One of the interesting concepts explored during the recent IBM sustainability summit was how to encourage renewable energy in the poorest developing countries, in particular those in Africa.

A large amount of aid is currently funneled towards developing economies, along with a lot of investment, particularly from China. With the UK government’s pledge to save foreign aid from its austerity-focused budget cuts, Britain might have some innovative ways to make the most of the funds it allocates.

For example, there’s a scheme called “Water Aid,” which aims to provide water and sanitation to the world’s poorest communities. It’s a fundamentally sound strategy, and one that’s run by an international, non-governmental organisation. However, water is not the only solution needed … to power development in these countries, energy is also required.

The idea explored at the IBM summit was how to start something similar to Water Aid, but instead focus on providing energy — mainly from renewable sources — to help developing countries attain better standards of living. Considering the expense of connecting every home to a national grid is beyond the capabilities of the poorest countries, remote micro-generation schemes are more viable.

Such projects could include community installations, with the technology used depending on the location. For example, wind turbines would be more suitable in coastal areas, while solar panels could be a better option inland. Anaerobic digestion systems could prove the most important technology in many situations, as it produces both biogas for energy and a biodigestate that could be used as fertiliser to help crop growth, an important factor in the poorest countries.

The initial funding for “Energy Aid” could come from both government and businesses. Government benefits from an investment that allows for further development of technologies and improved trade. Companies, meanwhile, gain not only the potential for new business opportunities in these countries but for a better reputation in corporate social responsibility. And that can translate into an improved public reputation and standing in the marketplace.

Such energy-focused initiatives could also promote change in regions such as Haiti and Pakistan, which have been devastated by recent natural disasters, by renewing damaged infrastructure through clean energy. If renewable systems can be implemented early on before gas and coal takes over, the impact of higher carbon emissions from developing countries can be restricted. As it’s the poorest countries most likely to be hit hardest by climate change, developed countries should “pay their dues” and support such efforts.

However, several issues — including security — need to be considered in pursuing such projects. As the renewable energy technologies being considered tend to be expensive, it would make more sense to focus on community deployments rather than individual ones, as the whole community would both benefit and look after these installations. Also, implementing such schemes would require a lot of collaboration between business and government, including compliance from the countries that would be benefiting. With exploitation in the poorest countries long a problem, suspicious could be heightened — another factor that would have to be addressed.

Some might argue that, seeing as we in the UK haven’t even got our act together on renewable energy, why should we tell other countries what to do? The answer is that both sides could benefit as, by working together in a real drive for clean energy, costs for such technologies can be brought down. The only way to increase the use of renewables is to start from the bottom up and implement schemes everywhere; otherwise, the whole exercise of reducing carbon emission is pointless.

Although the concept of “Energy Aid” might appear idealistic, the potential for all of us to benefit is huge. Reducing carbon emissions is a global mission and it is now that we must act in terms of planet management.

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