ABSTRACT
The explosive growth of the renewable energy markets in the new century occurred specifically in the industrialised countries, including China. There was nothing wrong actually in converting the existing energy system of the North to the renewables, which was due anyway, but the energy poor deserved the priority. Many countries of the Third World lack the necessary resources to develop their infrastructures and, in particular, a reliable supply of energy and electricity. The traditional utilities in Europe, particularly in Germany and France, made in the last few years dozens of billions of Euros of deficit, and their stock market value fell dramatically; they had to reorganise themselves to become renewable energy utilities. Africa has a special “Clean Energy Programme”, called the Africa Renewable Energy Initiative. China’s role in renewable energy deployment in its rural areas is all visible in the field of bio-energy.
