The Global Renewables Alliance (GRA) has announced the new Chief Executive Officer of the Global Wind Energy Council (GWEC). The position has been taken by Ben Backwell, a prominent journalist and strategist in the renewable energy sector. 6g3f3w

Backwell assumes the role at a crucial time and will lead the Alliance for a two-year term, with the goal in 2025 of ensuring that countries meet solid renewable energy targets in their Nationally Determined Contributions (NDCs), while COP 30 steers the world toward achieving those ambitions.

Backwell led the creation of a global renewable energy technologies alliance, which laid the foundation for the establishment of the Global Renewables Alliance.

In 2023, at COP27 in Egypt, Backwell chaired the first meeting of what is now the steering committee of the Global Renewables Alliance and emphasized the importance of coordination and collaboration between clean, safe renewable technologies that will the green and secure world that our industries are working toward.

One year later, at COP28 in Dubai, the Global Renewables Alliance played a crucial role in achieving a historic goal to triple renewable energy. Working alongside the COP Presidency and the International Renewable Energy Agency (IRENA), the GRA helped fulfill the historic call to triple renewable energy by 2030, agreed upon by all countries in the UAE consensus.

Backwell stated, "Renewables are the only clean, affordable energy that can scale up in time to meet growing demand and reduce carbon emissions. The economic, social, and environmental benefits are becoming increasingly attractive. Government action is now crucial to unlock the trillions of dollars waiting in growth opportunities."

The new GWEC president added, "To achieve the goal of tripling emissions, governments must set ambitious, specific, and feasible national clean energy plans, and back them with regulations that rebuild investor confidence. The private sector is ready to work with policymakers to accelerate implementation and take measures that meet government ambitions."

Bruce Douglas, CEO of GRA, welcomed Backwell's appointment, stating, "The new president is a globally recognized change-maker, taking the role at this critical moment, especially as he was one of the co-founders and key drivers of the creation of the GRA. His vision and leadership will help accelerate the organization and the international renewable energy industry through the next chapter of the energy transition."

The outgoing president, Julia Souder, CEO of the Long Duration Energy Storage Council, has been instrumental in the early successes of the Alliance. She will continue to provide guidance as Vice President and a member of the steering committee.

"The Global Renewables Alliance is a critical collaborative voice for the industry, and we are thrilled to have Ben's leadership for our next phase of impact," said Julia Souder.

Ben Backwell takes on leadership at a pivotal moment for the renewable energy sector. To meet the goal of tripling emissions and achieving net-zero, it is crucial that the world witnesses unprecedented collaboration between the renewable energy sector, governments, and global institutions. Expanding supply chains, overcoming permitting challenges, and reforming finance are key aspects for the next era of renewable energy growth.