New solar-powered generating capacity is growing at a crackling pace in emerging markets, bringing more energy to the grid and beyond it. The growth is fuelled by low-priced equipment and innovative new applications that are expanding energy access for millions, Bloomberg New Energy Finance (BNEF) found in a series of in-depth new studies of clean energy activity in major developing nations.

In three separate studies, BNEF examined how solar, increasingly also bundled with batteries, is sweeping power-hungry countries in Asia, Africa and Latin America.

• The main study, Climatescope, is a detailed, country-by-country quantitative assessment of clean energy market conditions and opportunities of 71 countries accounting for 32.5% of global GDP and 72.4% of global population. This year’s edition found that a total of 34 gigawatts of new solar-power generating capacity came on line in developing countries in 2016, new investments simultaneously contracted sharply from $154 billion to $103 billion.
• The Accelerating India’s Clean Energy Transition report, released together with Climatescope, showed that after China, India is the largest contributor to the solar boom outside the OECD, but is still moving too slowly to hit its targets. Most of the capacity will come from large-scale solar projects, but the rooftop segment is now the fastest growing market. The nation’s 40GW target for small-scale solar represents a $23 billion opportunity.
• A third piece highlights the most interesting findings from the research our team undertook in 2017 on the topic of Distributed Energy in Frontier Markets. Distributed technologies at the frontiers of the energy system can provide power where the traditional grid is non-existent, inadequate, expensive or too distant for connection. These technologies, and the innovative business models that deploy them, can deliver not just energy but also economic opportunities to the two billion people not reliably served by the energy industry today. But where exactly are the opportunities? Who are the leaders in the sector? Which markets are they likely to capture? The findings included the following:

1. The largest solar deal in Africa this year was off the grid 

• Small-scale solar projects, including debt financing for distributed portfolios, accounted for five of the eleven largest solar deals in Africa between January and October 12, 2017.
• This is not necessarily because off-grid financing is a large market, but because many utility-scale projects in the pipeline struggle with permitting, land acquisition, securing a power purchasing agreement and financing. Off-grid solar companies may be able to move faster because they do not require regulated tariffs.

Disclosed solar asset finance and pay-as-you-go debt deals in Sub-Saharan Africa (2017 only)

2. Distributed energy outside the OECD is a $40 billion industry

Diesel generators have long been the technology of choice in areas where reliable grid electricity is unavailable. In 2015, developing countries bought and installed about 600,000 units annually, totaling an estimated 29GW of capacity. About half of this is in units smaller than 0.3MW. There is a mature market and supply chain to sell, fuel and maintain this kit. Despite usually being competitive with diesel, solar currently has less than 3% of the market for distributed energy capacity in developing countries, but considerable potential.

Power capacity additions in developing countries in 2015

3. Solar and storage make sense for telecoms

Hybrid energy systems consisting of solar panels, a battery and a diesel generator are the cheapest way to run the world’s one million telecom towers that today have unreliable grid supplies. Telecoms and their suppliers spend around $3.8 billion on diesel for their towers today, but solar has a market share of only 3%. But the market is picking up. Orange is working with Engie on re-powering its towers in Senegal, Ivory Coast and Cameroon. Mitsui has invested $9 million in India’s OMC, a start-up focused on solar-power for telecoms.

Estimated cost of electricity to power an off-grid telecom tower in 2025

4. Unexpected partnerships are seeking to power the next billion 

In frontier markets, reaching the last mile is crucial. This is not just true for energy retailers, but for any retailer. Multinationals focused on telecoms, internet or satellite services, insurance and even beverages have all partnered with solar companies to benefit from a combination of energy, mobile connectivity, payment information and distribution channels. This is very different from the traditional utility business model.

Solar and connectivity partnerships (sample list) 

5. Powering agriculture has potential, but limited track record

Powering agriculture appears to be a missed opportunity. In India, the sector consumes just under a fifth of the electricity and an even larger share of electricity subsidies. The country could economically replace at least 8 million diesel-powered water pumps. Deployment of solar-powered water pumps has risen 270% over 2014-16, but still lags far behind the official ambitions. In Africa, the sector is even less developed. More broadly, agricultural processing powered by distributed energy could capture more value locally. It could also be easier to finance because it powers machines that produce revenue to the farmer and can service debt. Commodity companies that either buy produce from farmers or sell them fertilizer may be well positioned to run such projects.

Electricity consumption in India | Solar irrigation pumps installed in India

These are only a few of the findings from the BNEF research team. To read all of them, download the full report here.

More about BNEF’s perspective on innovations, opportunities and challenges shaping the future of energy in emerging markets at the Energy for Growth portal.