The Global Energy Alliance for People and Planet is poised to expand clean energy access to nearly 240 million people and cut 952 million tons of carbon emissions through projects deployed, ready for deployment and under design, according to its 2025 impact report.
The alliance, launched four years ago, has already helped deliver energy access to 10 million people, supported 2 million jobs and livelihoods and cut 18 million tons of emissions from renewable energy assets. With its pipeline of 188 projects, the group expects far greater cumulative benefits as programs scale.
A total of $503 million in awards has been disbursed, which in turn unlocked $7.8 billion in additional financing. The report noted that catalytic capital was essential in mobilizing multilateral lenders, philanthropies and private investors to commit resources in higher-risk early stages.
Woochong Um, GEAPP’s chief executive, said the work demonstrates systemic impact. “Projects like the one in New Delhi prove that when we unite the right players from the public, private and philanthropic sectors, we can weather the headwinds and drive lasting, systemic impact,” he said.
Expanding Access and Cutting Emissions
If only projects already deployed are considered, 10 million people have gained new or improved access and 18 million tons of carbon emissions are expected to be avoided. When projects ready for deployment are included, those totals rise to 91 million people and 296 million tons of avoided emissions.
By region, Africa received the largest share of awards — $254 million, or 51 percent of the total — with programs underway to close the continent’s vast energy access gap, where 600 million people remain without electricity. The ambitious “Mission 300” initiative, backed by $50 billion in catalytic capital, aims to connect 300 million Africans by 2030.
In India, GEAPP is supporting distributed renewables and battery storage to enhance grid reliability, which is still constrained by outdated infrastructure and weak distribution companies.
In Southeast Asia, the alliance is backing coal retirement plans and battery storage pilots in Vietnam and Indonesia, while in Latin America, partnerships target last-mile electrification and resilience against climate shocks.
Jobs and Livelihoods Supported
The report also highlighted progress in job creation. Across projects deployed and ready to launch, 3.1 million additional jobs and livelihoods are expected to be supported. If projects under design are realized, that number rises to nearly 5 million.
Tulika Narayan, GEAPP’s chief impact officer, said the alliance measures its results not only by direct project outcomes but by systemic change. “Our theory of change is about addressing root causes, not just isolated projects,” she said. “We look at how institutions, markets and policies shift to enable larger-scale impact.”
External evaluators interviewed 35 stakeholders and surveyed 47 others to validate GEAPP’s contributions. The review rated its role as “pivotal” in many contexts, especially in catalyzing new project pipelines and unlocking finance.
Regional Challenges Persist
Still, challenges remain. In Africa, inadequate transmission, fragmented planning and high financing costs are slowing progress. In India, agricultural solarization has lagged due to coordination gaps. In Latin America, overreliance on hydropower exposes systems to drought. Southeast Asia continues to grapple with coal dependence and fossil fuel subsidies.
To address these barriers, GEAPP has supported battery storage roadmaps, coal plant retirement mechanisms and distributed renewable energy pilots. In Malawi, the first grid-scale battery system is being financed to stabilize the fragile grid and expand renewables. In Haiti, mesh grids have been deployed to reach remote communities, while in South Africa, renewable energy training projects are preparing workers for just transition pathways.
Ambition and Collaboration Ahead
The alliance’s ambition remains steep. It ultimately targets 1 billion people with clean energy access, 150 million with improved livelihoods and 4 billion tons of carbon avoided.
Its leaders stressed that achieving those goals will require persistent collaboration. “When every part of the value chain is working in concert, it powers investments, upskills workforces, overcomes regulatory and financial bottlenecks and reshapes entire energy systems,” Um said.
Narayan echoed the need for long-term partnerships. “Systemic impact happens when we build institutions, strengthen markets and anchor transitions in local communities,” she said.
The 2025 report highlights how a combination of catalytic finance, political will and technical expertise can accelerate the transition to clean energy. Yet it also makes clear that without sustained investment and reforms, progress could stall.
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