The global energy transition may be accelerating, but for many, the basic right to electricity remains out of reach. At the World Economic Forum in Davos, experts highlighted how decentralising energy systems and fostering collaboration between the Global North and South could bridge this gap, all while tackling the climate crisis.
Gill Scheltens, CEO of D-CRBN, outlined a simple yet novel vision. “The sun shines for more hours in a year in the Global South. And that’s a big competitive advantage that cannot be beaten. You cannot influence this,” he said, explaining how decentralised solar energy could help underserved communities in these regions.
Scheltens explained D-CRBN’s approach: an electrified process that transforms carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions into reusable building blocks for the chemical and petrochemical industries. By decentralising this technology, particularly in sun-rich regions, emissions could be reduced whilestrengthening local communities with sustainable energy solutions.
However, the journey is anything but straightforward. Scheltens pointed to a critical barrier: instability in many regions of the Global South delays investments. “The main reason for this is actually the instability in the regions. And I think if we can collaborate so hand in hand, finding a win-win between the North and the South, I think we can overcome these hurdles and really make a difference,” he said.
… to continue reading this article and more, please login, register for free, or consider subscribing to gasworld