Side Event “IRENA Renewable Energy Learning Partnership”

The World Wind Energy Association (WWEA) and the German Wind Energy Association (BWE) jointly organised the 11th World Wind Energy Conference (WWEC2012) in Bonn, Germany on 3-5 July 2012. The conference was convened as a platform for presentations, exchange, and discussion of the latest knowledge and technology related to wind energy, and other renewable energy sources.

The International Renewable Energy Agency (IRENA) capitalised on the renewable energy experts gathered at WWEC2012 by organising an “IRENA Renewable Energy Learning Partnership” side event, in collaboration with York University’s Sustainable Energy Initiative (SEI) and the WWEA.

Recent estimates indicate that about 5 million people worldwide currently work either directly or indirectly in renewable energy industries. As the demand for renewable energy continues to grow rapidly around the world, the demand for a knowledgeable and skilled workforce also grows. In response to this demand, IRENA has developed the IRENA Renewable Energy Learning Partnership (IRELP) portal to facilitate the global development of education and training in renewable energy.

The IRELP side event was attended by renewable energy experts including decision makers from government, industry and academia. All participants recognised the potential, and benefits, of encouraging interaction between the renewable energy industry and the education sector. The discussion covered the vital importance of education to accelerating renewable energy deployment, identified educational gaps and opportunities from the academic perspective, as well as the demand and supply of renewable energy curricula. This event promoted active dialogue between the participants, and encouraged future interaction between educators and the industry.

More information on the event is available here.

The IRENA Renewable Energy Learning Partnership website is available at www.irelp.org.