Emmanuel OchayiTen countries, including Egypt, Ghana, India, Kenya, Malawi, Mauritania, Mozambique, Nigeria, and Togo, joined the Battery Energy Storage Systems (BESS) Consortium.
Spearheaded by the Global Energy Alliance for People and Planet’s Global Leadership Council (GLC) At the 2023 United Nations Climate Change Conference (COP28), this initiative aims to secure 5 gigawatts (GW) of BESS commitments by 2024, a move anticipated to pave the way for achieving 400 GW of renewable energy by 2030.
Prime Minister Jonas Gahr Støre of Norway, co-chair of the GLC, emphasized the potential of the BESS Consortium, stressing the need for swift collective action to cut emissions, generate employment, and expand access to clean and affordable energy in low- and middle-income countries.
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According to Dr. Rajiv J. Shah, President of The Rockefeller Foundation and GLC co-chair, sufficient storage capacity is vital for countries to integrate renewable energy into their grids, fostering emission reduction and economic growth.
The Consortium, backed by resource partners and organizations like AfDB, World Bank, ADB, IDB, and others, aims not only to secure BESS commitments but also to accelerate project deployment, improve the regulatory landscape, and foster a favorable market for BESS.
Joseph Nganga, Interim Managing Director and VP of Africa at GEAPP, highlighted the tangible impact of such initiatives, citing a 20MW BESS project in Malawi expected to benefit millions, improve lives, and reduce CO2 emissions.
This concerted effort seeks to break barriers hindering global collaboration for a sustainable future, as outlined by recent research from The Rockefeller Foundation.
Through the BESS Consortium, countries aim to revolutionize energy systems and drive a greener, more accessible future for all.
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