By Amina Younis
Delegations from over 75 countries converged in Berlin in March 2024 for the 10th Berlin Energy Transition Dialogue. Discussions ranged from coming up with working financial structures for renewable energy to the implementation of COP 28 deliverables.
Key in the discussions held was tripling global renewable energy by 2030 with a target of 473 gigawatts installed.
From the discussions, 1000 Gigawatts need to be installed per year until 2030 if this is to be achieved.
Countries from different parts of the world had different questions to raise with key ones being around the need for putting up sustainable financial structures, especially for developing nations. This includes global energy transition, phasing out coal-based power, and decarbonization.
Despite renewable energies being considered the cheapest energy source available worldwide, it is still a problem for most countries to produce clean energy such as through geothermal, wind, or solar.
Even though in Lebanon many people have installed solar power systems in their homes over the past three years, most use it only to fill in when the generator is off. Such challenges were discussed at the 10th BETD heralding COp29.
Other issues bedeviling the renewable energy sector include historical. injustices such as the Lebanese Civil War, which lasted from 1975 to 1990, damaging the country’s electricity supply.
This as noted by the IRENA president should be taken into account to ensure all countries have a level playing field when it comes to transition renewable energy.
