Lightsource bp and REA Discuss Solar Power’s Role in a People-Centric and Nature-Friendly Energy Transition at COP28

Lightsource bp and REA Discuss Solar Power’s Role in a People-Centric and Nature-Friendly Energy Transition at COP28

(IN BRIEF) Lightsource bp and the UK’s Renewable Energy Association (REA) convened a high-level roundtable discussion during COP28, focusing on the role of solar power in facilitating an energy transition that prioritizes both people and nature. With 117 nations aiming to triple renewable capacity by 2030, the event explored how to fulfill this commitment. Lightsource bp emphasized the importance of meaningful community engagement and a proactive stance on nature and biodiversity in clean power expansion. The company is dedicated to achieving biodiversity net gain across its global portfolio and has identified the potential for substantial biodiversity improvements in its UK solar farms. Participants, including experts and policymakers, stressed the need to integrate community involvement and environmental considerations into large-scale renewable infrastructure projects.

(PRESS RELEASE) LONDON, 8-Dec-2023 — /EuropaWire/ — Lightsource bp and the UK’s Renewable Energy Association (REA) hosted a high-level roundtable debate at COP28. The session focused on solar power’s role in delivering an energy transition that is both people-first and supportive of nature.

117 nations aim to triple renewable capacity by 2030. The key question is how will they deliver on this commitment?

At Lightsource bp, we’ve been prioritising meaningful community engagement and a proactive approach on nature for over a decade.

Our contribution to the World Economic Forum’s white paper underscores the need for a people-positive approach in clean power scale-up. As we eye the ambitious solar targets, it’s clear that massive infrastructure development must go hand-in-hand with community involvement.

“Tripling renewables is going to require a massive infrastructure build and it was inevitably going to intersect with people and nature. It is critical that we take community engagement to the next level,” said Kristen Panerali, Head of Clean Power, Grids and Electrification, WEF, who participated in the roundtable.

A responsible solar approach also requires a proactive strategy on nature and biodiversity.

Lightsource bp is targeting biodiversity net gain, an uplift in the measured biodiversity before and after sites are operational, wherever possible across our global portfolio. An independent study of our solar farms in the UK has shown the potential for even larger improvements. This will be crucial as the UK eyes ambitious solar targets.

“The Mission Zero review in the UK called for a solar revolution to install 70GW of solar power by 2035,” said Chris Skidmore MP, who led an independent review into the UK’s 2050 net zero commitment. “The REA has done a lot of work to demonstrate not just the challenges that we must address to unblock solar deployment but also what [about] that opportunity to deliver cheaper, greener, cleaner energy at scale so households get cheaper bills and at the same time we can ensure that the deployment of solar is best placed to deliver for communities across the UK,” he added.

Many thanks to all the participants in the roundtable:

• Chris Skidmore MP
• Kristen Panerali, Head of Clean Power and Electrification, WEF
• Mate Heisz, Director of Global Affairs, Solar Power Europe
• Thanos Zarogiannis, Energy Transition Expert, Senior Advisor to the Greek Deputy Minister of Environment & Energy
• Dr Veronica Bermudez Benito, QEERI
• Adam Pegg, Managing Director APAC, Lightsource bp
• Alyssa Edwards, Senior VP Government Relations and Environmental Affairs, Lightsource bp
• Michelle Lezama, EU Government Affairs Advisor, Lightsource bp
• Francis Mann, UK Government Affairs Lead, Lightsource bp

Media Contact:

info@lightsourcebp.com
Tel: 03332000755

SOURCE: Lightsource bp