Dark outlook for green energy growth in Asia

The prospects that Asia’s economic growth will be powered by green energy technologies are decidedly bleak, writes Justin Jacobs

“Green growth is a good model for Asia, but when I look around at what is happening today I see black growth driven by coal,” Fatih Birol, chief economist at the International Energy Agency, told WEC 2013 delegates. While billions of dollars are being invested in renewable projects across Asia that will bring much new wind, solar and hydro production on stream, it is coal and other fossil fuels that will be relied on for the bulk of new power generation in the region over the coming decades. A recent report from the Asia Development Bank forecast coal demand rising by nearly 53% by 2035 and oil consumption increasing nearly 60%. As a result, carbon emissions are expected to rise by nearly tw