Bangladesh, Kenya, Nigeria, Palau and Vanuatu have added their names to the Global Rooftop Solar Declaration, a global initiative to increase the number of solar-powered homes to 300 million by 2030.
The Global Solar Council (GSC) announced the update, which follows on from Australia‘s initial support for the initiative, at COP31.
As it said in a statement, the endorsements ‘demonstrate countries are embracing rooftop and distributed solar to boost energy security and economic growth’.
In addition to the five governments, 34 members of parliament from 21 countries have endorsed the declaration, as has Indonesia’s state-operated electricity company PT PLN.
Doubling the number of solar-powered households to 300 million by 2030 will represent approximately 2TW of solar capacity installed on homes, apartments, businesses and community buildings, the GSC added.
‘Unlock this opportunity’
“The Global Rooftop Solar Declaration is about taking Australia’s success to the world with a clear ambition: to bring solar to 300 million rooftops by 2030,” commented Chris Bowen MP, Minister for Climate Change and Energy and President of Negotiations for COP31.
“Many countries have the sunshine, the space and the demand, but lack the finance, infrastructure and workforce needed to unlock this opportunity. This declaration is about changing that.”
The declaration calls on national, state and local governments to integrate rooftop solar into energy and climate policies, make installations easier to approve, improve access to finance and modernise electricity grids to accommodate distributed generation.
‘Shared ambition’
“Families everywhere deserve reliable, affordable power, and rooftop solar and storage deliver it,” added Sonia Dunlop, chief executive of the Global Solar Council.
“Today’s announcement proves that there is shared ambition from across the globe, from the world’s most mature solar markets to those just beginning to harness its potential, to make 300 million solar homes a reality. We’re calling on every government to follow the example set today and bring solar home.” Read more here.
