Key facts
- Off-grid solar is the cheapest way to electrify 398 million people globally.
- The World Bank estimates $11.4 billion is needed for off-grid electricity expansion from 2027-2030.
- 7.4 million people use off-grid solar for microenterprises, generating an estimated $28 billion in income.
- Off-grid solar users increased 26% to 149 million in the past two years.
- Africa will install a record 17 GW of solar capacity in 2026.
- India's installed solar capacity reached 164.59 GW by July 31, 2026.
Off-grid solar systems are now the most affordable way to provide electricity to nearly 400 million people worldwide who currently lack access, according to a new report from the World Bank and the off-grid solar industry association GOGLA. The technology is increasingly being viewed as permanent infrastructure rather than a temporary solution. The report estimates that $11.4 billion will be required between 2027 and 2030 to extend reliable off-grid electricity to 398 million people, encompassing grants, subsidies, equity, debt, and financing. This investment is a small fraction of the global need for energy transition funding. The sector currently supports 219,000 jobs and has seen a 26% increase in users over the past two years, reaching 149 million people.