the demand for secure energy supply underpins economic activity whether it is a factory in germany or a farming operation in kenya it is needed to grow crops just as much as it is needed to underpin the mobile phone network through which farmers can connect to their markets energy is an essential input to the production of food and the provision of water it can eliminate the need for hours spent collecting fuel wood to make more time available for education and entrepreneurial activity it offers mobility that makes trade possible energy fuels the movement of manufactured goods people services and ideas