Energy is everything. But the way we generate that energy will determine how successfully we transition to a sustainable economy. Fossil fuels contribute three quarters of all greenhouse gases (GHGs) and nearly 90 per cent of all carbon emissions – and despite countries and companies’ commitments, GHGs continue to rise.
The transition to clean energy will help combat climate change by eliminating fossil-fuel dependence. But with clean energy such as wind and solar already cost-competitive with fossil fuels, the transition could also transform global systems in ways that have environmental, economic and social benefits – the three key pillars of sustainable development. Renewable energy can redefine the way humans interact with nature and with each other.
Miguel Stilwell d’Andrade, CEO of EDP, a global energy company that produces green energy in almost 30 markets, explains that in complex socio-ecological systems, harnessing the full potential of clean energy requires collaboration and adaptation.
“Long-term partnerships are therefore instrumental to accelerate renewables, promoting decarbonisation at a global scale” he says.
The speed required goals can only be achieved if companies, governments and civil society work hand in hand to tackle climate change
As part of its We Choose Earth Tour, which begins in Madrid this month, EDP is using its position as leader in the energy transition to foster a global movement aimed at training and inspiring institutions to play a greater role in the shift to clean energy.
The choice of Spain as the starting point is no coincidence: the country generated 42.2 per cent of its energy from renewables in 2022, ending the year with record wind and solar energy production. The share of renewables, including non‑renewable waste, grew from 24 per cent in 2009 to 38 per cent in 2019. Moreover, Madrid is the headquarters of EDP Renewables (EDPR), EDP’s renewables arm.
Spain proves how quickly countries can act. But, across the world, companies can help governments transition, redefining today’s global systems through collaboration and aligning environmental strategies and goals. For example, in April EDPR partnered with Google to roll out more than 80 distributed solar projects across six US states as part of a commitment to provide sustainably sourced electricity to the world’s largest economy.
“Solar-distributed generation projects will be key not only to ramp up the transition to cleaner energy sources, but also to bring aboard more people and companies to this transition,” says Stilwell d’Andrade. This partnership is the largest corporate sponsorship for distributed generation signed to date between two companies in the US, and it aims to provide about 650MWp of solar energy to the grid. The portfolio of projects will be partially funded by Google’s acquisition of Impact Renewable Energy Certificates (ImpactRECs) – a tradable, non-tangible commodity created through the deal.
The partnership also involves at least 10 per cent of the portfolio’s annual revenues being redirected for up to 15 years in the form of direct residential credits, benefiting 25,000 households struggling with a high energy burden. At least 35 per cent of the solar projects will be built in low- and moderate-income communities, spelling job creation and clean energy for the local grid.
“Through the new partnership with EDP, we aim to introduce models that help reduce energy burden and direct distribution of the financial benefits that result from clean energy projects to under-resourced communities.” says Sana Ouji, Energy Lead at Google.
Elsewhere, EDPR is collaborating with authorities and residents of Pulau Ubin, a tropical island in Singapore with no access to the grid, to help provide consistent clean energy – first by addressing the high temperatures affecting solar-panel efficiency; and second, by overcoming the intermittent nature of solar.
The fundamental guiding beliefs for us have been that clean energy benefits should be available to everyone regardless of income, and that reducing energy burden is critical to a just and equitable clean energy transition
The Solar Green Roof project is using greenery in conjunction with solar panels near the island’s main village to reduce temperatures and boost efficiency by up to 4 per cent. Meanwhile, a cutting-edge energy storage system, deployed at Pulau Ubin’s microgrid and operated by EDPR APAC, will store excess energy throughout the day and discharge it at night or during cloudy or rainy weather. Thanks to these innovations, the microgrid can potentially meet 90 per cent of the energy needs of local residents and businesses with solar power.
As a global utility company, EDP is uniquely placed to foster this sort of collaboration, not only as leaders in pushing clean energy but also as drivers of partnerships that can address climate change while transforming global systems along environmental, economic and social lines.
“Energy providers are at the heart of this transition and have the responsibility to promote and act towards a climate positive planet,” says Stilwell D’Andrade. “We are reimagining the energy sector and driving an innovation-driven acceleration to meet the urgent need for cleaner, more reliable, and more affordable energy for all, leaving no one behind.”
