Developing countries leapfrog the US on renewables

US adoption of solar energy is lagging behind that of developing countries. The Indian Government aims to achieve 40% of the country's energy from renewables by 2030.  While 20 US states have set similar targets, there is no national goal. CNN Money has reported that solar costs in India are now within 15% of coal costs. By 2020, it should be 10% cheaper than coal according to KPMG. A report from the World Watch Institute highlighted India, China and Brazil as “leaders in developing decentralised renewable sources”. Costa Rica already gets 98% of its power from renewables, while in northern Afghanistan tens of thousands of people have access to power through solar and hydro energy. Albania is also believed to be working towards 38% renewable power by 2020.

This Indian man in the Sundarbans shopped around to construct his own solar home system with materials from five different companies. Courtesy of Kartikeya Singh

When it comes to solar energy, US adoption pales in comparison to India's.

The Indian government has set the ambitious goal to get 40% of the country's energy from renewables by 2030.

While 20 US states have set their own similar targets, the federal government hasn't set a national goal. And solar power only makes up 0.39% of the total energy used in the US.

The Indian government targets are impressive, but the people are the true driving force behind the country's rapid solar expansion.

Americans aren't nearly as excited about adopting renewables. And that's partly because they don't have to be — they already have reliable sources of energy, something that's a luxury in much of the world.

In India, 300 million people aren't connected to the electrical grid. Many who are plugged in frequently experience rolling brown outs and black outs.

Solar power represents an increasingly affordable way for Indians to capture their own power, without having to wait for the grid to reach them or be reliable enough for 24-hour power.

Solar costs in India are now within 15% of coal costs, CNN Money reports. And by 2020, solar power should be 10% cheaper than coal, according to a report from global analysis firm KPMG.

India's progress in renewable energy is something that's been observed in other developing countries as well. A report from the World Watch Institute highlighted India as well as China and Brazil as "leaders in developing decentralized renewable sources such as small hydro, small wind, biogas, and solar water heating."

Costa Rica already gets 98% of its power from renewable sources, and is aiming to use zero fossil fuels by 2025. In northern Afghanistan, tens of thousands of people have access to power through a combination of solar and hydro energy. And according to The Guardian, Albania is working to have 38% renewable power by 2020 — a decade before India's similar target.

A family shows Singh all six solar lanterns they own to light up their home at night. Courtesy of Kartikeya Singh

Kartikeya Singh, a doctoral candidate at Tufts University, has researched India's solar energy revolution over the last several years. He told Tech Insider how people are buying their own solar lanterns, solar panels, microgrids, solar irrigation systems, and more.

Singh sees solar energy as a way to reduce India's crippling pollution from sources like gas-powered vehicles, coal power plants, and wood burning for heat and cooking.

The US — and every other country for that matter — should channel India's passion for solar energy. We'll need to if we are going to curb the worst effects of climate change.

So what does Singh think India will look like 50 years from now?

"The future could possibly be quite bright," he said. "I would hope that there's no home without access to electricity in the country, and I would hope that it's largely renewable."

At this rate, it probably will be.