REN21 Secretariat
There is an unprecedented momentum for leaving the fossil fuel age behind us. And we must do it now. Before the COVID pandemic, millions of young people took to the streets to force decision-makers to understand the climate crisis we are facing. While protests had to go digital over the last several months, it does not alter the fact that patience and faith in politicians, who hesitate and waver, is fading away. We at REN21 know that with a rapid transition to renewable energy and energy efficiency we can turn the tide. With our worldwide community of experts, we can prove that a transition to renewable energy is possible and happening - now! Together, let’s bring that knowledge to every citizen and every decision-maker throughout the world.
Company details
Find locations served, office locations
- Business Type:
- Professional association
- Industry Type:
- Renewable Energy
- Market Focus:
- Globally (various continents)
- Year Founded:
- 2005
- Employees:
- 1-10
About Us
REN21 is the only global renewable energy community of actors from science, governments, NGOs and industry. We provide up-to-date and peer-reviewed facts, figures and analysis of global developments in technology, policies and markets. Our goal: enable decision-makers to make the shift to renewable energy happen – now.
REN21 was created in 2004 as an outcome of the Bonn2004 International Conference on Renewable Energy. This “coalition of the willing” came together with one objective in mind: to support and accelerate the development of renewable energy.
From the outset, REN21’s mandate has been to collect, consolidate and synthesise a vast body of renewable energy data to provide clear and reliable information on what is happening in real-time.
This mandate still holds today.
GENERAL ASSEMBLY
REN21 Members convene every three years to review the proposed upcoming, three-year work plan and to elect a REN21 Steering Committee. This Steering Committee represents the REN21 community, providing strategic direction to REN21’s work programme.
STEERING COMMITTEE
This is the main governing entity of REN21. Fifty representatives are voted in from among REN21’s members. Collectively, the Steering Committee reflects the various organisational and geographical backgrounds as well as the values of the larger network. Steering Committee members serve a three-year cycle.
What We Do
REN21 provides knowledge about what is happening now in the renewable energy sector and how the latest trends will impact future developments. We offer an open forum to discuss how to make the renewable energy future happen across sectors and disciplines.
REN21’s activities are clustered under two main blocks:
1. Knowledge: what’s happening now in the energy sector and what we think will happen.
- Reports on developments worldwide: Renewables Global Status Report and Global Futures Report
- Reports with special focus: Renewables in Cities Global Status Report, Regional Status Reports, and Thematic Reports
- Collecting and sharing your case studies/stories from across the globe which demonstrate that the transition to renewable energy is a reality
2. Debates: discussing a renewable energy future with players both within and outside the energy sector.
- Organising the International Renewable Energy Conference, bringing together government, the private sector, civil society, research and academia
- Organising the REN21 Academy, to debate within our member community how to spur the renewable energy transition
How We Work
REN21 believes in:
- A clear vision: efficient, renewables-based energy systems are the future for all energy end-use sectors.
- Informed decision-making: we provide high quality, up-to-date information to help shape the energy debate.
- Compelling storytelling: sharing successful case studies from across the globe to demonstrate that the global transition to renewables can happen.
- Inspiring people to act: building a worldwide community of players from governments, inter-governmental and non-governmental organisations, industry, science and academia.
- Bridging divides: making renewable energy relevant to all decision-makers, by developing an understanding of relevant concerns in these sectors.
REN21 Data and Reporting Culture
REN21 has developed a unique renewable energy reporting culture, which includes:
- Developing data collection processes that build on an international community of experts, allowing access to dispersed data and information that is often unwieldy and difficult to collect.
- Consolidating formal (official) and informal (unofficial/unconventional) data from a wide range of sources in a collaborative, transparent way (e.g. by using extensive referencing).
- Complementing and validating data and information through an open peer-review process.
- Using that validated data and information to develop a fact-based narrative to help shape the global debate on the energy transition, as well as to monitor progress and inform decision-making processes.
- Making data and information openly available so it can be used by people advocating for renewable energy use.
Each annual report details the activities that REN21 was involved in over the course of a given year. Previous year financial accounts are also presented. You can find them here.