Beyond Access: The Energy Problem We Keep Ignoring

What if the real energy challenge isn't access, but what people can actually do with that access?

On this episode of Watts Your Impact, we sit down with Folawiyo Aminu, Senior Associate at RMI, renewable energy project developer, Solar PV and Battery Energy Storage (BESS) engineer, and project manager, to unpack one of the biggest misconceptions about energy access.

From energy poverty to productive energy use, Folawiyo explains why meaningful progress goes beyond connecting homes to electricity—and how the right energy solutions can unlock economic growth, create jobs, and improve livelihoods across communities.

In this episode, we discuss:
• Why access to electricity is only the first step
• The danger of scaling before solving the right problems
• How renewable energy transforms livelihoods and local economies
• Why small, decentralized energy solutions create lasting impact
• The role of innovation, policy, and leadership in accelerating sustainable energy access

Follow Watts Your Impact on Spotify and never miss conversations with the leaders driving innovation, sustainability, and Africa's energy future.

Instagram: @wattsyourimpact
TikTok: @wattsyourimpact

#WattsYourImpact #EnergyAccess #RenewableEnergy