Energy projects and articles

1.3 billion people have no electricity and 2.7 billion people do not have clean and safe access to energy for cooking. This means that around 40% of the world’s population breathe in toxic smoke created when burning charcoal, wood, coal or animal waste to cook their food.

Every month we highlight a new, groundbreaking or bestselling IIED research outcome. This month we look at the uncertain future of bioenergy.

The promise of clean, renewable energy makes it a tempting choice but the real costs and benefits are not so simple to calculate. As some talk about a global energy revolution, whilst others start pointing to land grabs, food security issues and a dangerous offsetting tendency in the global North, IIED have started looking into the urgent and critical questions surrounding the debate. 

Biomass energy currently makes up 10% of the global primary energy mix, but this is expected to expand to 30% by 2050. In the South, biomass enterprises often dominate forest-sector activities and have massive implications for forest governance, the prospects for the growth of small forest enterprise, and climate-change adaptation and mitigation.

Business models for sustainable development aim to deliver economic, social and environmental benefits – the three pillars of sustainable development – through core business activities.

IIED's work on business models for sustainable development cuts across several areas of  research including  forestry, food and agriculture, energy and ICTs. Our research to date has identified a number of factors that contribute to the success of business models for sustainable development.

 

The world is facing an energy crisis with major global and local implications. Energy issues need to be addressed holistically, based on integrated models and approaches and involving multiple stakeholders. IIED's work on energy currently focuses on two key areas: governance of large-scale energy sector development (oil, gas, biofuels); and models for delivery of sustainable decentralised energy services.