Politicians across the world have clamoured to back renewable energy projects, both to improve energy security by reducing reliance on fossil fuels that are often imported, and as part of efforts to cut emissions in the wake of the Paris agreement.
Parties agreed to limit global temperature rises to below 2C and ideally 1.5C above pre-industrial levels.
To keep the
1.5C target alive, the renewable power generated must more than triple from 3,000GW today to more than 10,000GW in 2030, according to the International Renewable Energy Agency, or Irena.
Countries have been busy setting ambitious green energy targets. In March, the EU
reached(opens a new window) a provisional agreement to require at least 42.5 per cent of electricity to come from renewable sources by 2030. Then in April, the G7 group of rich countries pledged to increase offshore wind capacity by 150GW by 2030 and solar capacity to more than 1 terawatt. A global goal for renewables may be formalised at this year’s UN COP28 climate summit in December in Dubai.
But underneath the noise, few politicians are talking about the grid, the infrastructure vital for achieving the ambitious targets and net zero plans.
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