UN Secretary-General António Guterres has launched the Global Grids Accelerator to mobilise investment in electricity infrastructure across Africa and Southeast Asia, helping countries turn energy priorities into viable projects.
Announced ahead of the UN Climate Summit 2026, the initiative will bring together policy expertise, project preparation, financing and implementation support to accelerate priority grid investments and regional electricity interconnections.
“Renewables are booming, but the grids that carry clean power are not keeping pace,” Guterres said, stressing that modern electricity networks are essential for expanding energy access, strengthening energy security and supporting economic growth.
More than 2,500 gigawatts (GW) of renewable energy projects are reportedly waiting for grid connections worldwide. Global annual investment in electricity grids, currently around US$450 billion, needs to rise by approximately 50% by 2030 to keep pace with growing demand and renewable energy deployment.
The International Energy Agency estimates that more than 80 million kilometres of electricity grids will need to be added or refurbished by 2040.
