Nairobi: The Open Source in Energy Access Symposium (OSEAS) 2025 has officially commenced in Nairobi, gathering technologists, policymakers, energy innovators, and local enterprises globally. The conference aims to expedite the adoption of open-source solutions in the worldwide effort to achieve universal energy access.
According to Kenya News Agency, George Nyang’ayo, Assistant Director of Renewable Energy at the Ministry of Energy and Petroleum, emphasized the government’s appreciation for open-source platforms like the Energy Access Explorer (EAE). These platforms have supported national goals by offering a geospatial platform that integrates over 50 datasets relevant to energy access, social services, infrastructure, and productive uses.
Launched in 2019, Kenya’s EAE has facilitated alignment with least-cost electrification efforts through integration with the Kenyan National Electrification Strategy. Nyang’ayo highlighted that at the subnational level, EAE has contributed to the development of County Energy Plans in Makueni, Narok, and Kitui, enhancing local decision-making by collaborating with the Clean Cooking Alliance (CCA) and the Clean Cooking Association of Kenya (CCAK) to incorporate cooking-related data and use cases.
Nyang’ayo noted that the EAE and such platforms democratize data access and analytics, reduce planning costs, and improve coordination among stakeholders. He reaffirmed Kenya’s commitment to open innovation, capacity building, and inclusive tools, urging stakeholders to ensure data, tools, and partnerships reach the communities most in need.
The OSEAS 2025 event, co-hosted by the EnAccess Foundation and the World Resources Institute (WRI), builds on the momentum from its inaugural edition in Abuja, Nigeria, in 2024. The event encourages scaling practical, open, and locally driven energy innovations.
Vivien Barnier, CEO of The EnAccess Foundation, stated that barriers to energy access involve more than just technology; they require collaboration. He emphasized that the symposium is a platform for moving from discussion to action, empowering communities to develop and adapt energy solutions that meet their needs.
Tools like the EAE support data-informed planning across Africa and have been crucial in developing the Makueni County Energy Plan and Investment Prospectus in Kenya. These tools help identify priority areas for renewable energy investments in agriculture, health, and education.
Rebekah Shirley, Deputy Regional Director of WRI Africa, highlighted the critical role of energy, noting that over 600 million people in Sub-Saharan Africa lack electricity access, and close to 1 billion people rely on harmful cooking fuels. She stressed that bridging this gap is a development necessity and a moral imperative.
Dimitrios Mentis, Lead of the Energy Access Explorer at WRI, remarked that open source acts as a powerful catalyst for accelerating inclusive energy access. By making data, tools, and technology widely available, local actors are empowered to design energy solutions that directly address community needs.
Throughout the symposium, participants will engage in demos, policy roundtables, and business model showcases demonstrating how open tools enhance transparency, reduce costs, and support interoperability, aiding energy developers and governments to transition from closed, proprietary systems.