Boost to Renewable Energy: International Renewable Energy Agency opens Innovation and Technology Centre in Bonn

The International Renewable Energy Agency (IRENA) officially opened its Innovation and Technology Centre (IITC) in Bonn, Germany at a ceremony held today at the Steigenberger Petersberg.    IRENA’s Director-General, Adnan Amin said, “the message IRENA brings to the global community is that we have at hand the means to provide effective solutions, the technology that can transform the path to sustainability and, with the establishment of IRENA, an international framework that can help to bring together all those who seek to contribute to effective solutions”.  “Renewable energy has come of age”, he added.  Mr Amin also paid tribute to the German government for their support in the creation of IRENA and their financial contribution to the Agency that will make the work of the Innovation and Technology Centre possible.

Today’s opening in Bonn was attended by numerous high level officials, including Dr. Norbert Röttgen, Germany’s Federal Minister for the Environment, Nature Conservation and Nuclear Safety, Dr. Guido Westerwelle, Federal Minister for Foreign Affairs, Dr. Sultan Ahmed Al Jaber, UAE Special Envoy for Energy and Climate Change and Chief Executive Officer of Masdar, and the Minister of Energy of the UAE, Mr. Mohamed bin Dhaen Al Hamli.

“Today is a special day – for Bonn, for Germany, but most of all for the global energy agenda”, said Minister Röttgen. “IITC is not just yet another innovation centre.  It is unique because it is a part of the only international agency for renewable energy” he added.

"The IRENA Innovation and Technology Centre will provide crucial input to the Agency’s activities," said Dr Sultan Ahmed Al Jaber.

The opening ceremony included a panel discussion entitled “Towards the Age of Renewables” which was moderated by Dr Mohamed El-Ashry, Senior Fellow UN Foundation and Chairman of REN21.   Dr Röttgen and Mr Amin were joined by Mr. Louis Seck, Minister of Renewable Energy, Republic of Senegal; Ms. Maria van der Hoeven, Executive Director, International Energy Agency; and Prof.Dr.OttmarEdenhofer, Deputy Director and Chief Economist, Potsdam Institute for Climate Impact Research.  The panel discussedthe potentialof renewables in addressing the defining energy challenges of our times: the search for affordable, clean and secure energy for all.

IRENA – the International Renewable Energy Agency – is headquartered in Abu Dhabi, UAE. The Agency’s Bonn office, IITC, is responsible for the work on technology development and deployment support, and renewables competitiveness and markets.

Please click here for a video on the IITC.