On February 21st, members of the team for the Lighthouse Project met to discuss the global context and drivers of distribution grid transformation – to build a foundation for and inform the collaborative knowledge co-creation process that will engage the wider ISGAN community in the run-up to the Clean Energy Ministerial (CEM15) in October. We dove into some of the challenges and innovations shaping our energy grids. A snapshot of what we learned:
- Megatrends and Insights: We navigated through critical megatrends including climate change, urbanization, digitalization, and more to understand their profound impacts on distribution grid transformation. Our discussions, inspired by pledges made at COP28, reflected the urgency of adaptive infrastructure and policy evolution.
- Collaborative Solutions: From infrastructure resilience to innovative financing, the workshop illuminated the multi-faceted strategies required to modernize and decarbonize our grids to serve the needs of people and business. Emphasizing skills development and international collaboration, we explored how collective knowledge can address the nuanced demands of diverse energy landscapes across different geographies.
- Next steps: We look forward to the next meeting, an in-person interactive workshop in Copenhagen on March 22nd, in which we will explore barriers and solutions to distribution grid transformation from the perspective of different stakeholder groups with key roles to play in delivering on the COP28 pledge to triple renewable capacity and accelerating efficiency.
You can read more about the planning and goals of the Lighthouse Project here: https://www.iea-isgan.org/isgan-lighthouse-project-illuminating-pathways-for-smart-grid-development/