MARÍN, Cipriano
Secretary General of the UNESCO Centre in the Canary Islands, UNESCOCAN
Cipriano Marín, born on Tenerife, Canary Islands, Spain in 1952, is a mathematician who has worked on renewable energies for nearly thirty years and is an expert on island applications. He is Secretary General of UNESCO Center of the Canary Islands and member of the several foundations and scientific committees.
Mr Marin was the Vice Secretary-general of the International Scientific Council for Island Development (1995-2006), and promoter of relevant initiatives such as the Island Solar Summit (1988), the European Island Agenda (2003) or the Euro-Caribbean RES Forum (2002).
It was one of the promoters of the concept 100% Renewable Islands, participating in projects in several territories. He has coordinated six European projects related to renewable energies, as is the case the OPET Islands. He has also served as Director of the CIDE Office of Technological Innovation in the Canary Islands, and led twelve strategic energy sustainability plans, especially in islands declared biosphere reserves.
Work includes activities in the framework of the UNESCO Renewable Energy for UNESCO Sites (RENFORUS) Initiative that promotes the use of UNESCO Biosphere Reserves and World Heritage Sites as field observatories on the sustainable use of renewable energy sources.
He also works as coordinator of the Starlight Initiative, under the umbrella of the Institute of Astrophysics of the Canary Islands, in the promotion of smart and efficient outdoor lighting, and driving the Initiative BiosphereSmart in partnership with MaB Programme.
He coordinated four world conferences related to sustainable development and energy and fourteen international workshops, eight of which in cooperation with UNESCO. Author of thirty-two publications and several articles related to sustainable development and renewable energy.
ABSTRACT
16:30-18:00 6 NOVEMBER
thematic SESSION IiI.A: RENEWABLE ENERGY FOR GLOBAL SUSTAINABILITY
Towards 100% Renewable Energy: Islands as laboratories of the energy transition
The past decade has set the wheels in motion for a global transition to renewables, but a concerted and sustained effort is needed to achieve it. Now, the question is no longer whether renewables have a role to play in the provision of energy services, but rather how we can best increase the current pace to achieve a 100% renewables future with full energy access for all.
In the path towards sustainable energy, some territories and communities have shown that a renewable future is possible. They are the new renewable energy lighthouses that are appearing across the planet; places that have already proven this to be a feasible option. Islands and isolated regions can play a key role as test sites to build a future powered by renewable energies. For the first time in the modern history of energy the disadvantages become the greatest opportunities. The islands were the natural laboratories of Evolution, why they can't be of energy transition?
As pioneering benchmarks of the energy transition, the 100% RE islands and communities have become genuine laboratories of a decentralised, inclusive and decarbonised energy future. In this context, UNESCO designated sites around the world can play a key role by acting as global points of reference as communities run on sustainable energy, as shown by the Renforus Initiative.
The past few years have seen technological barriers involved in renewable energy being overcome at an unusual pace. We are witnessing a constant evolution in innovation and research, from the smallest pico systems to competitive and sophisticated smart grids, from large-scale centralised installations to distributed generation micro-applications. Intermittent supplies from renewable sources are being overcome by turning to increasingly efficient and reliable storage systems. The Future is Now!