Five Takeaways

1. Dr Wilkinson argued that ‘humanising’ the energy transition is the best way to ensure that the transformation to a sustainable future does not threaten peace.
2. As Ireland scales up its climate ambition, Dr Wilkinson suggested that Irish policymakers could learn from peers and position people at the heart of the transition to net-zero. This could be done by anticipating new and shifting energy uses, enabling a just transition and by reducing the gaps between the energy ‘haves’ and ‘have nots’.
3. In the 2021 World Energy Trilemma Index, a World Energy Council framework which measures national energy systems performance, Ireland ranks 11^th, up six places from 2020’s index.
4. Enhanced energy literacy, behavioural change, and significant tax system reforms will be essential to avoid a social crisis during the transformation of national energy systems, Dr Wilkinson argued.
5. In conclusion, Dr Wilkinson emphasised that unless people are, and feel, involved in the energy transition, they will simply continue to do what they have always done.

Explainer

On the 21^st September, the IIEA welcomed Dr Angela Wilkinson, Secretary General and CEO of the World Energy Council (WEC) to deliver the fourth lecture of the 2021 series, REthink Energy: Countdown to COP26, co-organised by ESB and the IIEA. In her keynote address, Dr Wilkinson focused her remarks on the importance of humanising the energy transition and outlined the WEC’s new agenda for action to reach the global imperative of energy neutrality, in the context of affordability and social justice.

Dr Fergal McNamara, Manager of Regulation and Policy at ESB and Chairman of Distribution and Market Facilitation Committee at Eurelectric, issued opening remarks at the outset of the event. He highlighted the timeliness of Dr Wilkinson’s intervention given the impact of severe climate events that took place throughout Europe this summer and that COP26 will take place in Glasgow in just one month’s time.

Humanising Energy

The World Energy Council (WEC) is an independent impartial network of energy leaders, pioneers, and practitioners. It does not advocate for any country, company, or technology. Rather, the WEC engages energy leaders throughout the world to meet energy system challenges and to build bridges between diverse energy perspectives, needs and interests. This independence, Dr Wilkinson argued, allows the WEC to join the dots between multiple agendas and diverse energy interests. She remarked that the mission of ‘humanising energy’ is essential to WEC’s mandate and, indeed, to ensure that the global energy transition – a cross-cutting challenge involving all parts of society – does not threaten global peace.    

In her address, Dr Wilkinson argued that, in the context of the post-pandemic recovery with widespread calls for greater economic and social justice to ‘build back better’, and momentum growing in the climate action movement, this is a pivotal moment for the global energy transition.

The World Energy Trilemma Index  

Since 2010, the World Energy Trilemma Index has provided an annual measurement of national energy system performances. The framework, which is part of the Council’s ‘energy transition leadership toolkit’, assesses performance across three dimensions: energy security, energy equity, and environmental sustainability. A healthy energy system is one which reliably meets current and future energy demand; provides universal access to reliable, affordable and abundant energy for domestic and commercial uses; and which is in the transition to avoiding environmental harm and climate change impacts.[1]  

Energy leaders and policymakers need to manage competing demands to maintain a balanced energy system. Dr Wilkinson highlighted that the Trilemma Index enables leaders in diverse regions to compare their performance and learn from peers about what is working and what is not. In the 2021 Index, Ireland ranks 11^th, up six places from 2020.

Human-Focused Solutions for Energy Citizens

Dr Wilkinson highlighted that there is a considerable amount of funding devoted to large technology ‘moonshots’, at present. While, technology innovation is an important aspect of the energy transition, she noted that it is not the only element and raised concerns about a global technology ‘winner takes all’ race to zero, which leaves whole regions and many communities behind.

Access to energy has played a key role in generating conflict in the past, and Dr Wilkinson cautioned that the uneven access to energy solutions could act as a threat to peace, globally. Instead, Dr Wilkinson emphasised the need for energy leaders to devise human-centric solutions, which recognise that there is no ‘one size fits all’ approach to this global transformation.

Ireland’s Energy Roadmap

Turning to Ireland, the Secretary General acknowledged the island’s privileged position with respect to wind generation. Wind is currently the largest contributing resource of renewable energy in Ireland and is the second greatest source of electricity generation after natural gas. In 2020, it accounted for 36.3% of the share of electricity demand in Ireland.[2]

Dr Wilkinson highlighted that this exceptional wind generation capacity also holds great potential in the areas of energy storage, electricity exports, and green hydrogen production. ESB’s ‘Green Atlantic’ initiative, which was launched in April 2021, will transform Moneypoint power station in County Clare – Ireland’s largest electricity generation station - into a green energy hub with plans to include investment in a green hydrogen production, storage, and generation facility. Such green hubs will play a pivotal role to ensure that Ireland meets its decarbonisation commitments.

As Ireland puts in place its plan to achieve emissions reductions of 51%, compared to 2018 baseline, by 2030, Dr Wilkinson argued that policymakers can learn from peers by placing people at the centre of this transformation. She highlighted that the state could focus on anticipating new and shifting energy uses, prioritising a just transition, and reducing the energy gaps between the ‘haves’ and ‘have-nots’. This is best achieved, Dr Wilkinson argued, by involving more people and communities across all levels of society. She commended Ireland’s Citizens’ Assembly on climate change as a framework which gives roadbuilding communities a seat at the roadbuilding table.

Mobilising Step Changes

In her address, Dr Wilkinson highlighted the widespread proliferation of net-zero targets by countries, companies, and cities. She reminded the IIEA audience that success depends, not in developing targets or plans, but rather on the people and the practicalities of roadbuilding.  

Looking to the upcoming COP26 in Glasgow, Dr Wilkinson argued that the success of the UN climate conference rests on what happens after the summit itself. She remarked that it was essential to avoid the risk of ‘cop out’ by the silent majority and to ensure that pledges are delivered upon after COP26.

The transformation of the global energy system will have widespread social and economic implications and Dr Wilkinson emphasised the need to involve more people at all levels of society in designing and growing new energy solutions. She argued that, unless people are, and crucially, feel involved in this change, and sense that they have choices and options available, the transition to a sustainable and decarbonised energy future will not occur.

To avoid triggering a crisis in the societal transformation to a new energy future, the World Energy Council is committed to the mobilisation of step changes across three areas:

1. To improve levels of energy literacy - an understanding of the role and impact of energy in the world.
2. To build forward better by involving more people and communities at all levels of society in generative energy transition sprints. 
3. To support a just transition and ensure that no-one is left behind by addressing the risk of stranded regions and communities and supporting workforce transitions  

In her closing remarks, Dr Wilkinson argued that there is no silver - or green - technology bullet to solve the crises of today, but that there is an opportunity to engage with the increasing diversity in energy as a source of learning and innovation, and to ensure that societies are prepared for a cleaner and more secure energy future.