Reaching an international consensus on defining modern energy access

Recent international events point to a growing momentum to adopt a universal energy access target or goal. However, without an agreement about standards for measuring access from an operational point of view and consensus about the conceptual definition of access, setting such an energy access target and, more importantly, the adoption of such a target by the international community will be challenging. Previous approaches to defining access to modern energy have tended to focus on single dimensions of the access issue, such as physical supply or availability of energy carriers, adequacy (availability above a minimum threshold quantity) and affordability. To reach a consensus on defining access will require focus on three elements. First, defining what energy services should be included in the basic needs basket. Second, setting what quantitative and qualitative thresholds define minimum need. And finally, assessing how the new modern energy costs compares to existing household energy expenditures for different household income groups.

► The paper reviews approaches for defining access to modern energy.
► Previous approaches have focused on single dimensions of the access issue.
► To reach a consensus on defining access requires focus on three elements.
► First, what energy services should be included in the basic needs basket.
► Second, what quantitative and qualitative thresholds define minimum needs.
► Last, how new modern energy costs compare to existing energy expenditures.