to support the installation of more solar power such as through mini-grids in Kenya and Rwanda; helps to establish markets in African countries for small scale, household solar power so poor people have access to affordable clean energy; and funds research and innovation for example in electric vehicles, clean cookstoves and solar battery storage. We also provide support for investments in clean energy through CDC for example supporting hydro-electric power in DRC; and through our funding of multilateral development organisations, such as the World Bank and the Green Climate Fund, the latter of which reports investment of $12.4 billion in renewable energy since 2008.

Our priority is to help developing countries establish a secure and sustainable energy supply, which is essential for economic growth and poverty reduction. We are doing that in a way that supports the global climate change goals.