Final Communiqué fromGrand Renewable Energy 2018

“How to Accelerate Renewable Energy Integration”
PACIFICO YOKOHAMA, YOKOHAMA, JAPAN, 17 – 22 JUNE 2018
Yokohama, Japan, June 22, 2018
Under the theme How to Accelerate Renewable Energy Integration, the 4th edition of the Grand
Renewable Energy International Conference was held this week in Yokohama, Japan. The
Conference was attended by over 1100 participants, representing 45 countries. Besides
Keynote Addresses and Panel Discussions, experts from international organizations andinstitutions, industry and governments delivered presentations and posters in a broadcross-section of renewable energy issues related to technical, scientific, economic, social andenvironmental aspects of renewable energy integration in society.
Based on the various presentations and discussions at the Conference, the following
fundamental understandings and proposals have been reached to provide directions on how toaccelerate renewable energy integration around the world:•Since the beginning of this conference series in 2006, held every four years in Japan,
contributions of renewable energy continue to increase, and the public further recognizes
its importance.

•We have observed a continuous growth in renewable energy deployment worldwide, withrenewable energy-based power generation now being the dominant new power source
installed in the world. In 2017, 70% of total new power generation installed was basedon renewable energy sources.

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While continuing to be the subject of innovative research and development, wind andsolar photovoltaic (PV) systems have achieved technological maturity and are now
cost-competitive with traditional power sources. In some areas in the world, wind andsolar PV have become the lowest cost power sources.

•While penetration of variable renewable energy has already exceeded 30% of electricity
generation in certain jurisdictions, power systems need to evolve towards more
renewable energy-friendly systems to increase flexibility in grid management.

•Importance of energy storage has become widely recognized. Not only pumped hydrostorage but also large-scale battery systems are being installed to control the output fromvariable power sources. Hydrogen and hydrocarbons produced from renewable energy
are expected to become significant energy carriers in the future.

•The world continues to meet more of its energy demands through electrification. In thisregard, transportation and heating & cooling are sectors where renewable energy can be
deployed more widely.

•Continued cost reductions, system friendly policies and well-designed economic rules are
crucially important and effective for further deployment of renewable energy for futureenergy security and sustainability.

The scientific community, industry and governments recognize that we have achieved significant
accomplishments in the renewable energy sector. However, based on the above, a lot moreneeds to be done.
We, the specialists involved in the field of renewable energy technologies and their policies, arecommitted to continue to contribute in the development of a viable, efficient, safe and secureenergy sector throughout the world. The next Grand Renewable Energy 2022 International
Conference in Japan will provide an opportunity to assess the work and to share theaccomplishments that will be done in the next four years.