top of page

Renewables bring light, jobs, and hope to poor countries

Renewables bring light, jobs, and hope to poor countries
Renewables bring light, jobs, and hope to poor countries | Photo: Levi Meir Clancy

Across much of the developing world, millions of people live without reliable access to electricity. This persistent energy poverty undermines healthcare, limits education, and constrains economic development. Yet a quiet transformation is underway. Falling costs in solar, wind, and other renewable technologies are turning clean energy into a viable path not only for tackling climate change, but also for lifting entire communities out of poverty.


For countries with scarce resources, renewable energy offers a chance to leapfrog outdated fossil fuel models, avoiding the economic and environmental burdens that wealthier nations still struggle to shed. The potential gains are significant, affordable power for homes and schools, reduced dependence on costly imports, new jobs, and healthier air. Aligning with the ambitions of the Sustainable Development Goals, clean energy can help deliver both economic resilience and environmental justice.

 

Investing in renewable energy in developing countries

Why renewables matter for poor countries

The case for renewable energy in low-income nations rests on several fronts.


·       Decentralisation: Off-grid solutions such as solar home systems and mini-grids are proving indispensable in rural areas where extending national power lines is prohibitively expensive. In countries like Kenya, tens of thousands of households already rely on small solar units for lighting and phone charging.


·       Cost-effectiveness: Prices for solar panels have plummeted by more than 80 per cent in the past decade. Wind power too has become competitive with fossil fuels, while the fuel sources, sun and wind, remain free, protecting households and governments from volatile global markets.


·       Economic opportunity: Access to electricity supports small businesses, improves agricultural productivity, and fuels job creation. The International Renewable Energy Agency estimates that the sector already employs more than 13 million people worldwide, with further growth expected in developing economies.


·       Public health: Traditional fuels such as firewood and dung produce smoke that causes respiratory disease, disproportionately affecting women and children. Transitioning to clean cooking and electrification could prevent millions of premature deaths annually.


·       Energy independence: Harnessing local resources reduces reliance on imported oil and gas, insulating fragile economies from price shocks and supply disruptions.


Available solutions

Renewables for poor countries are not a monolith, but a spectrum of technologies adapted to local conditions. Solar home systems and village mini-grids dominate in off-grid rural areas, while larger projects like Kenya’s Lake Turkana wind farm demonstrate how clean energy can feed national demand. Micro-hydro plants, biogas digesters, and geothermal power in regions such as East Africa’s Rift Valley all add resilience to national energy portfolios.


Barriers that remain

Despite falling technology costs, poor countries face real hurdles. High upfront investment costs deter governments and households alike, while weak infrastructure makes it difficult to connect renewable generation to population centres. Political uncertainty and fossil fuel subsidies often skew the policy landscape against clean energy. Technical expertise is in short supply, with too few engineers trained to install and maintain new systems. In some regions, cultural resistance and fears over land use complicate deployment.


Pathways forward

Breaking these barriers requires coordinated action. International financial institutions and private investors can bridge capital gaps. Training programmes are critical to build a skilled local workforce. Governments must create stable policy environments that welcome investment and phase out fossil subsidies. Community participation also matters, since projects that involve local ownership typically achieve greater acceptance and longevity. Finally, market-based models, ranging from pay-as-you-go solar kits to cooperative-run mini-grids, can demonstrate viability and encourage replication.

 

For poorer nations, renewable energy is more than a climate solution, it is an opportunity to reimagine development. By embracing decentralised and affordable power, countries can bypass the constraints of outdated grids, strengthen economic resilience, and protect public health. The challenge now is to ensure that financing, governance, and community engagement keep pace with technology. If that happens, renewable energy may prove not just an alternative, but the foundation of a more equitable global energy system.


For further reading on international clean energy initiatives and case studies, visit IRENA’s resources or explore World Bank energy projects.


bottom of page