Grid Integration of Renewable Energy

A Renewable Energy Revolution

The Rise of Renewable Energy and Lessons Learned for Utilities around the Globe

Photo: Sarah Fretwell/USAID

Replacing Fossil Fuels as Base Load Power

Clean energy pioneers like Hawaii have proven that renewables can replace fossil fuels as base load power, but the transition requires changes in how utilities do business.

Watch the story below.

Leaping Ahead

Drawing on the Hawaii experience, developing countries are leapfrogging the developed world in the pursuit of renewable energy, expanding energy access to millions of people around the globe. Along the way, they are helping to reinvent the electric grid and sharing lessons learned through innovative information exchanges facilitated by USAID.

‌By 2026, utility scale solar will be broadly competitive in most places around the world, in sunny places this will occur earlier. In India for example, the cost of utility-scale PV is expected to reach parity with new coal by 2023.—Bloomberg New Energy Finance
Photo: Sarah Fretwell/USAID
‌As renewable energy penetration rises, countries will need to add flexible capacity that can help meet peak demand, as well as ramp up when solar comes offline in the evening.—Bloomberg New Energy Finance
Photo: Sarah Fretwell/USAID
‌Wind is expected to become a significant component of future power generation portfolios, both to reduce dependence on foreign energy sources and to reduce greenhouse gas emissions. Developing Countries will build nearly three times as much new energy capacity as developed nations, at 7640GW—around half will be renewables.—Bloomberg New Energy Finance
Photo: Sarah Fretwell/USAID
‌Technical experts from Indonesia’s power utility, PLN, and government officials from Indonesia’s Ministry of Energy and Mineral Resources visit a Maui solar farm through USAID’s Energy Utility Partnership Program to learn how Hawaii is using smart policies and regulations to attract private investment and spur clean energy development.
Photo: Sarah Fretwell/USAID

Learn More

Follow the features below to see the story of a successful Hawaii–Indonesia partnership and to learn about three tools from Hawaii’s transition to 100 percent renewables.

‌‌The Hawaii–Indonesia ExperienceHow Utilities Can Partner Internationally to Support Renewable Energy ExpansionPhoto: Sarah Fretwell/USAID
‌‌A Renewable Energy PioneerLessons Learned for Utilities around the GlobePhoto: Sarah Fretwell/USAID