TED Talks Daily Most countries fail at clean energy. Here’s how mine succeeded | Sebastián Kind
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Sep 3, 2025 Sebastián Kind is an energy expert who led Argentina's transition to renewable energy, enabling the country to generate nearly 40% of its electricity from wind and solar in just six years. He discusses how political trust and cohesive national policies, rather than just technology, were crucial for this transformation. Kind highlights Argentina's innovative financial strategies that attracted international investments and emphasizes the role of his non-profit in aiding global renewable energy efforts. His insights provide a roadmap for other nations looking to follow a similar path.
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Investment, Not Tech, Was The Bottleneck
- Argentina's renewable surge hinged on solving investor risk, not on technology or resources.
- Sebastián Kind frames the problem as attracting long-term capital by building trust in risky markets.
Why Argentina Needed Renewables Quickly
- Kind links Argentina's fossil-fuel dependence and recurring economic crises to its inability to attract long-term investment.
- He decided to focus on policy and finance instruments to address both climate and balance-of-payments issues.
Convenience Determines Energy Choices
- Repeated failed attempts showed renewables only scale when they're economically convenient for both buyers and sellers.
- In short-term political environments, investors demand short payback, which makes renewables appear expensive.