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Access to affordable clean energy is No. 7 in the United Nations' Sustainable Development Goals for 2030.
Investment into small-scale, off-grid solar power is set to reach an all-time high this year in Africa amid population growth and economic development that has intensified the demand for electricity. And in Europe, large corporations are poised to become important drivers of renewable energy as the decline in government subsidies has developers looking for stable revenue streams elsewhere.
Meanwhile, our Chart of the Week shows the growth in deals between renewable energy developers and eco-conscious corporations over the past several years.
Chart of the Week

Top Stories
Corporate consumers drive uptake of renewable energy as state subsidies fade
Corporate buyers say contracting for renewable power not only boosts environmental credentials but it now also makes financial sense. Although the majority of these corporate procurement deals have been signed in the U.S., countries in Europe are starting to catch up.
Susan, a customer of solar energy company M-KOPA. She uses solar power to light her home and small business in Uganda. Source: Allan Gichigi/M-KOPA |
To hedge off-grid solar default risk in Africa, investors cast wider net
Millions of people across Africa lack access to reliable electricity, creating opportunities for a number of European utilities experiencing stagnating demand in their home markets to provide small-scale, off-grid solar power.
Green tariff options continue expansion in 2019
Options are expanding for large energy users interested in sourcing more of their electricity needs to renewable energy through their utility. A handful of new green tariff programs have received regulatory approval so far this year.
Environmental
Gold miners embracing ESG principles as executives look to attract investors
Chevron sets short-term upstream emissions reduction goals
Unilever vows to cut down plastic packaging, waste by 2025
Social
NextEra reports largest electric utility CEO to median employee pay ratio in 2018
Diocese bankruptcy offers window into insurance impact of NY Child Victims Act
J&J, ViiV embrace collaborative nature of HIV therapies to seek new treatments
Governance
Berlin rent squeeze could spread to other cities, says Grand City Properties CEO
Hess Midstream's corporate reorganization is a 'compromise,' analysts say
Little progress in talks to end blockade at Newmont's Peñasquito gold mine
ESG Indexes

Upcoming Events
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Dec. 3
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Dec. 4-5
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Questions or suggestions? Contact S&P Global Market Intelligence's ESG News team at ESGNews@spglobal.com.

