Unlocking Clean Power for All

The report applies tipping point theory to the energy transition, arguing that while solar and wind have reached cost parity with fossil fuels globally, systemic barriers persist in many emerging market and developing economies (EMDEs). It proposes a holistic policy framework to 'force' tipping by amplifying positive feedbacks (e.g., reducing cost of capital), removing negative feedbacks (e.g., fossil fuel subsidy reform), and creating enabling conditions (e.g., grid modernization). The authors emphasize that public finance, especially international concessional funding, is critical to overcome high capital costs and infrastructure gaps in the Global South to meet the goal of tripling renewable energy capacity by 2030.

• Solar PV and onshore wind have reached cost parity with new coal and gas plants globally, with 96% of newly added utility-scale capacity in 2023 being cheaper than new fossil fuel plants.
• Renewable energy (RE) deployment and investment remain heavily concentrated; in 2023, China and advanced economies accounted for 90% of solar PV and wind capacity installations and 85% of RE investment.
• To meet the Paris Agreement goal of limiting warming to 1.5ºC, global RE capacity must triple to at least 11 terawatts by 2030, but current projections suggest a shortfall of approximately 30%.
• The cost of capital is a primary barrier in EMDEs, where capital for utility-scale solar PV projects is more than twice as expensive as in advanced economies.
• Systemic 'dampening feedbacks' hinder the transition, including infrastructure designed for centralized baseload power, fossil fuel subsidies, and the influence of vested interests.
• Grid integration remains a significant bottleneck; approximately 1,500 GW of RE capacity worldwide is currently delayed awaiting transmission connection.
• Public financial support for RE is highly skewed, with 96% of support between 2020 and 2022 concentrated in China and advanced economies.
• Forcing a tipping point requires a holistic policy mix: amplifying positive feedbacks (concessional finance, PPAs), removing negative feedbacks (fossil fuel subsidy reform), and creating enabling conditions (grid modernization).
• Developed countries may need to provide USD 80 billion to USD 100 billion in annual concessional funding for RE in EMDEs to mobilize the necessary private finance for Net Zero scenarios.

APA

Urazova, I., & Laan, T. (2024). Unlocking Clean Power for All. International Institute for Sustainable Development. https://www.iisd.org/system/files/2024-09/clean-power-tipping-points.pdf

Chicago

Urazova, Indira, and Tara Laan. Unlocking Clean Power for All. International Institute for Sustainable Development, 2024. https://www.iisd.org/system/files/2024-09/clean-power-tipping-points.pdf.

Wikipedia

{{cite report |last1=Urazova |first1=Indira |last2=Laan |first2=Tara |title=Unlocking Clean Power for All |publisher=International Institute for Sustainable Development |date=September 2024 |url=https://www.iisd.org/system/files/2024-09/clean-power-tipping-points.pdf |access-date=23 October 2026 |via=Climate Insights Directory}}

BibTeX

@techreport{urazova2024unlocking, author = {Urazova, Indira and Laan, Tara}, title = {{Unlocking Clean Power for All}}, institution = {International Institute for Sustainable Development}, year = {2024}, month = sep, url = {https://www.iisd.org/system/files/2024-09/clean-power-tipping-points.pdf}, urldate = {2026-10-23}, note = {Indexed by Climate Insights Directory} }