As we continue to report on energy access issues globally for our project Power Struggle, we want to share a resource from our partners at the Waterloo Global Science Initiative (WGSI). They recently published the OpenAccess Energy Blueprint. It's a guide that outlines ways to achieve universal electricity access and calls on national level policy-makers to take action.

"Emerging technological, social and business innovations mean that it is now possible for more than 1 billion people to, for the first time, gain access to the modern electricity services that will radically transform their well-being," according to WGSI. "This opportunity has arisen because new and emerging technologies are ushering in a revolution in energy access in the developing world." Technologies like micro-grids, low-cost solar and new ways to pay for electricity using mobile phones. The blueprint describes a path to realizing this potential. WGSI describes the key areas the blueprint covers as follows:

• Insight into proactive governance, creating a fair marketplace, empowering people, and effective entrepreneurship for energy access;
• A feature section on energy access challenges in Canada’s remote Indigenous communities;    
• Solutions Spotlights featuring innovative technologies, business and finance models; 
• A commitment to establishing and nurturing partnerships on the road to establishing energy access.

The blueprint was produced collaboratively through WGSI's OpenAccess Energy Advisory Workshop (October 18-20, 2015), Summit (April 24-27, 2016) and engagement with energy sector researchers, leaders and advisors. Take a look through the executive summary here or download the full report.

About WGSI

Founded in 2009, Waterloo Global Science Initiative (WGSI) is a non-profit partnership between Perimeter Institute for Theoretical Physics and the University of Waterloo, a pairing that has previously resulted in the distinguished Perimeter Scholars International program and the University of Waterloo’s pioneering Institute for Quantum Computing. The mandate of WGSI is to promote dialogue around complex global issues and to catalyze the long-range thinking necessary to advance ideas, opportunities and strategies for a secure and sustainable future through our Summit Series, Blueprints and Impact Activities.

WGSI contributes funding to support Discourse’s journalism project Power Struggle which examines energy access issues globally. Their support does not imply that WGSI endorses or influences journalism produced as part of Power Struggle.