A year after the pivotal COP28 pledge to double energy efficiency and triple renewable capacity by 2030, two major advocates in the energy transition – the Global Renewables Alliance (GRA) and the Solar Impulse Foundation (SIF) – have joined forces to launch “Double Down, Triple Up – 20 Solutions in Action”.
The initiative aims to encourage ambitious NDCs and accelerate progress towards global climate targets by showcasing 20 implemented solution cases that demonstrate achievable pathways towards renewables and energy efficiency goals.
The project builds upon the “Double Down, Triple Up” campaign which was instrumental in securing the global target adopted at COP28. “Triple Up” highlights the urgency to scale global renewable capacity threefold by 2030 through strategic investments, policy alignment, and innovation in solar, wind, and other clean technologies to meet rising global demand sustainably. “Double Down” underscores energy efficiency as a rapid, cost-effective approach for reducing CO2 emissions, enabling countries to decrease energy demand while boosting energy security.
“Double Down, Triple Up: 20 Solutions in Action” is a contribution to show that substantial emissions reductions are within reach when businesses, governments, and communities adopt practical, scalable technologies aligned with renewable energy and efficiency targets. For energy efficiency, this could mean better building insulation to reduce heating and cooling demands, harnessing waste heat in industry, and applying precision farming to cut down on chemical use. For renewables, it involves expanding solar manufacturing, integrating projects with ecosystem restoration, and enhancing urban sustainability through smart city infrastructure.
Bringing concrete examples of energy efficiency and renewable deployment together highlights the interconnected roles of both dimensions as essential to a just and sustainable energy future. Meeting these dual targets could deliver 80% of the emissions reductions needed to keep global warming within 1.5°C, helping phase out fossil fuels and build economic resilience worldwide. By simultaneously increasing clean energy supply and cutting energy demand, this approach optimises the use of renewables, reduces fossil fuel dependency, and ensures a more stable, affordable energy landscape, which is especially vital for emerging markets and developing economies.
“With increasing global electricity demand, the combination of increased renewables and energy efficiency is essential to avoid the need for additional fossil fuels. Smart, scalable and profitable solutions already exist and the amazing examples in this report provide just a snapshot of what is possible. Meeting our 2030 targets to triple renewable energy capacity and double energy efficiency will help deliver a clean, secure and just energy transition, not simply energy addition,” said Bruce Douglas, CEO of GRA.
“This project with the Solar Impulse Foundation exemplifies how achievable these targets are, with case studies from around the world showing real solutions in action. By investing in both renewables and efficiency, we can strengthen energy security, create green jobs, and provide emerging economies with stable, affordable energy. COP29 is our call to turn these inspiring examples into global action and policy change, moving us closer to a clean, secure, and just energy future for all,” he added.
“Climate action needs everyone on board, from the green activists to the economic sector. It is precisely what renewable energies and energy efficiency allow us to do now: cheaper sources of clean energy and huge financial savings by putting an end to the current waste of 2/3 of the energy production. With this initiative, the Solar Impulse Foundation together with the Global Renewables Alliance present 20 real-world solutions that support this narrative and push for change.
“It is an inspiring challenge showcasing what many still see as impossible: to build a ‘qualitative economy’ that reduces consumption and waste, not by shrinking the economy or leaving people behind, but by promoting efficiency and replacing polluting practices with environmentally protective ones,” said Bertrand Piccard, Initiator and Chairman of the Solar Impulse Foundation.
With the project launch at COP29, GRA and SIF invite global leaders and innovators to leverage these success stories and act. Both organisations are said to be central advocates for an actionable energy transition, aiming to secure stronger policy commitments and drive investor support.
