‘Utilities for net zero’ set out a plan of action
Image by Sabine Zierer from Pixabay.
The Utilities for Net Zero Alliance (UNEZA) has issued its plan of action for 2025 focussed on building up resilient grid infrastructure and building out clean power.
UNEZA members and partners have committed to supporting the tripling of renewable energy capacity by 2030 agenda, with annual tracking of their joint progress.
The latest progress indicators reveal that there are commitments of more than $57 billion per annum to the grids and more than $60 billion per annum to renewables in the coming years with the aim to reach an installed renewables capacity of 850GW by 2030 – 2.6x the 329GW capacity in 2023.
These then form the priorities in the plan of action for 2025, building on progress so far, with the build up of the grid infrastructure the main one, UNEZA members have agreed.
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Four key reasons are cited – the low existing efforts to date with too little attention paid to the long term grids build out, the high complexity with obstacles such as long lead times for permitting, the high urgency with many renewables projects awaiting connections and the high ecosystem impact that can result, for example in driving electrification.
In terms of priority activities members have determined that facilitating policy and regulatory support and mobilising capital are of the highest priority, with derisking of the supply chain of lesser priority and the building of capabilities and talent the lowest priority.
In the policy and regulatory area with the aim to ease bottlenecks and simplify permitting, strategies include engaging in a dialogue with regulators and policy makers, accelerating large grid infrastructure projects and contributing knowledge of grids to a global progress report.
To mobilise capital to build out the infrastructure, UNEZA members propose to collaborate with private and development banks and other financing institutions on lending criteria for grids, an open letter to heads of development banks on scaling grid investment and engaging with private banks to unlock more grid investment.
To drive supply chain expansion for grid development and to ease constraints, plans are to encourage mandates for the use of harmonised international standards, a global supply chain initiative and a roadmap for greater standardisation.
Members also plan to lead impactful projects in the Global South and to establish a communication working group to enhance visibility on key focus areas and enablers through targeted outreach, stakeholder engagement and strategic messaging.
The Alliance now counts more than 50 utility and other members, following an almost doubling over the past year.
