GSC at COP27

#globalsolarCOP27

The Global Solar Council (GSC) has been established in during COP21 in Paris in 2015, with the objective to promote the rapid adoption of solar energy globally, through market development, partnerships and education. Since then, the GSC has grown a strong presence in the Climate Policy space, and in 2020 became an member of the Marrakech Partnership for Global Climate Action (MPGCA) within the United Nations Framework on Climate Change (UNFCCC).

GSC aims to bring clear policy statements to Government stakeholders and maximize engagement and communication opportunities to show the potential of Solar PV and industry members.

What is COP and the Marrakech Partnership?

Especially the Energy transition is critical to deliver against the target of Net-Zero Emissions by 2050, and the GSC is actively contributing to the Energy Track within the Marrakech Partnership, together with IRENA, IEA, ICC, ICLEI, C40, SIWI, REN21, WBCSD, WMB.

The Marrakech Partnership for Global Climate Action is an active process and platform with the objective to enable collaboration between governments and cities, regions, businesses, and investors to accelerate climate action.

Find more information here about the Race to Zero and Energy Action Table.

The latest news about GSC@COP27

Despite Historic Consensus on Reparations, COP27 Misses the Root Cause of Loss and Damage

Although achieving a historical consensus on reparation for loss and damage suffered by vulnerable countries, COP27 fell short of ensuring the limitation of further harm caused by worsening climate change through increasing mitigation and adaptation actions. Attempts to increase the ambition of national decarbonization plans and to peak global emissions […]

Global Solar Council statement in relation to the draft text of the cover decisions of COP27 on Nov. 18 – 9am EET

Implementing a clean energy mix with solar, wind, energy storage, green hydrogen, and other renewables and clean technologies represents an immediate solution for the energy and climate crises. Solar power is the leading asset on the global pathway to full decarbonization and, for the massive deployment that is required onwards, […]

Clean Energy Industries Form Alliance to Address Climate Emergency and Drive Sustainable Development

Renewable organisations join forces to ensure an accelerated energy transition 15 November, Sharm El-Sheikh. Global industry organisations representing Wind, Solar, Hydropower, Green Hydrogen, Long Duration Energy Storage and Geothermal energy industries officially joined forces today under one Global Renewables Alliance, with the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding at COP27. In […]

Draft Agenda

All times are UTC/GMT+2 - Egypt time

WEEK 1

11:30 AM
UTC/GMT+2

BLUE ZONE

How to reconcile Economy and Ecology? From decarbonation to regeneration, applications and best practices

Solar Energy as a decarbonated and cheapest Energy is about being deployed more and more massively across the globe. This deployment request space and land, and Solar infrastructure are installed for a quite long period of time, mostly 20 to 30 even 40 years. We believe that it is a challenge but also an opportunity. So far climate change mitigation and adaptation focused on carbon neutrality (Zero net carbon) and sustainable finance developed carbon markets. But to also embrace the next era challenge tackling with soils degradation and biodiversity loss, finance and business model will have to evolve. This panel discussion proposes to introduce evolutions in the regulatory framework mostly in Europe and to explore case studies and best practices integrating nature-based solutions with hard solar infrastructures, conciling low-tech and high-tech.
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WEEK 1

14:00 PM
UTC/GMT+2

BLUE ZONE

Global Alliance for Sustainable Energy

This session will be focused on positioning the Global Alliance for Sustainable Energy one year after its official launch at COP26. Corporate leaders will present the first outputs in the interest of achieving large-scale decarbonisation of the energy sector, to deliver a sustainable energy system. Presentations of two position papers will be provided on Net Zero Decarbonization and Circular Design Criteria, followed by an interactive panel session about energy sector and supply chain decarbonisation.
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WEEK 2

11:30 AM
UTC/GMT+2

BLUE ZONE

Legal framework, fiscal incentives and financial bottelnecks in South America

South America is a high-potential market for solar PV both at large scale and distributed, which could greatly help advance the region’s decarbonization and development. However, some countries are moving much faster than others and a key priority is to improve cooperation among countries removing barriers at the legal, fiscal and financial levels in order to even out progress in the region and increase access to clean power at lower prices. Several good practices are already in place and can be replicated to help countries simplify the authorization process, create better conditions for investments, and originate new jobs.
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16:00 PM
UTC/GMT+2

GREEN ZONE

GSC Networking Event

Location: Booth of Lightsource bp named “Solar Power for Our World”, Green Zone @COP27 (Pavilion A – Private Sector 1, Booth U7)

Hosted by

Abstract
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WEEK 2

10:00 AM
UTC/GMT+2

BLUE ZONE

Energy Security and Prosperity for the Future: Wind and Solar Power

A headline talk arguing that a renewables-based energy system is possible and can increase energy security and prosperity, both from a supply and geopolitical perspective.
● This session counters prevailing narratives which position increased fossil fuel deployment as the answer to current geopolitical and inflationary environments.
● Instead, fossil fuel lock-in contributes to energy insecurity and complementary technologies like wind, solar, and storage can provide our energy needs while meeting climate targets
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14:30 PM
UTC/GMT+2

BLUE ZONE

Renewable energy as a revitalising force for Africa's energy mix and economies

As African countries advance their national development plans, there is pressure to phase out fossil fuels. Some policymakers argue however, that they should use their fossil fuel reserves to support economic growth, just as developed nations have done in the industrial era. Given the vast wind and solar power potential in Africa, wind power and other renewables have the potential to meet Africa’s energy needs with the added benefit that it would decarbonize their energy mix and create jobs. Africa has the opportunity to explore its wind potential and accelerate RE deployment to support clean industrialisation.
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15:30 PM
UTC/GMT+2

BLUE ZONE

Renewables giga-projects: the Mediterranean could be a first mover

The current geopolitical and energy crises have dramatically increased the need to accelerate the transition to clean energy. Alongside worsening climate change, these demand renovated efforts for an integrated approach to critical issues, leveraging on renewables and international cooperation. Some cross-regional renewable projects can be particularly strategic for their ability to activate key synergies among countries and green technologies benefiting local, regional and global transitions towards net-zero by 2050. Several giga-projects can be identified across the world, starting from the developing regions.

The Mediterranean has the ability to become a transformation center for Europe, North Africa and the Middle East with a pilot initiative. Exploiting favorable conditions for mass renewables installations in combination with green hydrogen higher flexibility can be achieved in the countries of the area, complementing the interconnectors and catalyzing public and private finance. Thanks to the low costs of renewables, green water desalination and treatment can be coupled unlocking huge socio-economic development opportunities.

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WEEK 2

10:00 AM
UTC/GMT+2

BLUE ZONE

Roundtable:

The clean energy transition as a solution for climate action and biodiversity

Abstract
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GSC Virtual Forum 2022

12:00 PM
UTC/GMT+2

BLUE ZONE

GSC Virtual Forum
Session 1

Empowering people with solar PV

Distributed solar PV can increase energy security while lowering power costs, unlocking a broad range of socio-economic benefit for people around the globe while empowering them to contribute to the clean energy transition.
In fact, distributed solar generation can vastly support the overall solar PV’s capacity targets on a net-zero pathway: around 5 TW in 2030, more than 10 TW in 2040 and more than 14 TW in 2050, according to IRENA and IEA.
To be on track for net-zero by 2050, IEA estimates that globally, 100 million households need to be equipped with rooftop solar PV by 2030 and 240 million by 2050 (up from the current 25 million).
Faster distributed solar PV deployment can also help stimulating local supply chains addressing the need for well-functioning and diversified supply chains to ensure a secure energy transition.
In this event, the GSC will present a policy benchmarking on regulations and authorization procedures to match main bottlenecks in emerging markets with good practices in mature ones, and propose policy recommendations to maximize the uptake of rooftop solar PV. In doing so, the GSC will involve members from different continents as well as partners from the industry and beyond.
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14:00 PM
UTC/GMT+2

BLUE ZONE

GSC Virtual Forum
Session 2

Solar PV can be a leading force towards international energy security in a context of international instability, energy and climate crisis.

The current energy crisis has highlighted the risk of over dependences from fossil fuels and remarked the role of renewables as the only true gateway to international energy security.
To accelerate the deployment of renewables there is the need for urgent actions to diversify supply chain, streamline permitting, and provide clear investment signals.
In the short-term, policymakers should set robust guidelines on green taxonomy to ensure a merit order is in place for public/private investment in energy projects and mobilize investment in large-scale solar projects which can support a way out of the energy crisis and are in line with energy, security and climate goals.
At the same time, permitting of large-scale solar projects has to be accelerated, through open call procedures for project applications and a series of fast-track measures. This can quickly bring solar projects in the development pipeline to construction within the next few years.
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WEEK 2

11:30 AM
UTC/GMT+2

BLUE ZONE

Pledges to Progress:
Asia’s Pathway to Net-Zero Future

This event has two parts. Part A is an international dialogue on Distributed Solar PV. Solar PV technology is being utilized in numerous countries all over the globe. This technology poses great significance on the promotion of an alternative and affordable energy. Albeit widely known to reduce electricity costs, solar PV technology advocates the decarbonization of our planet by providing clean and power to communities.

Part B will be a kick-off on the Pledging Platform and Commitment of Solar companies, developers, funders, and communities pledge to undertake action. The first batch of Pledges shall be recorded as the Cairo Declarations.

The main trust of the event is to encourage public and private entities in supporting a net-zero future and promote the utilization of solar PV technology from residential to industrial level.

The objectives of this seminar are:
a) To share the know-hows and best practices regarding solar PV technology;
b) To brief on the emerging solar PV technologies;
c) To identify the challenges in attracting RE investors and its solutions;
d) To break the barriers to PV deployment

Read more
15:30 PM
UTC/GMT+2

BLUE ZONE

Standards and quality of installation of Solar PV rooftop projects - best practices

Technological developments in the solar industry (breaking the 30% efficiency barrier)
How solar PV can come to provide power to communities not connected to the grid due to its decentralized nature
The establishment of smart cities and smart grids with the aid of solar PV systems
The reliability of solar systems and safety/certification of installers recommendations
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Register now to attend the live streaming
directly from Sharm El Sheikh, Egypt

The Solar and Wind pavilion will host several thematic sessions as well as shared events on key transversal topics. All organisations and individuals attending COP are welcomed to visit and attend the sessions in person.

Everyone can join the streamed sessions digitally. The live streaming is available on social media accounts. To interact with speaker you can join the Zoom streaming, registering in the link below.

Register now

Where to find us at COP27

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