On December 5, 31 partners – including 25 leading utility companies from across the globe – joined forces with the International Renewable Energy Agency and the UN Climate Change High-Level Champions to launch the Utilities for Net Zero Alliance. The companies formed the Alliance as a vehicle for implementation and requested the International Renewable Energy Agency (IRENA) to lead the secretariat. The utility companies will work to address impediments to the net zero pathway framed within IRENA’s World Energy Transitions Outlook and reflected in the 2030 Breakthroughs led by the UN Climate Change High-Level Champions.

Founding entities include BCSE members National Grid, Schneider Electric, and Uniper. At COP 28 on December 8, Edison International and BCSE member Sacramento Municipal Utility District joined the Alliance as well. The Alliance’s primary focus is on promoting the accelerated adoption of renewables and building the necessary infrastructure, while also offering a platform for joint efforts to address supply chain bottlenecks, support the flow of capital to the power sector transformation in the global south, and engage with policymakers and regulators.