Going Green: Renewable energy projects transforming the Global South

Despite this, the region only accounts for about 18% of global power generation capacity. As demand for energy surges, with 85% of the world’s future energy needs expected to come from outside the developed nations, there is an urgent call to create sustainable and equitable energy solutions.

Nations in Africa, Asia, Latin America, and Oceania are increasingly embracing renewable energy as a way to sustainably meet their growing energy needs. Solar, wind, hydro, and geothermal energy are no longer just futuristic ideals but practical solutions helping to reduce dependency on fossil fuels and improve living standards.

Africa

Across Africa, countries are accelerating their transition to renewable energy. Almost every African nation has signed the Paris Agreement and developed Nationally Determined Contributions (NDCs) that outline strategies for reducing emissions and transitioning to cleaner energy sources. Notably, the African Union's Climate Change and Resilient Development Strategy (2022-2032) is fostering long-term cooperation and climate resilience across the continent.

Other important initiatives like the Accelerated Partnership for Renewables in Africa (APRA) are driving the uptake of renewable technologies in countries such as Kenya, Ethiopia, and Rwanda. The Moroni Declaration for Ocean and Climate Action calls for the conservation of oceans to sequester CO2, with a $15 billion mobilization goal by 2030.

Adding up is the Nairobi Declaration of 2023, which laid out sustainable and systematic plans for net-zero emissions and climate adaptation, with 12 countries committing to reach net-zero by 2050.

Asia

In Uzbekistan, ACWA Power, the largest independent power producer in Saudi Arabia, has partnered with the government to develop a large renewable energy program. This includes 5.1 gigawatts (GW) of solar power and a groundbreaking green hydrogen project aimed at decarbonising the fertiliser industry.

China, a global solar leader, is home to the Tengger Desert Solar Park, one of the world’s largest solar installations, covering over 1,200 kilometres and with a total capacity of 1,547 megawatts (MW).

Meanwhile, India’s Bhadla Solar Park in Rajasthan, covering 14,000 acres, has an impressive capacity of over 2,245 MW, contributing significantly to India’s goal of achieving 100 GW of solar power by 2022.

Southeast Asia is also making strides, with countries like Vietnam and Thailand advancing innovative solar projects. The Trung Nam Thuan Nam Solar Power Plant in Vietnam and Thailand’s floating solar farm project at Sirindhorn Dam, which combines solar, hydropower, and energy storage, are examples of how the region is embracing clean energy for sustainable development.

Latin America and the Caribbean

Latin America and the Caribbean are also at the forefront of the renewable energy transition, with nearly 460 gigawatts of solar and wind projects in the pipeline. The Renewables in Latin America and the Caribbean (RELAC) initiative, a coalition of 16 countries, aims for 80% of the region’s electricity generation to come from renewable sources by 2030.

Brazil has long been a leader in renewable energy, already generating almost half of its electricity from renewable sources. The country’s commitment to an equitable energy transition is evident through the Industrial Deep Decarbonisation Initiative, which seeks to decarbonize energy-intensive sectors like cement, steel, and petrochemicals while ensuring social inclusion and workforce reskilling.

In the Caribbean, the Portland Plantation Hybrid Wind & Solar Farm in Barbados represents an innovative and sustainable approach to energy. The project combines wind, solar, and battery storage to increase the island’s energy resilience and reduce its reliance on imported fossil fuels.