"Reliable and sustainable access to electricity in Myanmar is a challenge. Currently only 32% of Myanmar households have access to grid electricity. The rest of the population either has no access or must rely on unreliable or badly maintained diesel micro-grids and small solar systems. Most grid electricity is generated by hydropower and burning fossil fuels. Myanmar must meet its rapidly growing energy needs. The critical question is how. This comprehensive study proves that renewable energy for Myanmar is not only technically feasible but also economically feasible compared to the so-called “cheap” traditional technologies. The development of Myanmar’s power sector will require multi-billion dollar investment over the next three decades and our analysis shows that a diverse mix of renewable energy, in combination with energy efficiency measures, will be the best solution for the sustainable power development of Myanmar. Renewable energy goes far beyond the common perception of solar lanterns and solar home systems. Large scale progress can be very fast. Italy installed 9,000 MW of solar power in 2011, almost twice the installed capacity of Myanmar which is currently around 5,000 MW. In 2015, Japan also installed 9,000 MW of solar power within a year. The first step to renewable energy deployment is acceptance and it is usual for there to be concerns about new technologies. It has been recorded that grid operators are concerned about solar and wind power being fed into the grid, concerns also seen in Germany and Ireland but today both countries have a high share (31% and 25% respectively) of renewable energy in their generation mix. Recent practices of grid-interconnection in developing countries as Sri Lanka, Nepal and Indonesia are also strong, providing promising examples of technological, regulatory and financial management from which Myanmar can learn. Myanmar must shape its future sustainably. To do so the right decisions must be made now. The “traditional” approach will repeat the mistakes of its neighbors, while Myanmar has the opportunity to leapfrog to renewable energy technologies. Recent developments in the telecommunication sector have shown that both decision makers and the public are willing to make such a leap, why should this not also occur in the power sector? Developing a vision is not an end goal, but rather the first step of systematic solution planning. We are looking forward to supporting sustainable power sector development in Myanmar..."