This study analyses trends and opportunities for trade among developing countries (i.e. South-South trade) in selected environmental goods, in order to assess the contribution such trade can make to a green economy transition. The term ‘developing countries’ includes all countries and territories listed as developing economies in the UNCTAD Handbook of Statistics (UNCTAD, 2012). The study focuses on South-South trade flows in several RE products and their components, including solar photovoltaic (PV) cells and modules, wind turbines, hydroelectric turbines, biomass feedstock, solar water heaters and solar lighting equipment, as well as other select environmental goods. The latter include water filtering and purification equipment and environmentally preferable products, such as organic agricultural goods.
This report provides a comprehensive overview of the renewable energy market, industry, investment and policy developments worldwide. It covers recent developments, current status, and key trends; by design, it does not provide analysis or forecast. Prepared by REN21, a global renewable energy policy multi-stakeholder network, the report relies on up-to-date renewable energy data, provided by an international network of more than 500 contributors, researchers, and authors. This report, covering the year 2013, focuses on:
- Expansion of supporting policies in developing economies;
- Additions to electricity generating capacity;
- Progress made in renewables heating and cooling;
- Shifts in investments;
- Leaders in renewable energy deployment; and
- Evolution of the renewable energy field in the last decade.
Renewable energy (RE) sources are key to the global transition to a low carbon economy. Yet their reach and growth trajectory is not yet at the scale required to respond effectively to the climate challenge. This report focuses on how to unlock the power of clean energy by exploring the conditions needed to stimulate greater private sector investment in renewable energy. It draws on insights provided from 18 Fortune Global 500 companies that currently buy, or generate onsite, renewable energy and are looking to expand such investments.
The report Review of Regulation in Renewable Energy provides an analysis of how South Africa’s renewable energy sector has been developing. It identifies the key players, policies and regulation that have shaped the development of the sector.
Economic recession has limited national budget spending and the lending capacities of commercial banks for the realization of infrastructure projects in the field of energy generation, transmission and distribution.
This article highlights the potential of Private Public Partnerships (PPPs) for accessing finance and reducing capital expenditure (capex costs) of energy infrastructure projects in this current time of shrinking financial resources, which have widened the gap between public and private funding. The article points out that through PPP, the private and public sectors can reach a mutually beneficial agreement: the private sector can have the guarantees it needs to face risks entailed in the time gap between the project’s planning phase and its actual implementation, whereas the public sector can obtain capital investment and management expertise.
In Morocco, the potential for solar and wind energy generation is enormous and could be exploited for addressing not only energy security concerns, but also pressing social and economic needs. Smart policy design that integrates different policy objectives can have long-lasting effects, stimulating competitiveness across the economy.