IRENA at the 14th Clean Energy Ministerial and 8th Mission Innovation meeting (CEM14/MI-8)

Goa, India

Scheduled on the margins of the G20 Energy Transitions Ministerial Meeting (ETMM), the 14th Clean Energy Ministerial and 8th Mission Innovation meeting (CEM14/MI-8) took place from 19th to 22nd of July, 2023, and brought together, governments, international organizations, private sector, academia, innovators, civil society, and early career researchers and policymakers over a four-day program featuring high-level ministerial dialogues, global initiative launches, award announcements, minister-CEO roundtables, and a wide array of side-events cutting across diverse themes of clean energy transition. CEM14/MI8 also featured a public facing technology showcase demonstrating cutting edge advances in clean energy from India and around the world.

19 July 2023 | 9:00 – 10:30 UTC+5:30
Technology innovation to and from emerging economies: deep decarbonisation of industry

The MI Net-zero industries (MI NZI) mission pursues ambitious goals: MI NZI showcased in 50 demonstration plants technological solutions for decarbonisation of industry and reduce costs of these technologies. Industry and partner associations presented best practices on the implementation of no regret net-zero solutions in industry and showcased examples of successful technology transfer. In an interactive workshop in round tables, 10 of these were identified on how technology transfer of innovations can be facilitated, which barriers need to be overcome and which enablers support the market uptake of decarbonisation solutions in countries beyond MI members. The session also proposed how MI NZI members and collaboration partners can cooperate with other initiatives and postulate a need for action.

19 July 2023 | 13:15 – 14:45 UTC+5:30
Accelerating net-zero ambitions through clean hydrogen for decarbonization of industrial value chains (IRENA event)

Less than a decade is left to secure a fighting chance for a 1.5°C world. To meet these commitments, the private sector and industries must be part of the efforts to pivot from fossil fuels to renewable energy sources and pursue widespread decarbonisation across all end-use sectors. While energy efficiency, electrification and renewables can achieve 70% of the mitigation needed, hydrogen will be needed to decarbonise end uses where other options are less mature or more costly, such as heavy industry, long-haul transport and seasonal energy storage. Moving toward green hydrogen-based heavy industries would require a major technological shift in their core industrial processes. Historically, such shifts have occurred because of major economic gains enabled by technological innovation. There is no time to wait for green hydrogen technology to become cost-competitive with current technologies, due to the urgency of taking climate action and the fact that hard-to-abate sectors are only one investment cycle away from 2050. The change must be accelerated, through policies, regulations, and standards in order to drive investments in this direction.

19 July 2023 | 13:15 – 14:45 UTC+5:30
The Road to COP28: Delivering the Breakthrough Agenda Priority Actions and looking forward to the 2023 Breakthrough Agenda Report

This event included an update on the Breakthrough Agenda Report 2023, due for publication in September 2023. It provided an overview of progress in each sector and made detailed recommendations on where and how to strengthen international collaborative action, highlight the progress being made against the Breakthrough Agenda’s Priority Actions, support for CEM and MI workstreams and the importance of working together for a successful outcome at COP28. The audience also heard, and were given the chance to give feedback on the emerging findings of the report and discuss how these emerging findings can influence the work being done by the clean energy community.

19 July 2023 | 15:00 – 16:30 UTC+5:30
Shaping the Future of Energy Systems: Strategic agenda of the Long-Term Energy Scenarios (LTES) Initiative (IRENA event)

This LTES session aimed to leverage the unique opportunity of engaging with energy leaders and the broader Clean Energy Ministerial (CEM) community to discuss about the emerging priorities that influence the speed and the direction of the clean energy transition that must be further discussed in the LTES Initiative.

19 July 2023 | 16:45 – 18:00 UTC+5:30
Solar Supply Chains: Considerations for Policymakers; Roundtable on Policy Briefs and Panel on Traceability Schemes in the US and EU

The first half of this side event featured a roundtable discussion on three new policy briefs produced by the Transforming Solar: Supply Chains workstream, which was launched at CEM13 in September 2022. The initiative has convened numerous workshops on solar manufacturing around the world, hosted a number of webinars and online conversations, and commissioned a report that will be released at CEM14, “Building Resilient Global Solar Supply Chains.” The second half was a moderated panel regarding ongoing efforts by trade associations in the EU and the United States to enhance global solar supply chain traceability.

20 July 2023 | 9:00 – 10:30 UTC+5:30
Igniting Change: Breaking Down Barriers to Gender Equality

This session focused on the pivotal role of women in driving a just, equitable, and inclusive clean energy transition. Key stakeholders from governments, businesses, financial institutions, youth and civil organizations convened to highlight the importance of national and international cooperation in combating gender disparity. Experts shared persistent challenges and effective strategies for reducing barriers for women in energy workforces. The event showcased how collaborative platforms, such as the Equality in Energy Transitions Initiative, accelerate the deployment of gender-responsive and sustainable climate solutions and bridge the gap between different stakeholders by providing concrete actions to contribute to the decarbonization of our economies and societies. Following the session, there was a networking opportunity where participants connected with speakers and fellow attendees and engaged in meaningful discussions, fostering potential collaborations and mentoring relationships.

20 July 2023 | 10:45 – 12:15 UTC+5:30
Mayors-Ministers Dialogue: Future-proofing urban infrastructures

This high-level dialogue discussed how to accelerate the uptake of innovative urban infrastructure solutions, through holistic approaches that can respond to complex cities’ needs to build, operate, and maintain sustainable infrastructures. National and local government leaders exchange on opportunities, challenges, and ways forward to mainstream climate considerations in investments and development of infrastructures in cities – from buildings, network infrastructures to urban assets. The session showcased National strategies that inform and facilitate the removal of barriers to implementation, and cities’ successes in spearheading innovation, supporting national goals through effective multilevel relationships, and by working with institutional and private sector investors to stay the course set by the Paris Agreement. This dialogue helped channel the voice of cities and communities worldwide, informing and influencing the scope and pace of clean energy innovation, providing a platform to exchange on:

  • Driving ambition: removing barriers to implementation of systemic innovations in partnership with and across all levels, to reach net-zero
  • Delivering on commitments: increasing investment potential and accelerating financial flows and market opportunities for the implementation of smart, sustainable, integrated infrastructures
  • Leveraging innovation: tapping cities’ potential as solutions providers, working together to close the gap between research, development and deployment of solutions

20 July 2023 | 13:15 – 14:45 UTC+5:30
Enablers for an acceleration of clean hydrogen production and uptake

This event recognized the crucial role of green hydrogen in driving economic transformation and achieving deep decarbonization in hard-to-abate sectors. IRENA’s 1.5°C Scenario predicts demand for hydrogen will amount to 74 EJ, 21 per cent of the world’s total final energy consumption by 2050. In order to promote production and create demand for clean hydrogen, many countries have announced multi-billion-dollar incentives. However, building this market presents challenges, such as a shortage of renewables, technology and standards, as well as a lack of investment and a domestic market. In addition, there are challenges related to infrastructure and the geopolitics of energy trade.

The event aimed to facilitate dialogue among stakeholders on strategies to facilitate a smooth transition to a clean hydrogen economy, address existing bottlenecks, and maximize its potential. The discussion on different approaches offered insights into basic elements to be considered in strategies to enable the transition to a clean hydrogen economy, overcome current bottlenecks and harness its opportunities.

20 July 2023 | 13:15 – 14:45 UTC+5:30
Mission Innovation Think Tank: Strengthening Clean Energy Innovation Policy, Programs and Collaborations through Knowledge Sharing

This side event launched the MI Think Tank process, including the 2023 Think Tank Call for Expressions of Interest – which called on members of the MI Community to help shape the Think Tank’s activities in 2023 by contributing to Think Tank events, and identify and discuss priority cross-cutting clean energy innovation topics for further examination through the MI Think Tank in 2023, inviting participants to share their perspectives and feedback on topics of interest.

20 July 2023 | 15:00 – 16:30 UTC+5:30
Unleashing the global potential for clean hydrogen in ports and the maritime sector

This event showcased the potential of hydrogen valleys close to ports and how shipping will play a key role in accelerating the development of a global hydrogen economy.

20 July 2023 | 16:45 – 18:00 UTC+5:30
Launch of the CEM Clean Energy Marine Hubs Initiative

During this side-event the current plans, the opportunity and the scale of low-carbon fuels required were presented and discussed with representatives of governments and the private sector to determine the efforts needed to accelerate international cooperation and facilitation to establish CEM-Hubs, focusing on the crucial role that multiple stakeholders would play in this process.

21 July 2023 | 9:30 – 13:15 UTC+5:30
Key Global Highlights on Clean Energy from MI and CEM Secretariats and Joint CEM/MI Ministerial (closed-door)

IRENA Director-General joined other Ministers and head of delegations for the Ministerial event which expounded on the status of clean energy innovation, identified gaps and action areas where concerted efforts by the MI & CEM community were required.

21 July 2023 | 14:30 – 15:45 UTC+5:30
Closed-door Minister-CEO roundtable on battery storage

IRENA Deputy-Director General joined this Roundtable which aimed to identify the current opportunities and challenges facing the uptake of utility-scale battery storage technologies for electricity grids, by harmonizing the efforts of relevant stakeholders – regulatory policy and market design, manufacturing, innovation and financing – so that the integration of storage systems into existing networks can occur and facilitate a multitude of additional benefits.

21 July 2023 | 14:30 – 15:45 UTC+5:30
High-level dialogue on access to energy (IRENA event)

IRENA Director-General brought together stakeholders and discussed ways to inspire and challenge Ministers and the private sector to raise ambition, develop a common roadmap, and accelerate action toward achieving the UN’s SDG 7. They also deliberated how CEM Workstreams (Empowering People Initiative, Equality Initiative, etc.) and MI Missions (Urban Transitions and Clean Power Future) are together driving progress towards SDG 7.

21 July 2023 | 16:00 – 17:15 UTC+5:30
Closed-door Minister-CEO roundtable on clean energy marine hubs

IRENA Director-General joined the session that aimed to identify clean energy marine hubs that aim to accelerate large scale renewable and clean energy production close to ports and industrial clusters, for domestic as well as international consumption. It envisaged to bring together public and private sector across the entire maritime and energy value chains to share knowledge and best practices to derisk investments towards deployment and transport of low carbon/green fuels via shipping mode.

21 July 2023 | 16:00 – 17:15 UTC+5:30
High-level dialogue on industry decarbonisation

IRENA Deputy-Director General joined the session that aimed to identify innovations and technologies to enhance deployment of cost-effective solutions in the hard to abate sectors and identify strategies to mobilize finance for industrial decarbonisation approaches. The session also envisaged to discuss policies to create market pull for the demand of low-carbon industrial products.

22 July 2023 | 10:45 – 12:15 UTC+5:30
Unleashing Renewable Energy’s Full Potential: setting a global target (IRENA event)

This roundtable discussion brought together governments, international institutions, industry and NGOs to discuss the operationalization of a global target necessary for 1.5°C, as well as investments and support needed to reach it.

22 July 2023 | 13:15 – 14:45 UTC+5:30
Empowering People Initiative (EPI): Collaborative Strategies for Jobs and Skills for Just Clean Energy Transitions

The CEM’s Empowering People Initiative (EPI) focuses on the critical socio-economic elements that are needed to drive a just and equitable energy transition. This high-level panel of regional and international partners, co-hosted by the Skill Council for Green Jobs, explored strategies for empowering workers, businesses, and consumers to transition to a carbon-neutral, circular and sustainable economy. The session discussed what is needed for effective collaboration in the development of policies and programmes that can be leveraged by governments and other stakeholders for the scale-up of equitable solutions. The session included a focus on the jobs and skills needed in the clean energy sector.

22 July 2023 | 15:00 – 16:30 UTC+5:30
Global Policy Makers Dialogue on Agri-Renewables, Securing Water-Energy-Food Nexus for a Sustainable World (IRENA event)

The event explored the potential of solar energy in agribusiness, including its ability to promote sustainable agriculture and increase rural energy access, discuss the complexities of the energy-food-water nexus and how Renewable energy can help address these challenges. Additionally, it highlighted the importance of policy and regulatory frameworks in promoting renewable energy investments and stakeholder collaboration. The attendees gained valuable insights from experts in the agriculture and renewable energy sectors that presented the latest innovations and best practices in solar energy for agribusiness.

22 July 2023 | 15:00 – 16:30 UTC+5:30
High-level Roundtable: Accelerating Offshore Wind Deployment

IRENA Director-General joined a closed-door round table on ways to facilitate robust dialogue between government and business and thereby facilitate consensus building and synergies that are key to de-risking OSW projects, enhancing the competitiveness of bids, resilience building of supply chains, and lowering the cost of financing among others. The event aimed at convening high-level dialogue which supports accelerated deployment of OSW.