100 renewable energy organizations for SMEs, 96 companies achieve 100%; emphasis on additionality

Renewable energy ratio of participating organizations in 2023
(Source: RE Action Council, 100% Renewable Energy Declaration)

Status of efforts to procure "additional renewable energy"
(Source: Renewable Energy 100 Declaration RE Action Council)

On December 4th, the RE Action Council announced its Annual Report 2024, which summarizes the activities for the year (November 2023 to October 2024) and the renewable energy adoption status of participating organizations. In fiscal year 2023, 96 organizations achieved 100% renewable energy.

　RE Action is an initiative that aims to convert 100% of the electricity used to renewable energy for small and medium-sized enterprises, local governments, educational institutions, medical institutions, etc. that are not eligible to participate in the international initiative "RE100". It was launched in October 2019 and marks its 5th anniversary this year.

　According to the annual report, 62 new organizations will join between November 2023 and October 2024, bringing the total number of participating organizations to 386. By industry, 112 organizations are in manufacturing, and 98 are in construction, accounting for the majority. In addition, the total power consumption of all participating organizations in fiscal year 2023 (April 2023 to March 2024) (excluding organizations that joined after late August 2024) was approximately 2,086 GWh.

　Regarding the renewable energy ratio of participating organizations in fiscal year 2023, 96 organizations have achieved 100%. Meanwhile, 104 organizations have 0%, 47 organizations have 1-9%, 28 organizations have 10-19%, and 22 organizations have 20-29%, meaning that the majority of organizations still have a renewable energy rate of less than 30%.

　The average target year for achieving 100% renewable energy among participating organizations is 2035. The distribution of target years is as follows: 69 organizations by 2023, 37 organizations by 2024-2025, 94 organizations by 2026-2030, 45 organizations by 2031-2040, and 133 organizations by 2041-2050. The reason that the number of organizations that have already achieved their target is greater than the number of organizations that have set 2023 as their target year is that some organizations have brought their targets forward, and organizations that have achieved their targets through renewable energy power menu contracts or other means have set their target year later with the aim of switching to self-generation and self-consumption.

　Additionally, the RE Action 100% Renewable Energy Declaration has decided to apply the requirement of "additionality" to the definition of renewable energy from April 2028. According to the results of a survey conducted among participating organizations, it was found that over 80% of the responding organizations considered this to be "important and something that should be addressed with awareness," and over 30% were already taking action.

　Along with the release of its annual report, the Council also posted on its website 64 case studies of renewable energy introduction and decarbonization efforts by small and medium-sized enterprises, local governments, and non-profit organizations on the same day. Each participating organization created slides on the occasion of their decarbonization efforts through the introduction of renewable energy, their specific efforts, their future prospects, goals, and challenges.