Limited, or no availability of renewable electricity (reported by 40 members in 66 markets), lack of procurement opportunities (reported by 37 members in 111 markets), and prohibitive cost (reported by 27 members in 41 markets) were the top three challenges members faced procuring renewable electricity. For the world to progress to net-zero and minimise the effects of climate change, it is essential that businesses and governments work in tandem with one another to ensure that barriers cited in this report are reduced.
Again, Asia most frequently presents barriers to sourcing experienced by members. 27 members cited barriers in the Republic of Korea, with 24 citing them in Japan and 22 citing them in China. In the 2020 report, high cost of renewables, poor corporate procurement options and limited availability of renewables were all prevalent barriers. Unsurprisingly, members operating in traditionally fossil fuel-reliant countries such as Australia, Russia and Saudi Arabia cited barriers like lack of procurement options and cost.
Despite these challenges, the latest report finds that RE100’s membership has seen its biggest yearly growth in Asia-Pacific, where 36 new members are headquartered – equalling 62 percent of its new membership. RE100 now has 102 members in Asia-Pacific, up from less than 10 in 2016, demonstrating the growing appetite from businesses in the region to adopt 100 percent renewable electricity.
RE100’s membership now consumes more electricity than the UK, the 12th highest emitting country, and the 349-strong initiative continues to grow. With businesses accounting for half of global greenhouse gas emissions from power generation, it is vital challenges in reaching 100 percent renewable electricity are overcome, so willing companies can progress to net-zero.
RE100 members are continuing to increase their use of impactful procurement methods such as Power Purchase Agreements (PPAs). Members reported sourcing 42 TWh of renewable electricity using Power Purchase Agreements, or 28 percent of their total sourcing of renewable electricity. This is an increase from 26 percent in 2020.
In 2021, RE100 asked its members for the first time to disclose the commissioning dates of the facilities they purchased renewable electricity from, giving the initiative further insight into impactful procurement. Where data is available, there are strong trends that members procuring using PPAs are procuring from facilities less than two years old. RE100 members procuring using PPAs are likely directly responsible for capacity additions of renewable electricity in the markets in which they operate.
RE100 is a joint initiative between CDP and Climate Group bringing together hundreds of large businesses with the ambition of reaching 100 percent renewable electricity.
“The goal of RE100 is to accelerate the transition to renewable electricity and it is fantastic to see a continued increase in members who share this vision” said Andrew Glumac, Senior Manager, Renewable Energy at CDP. “We urge more companies to commit to 100 percent renewable electricity and to source in impactful ways that shift the grid mix. Our growing membership, especially our increased presence in Asia, creates a stronger voice for RE100 to influence policy and ease the path for organisations transitioning to renewable electricity. We look forward to another year of growing membership and encourage businesses to join RE100.”
Sam Kimmins, Head of RE100, Climate Group, added that the findings from the report demonstrate a clear signal to governments that corporates are investing at scale in renewable electricity, not just in Europe and North America but in the Asia-Pacific region as well and that while there is more that needs to be done, and faster, the year-on-year improvements shown by RE100 members' data are encouraging confirmation that corporate demand for renewables is gaining pace.
For additional information:
