IRENA Director-General Adnan Z. Amin addressed the first plenary session of the
Pacific Energy Summit on 25 March 2013 in Auckland, New Zealand. Full speech available here.

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  • 16 May 2013

    Webinar: Expanding cost studies and the IRENA Renewable Costing Alliance

    The business case for increasing renewable energy investments depends on gathering more – and more accurate – data on the costs and performance of different technologies in various locations around the world. The International Renewable Energy Agency (IRENA) is hosting webinars in late May on its expanding research into renewable energy costs, with the aim of informing the private sector and advising companies on how to contribute to these studies.

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  • 7 May 2013

    Solar and wind energy create economic value

    During the fourth meeting of the Clean Energy Ministerial (CEM 4), international representatives explored resource assessment and value creation opportunities for solar and wind energy at a workshop co-organised by the International Renewable Energy Agency (IRENA).

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  • 24 April 2013

    IRENA Director-General announced as member of Sustainable Energy for All Advisory Board

    IRENA Director-General Adnan Z. Amin participated in the first meeting of the newly formed Advisory Board of the Sustainable Energy for All initiative in Washington, D.C. on 19 April. The group of private and public sector leaders is chaired by UN Secretary-General, Ban Ki-moon, who launched the initiative, and co-chaired by Jim Yong Kim, President of the World Bank.

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  • 20 April 2013

    IRENA welcomes the launch of Africa’s largest solar PV plant

    The International Renewable Energy Agency (IRENA) welcomes the news that the largest solar photovoltaic (PV) plant in Africa was inaugurated today by the Government of the Islamic Republic of Mauritania and Masdar, the renewable energy company of Abu Dhabi, the United Arab Emirates.

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  • 10 April 2013

    Pacific moving to a clean energy future

    In recognition of the potential that renewable energy holds for transforming the Pacific’s energy systems, the New Zealand Government and the European Union hosted the Pacific Energy Summit on 25-26 March in Auckland. This meeting brought together Pacific Island leaders, global development partners and the private sector to accelerate this energy transition by focusing on practical deliverable outcomes.

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  • 10 April 2013

    Global Renewable Energy Islands Network launches first two clusters

    On the sidelines of the Pacific Energy Summit in New Zealand, IRENA launched global interest clusters on renewable energy technology roadmaps for islands and renewable energy for power grids on islands. These will be the first two activities for GREIN, the Global Renewable Energy Islands Network (pronounced “green”), that IRENA’s Members endorsed at the Assembly in January.

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  • 1 April 2013

    Pacific Leaders’ meet to discuss Energy Roadmaps

    IRENA participated in the Pacific Leaders’ Energy Summit, organised by the Tongan Government, on 21-22 March in Nuku’alofa, Tonga. The event enabled leaders from the Pacific islands to share their experience in their efforts to accelerate the deployment of renewables, and to hear in more detail the lessons Tonga has learnt from TERM, the Tonga Renewable Energy Roadmap.

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  • 24 March 2013

    Standards for renewables ensure success

    A new study from the International Renewable Energy Agency (IRENA) highlights the value of clear, consistent, internationally accepted standards to ensure the successful deployment of renewable energy technologies. Renewable energy standards, regularly reviewed and updated by international committees of technical experts, can also help policy makers demonstrate national regulatory compliance.

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  • 19 March 2013

    Renewable Agency applauds U.A.E. solar launch

    The International Renewable Energy Agency (IRENA) welcomed the activation of the world’s largest operational Concentrating Solar Power (CSP) facility to date, as the Middle East turns to clean energy to fuel future growth.

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  • 5 March 2013

    Andean countries plan for geothermal future

    Latin America’s Andes mountain countries could produce thousands of megawatts of clean energy from underground heat and are asking countries and organisations with geothermal energy experience the best ways to do it.

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  • 14 January 2013

    Leaner, action-oriented IRENA will be global hub for energy transition

    The International Renewable Energy Agency (IRENA) will step up its work to promote renewable energy worldwide with a strengthened mission and streamlined structure starting this year. The intergovernmental organisation, established in 2011, will serve as a centre of excellence, advisory resource and hub to promote and accelerate renewable energy deployment, its more than 100 Members decided at the year’s foremost global renewable energy gathering.

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  • 7 February 2013

    Developing world ripe for wind energy

    New markets need to be opened worldwide for wind power to regain its stellar pre-2009 growth rates, which helped to make it a mainstream energy source in many markets, said the head of the International Renewable Energy Agency (IRENA) at a conference for the industry in Europe. “The growth of wind power over the past 15 years has matched that of telecoms and IT, with wind becoming a mainstream generation technology around the world,” said the IRENA Director-General, Adnan Z. Amin.

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  • 30 January 2013

    Learning Partnership recognised for technological innovation

    The International Renewable Energy Agency (IRENA) was recognised for technological excellence and achievement with its partnership programme for renewable energy education. The global intergovernmental agency, which has its headquarters in Abu Dhabi, was among 50 non-profit organisations and private sector companies based in the region to receive the Middle East CIO 50 Award at a ceremony in Dubai on 30 January.

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  • 28 January 2013

    Renewable energy potential in the Gulf states
    (Outreach edition 3)

    Outreach – a multi-stakeholder magazine on climate change and sustainable development – has produced a wrap-up edition on the Assembly of the International Renewable Energy Agency (IRENA) and related activities at the World Future Energy Summit. One of the articles examines changing attitudes to renewable energy in the Gulf region. Another highlights the increasing cost-competitiveness of renewable energy worldwide. The Assembly, on 13-14 January, opened Abu Dhabi Sustainability Week, which included several high-profile energy and environmental conferences in the UAE capital. Highlights from all three Outreach issues from the week can be viewed here: Edition 1; Edition 2; Edition 3.

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  • 23 January 2013

    Better data needed to attract renewable energy investment

    The International Renewable Energy Agency (IRENA) is working in partnership with the Renewable Energy Policy Network for the 21st Century (REN21) to build a qualitative and quantitative data framework for renewable energy in developing countries. The Renewable Energy Data Collection Framework (REDAF) will improve the availability and accessibility of relevant data and provide a platform to encourage countries to participate in data collection processes to help attract investments.

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  • 23 January 2013

    European Investment Bank and IRENA to promote Southern Mediterranean renewable energy manufacturing

    The European Investment Bank (EIB) will cooperate with the International Renewable Energy Agency (IRENA) to promote renewable energy (RE) manufacturing in the Middle East and North Africa, starting with a study of investment potential in the southern Mediterranean countries this year. The EIB and IRENA affirmed in Abu Dhabi on 16 January that they would jointly assess the region’s capability to attract foreign investments to develop local renewable energy industries.

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  • 21 January 2013

    South American-Arab declaration endorses renewable energy

    Energy ministers from South American and Arab countries have made renewable energy a top priority for cooperation between the two regions following a high-level meeting in the UAE capital, Abu Dhabi, on 16 January. The Abu Dhabi Declaration, which came out of the first bi-regional meeting of South American and Arab League energy ministers and senior officials, also endorses the International Renewable Energy Agency (IRENA), as “a primary forum for cooperation and support for inter-regional initiatives, in cooperation with the Latin American Energy Organisation (OLADE).”

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  • 20 January 2013

    REN21 joins IRENA Renewable Energy Learning Partnership

    The International Renewable Energy Agency (IRENA) has welcomed aboard a new partner in global efforts to provide education, e-learning and training materials to build job skills for the growing renewable energy sector. The IRENA Renewable Energy Learning Partnership (IRELP, www.irelp.org) now includes the Paris-based Renewable Energy Policy Network for the 21st Century (REN21), a global network connecting governments, industry, academia and civil society. The new partnership builds on a recent Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) signed by IRENA and REN21, reflecting their shared vision for the widespread deployment of renewable energy technologies.

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  • 17 January 2013

    Mozambique, Senegal, Kiribati, Grenada map clean energy future

    A new series of game-changing assessments to help countries transition to renewable energy was launched today by the International Renewable Energy Agency (IRENA) during the World Future Energy Summit in Abu Dhabi. The world’s first four comprehensive Renewables Readiness Assessments were published for Mozambique, Senegal, Kiribati and Grenada, a country-led, consensual and collaborative tool to identify effective policies, craft investor friendly regulations, and to bring together stakeholders to build a lasting renewable energy architecture.

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  • 16 January 2013

    IRENA helps islands scale up renewable energy (Outreach edition 2)

    Outreach – a multi-stakeholder magazine on climate change and sustainable development – has produced its second issue of coverage of the third session of the Assembly of the International Renewable Energy Agency (IRENA). One article looks at the specific energy challenges of small island developing states (SIDS) and how an IRENA initiative – the Global Renewable Energy Island Network (GRIEN) – can help them scale up renewables based on local sources. This and other highlights can be viewed here. A third issue of Outreach will follow with coverage of IRENA activities at the World Future Energy Summit (15-17 January), part of Abu Dhabi Sustainability Week.

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  • 16 January 2013

    Africa poised for rapid renewable energy growth

    Africa has the potential and the ability to fuel the majority of its future growth with renewable energy, according to a new report from the International Renewable Energy Agency (IRENA). African countries are experiencing some of the world’s fastest economic and demographic growth, with six of the world’s ten fastest rising economies, and a population expected to increase from 1 to 2 billion people by 2050.

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  • 15 January 2013

    Renewables can out-compete fossil fuels, cost study confirms

    Dramatic falls in cost are making renewable energy increasingly competitive with fossil fuels in countries across the world. The International Renewable Energy Agency (IRENA) is giving expert briefings on the costs various types of renewables, which are projected to keep falling rapidly, at its booth at the World Future Energy Summit (WFES) on 15-17 January, part of Abu Dhabi Sustainability Week.

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  • 14 January 2013

    IRENA Assembly paves way for renewable energy future (Outreach edition 1)

    Outreach – a multi-stakeholder magazine on climate change and sustainable development – has produced a special issue with coverage of the third session of the Assembly of the International Renewable Energy Agency (IRENA). Highlights of the coverage are attached. Two more issues will follow with coverage of IRENA activities at the World Future Energy Summit (15-17 January), part of Abu Dhabi Sustainability Week.

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  • 14 January 2013

    IRENA launches Roadmap to double Renewable Energy by 2030

    International efforts to double the share of renewable energy by 2030 are attainable, but need to accelerate substantially if they are to be successful, according to a new global roadmap launched at the International Renewable Energy Agency (IRENA) Assembly in Abu Dhabi. More than 150 countries are attending the two-day assembly, which has become the world’s pre-eminent policy gathering to promote the uptake of renewable energy.

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More News



A Global Gateway to Education and Training Opportunities

IRENA/ADFD project facility enters second phase of project selection

Mobilizing finance is one of the greatest challenges for scaling up renewable energy. The International Renewable Energy Agency (IRENA) received over 80 applications from developing countries for concessional loans worth USD 50 million from the Abu Dhabi Fund for Development (ADFD) during the 60-day period ending 12 January 2013. Following scoring and review by a Panel of Experts, established by the IRENA/ADFD Advisory Committee, and further general comments from the IRENA/ADFD Advisory Committee, selected applicants have been invited to submit Full Project Proposals from the beginning of April 2013.

The short-listed projects are from various regions, represent a diverse mix of renewable energy sources and technologies, address concerns about energy access, and offer innovative and potentially replicable solutions.


Read More 

IRENA: Our World Runs on Energy

IRENA Scholarship Programme

In an effort to promote talented academics, and with the generous support of the Government of the United Arab Emirates, IRENA awards up to 20 scholarships annually for students taking up a MSc study programme at the Abu Dhabi based MASDAR Institute of Science and Technology. IRENA Scholars are entitled to attend monthly lectures on renewable energy policies, technologies and trends. If you want to read more, please click here.

Apply now for the 2013-2015 IRENA Scholarship Programme

Admission Deadline: May 31, 2013

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