Ending energy poverty, one solar grid at a time [Spectral lines

Abstract

In energy-rich, mobile-device-packing countries like the United States, it's difficult to imagine what it's like to live in a place where electricity is scarce, or isn't available at all. But that's what life is still like for many citizens of Planet Earth. Energy poverty-in particular, the lack of access to plentiful electricity—affects about 1.2 billion people, keeping them in social and economic darkness. Last year, the United Nations adopted 17 sustainable development goals, No. 7 of which is "ensuring access to affordable, reliable, sustainable modern energy." Given the history and mission of IEEE, it is especially fitting that the organization has mobilized to help end energy poverty through an initiative called IEEE Smart Village.