Education

This webpage, created in response to a request from educators, education managers and operators, provides a rapid, direct and easy access to IRENA key reports, infographics, data and tools. It also hosts IRENA’s Technical Papers Series, individually authored by IRENA staff and other internationally recognised experts.

Technical papers

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  • Critical Materials For The Energy Transition: Rare Earth elements

    The technical paper on Critical Materials for the Energy Transition emphasises that an accelerated energy transition requires a growing supply of critical materials, with Chapter 7 of the IRENA’s World Energy Transition Outlook 2022 further elaborating on these materials. IRENA continues to publish technical papers on groups of critical materials: the first one focuses on lithium and this second paper focuses on rare earth elements.

    View
    Energy transition, Critical materials, Technology
  • Critical Materials For The Energy Transition: Lithium

    This paper discusses the global lithium industry structure and major players while reflecting on current costs changes and their further implications, the role of the governments could play to de-risk lithium supply and the opportunities innovation can play in reducing demand growth.

    View
    Energy transition, Critical materials, Technology
  • Critical Materials For The Energy Transition

    This paper will assess how the growth of renewables will put critical materials at the centre of the energy transformation, with the objective of highlighting the criticalities related to the sector and of identifying how technological developments and innovation can positively reduce geopolitical risks.

    View
    Energy transition, Critical materials, Technology
  • Capturing Carbon

    This paper explores the status and potential of carbon capture and storage (CCS), carbon capture and utilisation (CCU) and carbon dioxide removal (CDR) technologies and their roles alongside renewables in the deep decarbonisation of energy systems.

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    Energy transition, Technology, Carbon capture
  • Oil companies and the energy transition

    This paper analyses the strategies of seven international oil companies (IOCs) in the context of energy transition.

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    Energy transition, Technology
  • Energy subsidies: Evolution in the global energy transformation to 2050

    The energy sector lacks a standard definition of subsidies. This paper contributes to research on how subsidies are calculated – for fossil-fuels, renewables and the sector as a whole.

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    Costs, Policy, Technology
  • Renewable energy targets in small island developing states

    This technical paper presents a quantification of SIDS’ renewable energy targets, both in their national energy plans and in their NDCs.

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    Targets & NDCs English
  • Potential Limitations of Marginal Pricing for a Power System Based on Renewables

    Marginal pricing wholesale power markets could produce significant barriers for the energy transition, and on their own do not appear to be appropriate organisational structures for renewables-based power systems.

    View
    Energy transition, Policy
  • Critical Materials For The Energy Transition: Rare Earth elements

    The technical paper on Critical Materials for the Energy Transition emphasises that an accelerated energy transition requires a growing supply of critical materials, with Chapter 7 of the IRENA’s World Energy Transition Outlook 2022 further elaborating on these materials. IRENA continues to publish technical papers on groups of critical materials: the first one focuses on lithium and this second paper focuses on rare earth elements.

    View
    Energy transition, Critical materials, Technology
  • Critical Materials For The Energy Transition: Lithium

    This paper discusses the global lithium industry structure and major players while reflecting on current costs changes and their further implications, the role of the governments could play to de-risk lithium supply and the opportunities innovation can play in reducing demand growth.

    View
    Energy transition, Critical materials, Technology
Technical paper series are produced as a contribution to technical discussions and to disseminate new findings on relevant topics in the area of the author’s expertise. This publication does not represent IRENA’s official position or views on any topic. The findings, interpretations and conclusions expressed herein are those of the author(s). IRENA does not assume responsibility for the content of this work or the accuracy of the data included herein. Neither IRENA nor any of its officials, agents, data or other third-party content providers provides a warranty of any kind, either expressed or implied, and they accept no responsibility or liability for any consequence of use of the publication or material herein. The mention of specific companies, projects or products does not imply that they are endorsed or recommended, either by IRENA or the author(s). The designations employed and the presentation of material herein do not imply the expression of any opinion on the part of IRENA or the author(s) concerning the legal status of any region, country, territory, city or area or of its authorities, or concerning the delimitation of frontiers or boundaries.
  • Renewable energy targets in small island developing states

    This technical paper presents a quantification of SIDS’ renewable energy targets, both in their national energy plans and in their NDCs.

    View
    Targets & NDCs English
  • Potential Limitations of Marginal Pricing for a Power System Based on Renewables

    Marginal pricing wholesale power markets could produce significant barriers for the energy transition, and on their own do not appear to be appropriate organisational structures for renewables-based power systems.

    View
    Energy transition, Policy
  • Critical Materials For The Energy Transition: Rare Earth elements

    The technical paper on Critical Materials for the Energy Transition emphasises that an accelerated energy transition requires a growing supply of critical materials, with Chapter 7 of the IRENA’s World Energy Transition Outlook 2022 further elaborating on these materials. IRENA continues to publish technical papers on groups of critical materials: the first one focuses on lithium and this second paper focuses on rare earth elements.

    View
    Energy transition, Critical materials, Technology
  • Critical Materials For The Energy Transition: Lithium

    This paper discusses the global lithium industry structure and major players while reflecting on current costs changes and their further implications, the role of the governments could play to de-risk lithium supply and the opportunities innovation can play in reducing demand growth.

    View
    Energy transition, Critical materials, Technology
  • Critical Materials For The Energy Transition

    This paper will assess how the growth of renewables will put critical materials at the centre of the energy transformation, with the objective of highlighting the criticalities related to the sector and of identifying how technological developments and innovation can positively reduce geopolitical risks.

    View
    Energy transition, Critical materials, Technology
  • The Renewable Spring: The interplay between finance and policy in the energy transition

    This paper presents a brief overview of technology revolutions and how they interact with financial markets.

    View
    Energy transition, Finance & investment
  • Capturing Carbon

    This paper explores the status and potential of carbon capture and storage (CCS), carbon capture and utilisation (CCU) and carbon dioxide removal (CDR) technologies and their roles alongside renewables in the deep decarbonisation of energy systems.

    View
    Energy transition, Technology, Carbon capture
  • Oil companies and the energy transition

    This paper analyses the strategies of seven international oil companies (IOCs) in the context of energy transition.

    View
    Energy transition, Technology
  • Measuring the socio-economics of transition: Focus on jobs

    Well-crafted deployment, integrating and enabling policies could create millions of new jobs. This report outlines the evolving global and regional distribution of energy employment.

    View
    Energy transition, Socio-economic impact
  • Energy subsidies: Evolution in the global energy transformation to 2050

    The energy sector lacks a standard definition of subsidies. This paper contributes to research on how subsidies are calculated – for fossil-fuels, renewables and the sector as a whole.

    View
    Costs, Policy, Technology

Infographics

  • Enabling policy framework for a just and inclusive energy transition chart
  • Reducing emissions chart
  • Renewable energy jobs chart
  • The impact on emissions of replacing fossil fuels chart
  • Renewables scale-up by 2030 chart

Data and tools

  • Query Tools

    Tools for Statistical Data
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  • Flex Tool

    Power system flexibility assessment
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  • SPLAT

    System Planning Test capacity expansion models
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