Solar power is helping emerging economies bypass fossil fuels

01The Story新闻事实

Emerging and lower-income economies are expanding electricity access through solar, wind and other renewables rather than replicating the fossil-fuel path taken by the US and Europe. Falling renewable costs, limited fossil infrastructure and unreliable grids are accelerating solar adoption, particularly in Africa, while cheaper electricity could support industrial growth and greater energy independence.新兴经济体和低收入经济体正通过太阳能、风能等可再生能源扩大电力供应，而不是复制美国和欧洲曾经走过的化石燃料发展路径。可再生能源成本下降、化石燃料基础设施较少以及电网不稳定，正在推动非洲等地区加快采用太阳能；更便宜的电力也可能促进工业增长和能源独立。

In 2023, renewables generated around a quarter of global electricity, while solar supplied at least 6% of electricity in India and 10% in Vietnam.2023年，可再生能源约占全球发电量的四分之一；太阳能至少占印度发电量的6%，以及越南发电量的10%。
The global average share of electricity generated by solar was 5% in 2023.2023年，太阳能发电占全球发电量的平均比例为5%。
A 2026 estimate suggested that around 100,000 solar panels were installed across Africa each day, 45% more than the previous year.一项2026年的估算显示，非洲每天安装的太阳能电池板约为10万块，比前一年增加45%。
Solar power can provide cheap electricity about 90% of the time when combined with batteries, according to an Ember energy strategist cited by DW.DW援引Ember能源战略师的话称，太阳能与电池结合后，约90%的时间可以提供廉价电力。
In India, Indonesia and Vietnam, electric scooters and motorbikes already cost the same as petrol models, according to a UN study cited in the article.文章援引联合国研究称，在印度、印度尼西亚和越南，电动踏板车和电动摩托车的价格已经与汽油车型相当。

The energy transition in emerging economies may be driven less by replacing old fossil infrastructure than by building new electricity systems around increasingly affordable renewables.新兴经济体的能源转型可能并非主要依靠替换既有化石燃料基础设施，而是围绕日益负担得起的可再生能源建设新的电力系统。

024 Dimensions维度分析

Historical context历史脉络

A different development path不同的发展路径

The US and Europe industrialized with extensive coal and oil use, but many emerging economies have less fossil-based infrastructure to replace. This creates an opportunity to expand electricity access directly through renewable power.美国和欧洲曾依靠广泛使用煤炭和石油实现工业化，但许多新兴经济体需要替换的化石燃料基础设施较少。这为其直接通过可再生能源扩大电力供应创造了机会。

Middle- and lower-income countries are described as having less existing energy infrastructure built around fossil fuels.文章称，中低收入国家现有的化石燃料能源基础设施较少。
The article contrasts rapid electrification across Asia with stagnant electricity trends in Europe and the United States.文章将亚洲快速电气化与欧洲和美国停滞的电力发展趋势进行了对比。

Consequence影响推演

Solar adoption is accelerating in Africa非洲太阳能采用速度加快

Solar is being used to expand energy access in areas without reliable grid connections and to reduce exposure to costly imported diesel. Import data analyzed in 2026 indicated a sharp rise in panel installations across Africa.太阳能正被用于没有可靠电网连接的地区扩大能源供应，并减少对昂贵进口柴油的依赖。对进口数据的分析显示，2026年非洲太阳能电池板安装量明显上升。

Solar panels installed across Africa per day非洲每天安装的太阳能电池板

20262026年100,000 panels

20262026年45 %

Rural areas in many countries are not connected to electricity grids, and even connected power can be unreliable.许多国家的农村地区尚未接入电网，即使接入电力，供应也可能不稳定。
Namibia, South Africa, Kenya and Senegal have expanded their solar capacity substantially in recent years.纳米比亚、南非、肯尼亚和塞内加尔近年来大幅扩大了太阳能装机容量。

Cause因果关系

Falling costs are changing energy choices成本下降正在改变能源选择

Solar and wind projects can be built more quickly and with less upfront cost than large coal or gas plants. Cheaper electric appliances and vehicles are also making electricity more practical for households and businesses.与大型煤电或燃气电厂相比，太阳能和风能项目建设更快、前期成本更低。更便宜的电器和车辆也让电力对家庭和企业而言更加实用。

Estimated share of time cheap electricity can come from solar plus batteries太阳能加电池提供廉价电力的预计时间比例

90 %90%

Payback period cited for some businesses investing in solar部分企业投资太阳能所述的回本期限

2 years2年

The article says solar power is cheaper to produce than fossil electricity in many instances.文章称，在许多情况下，太阳能发电成本已经低于化石燃料发电。
Electric scooters and motorbikes in India, Indonesia and Vietnam cost the same as petrol models but require less fuel spending.在印度、印度尼西亚和越南，电动踏板车和电动摩托车的价格与汽油车型相当，但燃料支出更低。

Stakeholder impact利益相关方

Potential economic effects潜在经济影响

The article argues that abundant, low-cost clean electricity could attract industrial production to emerging markets and support faster growth. The scale of these effects will depend partly on whether governments ensure that the benefits of solar expansion are broadly shared.文章认为，充足且低成本的清洁电力可能吸引工业生产转移至新兴市场，并支持更快增长。这些影响的规模在一定程度上取决于各国政府能否确保太阳能扩张的收益得到广泛分享。

An International Renewable Energy Association representative said cheaper clean power could make Sub-Saharan Africa more attractive for industrial production.国际可再生能源协会的一名代表表示，更便宜的清洁电力可能提升撒哈拉以南非洲对工业生产的吸引力。
A South African energy expert said African countries need policies to ensure everyone benefits from the solar boom.一名南非能源专家表示，非洲国家需要制定政策，确保所有人都能从太阳能发展中受益。

03Timeline时间线

2023 Renewables generated around a quarter of global electricity; solar accounted for at least 6% in India and 10% in Vietnam.可再生能源约占全球发电量的四分之一；太阳能至少占印度发电量的6%和越南发电量的10%。
2026 An estimate indicated that around 100,000 solar panels were installed across Africa each day.一项估算显示，非洲每天安装的太阳能电池板约为10万块。
2026-10-07 DW published its report on renewable-led electrification in emerging economies.DW发表了关于新兴经济体以可再生能源推动电气化的报道。

Key takeaway核心结论

Falling renewable costs and limited fossil infrastructure are allowing many emerging economies to expand electricity access without repeating the West’s fossil-fuel-heavy development path.可再生能源成本下降与化石燃料基础设施有限，使许多新兴经济体能够扩大电力供应，而无需重复西方高度依赖化石燃料的发展路径。

04What to Watch后续关注

Whether African governments introduce policies that distribute the benefits of rapid solar expansion broadly.非洲各国政府是否会出台政策，让快速太阳能扩张的收益得到广泛分配。
Whether solar-plus-battery systems can improve electricity reliability in areas without dependable grid access.太阳能加电池系统能否改善缺乏可靠电网接入地区的供电稳定性。
Whether abundant low-cost clean electricity attracts more industrial production to emerging markets.充足且低成本的清洁电力是否会吸引更多工业生产进入新兴市场。
Whether the rapid growth of solar continues beyond the countries already identified as major adopters.太阳能的快速增长是否会扩展到目前已被列为主要采用者以外的更多国家。

05Uncertainties不确定因素

The Africa installation estimate is based on imported-panel data and is not yet reflected in official statistics.非洲安装量估算基于太阳能电池板进口数据，尚未反映在官方统计数据中。
The article does not provide a complete breakdown of current fossil-fuel and renewable shares for all emerging economies.文章没有提供所有新兴经济体当前化石燃料和可再生能源占比的完整细分数据。
The potential economic benefits depend on infrastructure, investment and policies that are not quantified in the report.潜在经济收益取决于基础设施、投资和政策，而报道没有对这些因素进行量化。

06Sources信息来源

Solar power is helping the Global South skip fossil fuelsSolar power is helping the Global South skip fossil fuels DW · 2026-10-07

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