Question to the Department for International Development:

To ask the Secretary of State for International Development, what steps her Department is taking to encourage investment in renewable energy in the least-developed countries; and if she will make a statement.

The UK Government is encouraging investment in renewable energy to improve energy access by poor people and promote economic development, in both the on-grid and off-grid energy sectors. Through our Energy Africa campaign we are also seeking to accelerate the expansion of the household solar market in Africa, removing policy and regulatory barriers to market expansion through compacts with partner countries.

In addition, CDC, the UK’s Development Finance Institution, invests in renewable energy supporting a portfolio of 5.75 GW of capacity already in operation or currently under construction.