Secure and stable access to electricity remains a significant challenge in various regions of the world.. Despite technological advances and the deployment of renewable sources, Electricity is still a scarce resource for millions of people, and distribution and pricing problems affect both developed and emerging countries.
In recent years, International policies have focused on universalizing reliable and affordable electricity supply.However, threats such as grid instability, prolonged outages, and rising prices make it difficult to meet the sustainable development goals and raise social concerns.
Global challenges: access to electricity and regional inequality
The report 'Monitoring SDG 7' prepared by international organizations highlights that Almost 92% of the world's population has access to electricitybut still More than 666 million people remain offline, most of which are concentrated in sub-Saharan Africa. In these regions, Difficulties in expanding infrastructure and lack of financing They exacerbate the energy gap, leaving many communities without the basic development opportunities that electricity provides.
In contrast, Central and South Asia have made remarkable progress In recent years, the number of people without access to electricity has been drastically reduced through the expansion of grids and off-grid solutions such as solar mini-grids.
The report also highlights the slowness in the improvement of energy efficiency and access to clean cooking technologies, key aspects for achieving a fair and sustainable energy transition.
Current issues: power outages and their impact on everyday life
As the world debates renewable energy and universal access, Power outages continue to make news in countries like LibyaIn southern cities, where temperatures above 45 degrees are recorded, Residents suffer daily interruptions in supply which can last for hours. This situation generates protests and concern, especially among the most vulnerable sectors, such as the elderly and the sick, who see their rights and quality of life threatened.
Ciudadanos They demand more transparent and efficient management from electricity companies, denouncing the lack of advance warnings about interruptions and describing the companies' response as negligent. The electricity companies themselves attribute the problems to high demand and infrastructure wear and tear, aggravated by extreme weather conditions.
The consequences of these cuts not only affect the lack of light or air conditioning, but impact other essential services, such as water supplyUrgent investments are essential to strengthen networks and improve resilience to future crises.
The price of electricity: hourly variability and consumer pressure
In Europe, the Attention is focused on the fluctuations in the price of electricity, which in Spain has seen significant increases in recent months. The average daily price, according to the Iberian Energy Market Operator (OMIE), fluctuates significantly throughout the day, with notable differences between peak and off-peak hours.
For example, on a recent Sunday, the average rate was 32,39 euros per megawatt hour, but in the bands of maximum consumption it could reach 88,64 EurosDuring off-peak hours, the price even dropped to negative values, reaching -0,6 euros per megawatt hour. This behavior forces many households to plan the use of household appliances and look for the cheapest times to consume energy, adapting daily routines and habits.
The causes of these increases are related to both market factors (such as the evolution of gas and fuel prices) and weather conditions, increased summer demand, and the effects of recent tax reforms. Furthermore, energy inflation directly impacts the cost of living, pushing prices further away from the stability target set by European organizations.
Renewables, storage and new technological challenges
The push for renewable energy is accompanied by integration and storage challenges. Technologies such as gravitational storage —where excess electricity is used to lift large weights, releasing that potential energy when needed—are being developed in countries like China with the collaboration of international companies. These solutions provide advantages in sustainability and scalability., although they present challenges in terms of space and speed of response compared to other alternatives such as batteries.
Experts point out that, although global renewable capacity continues to grow—reaching a 17,9% share of final energy consumption—this pace is still not sufficient to meet international energy coverage and decarbonization targets. Furthermore, Lack of access to adequate financing limits its expansion in the most needy regions..
International cooperation and investment in innovation will be key to ensuring that all countries can benefit from a stable, clean and affordable electricity supplyUniversalizing the right to a reliable supply will continue to be a priority challenge for governments, businesses, and international cooperation in the coming years.