In a landmark move aimed at advancing the transition to clean energy, the Clean Energy Ministerial (CEM) Member Governments proudly unveil the “CEM Supercharging Battery Storage Initiative,” a groundbreaking effort poised to accelerate the global deployment of battery storage. This initiative signifies a significant leap forward in the quest to triple renewable energy capacity by 2030.
As the world increasingly relies on renewable sources like solar and wind, the necessity for a more flexible and reliable energy system becomes apparent. Batteries emerge as a crucial component for efficiently integrating these resources into power grids, providing a solution for reliable and cost-effective electricity in isolated and off-grid communities while reducing reliance on fossil fuels.
Global battery storage capacity projections, as outlined by the International Energy Agency (IEA), indicate the need to surpass 1,000 GW by 2030 to align with net-zero ambitions—a remarkable 23-fold expansion compared to the current installed capacity.
Recognizing the urgency of this challenge, governments, private sector leaders, and civil society representatives convened at the Clean Energy Ministerial in Goa, India, in July 2023, and later at the UN Secretary-General’s Climate Ambition Summit in New York in September 2023. There, they collectively emphasized the immediate need for action and committed to coordinated efforts under the umbrella of the Clean Energy Ministerial through the Supercharging Battery Storage initiative.
The newly launched CEM Supercharging Battery Storage initiative aims to boost the development and deployment of stationary battery storage, reduce technology costs through international cooperation, and build a diversified, sustainable, responsible, secure, and transparent supply chain. The initiative seeks to promote grid stability, reliability, and support the global integration of renewable energy.
Co-led by the European Commission and Australia, with the support of the United States and Canada as participants, this initiative is poised to catalyze coordination and collaboration between governments, the private sector, and civil society, providing a roadmap for accelerated action towards a sustainable and resilient energy future.
Key leaders from governments and partner organizations voiced their support for the initiative:
Fatih Birol, Executive Director, International Energy Agency (IEA) said, “Batteries have a major role to play in clean energy transitions. They are already essential for the continued rapid rise of electric cars and other forms of e-mobility – and they are becoming increasingly important for the growth of clean electricity systems, enabling rising shares of wind and solar PV. With this in mind, the IEA will undertake a special report in 2024 on the future role of battery storage.”
Michael R. Bloomberg, UN Secretary-General’s Special Envoy on Climate Ambition and Solutions and Founder of Bloomberg LP and Bloomberg Philanthropies commented, “Battery storage technologies are essential to speeding up the clean energy transition away from coal and fossil fuels, while meeting global electricity demands. The world needs more than 20 times more battery storage by 2030. This new initiative will bring together a powerful coalition of national and subnational governments and industry experts with experience developing battery storage systems that will help usher in a fossil-fuel free future.”
Maroš Šefčovič, Vice President of the European Commission said, “I fully support the Clean Energy Ministerial initiative to supercharge global battery storage Deployment and its strong potential to help achieve the global target for tripled renewable energy generation by 2030. Battery storage will be the backbone of the green transition with an essential role to decarbonise transport and energy. It will enable a truly decentralised and integrated energy system based on efficient use and renewable generation.”
Chris Bowen, Minister for Climate Change and Energy of Australia said, “It is crucial that governments, researchers and investors work together to accelerate global battery capacity in this critical decade for climate action. Australia is taking strong action to rapidly increase the rollout of batteries and other dispatchable energy through our expanded Capacity Investment Scheme, to deliver a long-term reliable, affordable and low-emissions energy system and help achieve our target of reaching 82% renewables by 2030.”
Jennifer M. Granholm, Secretary, U.S. Department of Energy said, “Battery storage— especially grid-scale storage—is an essential piece of the decarbonization puzzle. In the U.S. alone, to complete the picture of our net-zero economy, we’ll need 1.5 to 2.5 terawatts of power capacity, plus up to tens of thousands of terawatt-hours in storage duration. That’s why the United States is investing billions of dollars in this effort. But we can’t do it alone. That’s why I’m proud the United States is joining with Australia, Canada, and the European Commission to launch a new CEM initiative on supercharging battery storage deployment.”
Jonathan Wilkinson, Minister of Energy and Natural Resources of Canada commented, “Canada is pleased to announce its participation as a founding member of the Clean Energy Ministerial’s initiative to supercharge global battery storage deployment, alongside Australia, the European Commission and the United States. Stationary battery storage plays a critical role in advancing our global energy and net-zero commitments. We are pleased to be collaborating with governments, private and public financiers, and other key stakeholders to advance this work.”
Selwin Hart, Assistant Secretary-General and Special Adviser to the Secretary-General on Climate Action and Just Transition, said, “The Secretary-General’s Acceleration Agenda calls for unprecedented levels of international cooperation to slash emissions and deliver climate justice. The CEM Supercharging Battery Storage initiative is a significant effort to accelerate the growth of battery storage, which is essential for the electric and clean energy future our planet needs. This initiative is an example of the international collaboration needed to achieve the global temperature goal of 1.5 degrees Celsius.”
Luis Tineo, Interim CEO Climate Investment Funds (CIF) said, “Battery storage represents the next great push to get the world onto a net-zero pathway through its ability to increase the integration of renewable energy and decarbonize transportation. Developing countries are at the forefront of that push as they build energy systems to support a clean and just transition. The Climate Investment Funds welcomes the Supercharging Battery Storage Initiative and looks forward to finding ways to partner with the Clean Energy Ministerial to achieve its goals.”
Jean-François Gagne’, Head of CEM Secretariat added, “The success of achieving such an ambitious increase in battery capacity within this timeframe requires unprecedented collaboration between governments, the private sector, and civil society. The Clean Energy Ministerial is proud to take the lead in bringing together nations and key stakeholders and be a catalyst to addressing this critical challenge.”
