Renewables Grid Initiative

ended

RGI is a unique collaboration of NGOs and transmission system operators from across Europe engaging in an ‘energy transition ecosystem of actors’. We promote fair, transparent, sustainable grid development to enable the growth of renewable energy to achieve full decarbonisation in line with the Paris Agreement. RGI has 23 Members from 11 European countries, and 1 supporting Member. The decisions and actions to be taken in the next decade are crucial if Europe is to achieve its Paris Agreement obligations as well as the European Green Deal’s 2050 climate neutrality targets. Our energy system requires urgent transformation to be built on renewables-based electrification and efficiency. Therefore, the deployment of renewable energy sources must be increased, and the development of related electricity grids sped up. However, all infrastructure has environmental and societal impacts, making it essential to find pathways for accelerating the energy transition hand in hand with the protection of nature and biodiversity, in a way that is fair and just for all citizens. To address the needs of this transformation, RGI’s annual work programme for 2022 (in line with FPA) will focus on three dimensions: 1) technical and spatial challenges: how to model and implement a fully decarbonised and optimised energy system, 2) environmental challenges: how to mitigate pressures, enhance and restore nature and biodiversity (offshore and onshore), 3) impacts on society: how to include and engage citizens on the path towards full decarbonisation. Our work programme consists of 7 work packages and 19 activities that emphasise the need for collaboration and harness knowledge-based and data driven decision making at the EU and Member State level. This will help shape European climate and energy policies, support implementation on the ground, and identify upcoming challenges. The LIFE NGO Operating Grant would support the organisational development of the RGI Secretariat in this endeavour.