Sustainability, power systems and CIGRE
In December 2015 the Paris Agreement was signed on climate protection in connection to the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) adopted by the UN in September 2015. CIGRE actively supports 9 of the 17 SDG’s via Working Groups, conferences and production of papers, Technical Brochures and articles. This reference paper describes how CIGRE contributes to global sustainability and the SDGs, partly by adhering to sustainable organizational practices itself, and even more importantly by supporting many SDGs through its global work related to energy, emissions and climate change.
1. Introduction
Sustainability has become a key driver of many developments in the world in general, and for power systems in particular. This is partly due to the December 2015 Paris Agreement on climate protection in connection to the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) adopted by the UN in September 2015.
Being the “Global Expert Community for Electric Power Systems”, CIGRE supports the SDGs, the Paris Agreement and sustainability in general, and pursues sustainable electricity for all. This reference paper describes how CIGRE contributes to global sustainability and the SDGs, partly by adhering to sustainable organizational practices itself, and even more importantly by supporting many SDGs through its global work related to energy, emissions and climate change.
Of the 17 SDG titles, 9 are particularly relevant to power systems and CIGRE’s intense focus.
We must endeavor to further access to electricity for those without.
2. CIGRE and climate protection
SDG 13 is the key issue of this dimension: "Take urgent action to combat climate change and its impacts".
What does it mean for CIGRE?
The electric industry and climate mutually influence each other. From innovation in storage to off-grid solutions, every aspect of the work of CIGRE is influenced by this changing world.
The CIGRE work thus contributes to the following SDG 13 Actions:
- Strengthen resilience and adaptive capacity to climate-related hazards
- Integrate climate change measures into national policies, strategies and planning
- Improve education, awareness-raising and human and institutional capacity on climate change
Related SDG’s are discussed below:
SDG 14: "life below water": CIGRE addresses this via wind on sea which is developing fast. This involves sustainable installation and management of off shore wind farms.
SDG 15: "life on land” This includes, bird protection, landscape and corridor management, greenhouse gases like SF6 and so on.
3. CIGRE and efficiency
The SDG most related to efficiency is SDG 7: "Affordable and clean energy". This involves providing affordable universal access and increasing renewable energy generation.
What does it mean for CIGRE?
SDG 7, "affordable and clean energy", addresses one of the basic needs of society around the world; access to affordable, reliable, sustainable and new energy sources for all. Without any doubt, this is a goal where CIGRE plays a major role. CIGRE embraces the challenges of integrating sustainable and new energy sources without compromising the reliability of supply.
CIGRE is also involved in determining solutions for integration and operation of clean energy. This includes use of batteries to support inverter based resources and the study of grid operational solutions with less central station spinning (inertia-based) assets.
By supporting these actions, the CIGRE work will also have a major influence on SDG 9, 11 and 12.
4. CIGRE and global cooperation
This dimension is closely related to SDG 17: "partnerships for the goals" involves strengthening international cooperation on science, technology and innovation.
What does it mean for CIGRE?
SDG 17; "partnerships for the goals" is in the heart and in the genes of CIGRE. A successful sustainable development agenda requires partnerships between governments, the private sector and civil society.
Urgent action is needed to mobilize, redirect and unlock the transformative power of trillions of dollars of private resources to deliver on sustainable development objectives.
CIGRE promotes global cooperation, with connections to all kinds of companies in the electricity sector; utilities, generation companies, manufacturers, governments, science, consultancies, civil society, and CIGRE collaborates with several similar global institutions like IEEE and the World Bank.
5. Conclusion
In summary, the CIGRE Technical Council keeps all these objectives towards contributing to push these recommendations into action, as well as to how monitoring and ensuring their progress.