Renewable energy: potential and benefits for developing countries

The role of energy in development is crucial. Energy fuels economic growth and istherefore of paramount concern for all countries. But access to energy varies widelyamong countries. An estimated two billion people in the world lack access to modernenergy carriers. As long as they have to rely on fuel wood and animal dung for theirenergy needs there will be no development. In fact, no country has been able tosubstantially reduce poverty without significantly increasing its use of energy, replacinghuman and animal labour with more efficient forms of energy.