NewGen Renewable Energy Accelerator

IRENA has launched for the second year in a row the NewGen Renewable Energy Accelerator (NewGen) programme to empower youth to be active participants in the energy transition. NewGen supports the development and implementation of youth-led solutions in the climate and sustainable energy sectors by acting as a global showcase for youth-led innovation.

The goal of the programme is to provide youth with the tools, knowledge, and support needed to develop and implement their ideas. Youth-led start-ups, scale-ups, and growth businesses now can be supported by IRENA to foster their growth and business acceleration.

IRENA will collaborate closely with its partners to provide successful participants with access to funding opportunities, business networks, and other resources to help them bring their ideas to market.

The programme comprises of a series of training, mentoring, and knowledge-sharing activities, along with market/investor linkages designed to scale business impact, boost youth climate/sustainable energy impact, and help them secure investments to implement their business plans and solutions. NewGen Renewable Energy Accelerator participants will benefit from:

• Webinars, workshops, and dedicated mentorship by IRENA experts
• Access to pitching events and investment matchmaking
• Dedicated Climate Impact forecasting workshop
• Tailored acceleration program in renewable energy and climate technology

The second edition of the IRENA NewGen Renewable Energy Accelerator programme will receive applications to select a maximum of 30 youth innovators and entrepreneurs who are motivated to engage with the renewable energy and climate technology markets through ideas, solutions, or novel innovations in their respective local, regional, or global communities.

Youth-led start-ups, scale-ups, and growth businesses now can be supported by IRENA to foster their growth and business acceleration.

Eligible candidates must meet the following criteria:

1. Call for applications is open to young people between 18 and 35 years old from all over the world.
2. At least one founder of the start-up must be between 18 and 35 years old.
3. Start-up main business line should be in the following categories:
• Renewable Energy technologies (solar, wind, hydropower, green hydrogen, geothermal and bio energy)
• Climate adaptation technologies (Water Security, agriculture & Irrigation, livestock, Flood safeguards, Resource efficiency)
• Climate Mitigation technologies (transportation, decarbonization, circular economy, energy efficiency, energy transformation and smart grids)
4. At least two of the start-up founders are committed by 16 hrs each month for attending the accelerator sessions.
5. By entering the selection process, participants guarantee that the submitted documentation is an original work created solely by the applicants and that it does not infringe on copyrights, trademarks and the rights of privacy, publicity, or intellectual property rights of any person or entity.

Applications now open

Join this four-month hybrid acceleration program to work closely with renewable energy and business experts to consolidate your business model, widen your customer base and enhance your investment readiness.

Deadline for applications:

– Saturday 13th April 2024 – 23:59 GST (Abu Dhabi Time)

NewGen Renewable Energy Accelerator participants will be announced on 1 May 2024.

Please feel free to download the application form template & Startup Profile PowerPoint to be used only in drafting your answers. Only applications received via the below link will be considered.

Application Template

Startup Profile Power Point

Apply

In case of further questions, contact youth@irena.org.