Renewables Grid Initiative

ended

The Renewables Grid Initiative (RGI) is a unique collaboration of NGOs and TSOs from across Europe 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 28 members from 12 European countries and 2 supporting organisations.   This decade is crucial for Europe to achieve its Paris Agreement obligations and reach the European Green Deal’s 2050 climate neutrality targets. Our energy system requires an urgent transformation toward renewables-based electrification, efficiency, and savings. In light of the war in Ukraine, it is more vital than ever to increase the deployment of renewables and accelerate electricity grid deployment, to reduce the EU’s energy dependencies. Critically, this accelerated transition should be realised while protecting nature, restoring biodiversity, and in a way that is fair for all citizens.  To address the need of this transformation and approach electricity system planning holistically, RGI's annual work programme 2024 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 on land and at sea; and 3) impacts on society: how to include and engage citizens on the accelerated path towards full decarbonisation.  RGI 2024 work programme consists of 7 work packages and 19 activities that emphasise the need for collaboration and harnessing knowledge-based and data-driven decision-making at the EU and Member States levels. This will help shape EU climate, nature and energy policies, ensure that they remain high on agenda of the next European Commission and Parliament, support their implementation, and identify upcoming challenges. The LIFE NGO OG supports RGI in this endeavour.