Thirty-one companies, including 25 utility firms, have formed an alliance to make electricity grids cleaner and greener.

Known as Utilities for Net Zero Alliance (Uneza), the group aims to advance electrification, renewables-ready grids, and clean energy deployment in line with the 2030 Breakthrough goals set by a UN body and a net zero future by 2050.

Uneza will focus on promoting the accelerated adoption of renewables and building the necessary infrastructure while offering a platform for joint efforts to address supply chain bottlenecks, support the flow of capital to the power sector transformation in developing countries, and engage with policymakers and regulators.

Led by the UAE’s Abu Dhabi National Energy Company (Taqa), other Uneza founding entities include:

• Bui Power Authority (Ghana)
• Dubai Electricity & Water Authority (Dewa, UAE)
• DLO Energy (South Africa)
• EDF (France)
• EDP (Portugal)
• E.ON (Germany)
• Enel (Italy)
• Engie (France)
• Etihad Water and Electricity (EWE)
• Hitachi Energy (Japan)
• Iberdrola (Spain)
• Jinko Power (China)
• Kegoc (Kazakhstan)
• KenGen (Kenya)
• Masdar (UAE)
• National Grid (UK)
• Octopus Energy (UK)
• RWE (UK)
• Schneider Electric (France)
• Siemens (Germany)
• SSE (Scotland)
• Tenaga (Malaysia)
• Uniper (Germany)
• Xlinks (UK)

The utility companies will work to address impediments to the net zero pathway framed within the International Renewable Energy Agency's (Irena) World Energy Transitions Outlook and reflected in the 2030 Breakthroughs led by the UN Climate Change High-Level Champions, 

The World Economic Forum (WEF), International Electrotechnical Commission (IEC), Global Renewables Alliance and Coordinador Eléctrico Nacional, will support as ecosystem partners.

According to a joint statement, Uneza said its members recognise that the key to unlocking the utility sector’s global energy transition potential lies in the ability to deliberately target existing structural, regulatory, and financial impediments and challenges that may stand in the way of progress.

Uneza is expected to develop a plan of action to mitigate macro energy transition challenges including:

• Capital mobilisation
• Supply chain de-risking
• Capabilities and talent building
• Facilitating policy and regulatory support

Uneza said the membership is open to utilities, developers, power system technology companies and knowledge partners "determined to expedite the transition towards a net zero future by 2050".