French energy giant, Total, announces formal partnership with Sustainable Energy for All

Lisbon, Portugal: Sustainable Energy for All (SEforALL) has signed a new Delivery Partnership agreement with Total S.A., the multinational French oil company.

The two-year partnership was signed at the Sustainable Energy for All Forum currently taking place in Lisbon. It was signed by Rachel Kyte, CEO and Special Representative of the UN Secretary-General for Sustainable Energy for All, and Jérôme Schmitt, Total’s Senior Vice President of Innovation & Energy Efficiency for the Gas, Renewable & Power Division. Total is also a sponsor of this year’s Forum, “Leaving No One Behind.”

Total will support several areas of SEforALL’s work, including its Electrification Accelerator network, its Cooling for All initiative aimed at ensuring universal access to refrigeration and other cooling technologies, and expanding global access to clean cooking fuels and technologies. SEforALL will also work with the company to engage the power industry to achieve stronger integration of both grid and off-grid electrification projects.

All of Total’s diverse activities with SEforALL focus on supporting faster action to achieve Sustainable Development Goal (SDG) 7 – access to affordable, reliable, sustainable and modern energy for all by 2030.

Commenting on today’s announcement, Jérôme Schmitt, Senior Vice President Innovation & Energy efficiency for the Gas, Renewable & Power Division, said “Our ambition is to foster the development of a sustainable business sector that creates economic and social value, while contributing to the fight against climate change.”

Total has been strongly committed in recent years to renewable energy and reducing its greenhouse gas emissions at levels called for under the Paris Climate Agreement. The company has spent an estimated $8 billion on renewables and clean energy since 2011, including the acquisition of the largest US solar panel producer and a major battery storage company.

Among its biggest breakthrough projects is PV Salvador, a photovoltaic solar power plant in Chile that has been providing electricity in the country since early 2015. It was the world’s first PV solar plant to deliver electricity at the same cost as traditional grid power. Total also launched a program in 2011 to market decentralized PV solar solutions.

“Total has been a leader in its sector in developing access to clean energy and fuels. This partnership will enhance our joint efforts to deliver clean, affordable and reliable energy for all,” said Jim Walker, Director of Partnerships at Sustainable Energy for All. “By joining the SEforALL partner network, Total is bringing its expertise and scale to a movement focused on leaving no one behind in the energy transition.”

SEforALL’s Delivery Partnerships focus on a joint program of work that propels forward action on SDG7. Delivery partners agree to contribute towards quantifiable results in energy access, renewable energy and energy efficiency, and to shared monitoring and evaluation. They can contribute analytical insights, action engagements, or both.

For more information on becoming a Delivery Partner, or how you can partner with SEforALL, please contact info@SEforALL.org.