A lack of access to modern energy services negatively affects nearly a third of humanity. While poor people remain in darkness and ill health, there can be no escape from the vicious cycle of poverty. But how can this cycle be broken, and turned to one of increasing prosperity and economic and social development? To answer that question we must constantly improve our shared understanding of the scale, causes, and evolving solutions to the multiple dimensions of energy poverty.

Rural energy service delivery remains a significant challenge for many countries in Africa. Modern energy forms, and particularly electricity, are generally not available to the majority of rural areas, and many urban areas.This review looks at Integrated Rural Energy Utilities and the opportunities.