SDG 7: Affordable and clean energy >

SDG 7: Ensure access to affordable, reliable, sustainable and modern energy for all

Minnesota, USA

One in five people lack access to modern energy services and almost 3 billion people depend on wood and coal for cooking and heating. About 1 billion people around the world lack access to electricity.

These numbers underscore the urgency for immediate action and for gradually decoupling from fossil fuels which are increasingly expensive and limited.

Photographer Stefano Guindani captured the Aurora Solar Park — the largest photovoltaic plant in North America, owned by the Italian group Enel. The park plays an essential role in the local energy transition, converting solar energy into electricity, without significant CO2 emissions.

Thanks to advanced technologies, it produces about 210 million kWh per year, enough to power thousands of homes and businesses and equal to the demand of more than 17,000 U.S. households, thus supporting the local economy. In addition to the environmental benefits, the park helps bee populations and increases crop productivity thanks to the presence of livestock.