A new partnership will host the GGI secretariat amid urgent need for global electricity grid development. 

New York City, September 23, 2024: The UK government has announced renewed support for the Green Grids Initiative (GGI) to accelerate grid deployment. The new secretariat partnership, led by the Climate Compatible Growth (CCG) Programme, the Global Renewables Alliance (GRA) and Lucetia Group (LG), will further action-orientated cooperation to support global electricity grid development. GGI will also be a lead advocate in a worldwide campaign mobilising governments behind a global target on green grids.

UK Parliamentary Under Secretary of State and Minister for Climate, Ms Kerry McCarthy, said: “ensuring our electricity grid infrastructure is fit for net zero in the UK and abroad is essential to making Britain a clean energy superpower and driving the energy transition globally. That’s why we’re announcing renewed support for the development of the Green Grids Initiative. This was established by the UK in 2021 and has now brought together over 100 organisations across the world to accelerate the deployment of grids.”

“This shows how the UK is working with our international partners to drive growth and investment in our clean energy future while making sure more people have access to cheap and clean electricity.”

Established at COP26, the GGI was initiated by the UK government, working together with other countries including India, Australia, the United States, Oman and France to accelerate the development of grid infrastructure critical for the clean energy transition, with a particular focus on supporting emerging markets and developing economies. 

Through key tools such as the Electricity Transition Playbook and Interconnectors Principles, GGI has drawn on good practice to upskill governments and policymakers globally. 

The initiative plays a key role in fostering international collaboration, working alongside global, regional, and local leaders to overcome key barriers such as finance, supply chain issues, and regional cooperation. The new GGI Secretariat will seek to expand its impact across these regional and thematic working groups. 

It will continue to convene stakeholders in the international, national and regional policy community to accelerate policy support for a grids target and other policy activities that support unlocking finance and bottlenecks for the development of grids and interconnectors. 

Marcus Stewart, Head of the GGI secretariat, emphasised the critical timing of this expansion and the importance of scaling efforts to meet the global grid challenges ahead: “This expansion and boost in support comes at a critical time for GGI. The world is waking up to the need for deploying grid infrastructure faster than at any time in history. By expanding our capability we can tackle more of the challenges to getting green grids built globally.”

Bruce Douglas, CEO of the Global Renewables Alliance, reinforced the vital role of grid development in unlocking the vast potential of renewable energy projects: “Connecting green electrons to consumers – at speed and scale – is essential to the clean energy transition, however significant barriers currently exist. 1000s of GW of renewable energy projects are waiting for grid connections. We welcome the COP29 pledge for a global grids target – it is time for Action 4 Grids.”

“The Global Renewables Alliance recognises the critical role that GGI has played in raising awareness and influencing development of grids around the world. We look forward to working with GGI to connect industry, governments and finance to help drive a clean, secure and connected energy future,” added Douglas. 

With global partnerships at core of GGI’s strategy, Georgie Skipper, CEO of Lucetia Group, and Chief Strategy Adviser to the GGI highlighted: “the GGI’s convening of over 100 organisations and 160 leaders from across governments, policy and regulators, international and development finance ministers organisations is valuable to understanding the challenges of grid interconnection and development from multiple points of view. GGI now has an opportunity to deepen its impact and enable its global network of stakeholders. Lucetia is excited to be part of the leading partnership to accelerate action to support renewable electricity grid development.” 

“CCG is delighted to be part of the GGI secretariat partnership. Accelerated power grid deployment accelerates the economic performance of power sector markets – simultaneously unlocking large-scale GHG mitigation potential. Transmission allows for bulk, low-cost renewable and other low-carbon energy to be shifted to demand centres at lower cost than any other option. The more meshed the grids, the greater the security, balancing, and reliability of that supply. In short: the energy transition to a low-cost low carbon high-growth future rests on transmission expansion,” said Professor Mark Howells, Director of the Climate Compatible Growth programme.

As part of the Global Renewables Summit on 23 September, the GGI gathered key global stakeholders at Ørsted’s New York office to host the first Roundtable as part of the Global Renewables Summit on speeding up grid deployment and renewables integration. 

The high-level event, opened by Minister McCarthy, addressed by Marcus Stewart, and chaired by Georgie Skipper, attracted representatives from industry, philanthropy and national governments. The Roundtable discussed three key issues including public and private financing for grids, success stories for modernisation, expansion and acceleration and permitting of grids, and the urgent need for a bold global grid target.