During the G20 summit in Rio de Janeiro, Prime Minister Keir Starmer officially announced the creation of the Global Clean Energy Alliance. This initiative brings together 12 countries in a joint mission to triple renewable energy and double energy efficiency, in line with commitments made at COP28.

The first countries to join the alliance are Brazil, Australia, Barbados, Canada, Chile, Colombia, France, Germany, Morocco, Norway, Tanzania, and the African Union. Additionally, the United States and the European Union will actively collaborate in the initiative.

Starmer placed sustainability as one of the top priorities of his government this year. Earlier, at COP29 in Baku, Azerbaijan, he announced an ambitious agenda centered on clean energy, particularly focused on offshore wind energy.

Missions for an Effective Energy Transition

The Global Clean Energy Alliance will be structured around specific missions that address the major challenges of the energy transition. The first mission, co-chaired by Brazil, will focus on financing, aiming to mobilize large-scale private capital for projects in emerging and developing markets. The goal is to ensure that no country is left behind in the transition to a sustainable energy model.

Impact on the United Kingdom

The United Kingdom not only leads this global effort but is also setting a precedent with significant investments in its national energy transition. Since July 2024, the country has attracted £34.8 billion in private investments for clean energy projects, generating thousands of green jobs. Currently, over 640,000 Britons work in sustainability-related sectors, a 20% growth in just two years.

Keir Starmer emphasized the United Kingdom’s commitment in his speech:

“We have phased out coal, lifted the ban on onshore wind energy, and launched GB Energy. Now, we want our clean energy ambitions to go global.”

Renewables Sector Outlook

The Prime Minister’s announcement generated positive reactions among leaders and organizations in the renewable energy sector, who highlighted the transformative impact of this initiative.

Jennifer Layke from the World Resources Institute emphasized the need for a comprehensive approach:

“The Global Clean Energy Alliance should promote not only renewable energy but also energy storage, efficient electrification, and both grid and distribution solutions. If done right, this effort can play a key role in accelerating the transition away from fossil fuels while improving people’s lives, reducing energy poverty, and creating green jobs.”

From the Global Renewables Alliance (GRA), they stressed the unifying role of the new alliance:

“The GCPA should be the force that unites and amplifies global action on finance, making concrete progress where it’s most needed. We are facing increasing geopolitical uncertainties and cannot afford fragmented efforts.”

Beverley Cornaby, director of the Policy and Systems Change Collaborations team at CISL, praised the UK’s leadership:

“The new Global Clean Energy Alliance aims to help countries at higher risk of falling behind in their energy transition by unlocking finance and access to technology. By fulfilling its own clean energy mission for 2030, the UK is leading the way in supporting the global transition.”

From Solar Provider Group, they highlighted the importance of regulatory innovations such as cable pooling:

“Cable pooling accelerates the energy transition by combining solar and wind farms and batteries behind a single connection, leading to more sustainable energy consumption and easing pressure on the electrical grid.”

Holland Solar celebrated the regulatory clarity promoting the shared use of cables, a measure that could be integrated into the global strategy:

“In order to better match supply and demand, expanding cable pooling to supply and storage is essential. This eases pressure on the electrical grid and allows businesses to continue with their sustainability plans.”

The Secretary of Energy, Ed Miliband, summarized the alliance’s impact:

“Accelerating the global transition to clean energy is in Britain’s national interest: it’s the path to future jobs, energy security, and combating the climate crisis.”

Undoubtedly, with collaboration between the United Kingdom and Brazil, the Global Clean Energy Alliance gains momentum ahead of COP30, which will be held in Belém in 2025.