When it comes to renewable energy success stories, we often turn to developed nations such as Germany, Denmark, or the United States. However, many emerging markets and developing countries (EMDCs) are making impressive strides in the clean energy transition, often overcoming unique challenges with innovative solutions. These countries offer valuable lessons in scaling renewables, fostering investment, and creating sustainable growth. Here are a few inspiring examples of EMDCs that have gone green the right way.
Kenya: A regional leader in clean electrification
Kenya has become a standout example of renewable energy development in Africa, with around 90% of its installed capacity now coming from wind, solar, geothermal, and hydropower. The country is also among the world’s lowest-cost producers of geothermal power.
(Also read: Powering the Future with Geothermal Energy)
Thanks to an ambitious electrification drive, national electricity access surged from 32% in 2013 to 84% in 2023, with urban areas nearly fully covered. Rural access is expanding through efforts like the Last Mile Connectivity Project, which has delivered electricity to 9 million people and aims to reach another 280,000 households by the end of 2025.
According to the International Energy Agency (IEA), Kenya is the world’s “largest and most mature market for solar off-grid solutions,” accounting for nearly 74% of all solar home system sales in East Africa in 2023.
Currently, one in five Kenyan households uses solar mini-grids or standalone systems—an essential step toward achieving universal access by 2030.
“Kenya is showing how the strategic deployment of clean energy technologies and electrification in end-use sectors can significantly improve the lives of millions of the most vulnerable people in the world,” International Energy Agency (IEA) Deputy Executive Director Mary Burce Warlick said.
(Also read: Lighting up Mindanao: A Grassroots Push for Solar Power)
Morocco: A solar powerhouse in the desert
With few fossil fuel resources of its own, Morocco has turned a constraint into a catalyst. The country is home to the Noor Ouarzazate Solar Complex, one of the world’s largest concentrated solar power (CSP) plants, supplying power to over 2 million people.
The Noor Ouarzazate Solar Complex, with its generation capacity of 580 megawatts (MW), ranks among the world’s biggest concentrated solar power (CSP) facilities. Backed by major investments and global partnerships, Morocco is targeting renewables to supply 52% of its electricity mix by 2030.
In 2008, Morocco introduced the National Energy and Energy Efficiency Plan (NEEAP) to address the rising cost of energy imports and promote sustainable development. The plan set clear goals for expanding renewable energy from wind, solar, and hydropower sources.
North Africa is considered one of the world’s most climate-vulnerable regions, with projections indicating summer temperatures could rise by as much as 4°C by the end of the century. In addition to climate concerns, Morocco’s push for renewable energy has also been driven by a desire to reduce reliance on imported energy, particularly from Algeria and Spain.
(Also read: Consumer Group Calls for Clean Energy Shift in Mindanao)
Brazil: A clean energy leader in Latin America
Brazil’s energy strategy ranks among the most effective globally in addressing today’s key energy challenges. With near-universal electricity access and nearly 45% of its primary energy coming from renewable sources, Brazil has developed one of the world’s lowest carbon-intensive energy sectors. Hydropower plays a dominant role, supplying roughly 80% of the country’s electricity and contributing to a particularly clean energy mix.
In 2023, the country also set a new record for biomass generation, producing 3,218 average megawatts—equivalent to 4.6% of total energy use that year, according to the Ministry of Mines and Energy. Emphasizing the country’s progress, Minister Alexandre Silveira stated, “We are working on several fronts to continue being a benchmark for clean energy around the world,” noting that 93.6% of electricity produced in 2023 came from renewable sources.
Brazil’s success in energy policy is largely rooted in its diversified approach, combining oil, biofuels, and other energy sources to reduce reliance on imports and strengthen energy security. Sugarcane ethanol has played a key role in this strategy, helping to advance the country’s climate goals.
“By reducing dependence on external energy sources, Brazil’s economy is less vulnerable to external shocks, such as fluctuations in oil and gas prices,” Jorge Ernesto Rodriguez Morales, a lecturer and researcher in environmental policy and climate change governance at Stockholm University, explained.
Lessons from the Global South
These three countries demonstrate that renewable energy success in emerging economies is not only possible but scalable with the right mix of political will, strategic planning, and targeted investment. Their progress highlights the value of expanding rural electrification, diversifying energy sources, and using innovation to overcome geographic and economic constraints. For regions like Mindanao, which face both energy reliability issues and untapped renewable potential, these examples offer practical insights into how clean energy can drive inclusive growth, energy independence, and climate resilience.
Sources:
https://www.trade.gov/country-commercial-guides/kenya-energy-electrical-power-systems
https://iea.blob.core.windows.net/assets/98bc7ce1-b22d-48c9-9ca2-b668ffbfcc4b/Kenya2024.pdf
https://ouarzazate.city/noor-ouarzazate-solar-power-station/
https://borgenproject.org/noor-solar-project/
https://www.trade.gov/country-commercial-guides/morocco-energy
https://www.sdg16.plus/policies/moroccos-national-energy-and-energy-efficiency-plan/
https://www.unicef.org/mena/reports/impact-climate-change-children-mena
https://www.dw.com/en/morocco-powering-ahead-of-other-african-states-on-renewables/a-64093142
https://www.iea.org/countries/brazil
https://www.bioenergy-news.com/news/brazil-saw-record-biomass-output-last-year/
https://bioenergytimes.com/brazil-achieves-record-biomass-energy-generation-in-2023/
https://theecologist.org/2024/nov/15/brazils-biofuels-boom-or-climate-bust
