What if developing countries leapfrogged to renewables only? [39]
Summary of the Article: If developing countries went straight to renewables —skipping a long fossil fuel phase—they could secure lower long‑run power costs , reduce exposure to fuel‑price volatility, cut air‑pollution morbidity, and align with trade regimes that increasingly penalize high‑carbon supply chains. The feasibility hinges on four enablers: (1) cost‑competitive renewables plus storage now available at scale, (2) fit‑for‑purpose grids and decentralized systems for last‑mile access, (3) de‑risked finance to close a persistent capital cost gap, and (4) domestic industrial policy to manage supply‑chain concentration and create jobs. Recent data show that in 2024, 91% of newly commissioned utility‑scale renewables undercut the cheapest new fossil alternative, with global utility‑scale solar PV LCOE ≈ $0.043/kWh and onshore wind ≈ $0.034/kWh ; utility‑scale battery costs have also fallen dramatically since 2010. [unep.org] , [icapcarbonaction.com] For India , where near‑unive...