Domestic and clean energy sources are crucial for energy independence and economic growth, as two major fossil fuel crises over the past four years have clearly demonstrated the risks associated with dependence on global commodity markets, the head of the Global Solar Council said.
Speaking to Anadolu, Global Solar Council CEO Sonia Dunlop noted that energy security concerns, intensified by the US-Israel and Iran conflict, are reshaping countries’ decision-making processes.
Developing countries are no longer merely followers of the energy transition but they are increasingly becoming key actors driving the transformation, Dunlop said.
She added that solar energy investments now require lower upfront capital compared to fossil fuel infrastructure projects. “The economics of solar investment have fundamentally changed.”
As countries accelerate the shift to clean energy, they will be better positioned to protect their economies and support long-term growth, she said.
Dunlop noted that as a result, the world is witnessing a genuine breakthrough.
“From Vietnam and Mexico to South Africa and India, many developing countries now surpass the US in the share of electricity generated from solar energy,” Dunlop explained.
She said this demonstrates that the traditional assumption that developing economies must follow a fossil fuel-intensive development path to achieve prosperity is no longer valid.
– Renewables meet all growth in global electricity generation
According to Dunlop, 2025 data confirms that the world has reached a critical turning point, providing concrete reasons for optimism.
“For the first time in a generation, renewable energy sources met all growth in global electricity generation. Coal’s share fell below 40% for the first time, marking a historic milestone,” she said.
Solar energy has been the primary driver of this transformation, she said adding that last year, solar capacity expanded by 30%, accounting for the majority of new electricity generation capacity worldwide.
“The era of fossil fuel dominance in the power sector is coming to an end. The opportunity is here, and it is enormous,” she said.
Further, Dunlop highlighted the significance of using solar power combined with battery storage systems.
Battery technology is rapidly maturing and becoming an affordable solution.
“Batteries are now beginning to provide grid-scale flexibility, and declining costs are making it possible for solar energy to deliver clean power not only in the afternoon but throughout the day,” she explained.
Dunlop also noted that renewable energy projects representing tens of gigawatts of capacity are currently waiting for grid connections, while investment and regulatory processes continue to delay implementation in many countries.
– Türkiye’s renewable progress among top global examples
Dunlop described Türkiye’s renewable energy progress as one of the most remarkable examples of energy transformation seen in recent years.
She noted that wind and solar power currently account for more than one-fifth of the country’s electricity generation.
“Türkiye is the only country in the Middle East, Caucasus and Central Asia regions to have surpassed this threshold, as a result, it has avoided spending billions of dollars on fossil fuel imports,” she said.
The combination of ambitious policy targets, rapid investment implementation and strong economic rationale has created a model that serves not only Türkiye but also neighboring countries and other developing economies.
