...revolutionized lives, allowing children to study at night, small companies to operate more cheaply and mobile phones-crucial arteries of business- to remain charged.

renewable energy is energy from sources that are unlimited or replenish in a relatively short amount of time.

In the modern day, scientists have developed many systems to harness or transform the energy from renewable sources into energy that people can use

solar energy, in particular, has long proved useful in bringing small-scale power generation to remote areas of sub-Saharan Africa with no grid connection.

long before electricity, renewable energy sources powered people's daily needs. People captured the suns rays for warmth, burned wood to cook, and used win to pump water.

Now lower costs better technology and an improving environment in which to develop independent power projects (IPPs) for renewables are enabling grid connected wind and solar to take their place  in the energy mix

due to improved turbine efficiency and reliability, and the cheaper cost of part 

solar energy in particular has long proved useful...

Large-scale renewable energy in Africa has generally meant hydro power or, where it's available, geothermal power

'Costs have come down quite dramatically over the last five years it's been some 50% or so'

renewable projects in developed countries can usually rely on accurate weather data stretching back years to make decisions on projects size and location