First IRENA Scholars graduate from Masdar Institute

“Yauheni Zhukau, Belarus, receiving his certificate of achievement for the IRENA Scholarship Programme from Mr. Adnan Z. Amin, Director-General, IRENA and Dr. Sultan Ahmed Al Jaber, CEO and Managing Director of Masdar. Yauheni researched ‘Analysis and Modelling of Wind Potential’ and is currently employed at IRENA” 

The first group of IRENA Scholars graduated from the Masdar Institute of Science and Technology, Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates on 12 June 2013, after undertaking a two year research programme related to renewable energy sources.

The IRENA Scholarship Programme is offered through the support of the Government of the United Arab Emirates, to students enrolled at the Masdar Institute of Science and Technology, an independent, research-driven graduate-level university focused on advanced energy and sustainable technologies.

This programme places exceptional students from around the world in Masdar Institute’s innovative high-level research environment and connects them to IRENA’s expertise in renewable energy policies, financing and technology. IRENA Scholars attend an exclusive lecture programme aimed at presenting the latest developments in renewable energy. They are offered the unique opportunity of drawing from this broad knowledge base in order to formulate and successfully pursue a Master’s thesis related to the sustainable renewable energy sources that IRENA promotes.

“We are proud of this deserving and diverse group of IRENA scholarship students,” IRENA Director-General Mr. Adnan Amin said. “By engaging them in the lecture programme and at various IRENA events, the scholarship programme has provided the students with a wonderful chance to expand their knowledge and professional network, as well as giving them an insight into the workings of an intergovernmental organisation. We wish this first group of IRENA scholars, and all the graduates, the best of luck for the future and hope they realise their tremendous potential to contribute to the renewable energy sector.”

The IRENA scholars, 95% of whom are from developing countries, have undertaken a two-year research-intensive Master’s programme on various renewable energy-related topics. Their research projects cover areas including: ‘Stability Analysis of Diesel and Photovoltaic (PV) Hybrid Micro-grids’; ‘Developing an Innovation Cluster for Renewable Energy at Masdar City’; ‘Analysis and Modeling of Wind Potential’; and ‘Evaluation of Policies and Financial Mechanisms to Support Renewable Energy Deployment’.

Dr. Fred Moavenzadeh, President of Masdar Institute said: “We congratulate the IRENA scholars for their involvement in the two-year programme. Masdar Institute is privileged to have such talented students who can effectively contribute to further developing renewable energy areas. Their specific research works will facilitate new clean energy innovations in the future. With the support of the UAE leadership, we have created an infrastructure and a talent base that can develop, build and strengthen decision-makers in future energy.”

Part of IRENA’s capacity-building programme, the scholarships seek to provide a wealth of knowledge, innovative research opportunities, and open high-level communication channels between energy policy-makers and highly-accomplished individuals from across the world.

Please find more information regarding the IRENA Scholarship Programme here.