Renewable Energy for Developing Countries: Progress and Challenges

Abstract

Renewable energy has the potential to provide a sustainable solution for energy poverty in developing countries. However, there are still significant challenges to be overcome in order to fully realize this potential. Studies have shown that government efforts such as the Clean Development Mechanism (CDM) under the Kyoto Protocol and renewable energy policies have helped to increase the use of renewable energy in developing countries. However, access to modern energy services remains a major challenge, with many people in rural areas still lacking access to electricity. Additionally, inadequate infrastructure and insufficient funding and policy support remain major obstacles to the widespread adoption of renewable energy in developing countries. To overcome these challenges, a new financial, institutional, and technological framework is needed, as well as capacity building to enable the scaling up of access to modern energy services at the local and regional levels.