Energy group outlines four principles meet energy goals

In a report for the upcoming world climate summit (COP21, Paris, Nov. 30 – Dec. 11), the 11-member Global Sustainable Electricity Partnership catalog innovations and technologies in development industry-wide for the generation, distribution and storage of energy, as well as to reduce its use.

The report describes the outlook for some 50 existing and emerging technologies related to electricity generation, systems (eg. grids, batteries and other means of energy storage), and use (eg. energy efficiency, lighting).

In an open letter, the group’s top executives jointly underline four core policy-making principles needed to foster the industry innovation and investment required to meet ambitious climate and energy goals, beginning with secure, stable, clear, consistent and long-term policies and a system-wide perspective.

The report, Powering Innovation for a Sustainable Future, the outcome of a two year international consultation process, concludes: “Energy efficiency and technological innovation in the electricity sector are essential to both reduce emissions and improve the quality of life of citizens around the world. COP21 policymakers are well positioned to help accelerate the development and deployment worldwide of energy efficiency measures and of innovative technologies with effective policies.”

In their open letter, the top executives urge policy makers to embrace four core principles:

1. Establish secure, stable, clear, consistent and long-term policies that address critically important energy, legal/regulatory economic development, financial and environmental matters with the goal of ensuring an adequate supply of cleaner, secure, reliable, accessible and affordable electricity to tackle climate change.
2. Develop a systemic approach to electricity systems which takes into account the interrelations and synergies between the various elements of the electricity value chain, in order to enable electricity providers to plan, design, construct and operate the most advanced electricity systems with the goal of providing cleaner, reliable, sustainable, secure, flexible, and resilient electricity infrastructures.
3. Promote and engage in public-private partnerships that facilitate decision making among electricity providers, government representatives, and private stakeholders and that foster the development and deployment of new commercially available technologies.
4. Make urgent progress with innovative research, development and demonstrations of advances economically viable technologies that will stabilize and reduce greenhouse gas emissions (GHG) and accelerate the efficient generation, delivery and end-use of electricity.