OREANDA-NEWS. Total has joined the Terrawatt Initiative, as a founding member. This global non-profit organization represents key private sector solar energy stakeholders in their dialogue with governments and international organizations. It aims to promote affordable solar energy worldwide. The goal is to deploy more than 1 terawatt (1 000 gigawatts) of solar power by 2030, representing an investment of over $1 trillion.

Total, world leader in solar energy with its affiliate SunPower, wanted to be a part of this initiative. The Group is active across the entire photovoltaic value chain, from manufacturing cells to installing residential and commercial rooftop solar solutions. Total recently partnered with SunPower to build a solar farm in Japan.

“Our ambition is to become the responsible energy major, in particular by contributing to the development of renewable energies. We believe that solar energy is one of the solutions to meet growing electricity demand, especially in Africa, and tackle climate change. That’s why we have joined the Terrawatt Initiative to promote the deployment of competitive solar energy worldwide,” commented Patrick Pouyann?, Chairman and CEO of Total.

“We welcome Total among the community of leading companies and organizations from across the world, federated under the Terrawatt Initiative banner, that will help, through a constructive dialogue with governments, affordable solar power to bring all its benefits to people and economies”, said Isabelle Kocher, chair of Terrawatt Initiative.

The Terrawatt Initiative intends in particular to work with the International Solar Alliance (ISA), launched by President Fran?ois Hollande of France and Prime Minister Narendra Modi of India during the COP21 opening ceremony. ISA’s more than 120 member countries are aiming to rapidly implement and scale up affordable and competitive solar energy.

The Terrawatt Initiative also intends to work with the International Renewable Energy Agency (IRENA), which serves as the principal platform for international cooperation in all forms of renewable energy and shares information among its 145 members.