IRENA Brochure2012

Introducing IRENAThe International Renewable Energy AgencyRenewable energy has the potential to lift communities out of poverty, reform existing polluting industries and economic sectors and create a clean, more secure energy system. Therefore, the birth of IRENA is of great significance – it sends a strong message of hope from the international community to the people of our endangered planet. Adnan Z. Amin, IRENA Director-General ??ContentsThe International Renewable Energy Agency 3Founding principles 4Key facts about IRENA 5Principal organs of the Agency 6Director General: Adnan Z. Amin (Kenya) 6IRENA’s activities 7IRENA’s programme 7IRENA in the renewable energy world 923The International Renewable Energy Agency (IRENA) is an intergovernmental organisation dedicated to renewable energy. In accordance with its Statute, IRENA’s objective is to “promote the widespread and increased adoption and the sustainable use of all forms of renewable energy” (Article II). This concerns all forms of energy produced from renewable sources in a sustainable manner, which include bioenergy, geothermal energy, hydropower, ocean, solar, and wind energy.IRENA was founded on 26 January 2009 in Bonn, Germany, by 75 States which signed its Statute. As of January 2012, the membership of IRENA comprises 155 States and the European Union (EU), out of which 86 States and the EU have ratified the Statute.IRENA is the first global intergovernmental organisation to be established in decades – a clear sign of the international community’s commitment to renewable energy and an acknowledgement of the need for a focused action in this respect.IRENA has a diverse membership. Many Members rely on traditional biomass to satisfy their basic needs, while others have decades of experience in renewable energy generation and technologies. Some Members are oil-producing countries, while others are small island states, entirely dependent on fossil fuel imports for their energy supply. This diverse membership provides a wealth of experience, resources and specialist knowledge.Governments, public and private organisations, academics and the media can draw on IRENA’s extensive knowledge base and wide-reaching expertise for a one-stop service that facilitates increased interest in, and adoption of, renewable energy technology and policies.The International Renewable Energy Agency 4 The International Renewable Energy Agency Founding principlesThe Parties To The IReNA STATuTe, » desiring to promote the widespread and increased adoption of renewable energy with a view to sustainable development, » inspired from firm belief in the vast opportunities offered by renewable energy for addressing and gradually alleviating problems of energy security and volatile energy prices, » convinced of the major role that renewable energy can play in reducing greenhouse gas concentrations in the atmosphere, thereby contributing to the stabilisation of the climate system, and allowing for a sustainable, secure and gentle transit to a low-car-bon economy, » desiring to foster the positive impact that renewable energy technologies can have on stimulating sustainable economic growth and creating employment, » motivated by the huge potential of renewable energy in providing decentralised access to energy, particularly in developing countries, and access to energy for isolated and remote regions and islands, » concerned about the serious negative implications that the use of fossil fuels and the inefficient use of traditional biomass can have on health, » convinced that renewable energy, combined with enhanced energy efficiency, can in-creasingly cover the anticipated steep increase in global energy needs in the coming decades, and » affirming their desire to establish an international organisation for renewable energy that facilitates the cooperation between its Members, while also establishing a close collaboration with existing organisations that promote the use of renewable energy,Have agreed to establish the International Renewable Energy Agency.?I’d put my money on the sun and solar energy. What a source of power I hope we don’t have to wait until oil and coal run out before we tackle that.?Thomas Edison (1847-1931)5The International Renewable Energy Agency Key facts about IRENA » Founding conference: 26 January 2009 in Bonn, Germany » Founding signatories: 75 » Current membership*: 156 » Ratifying Members*: 87 » Inaugural Assembly: 4-5 April 2011 in Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates » Headquarters: Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates » Offices away from headquarters: Bonn, Germany (IRENA Innovation and Technology Centre) » Funding sources: Members’ assessed contributions, voluntary contributions » Director-General: Adnan Z. Amin (Kenya)*As of January 20126 The International Renewable Energy Agency Principal organs of the AgencyASSemblyThe Assembly is IRENA’s ultimate decision-making authority and is made up of one representative from each Member. It convenes annually to discuss and decide upon issues such as the work programme, the budget, the adoption of reports, applications for membership and potential amendments to Agency activities.CouNCIlIRENA’s Council is accountable to the Assembly and is composed of 21 Members elected for a two-year term on a rotating basis with the view of ensuring the effective participation of both developing and developed countries and the fair and equitable geographical distribution and effectiveness of the Council’s work. The Council, among other responsibilities stipulated in Article X of the Statute, facilitates consultations and coop-eration among Members and considers the draft work programme, draft budget and annual report.SeCReTARIATThe Secretariat, which comprises the Director-General and his staff, provides administrative and technical support to the Assembly, the Council and their subsidiary bodies. It is responsible, among other things, for preparing and submitting the Agency’s draft work programme, budget and annual report and for imple-menting work programme. DIReCToR GeNeRAl: ADNAN Z. AmIN (KeNyA)Adnan Z. Amin was elected Director-General of IRENA in April 2011 with the responsibility of establishing a sound institutional man-agement structure and clear strategic vision for the implementa-tion of the Agency’s mandate. As a highly-regarded development economist Mr. Amin brings over 20 years of experience in inter-national environment and sustainable development policy to the position, as well as expertise in the political, management, and in-teragency coordination functions of the United Nations.?The global potential of renewable energy sources is unlimited, but there are still challenges of cost, technology and mindset to overcome. IRENA’s mission is to support the transition to a future based primarily on renewable energy and to assist countries to identify, map out, design and implement the best route to that destination.?Adnan Z. Amin, IRENA Director-General 7The International Renewable Energy Agency IRENA’s activitiesIRENA provides practical advice and support to both developed and developing countries wishing to ac-celerate the uptake of renewable energy and meet the anticipated steep increase in global energy needs by combining the use of renewable energy with energy efficiency. The Agency facilitates access to all relevant information, including reliable data on the potential of renewable energy, best practices, effective financial mechanisms and state-of-the-art technological expertise. It organises high-level workshops with world ex-perts, assesses Member countries’ readiness to adopt renewable energy, prepares analysis and makes policy recommendations to governments for the wider deployment of renewable energy.IReNA’S ACTIvITIeS INvolve: » being a centre of excellence for renewable energy technology; » acting as a facilitator and catalyst for expanding the use of renewable energies worldwide; » providing experience for practical applications and policies; » offering support on all matters relating to renewable energy; and » helping countries to benefit from the development and transfer of knowledge. IRENA’s diverse membership requires the Agency to be agile, adaptable, and able to respond quickly and effectively. When assisting the transition to an energy mix in which renewables find their optimal place, IRENA seeks out the most appropriate solutions to country circumstances and facilitates access to relevant technical expertise. IRENA ensures effectiveness by striving to remain an independent player that can, when required, offer advice. To do this, IRENA keeps abreast of the latest developments in policy, regulation, in-stitutional arrangements, financial mechanisms, technologies, and all matters relating to renewable energy and solutions. IRENA’s programme IReNA has three main programmatic areas: The Knowledge Management and Technology Cooperation Directorate facilitates an increased role for renewable energy by establishing a knowledge base, and providing best practice examples. It gathers scat-tered knowledge on renewable energy in a central place for all, and provides knowledge products – such as renewable energy statistics and potentials – to fill any gaps. It also fosters technology cooperation by creat-ing appropriate interfaces in which industry, academia and civil society can engage with relevant stakehold-ers in IRENA programmes, and jointly accelerate the deployment of renewables.8 The International Renewable Energy Agency The Policy Advice and Capacity Building Direc-torate supports countries’ capacity to design long-term enabling renewable energy policy frameworks and promote a better understanding of economic and financial conditions to leverage renewable en-ergy investments. It also aims to assist countries to create the environment in which the crucial skills and capacities can be developed through support-ing regional capacity building initiatives. Moreover, the Directorate facilitates enhanced access and in-creased provision of dedicated education and train-ing opportunities allowing interested students and professionals to pursue a career path in renewable energies and supply the sector with the qualified human resources it needs to grow.The IRENA Innovation and Technology Centre aims to provide the governments the means for an accel-erated technological change and the use of innova-tion to transition to renewable energy based systems. This will be achieved through analysis of renewable energy technology policies; dissemination of infor-mation and increased awareness; technologies and equipment overview and assessment of success-fail-ure factors; improved relevant knowledge and tech-nology cooperation, and joint RD&D and provision of information on the development and deployment of national and international technical standards in rela-tion to renewable energy. ?Nothing is more powerful than an idea whose time has come.??Hermann Scheer, founding father of IRENA (1944-2010)9The International Renewable Energy Agency IRENA in the renewable energy world IReNA seeks to make an impact in the world of renewable energy by maintaining a clear and independent position, providing a range of reliable and well-understood services that complement those already offered by the renewable energy community and gather existing, but scattered, activities around a central hub.The international renewable energy community is large, resourceful, and rapidly evolving. IReNA does not duplicate what others are doing, but seeks out, establishes and develops new synergies, facilitates dialogue, and information and best practice sharing. Cooperation at the global, regional and national levels, knowledge sharing, enabling policies and enhanced capacity, as well as the encouragement of invest-ment flows and strengthened technology and innovation, are essential elements in the Agency’s efforts. IReNA is positioning itself as a platform for all-inclusive coop-eration where stakeholders can make a positive contribution to the common goals. This cooperation and partnerships are essential underpinnings of IReNA’s work.Numerous international, intergovernmental and non-governmental organisations are natural and indispensable partners, as are many private sector companies who are already seizing the opportunities offered by renewable energy. Civil society groups can also contribute to the IReNA vision by being vocal advocates and observers of actions taken by governments, non-governmental organisations and the private sector. IReNA directs its principal partnership activities towards knowledge shar-ing, ensuring that existing information and experience is developed, organised, and made accessible in a usable format.IReNA is uniquely positioned to bring together these different constituencies. It aims to become the convening instrument that binds all parts together and become a powerful force in advancing the agenda of the widespread adoption and use of re-newable energy, with the ultimate goal of safeguarding a sustainable future. I RENA Secretar iat C67 Of f ice Bu i ld ing, Kha l id iyah (32 nd) S t reetP.O. Box 236, Abu Dhabi , Un i ted Arab Emi ratesw w w.i rena.org Copyr ight 2012, IRENA