Over the past few years, several policy developments supported the evolution and maturing of the renewable energy sector, including notably the adoption of the Paris Agreement of the UNFCCC and the UN Sustainable Development Goals. The private sector has responded by enhancing their efforts to scale up the supply and use of clean energy technologies. As a result, both solar and wind energy each grew upwards of 20 percent between 2012 and 2015. In addition to the sector being a key component for vital climate action, the global nature of solar PV (photovoltaic) and wind energy value chains offers interesting business opportunities for developing countries. This paper strives to understand the drivers and barriers for the development of such value chains. In addition to a literature review, it includes interviews with clean energy firms.
Written by Veena Jha