June 21, 2019 — At the end of May, ministers from more than 25 countries convened in Vancouver, British Columbia for the tenth Clean Energy Ministerial, or CEM10. Founded in 2010 with a goal of transitioning to a global clean energy economy, CEM provides an opportunity for high-level policy dialogue and sharing of best practice to accelerate a transition to a low-carbon future; and serves as a venue for international collaboration on clean energy innovation and adoption of clean policies and practices.
NREL and JISEA have been collaborators and leaders of CEM programs since nearly its inception. JISEA was an active participant at CEM10 as an operating agent of CEM programs such as
21st Century Power Partnership (21CPP), which helps countries map their transition to clean power; as well as its work in supporting energy transition planning in the U.S. and internationally.
Represented by director Jill Engel-Cox and National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL) colleagues, Doug Arent, Travis Lowder, and Nate Blair, JISEA had a strong showing at CEM. Engel-Cox spoke on two panels related to dispatchable and flexible energy and facilitated a third on long-term energy scenarios. Arent and Lowder led a session on global case studies of innovative utility offerings for 21CPP.
Doug Arent, Ph.D. speaks as part of a panel.
Dispatchable Clean Energy
At a NICE Future-hosted event, an international panel discussed the current and future role of dispatchable energy. Engel-Cox provided information on the role of dispatchable renewables, such as geothermal and hydropower, in lowering emissions internationally and in a cost-effective manner.
Underscoring the importance of collaboration across energy communities to innovate, Engel-Cox identified the need for more flexible, accessible, and customizable energy to meet global demand, including the nearly one billion people without access to reliable electricity.
Clean Energy Breakthroughs
JISEA also participated in a discussion around clean energy breakthroughs. The panel event presented possibilities for renewables working in tandem with nuclear and fossil energy.
Engel-Cox cited
JISEA research that found that renewable energy technologies could be tightly coupled with small modular reactors to create a hybrid energy system that supports an industrial process by simultaneously generating electricity, process heat, and hydrogen.
Innovative Utility Offerings
Clean Energy Future through Collaboration
Achievement of a global clean energy economy will require the sustained cooperation across a vast array of stakeholders - governments, international organizations, and the private sector. Represented by Nate Blair, NREL is excited to join the World Bank and 28 other partners in the
World Bank Energy Storage Partnership (ESP).
Launched at CEM10, ESP was developed to foster international cooperation on energy storage solutions tailored to the needs of developing countries, with the goal of sparking the rapid uptake of variable renewable energy. Through his role coordinating NREL's interaction with the World Bank, Blair also attended the launch of the
Energy Sector Management Assistance Program (ESMAP) trust fund within the World Bank Group.
JISEA and NREL look forward to further collaboration with the CEM Secretariat and operating agents to drive international coordination in realizing a clean energy future. Stay tuned for further developments from our participation in CEM initiatives and campaigns over the next year, and our work in preparing for CEM11 in 2020.
