Renewable Energy Policy Development

The 2024 Global Renewables Status Report has just been released by REN21. This annual publication provides a summary of global developments & trends in #renewableenergy. A further module of this report is due to be released in September too that specifically looks at economic and #socialvalue creation. 2 key things stood out to me in the status report this year, and both relate to the critical #socialimpact aspects of the energy transition: 1. Equity challenges - especially the disadvantages for low-income countries where the cost of capital for renewable energy projects is reaching as high as 10%, compared with less than 4% in high-income countries 2. The gap between policy ambition and implementation - "Worldwide, an estimated 3,000 GW of renewable energy projects remained underdeveloped as of 2023 due to inadequate grid infrastructure, insufficient financing, and permitting delays. These are major bottlenecks that risk derailing the energy transition". With respect to permitting delays, it has been recognised now that as the rush & intensity around renewable energy projects has increased, so has incidences of community opposition to some projects in host locations. This is a contributing factor to the delay & cost trends and is both symptom of too much in the energy space being led by the private sector and insufficient, timely government decision making in the public interest. Permitting & approvals is an area where I'm of the view a change in regulatory approval processes to involve earlier social impact assessment, including rapid social screening and social value projection of projects, would be beneficial and can be done well in advance of environmental impact assessments and other technical studies that need to take longer. I'm not talking about the proponent-serving social licence type considerations or throwing money at community benefit funds to win over local communities (or score high on a tender process). The emphasis instead needs to go towards understanding which renewable energy projects will create the most social value holistically in context (with benefits for people & communities including workers, suppliers and energy end users, and across the project lifecycle) and then prioritise those for implementation. The ultimate "S" question is not "how do we get public acceptance for the project?" but "is this project going to create a net positive value?". Good social performance & value creation potential does not always mean a project will have social licence at the time it is proposed too. Some projects without social licence at a particular point in time should still be supported to proceed if they are in the public interest. Early social impact assessment (to understand social risks and benefit opportunities) can help work out which projects those are so efforts can focus there and not be wasted elsewhere. What do you think? What else would help speed up the transition and get better social outcomes?

🔴 Abu Dhabi Launches Solar Energy Self-Supply Policy 🇦🇪☀️ Abu Dhabi has introduced a Solar Energy Self-Supply Policy, enabling farms, ranches, and rest houses to generate and consume electricity on-site with optional battery storage for evening and peak demand use. This is not just renewable adoption. It is distributed energy engineering at sector level. ⚡ What the Policy Enables • On-site solar PV generation • Self-consumption without grid export (initial phase) • Optional battery storage integration • Licensed installation under regulated technical standards The phased rollout focuses primarily on agricultural and rural sectors, where land availability and daytime load profiles align naturally with solar generation. 🔎 Engineering & Grid Implications From a systems perspective, this initiative supports: • Decentralized generation architecture • Reduced peak grid strain • Enhanced local load balancing • Long-term infrastructure resilience • Smart demand-side energy management While immediate financial savings are not guaranteed, the policy prioritizes: • Grid stability over subsidy-driven adoption • Controlled technical compliance • Structured renewable integration • Sustainable electrification planning With electricity demand rising due to: • Population growth • AI-driven data infrastructure • Increased electrification across sectors Distributed solar becomes a strategic load management tool, not just a sustainability measure. Abu Dhabi is moving toward an energy model where consumption and generation increasingly coexist at the same location. This is energy independence engineered within a regulated framework. 👉 If decentralized solar expands beyond rural sectors, how might it reshape utility business models and long-term grid planning? #AbuDhabi #SolarEnergy #Renewables #EnergyInfrastructure #SmartGrid #SustainableDevelopment #DistributedEnergy #FutureEnergy #InfrastructureStrategy

🌿The green energy transition, with a focus on renewable energy, is one of the most credible and effective climate action —in the current geopolitical context, renewable energy and electrification become even more crucial for India. As Mahindra Group, we have been both a major consumer and enabler for this transition across our businesses, with Mahindra Susten as the flagship RE company. At an India-wide level, we recently crossed the 50% renewable energy installed capacity mark. However, our renewable generation numbers is still close to 25% only. For our supply chain including MSMEs, renewable energy penetration is still <20%, in spite of a clear financial and environmental win—at least 30-60% cheaper and >90% lower lifecycle emisisons. While many factors are at play here, simplified and enabling policy can accelerate this transition. Renewable penetration also is a national priority with the updated UN COP commitments on climate action by India, and subsequently, national policies are aligned to supporting RE transition for commercial and industrial customers. However, state-level policies determine ease of implementation, and the devil is always in the details. While broadly supportive, certain improvements can help accelerate the 100% RE jounrey, especially for mid-sized customers. Building on this theme, we collaborated with Neufin, a RE-focused startup, on the whitepaper titled “Accelerating Transition to 100% Renewable Energy.” The paper focuses on policy recommendations for 4 states with high industrial footprint, i.e., Maharashtra, Karnataka, Tamil Nadu, and Telangana. Based on detailed research involving all relevant guidelines, legal analysis, stakeholder interviews—internally and externally with Climate Group RE100 program signatories, etc.—and analysis of state policy vs. central guidelines on 6 key aspects, namely: - Open Access eligibility and process - Grid connectivity and general access - Forecast scheduling and demand-side management - Banking and settlement - Green tariff/green premium - Curtailment compensation The recommendations made are across Green Energy Open Access regulations, Group Net Metering, and other policy reforms to overcome barriers in RE adoption. This will not only help Mahindra Group and our supply chain but pretty much all commercial & industrial consumers across these states. We will scale this work across more states. Feel free to check the details in the PDF and DM any feedback! Abanti Sankaranarayanan Avinash Rao Rahool Gadkari #renewable_energy #planet_positive #energy_transition

Driving Renewable Energy Forward: MNRE Seeks Public Comments on India's Renewable Energy Integration Program! The Ministry of New and Renewable Energy (MNRE) has unveiled a draft Investment Plan under the Climate Investment Funds (CIF) to advance renewable energy (RE) integration within India’s power grid. This plan aims to secure financial and technical expertise to enhance grid integration and achieve ambitious outcomes. Expected Outcomes – 🔹 Addition of 1,500 MW of RE generation capacity 🔹 Integration of 1,500 MWh of energy storage capacity 🔹 Expansion of ~3,700 ckm of 33 kV distribution lines 🔹 Expansion of ~580 ckm of 400 kV DC transmission lines 🔹 Reduction of CO₂ emissions by ~3.2 million tons per year 🔹 Creation of 13,500 approx. green jobs Core Focus Areas of the Plan: 1️⃣ Energy Storage Systems Deployment: Aligned with CIF’s theme on “Scaling Up Renewable Energy Enabling Technologies,” the initiative enhances grid flexibility through advanced energy storage, enabling round-the-clock renewable energy supply. 2️⃣ Infrastructure Strengthening: Supporting the Green Energy Corridor and Offshore Wind Program, this focuses on building resilient infrastructure to reliably integrate renewable energy across RE-rich states. 3️⃣ Technical Assistance for RE Integration: Addressing key gaps in the RE market, this intervention provides advanced forecasting tools and innovative methods to improve regulatory, technical, and operational capacities, enhancing system and market design. The initial phase will leverage $70 million in concessional funding from CIF, with an overall financing target of around $1.1 billion from development partners and the private sector. Stakeholders are invited to submit comments on this draft plan by November 7, 2024. #RenewableEnergy #SustainableGrowth #IndiaEnergy #GreenEnergy

Excited to share the insightful report "Development Banks and Energy Planning: Attracting Private Investment for the Energy Transition - The Brazilian Case" by IRENA and BNDES. This report offers valuable lessons for emerging markets and developing economies (EMDEs) navigating the complexities of financing the energy transition. Key Takeaways: 1️⃣ The report highlights the vital role of development banks like BNDES in de-risking renewable energy projects, providing access to low-cost financing, and fostering a supportive investment environment. BNDES's success in financing renewable energy projects in Brazil, even surpassing international levels, showcases their impactful contribution. 2️⃣ Brazil's success stems from a well-established energy planning and finance strategy, coordinated by key institutions like the Energy Research Office (EPE), the Ministry of Mines and Energy (MME), and BNDES. 3️⃣ Brazil's well-designed power auctions, coupled with long-term power purchase agreements (PPAs), have proven highly effective in attracting private investment and ensuring a stable revenue stream for renewable energy projects. 4️⃣ The report emphasizes the importance of de-risking mechanisms, such as blended finance, green bonds, and risk mitigation instruments, in attracting private capital to EMDEs. 5️⃣ BNDES's strategic focus on promoting renewable energy sources projects demonstrates their commitment to the energy transition and aligns with Brazil's nationally determined contribution. 6️⃣ BNDES's financial support has not only driven the deployment of renewable energy but also fostered the development of a robust domestic supply chain, particularly in the wind energy sector, creating jobs and boosting local economies. 7️⃣ The report underscores the importance of having qualified staff in energy planning and development finance institutions to design effective strategies, manage complex projects, and provide tailored financial solutions. Challenges: ✴️ Attracting private investment to EMDEs remains a challenge due to higher perceived risks and the competition from mature markets. ✴️ Investing in less mature low-carbon technologies carries higher risks, requiring innovative financing structures and public sector support to stimulate private investment. ✴️ The trend towards smaller, decentralized projects presents challenges for traditional financiers. Opportunities: ✳️ These instruments offer promising opportunities for attracting private capital by reducing perceived risks and pooling resources. ✳️ Strong collaboration between governments, development banks, and the private sector is crucial for unlocking the full potential of renewable energy in EMDEs. ✳️ Sharing best practices and providing technical assistance to EMDEs can help them develop effective energy planning and financing strategies. #RenewableEnergy #EnergyTransition #DevelopmentBanks #Investment #Brazil #EMDEs #Sustainability #ClimateChange #IRENA #BNDES #G20 #Decarbonization

India's target of 500 GW of renewable energy by 2030 is ambitious, but achieving it requires decisive policy reforms. Stronger Renewable Portfolio Standards (RPS) are a must, mandating power companies to source more energy from renewables, with clear deadlines in place. ⚡ To accelerate adoption, India needs: • Financial incentives – Subsidies for rooftop solar, generation-based incentives (GBIs), and low-interest loans for projects. • A modernized power grid – #GreenEnergy Corridors for solar and wind integration, plus smart tech upgrades to handle fluctuating supply. • Expanded PLI schemes – Boosting domestic manufacturing of solar panels, wind turbines, batteries, and other key components. • Support for energy storage innovation – R&D funding and incentives for large-scale #batterysolutions. Simplifying approvals through single-window clearance systems and running public awareness campaigns can also help drive adoption. India is at a crucial juncture. With the right policies and swift action, we can lead the global renewable energy revolution and create a sustainable future for generations to come. #RenewableEnergy #SustainableIndia #EnergyPolicy

When retired generals like Tom Middendorp (former Chief of Defence, Netherlands) start calling for investments in solar panels and wind turbines, we should listen.   Their message is clear: energy independence strengthens national security. In today’s world of rising geopolitical tensions, volatile markets, and fragile supply chains, a diversified energy mix powered by renewables enhances resilience.   As CEO of VSB Group I strongly support treating clean energy as a strategic asset – not just a climate measure. Wind, solar, and storage technologies decentralise power supply, enhance reliability, and create long-term value for society and industry.   That’s why our mission is clear: to build as many gigawatts as possible, as fast and as efficiently as possible. This requires faster approval processes, bold public investment, and strategic integration of renewables into planning at all levels.   Some countries are already showing what’s possible – in Denmark, approvals for wind projects can take less than a year, and in Catalonia, new legislation has cut permitting times from three years to 18 months. We need this level of ambition everywhere!   Energy policy is no longer just climate policy – it is also foreign policy, industrial policy, and infrastructure policy in one. Let’s build with that understanding.

Johor joins Sarawak, Sabah, and Penang in articulating a state-level energy framework - but policy intent alone will not be enough. While questions remain around the feasibility of certain initiatives, the policy’s value lies in improved visibility. The articulation of short, medium, and long-term priorities reduces uncertainty for developers, financiers, and corporate consumers assessing Johor-based opportunities in the RE sector. Policy alignment will be important. At the federal level, SEDA Malaysia is working on the National Renewable Energy Policy and Action Plan 2.0 and the Potential of Bioenergy Clustering in Peninsular Malaysia study. https://lnkd.in/gQAN7dcN Two aspects I'd like to highlight, on solar and waste-to-energy (WtE) in Johor:- a) Solar: : 68.99MW of Large Scale Solar (LSS) is now operational via LSS1 and LSS2. New solar farms are expected to come online in the near future, namely via LSS5, UEM Lestra Berhad's CRESS project and notably Ditrolic Energy's Southern Johor Renewable Energy Corridor project in collaboration with The World Bank. b) WtE: Johor’s ambitions are evident, including earlier tender activity such as Bukit Payong. However, progress has been limited, reflecting persistent challenges around project structuring, risk allocation, and bankability. Movement in this segment is likely to depend on clearer concession frameworks and long-term contractual visibility. https://lnkd.in/ghM4NVQ5 #EnergyTransition #RenewableEnergy #Johor #InfrastructureFinance  #ProjectFinance #TransitionFinance #PowerAndUtilities