CORENA is thrilled to join the International Community for Local Smart Grids (ICLSG), an international knowledge-sharing partnership of distribution network operators, community energy enterprises and organisations. The partnership was convened by the University of Oxford and Research Partner Enel Foundation, and supported by co-founders Ausgrid, Scottish and Southern Electricity Networks, and Low Carbon Hub.
Climate change is an international challenge that demands local solutions. CORENA joins partners announced from Great Britain, Italy, Japan, New Zealand who are committed to securing a fair, cost-effective transition to net zero. To achieve that, the ICLSG believes that the relationship between communities and smart grids must be championed.
For electricity distribution network operators, the net-zero transition means supporting the electrification of vehicles and heating, plus new requirements for homes and businesses who may wish to generate electricity.
Community energy organisations are rooted in their communities’ priorities for net zero and are working to ensure their solutions work socially, environmentally and financially. They provide a vital bridge to foster understanding of the opportunities and challenges that a transition to a zero-carbon energy system raises.
The partnership aims to document and share these learnings to pave the way for more projects to come. By working together to find real world, collaborative solutions that address the specific needs of different communities across the globe, we hope to unlock the mass participation that is required to galvanise a successful transition.
The combination of expertise that partners bring will be enhanced by a five-year research programme, that will explore how smart grids can support net zero technologies in a way that is good for people and good for the planet.
For more information on the partnership, visit International Community For Local Smart Grids.