The clean energy technology eco-system world over is getting more and more complicated. New variants entering the market globally only adds to the complexity. But technological adaptation is also a function of the renewable energy assets and the technology transfer capability of a nation. When devising policies, the focus must always include the technology and its application to a particular industry. The technologies could be put in 5 broad categories: solar; wind; tidal; bio-mass and clean coal.

Rising peak demand creates unprecedented challenges in today's energy industry: escalating electricity costs, uncertain grid reliability, and an increased risk of rolling blackouts or brownouts. Globally, policies at both the regional and national level have focused mainly on adding more generation capacity thereby supporting the development of new coal and natural gas-fired power plants much more than energy efficiency and grid management.