The Energy Access Explorer was launched on 4th October, 2021 as one of the outcomes of the Africa Clean Energy (ACE) – Technical Assistance Facility (TAF). This tool has been developed in close collaboration with key stakeholders in the energy sector and seeks to enhance the enabling environment for private investments in the energy sector by allowing users to better assess the spatial relationship between the available energy resources, power infrastructure and important socio-economic characteristics such as health facilities, schools, etc.

The tool leverages information generated from the Resource Assessments previously conducted by the Ministry on wind, solar and Bioenergy. Additional information from other sources has been incorporated in the tool including the national grid network and demographic data.

Using this information, the Explorer has been designed to be an online, open-source, interactive, high-resolution, geospatial platform that will allow energy planners, clean energy entrepreneurs, donors, and development-oriented institutions to identify areas where energy access can be expanded and linked to socio-economic development. It will also assist in decision making of appropriate technology options suitable for specific areas depending on the population as well as presence of social amenities.