Breaking down barriers: Increasing equitable adoption of 24/7 carbon-free energy at COP29 and beyond

By Damilola Ogunbiyi

The adoption of 24/7 carbon-free energy (24/7 CFE) technologies and solutions is crucial for the clean energy transition. Generating opportunities for safer, cleaner and more diverse energy consumption, it can propel us towards a future that is healthier and more sustainable for all. However, regional disparities in areas such as energy reliance, financing and standardization are provoking barriers to widespread adoption.

As global leaders continue #COP29 negotiations and dialogues in Baku, it’s clear that firm commitments must be made, not only to support innovation and accelerate the energy transition but also to develop a robust regulatory framework that ensures equitable and effective implementation. We must better communicate and collaborate across borders if we are to drive effective and long-lasting change.

Regional challenges to adoption

Different regions around the world face unique challenges in the shift to carbon-free energy. In developing nations, access to renewable energy infrastructure remains limited, and economic constraints make the transition expensive and logistically complex. Meanwhile, many regions still rely heavily on fossil fuels due to integrated existing infrastructure and ties to legacy industries. Rural and isolated regions often lack the capabilities necessary to incorporate a variety of carbon-free energy sources like wind and solar, which can leave large gaps in energy reliability.

National regulatory environments also often fail to incentivize companies and governments to invest in carbon-free energy solutions and innovation. Without a systemic shift in energy policies to prioritize transitions to 24/7 clean energy, reliance on fossil fuels will persist.

Hourly matching, for example, can help create a more transparent picture of carbon-free energy use and demand, based on real-time data on the production and consumption of energy. Such precision ensures that companies and governments are truly accountable for their energy use and emissions reductions, and can make better decisions based on clear market signals on what is needed, from procurement to technology and infrastructure, to speed the transition to carbon-free energy systems.

A Regulatory Framework to Drive Systemic Change

To address these regional disparities, a robust regulatory framework is needed – one that ensures granularity, equity and accountability in reporting. Standardizing and communicating how carbon-free energy is measured and reported across regions is a critical first step. This will help ensure that organizations and governments can compare progress fairly, creating transparency, sharing knowledge and driving competition that spurs greater investment and market growth.

Additionally, policies must support equity, especially within regions that face higher costs in the transition to 24/7 CFE. Financial mechanisms such as subsidies for renewable energy infrastructure and technology transfer from richer nations to developing countries will help level the playing field. This will also address issues of energy poverty, ensuring that innovation is shared and no region is left behind as the world shifts towards cleaner energy sources.

Power Up Progress – Increasing Momentum at COP29
At COP29, global leaders have a chance to make real progress by focusing on how to create a more unified, ambitious approach to the adoption of 24/7 CFE. Policy and financing commitments made during these negotiations must go beyond pledges and translate into concrete policy mechanisms that support clean energy deployment, improve grid infrastructure and promote energy storage solutions that allow for around-the-clock carbon-free electricity.

COP29 presents an opportunity to increase the momentum behind the 24/7 Carbon-Free Energy Compact, a global coalition of governments, businesses, innovators and organizations working together to achieve decarbonized electricity grids. With over 200 Signatories, the Compact is the driving force for innovation and regulatory reform across diverse markets, from the Global South to major industrialized nations.

Now is the time to break down regional barriers and accelerate the global transition to carbon-free energy, ensuring that the move towards a decarbonized world is both inclusive and lasting.

•Damilola Ogunbiyi is the CEO and SRSG for Sustainable Energy for All, Co-chair of UN-Energy.