Reflections from COP29: Five key takeaways for the future of solar-powered appliances

From 11–22 November, COP29 convened global leaders, advocates, and innovators to tackle the most pressing climate challenges. This year’s conference featured many conversations illustrating the centrality of clean energy access to the global climate agenda. Efficiency for Access was proud to contribute to these discussions, with Jakub Vrba, Senior Research Lead at Energy Saving Trust, co-Secretariat Efficiency for Access, participating as a panellist in events hosted at the UK, Swedish, African, and UNIDO pavilions. Throughout the conference, Jakub highlighted how solar-powered appliances can transform lives and livelihoods, especially for underserved communities in low- and middle-income countries.

In no particular order, here are five key reflections from this pivotal event:

1. New funding commitments for a just and inclusive clean energy transition

COP29 was dubbed the ‘finance COP’ given the expectation that delegates would agree to increase their funding commitments to developing nations. Indeed, developed countries committed to increase finance to developing countries, from the previous goal of USD 100 billion annually by 2020 to USD 300 billion annually by 2035.

While there remains some contention around that financial pledge, we were encouraged to see a raft of new financing announced to facilitate clean energy access for the most underserved communities. Acumen, chair of the Efficiency for Access Investor Network, secured USD 25 million from the International Finance Corporation (IFC) in the Acumen Hardest to Reach initiative, which will provide millions of people with access to household solar electricity, reducing kerosene and diesel use, and their associated greenhouse gas emissions. The African Energy Commission of the African Union also launched the African Energy Efficiency Programme, aiming to save USD 175 billion for African consumers by 2030. This will be achieved by reducing electricity consumption, air pollution and greenhouse gas emissions in Africa, as well as freeing more electricity for millions of new consumers and businesses. The initiative will also help build capacity for regional and national energy efficiency policy makers and organisations as well as public and private stakeholders working in relevant industries including efficient appliances.

2. Scaling up sustainable cooling solutions

Sustainable cooling also emerged as a critical topic during the conference, marking the one-year anniversary of the Global Cooling Pledge. This initiative, endorsed by 71 countries and 60 non-state actors, aims to reduce cooling-related emissions by 68% by 2050 while ensuring access to life-saving cooling solutions for vulnerable populations.

Discussions on this issue were prominent at COP29, with high-level events such as a Ministerial Roundtable focusing on the adoption of the 2030 Global Cooling Pledge implementation strategy.

However, with 2024 recorded as the hottest year in history and over 1.2 billion people still lacking adequate access to cooling, there is an urgent need to scale sustainable cooling solutions. As Jakub Vrba emphasised during the Sustainable Cooling in a Warming World event held at the UK pavilion to recognise the Global Cooling Pledge, off-grid rural areas are often overlooked in cooling discussions. Solar-powered fans, currently the most accessible solution, are insufficient during extreme heatwaves exceeding 50 degrees Celsius, while solar-powered agricultural cold chains to preserve fresh food are still at the demonstration phase without appropriate financing mechanisms to scale them.

This stark reality highlights the need for innovative and affordable technologies, adaptive business models, and enabling policies to protect lives and livelihoods in a rapidly warming world.

3. Building climate resilience in agriculture

Agriculture, responsible for around one third of global greenhouse gas emissions, was another focus area at COP29.

Addressing African policy makers, Jakub emphasised how solar-powered appliances can help strengthen agricultural and food value chains and enhance climate resilience as part of the agriculture-water-energy nexus event hosted by the African Development Bank. Food waste and spoilage, which account for 8–10% of global greenhouse gas emissions, are significant issues that solar-powered cold storage can address. For instance, solar-powered cold rooms can keep produce such as fruits and vegetables fresh for longer, reducing food losses and improving farmer incomes. However, these systems often remain prohibitively expensive. To address this barrier, entrepreneurs are exploring models like Cooling-as-a-Service (CaaS), which allows customers to pay only for the cooling they use, eliminating the need for upfront investments. The Efficiency for Access Research and Development Fund is supporting technology and business model innovators to pilot CaaS in Kenya and Nigeria, with Jakub presenting specific case studies at the Agri-Food Value Chains event hosted by GOGLA and REEEP at the UNIDO pavilion.

Better collaboration between the agriculture and energy sectors is needed. The off-grid solar sector often focuses on technology-driven solutions, without a full understanding of agricultural challenges. As such, there is a strong need for off-grid appliance companies and programmes to learn how to support agricultural stakeholders better, as energy is only a means to an end.

4. Clean cooking takes centre stage

Clean cooking solutions were firmly placed on the climate agenda at COP29, building on the momentum gained in 2024. The UK government pledged £74 million to expand clean cooking access to ten million people across Sub-Saharan Africa, South Asia, and the Indo-Pacific. This includes a £44 million extension for the Modern Energy Cooking Services (MECS) programme. High-level events, such as a Ministerial Roundtable hosted by the International Energy Agency, further emphasised the importance of clean cooking in achieving a just and inclusive energy transition. G20 leaders also highlighted this issue in their declaration at the Rio de Janeiro Summit. These commitments mark a significant step towards universal access to clean cooking.

5. Energy access as a climate imperative

Throughout COP29, it became clear that energy access is not only an international development priority, but also an important cornerstone of effective climate action. Solar-powered appliances have the potential to boost incomes and strengthen climate resilience, but achieving this requires sustained investment and collaboration across sectors.