IRENA Brochure En

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Founding an InternationalRenewable Energy Agency (IRENA)

Promoting renewable energy worldwide



“Renewable energies are a key ele-ment in the supply of sustainableenergy. With the foundation of an

International Renewable EnergyAgency we want to contribute to thesustained development of renew-able energies’ vast global potential.This will also benefit those who lackaccess to electricity and thus are un-able to use development opportuni-ties to the same extent.”

Chancellor Angela MerkelGermany



“An International Renewable EnergyAgency will seriously strengthen ourefforts to curb greenhouse-gas emis-

sions and enhance security of supply.The agency will also be an importantstep towards facilitating the transi-tion from oil, gas and coal to renew-able energy in the industrialisedcountries as well as in the emergingeconomies.”

Prime Minister Anders Fogh RasmussenDenmark

“Those countries that lead renew-able energies in a few years’ time,those that lead the fight against

climatic change and achieve a lesserdependence on carbon will contrib-ute to reduce polluting emissions, tostop climatic change and they willgain economic, political and socialadded value. …Spain cannot miss thischance for the future.”

Prime MinisterJosé Luis Rodríguez ZapateroSpain



“Global challenges demand globalsolutions rather than go-it-aloneefforts: energy security, climate pro-

tection and the eradication of pov-erty can only be effectively tackledthrough cooperation at the interna-tional level. Here, renewable energyplays a key role. In light of climatechange and with regard to the grow-ing scarcity of conventional resourc-es, the use of renewable energy is anabsolute must. That is why we needa platform that brings together all ofthe countries interested in employ-ing renewable energy. This is whereIRENA, the International RenewableEnergy Agency, comes in. Currently,no comparable organization exists.IRENA will pool knowledge, specifi-cally advise decision-makers and,in this way, I hope it will help bringabout renewable energy’s globalbreakthrough.”

Federal Minister for Foreign AffairsFrank-Walter SteinmeierGermany



1. Introduction 6

2. Renewable energy – an answer to urgent challenges 8

3. IRENA contributes to overcoming obstacles 12

4. IRENA’s activities 15

5. Institutional design 18

6. Join the initiative for IRENA 20

Contents



Fo u n d i n g a n i n t e r n a t i o n a l r e n e w a b l e e n e r g y a g e n c y ( i r e n a )6

1. Introduction

Energy is a basic human need and makesthe world go round. Without energy, everythingwould come to a standstill. It is indispensableto foster human development and economicgrowth with a secure, affordable, reliable, cleanand sustainable energy supply.

Today we are facing huge challenges:global warming, depleting natural resources,population growth, increasing energy demand,rising energy prices and unequal distribution ofenergy sources. All of these factors contribute tothe urgent need to transform the energy sector,which primarily relies on fossil fuels, to one thatuses renewable energies and energy efficienttechnologies.

Renewable energy is one of the keysolutions to the current challenges facing theworld’s energy future. Many countries alreadyfoster the production and use of renewable en-ergy through different approaches on a politicaland economic level as they recognise the urgentneed to change the current energy path. The

current use of renewable energy, however, is still

limited in spite of its vast potential. The obstaclesare manifold: lengthy permitting procedures,import tariffs and technical barriers, insecurefinancing of renewable energy projects andinsufficient awareness of the opportunities ofrenewable energy.

This is where IRENA – the InternationalRenewable Energy Agency – comes in. Man-dated by governments worldwide, IRENAaims at becoming the main driving force inpromoting a rapid transition towards thewidespread and sustainable use of renewableenergy on a global scale.

Acting as the global voice for renewableenergies, IRENA will provide practical advice andsupport for both industrialised and developingcountries, help them improve their regulatoryframeworks and build capacity. The agency willfacilitate access to all relevant information in-cluding reliable data on the potential of renew-able energy, best practices, effective financialmechanisms and state-of-the-art technological

expertise.



P r o m o t i n g r e n e w a b l e e n e r g y w o r l d w i d e7

IRENA will develop comprehensive solu-tions, such as fostering all types of renewableenergy, and consider various renewable energypolicies on the local, regional, and national level.Additionally, IRENA will consider the specific en-vironmental, economic and socio-cultural condi-tions. Lastly, it will involve stakeholders from theenergy industry, academia, institutions and civilsociety.

IRENA will regularly consult and cooper-ate with organisations and networks already en-

gaged in the field of renewable energy in orderto complement and pool their work resources,hereby creating added value.

This broschure presents the initiative forthe founding of IRENA, an ambitious initiativethat Germany launched with like-minded coun-tries, especially Denmark and Spain. We wouldlike to invite all interested parties to join theinitiative, to support IRENA and thus help pavethe way towards a sustainable energy future.

Development of world population and global primary energy consumption

1971 1980 1990 2000 2003 2005

4.4

5.2

6.4

1980 1990 2000 2005

232

303

367

420445

479

198

55

21

53

74

OECD China restl. Welt

Welt

restl. Welt

Global primary energ y consumption [EJ]

2003 2005

3.8

4.45.2

6.16.3 6.4

1971 20032005

232

303

367

420445

479

198

55

21

53

74

OECD China restl. Welt

198

5521

53

OECD ChinaIndia

Rest of world

World

Primary energy consumption2005 [GJ/ per capita]

Rest of worldIndiaChinaOECD

World population [bn.]

Source: Staiß. F (2007): Jahrbuch Erneuerbare Energien 2007.

GJ: Gigajoule. 1 Gigajoule=10 9 JouleEJ: Exajoule. 1 Exajoule=10 18 Joule



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2. Renewable energy –an answer to urgent challenges

Renewable energy presents an attractive and rewarding solution to the increasing global energydemand, global warming, and rising energy prices . IRENA strongly promotes the use and the dis-semination of renewable energies, emphasising the many advantages inherent to these energy forms.

Increasing global energy demandCountries worldwide are experiencing

rapid economic expansion and industrialisa-tion, while the world’s population is predictedto reach 9.0 billion by 2050. 1 These two factorsmean increased demand for energy. If govern-

ments do not change their current policies,the world’s energy needs could increase by50 percent or more by 2030. 2 Until now, thesedemands have been satisfied largely by fossilenergy sources. However, the limited resourcesare rapidly decreasing, while their use continuesto damage the environment, people’s health andthe Earth’s climate.

Over 1.6 billion people currently have noaccess to electricity and more than 2 billion relyon wood and dung for their energy needs. 3 Tradi-tional biomass is often used in an inefficient and

non-sustainable way as an energy source, lead-ing to severe implications for human health andthe environment. 4 Building conventional gridsto supply rural areas with electricity is oftenprohibitively expensive. Thus, local populationsneed to be supplied with energy that combinesdecentralised and centralised supply structures.

Fo u n d i n g a n i n t e r n a t i o n a l r e n e w a b l e e n e r g y a g e n c y ( i r e n a )

Using renewable energy:guarantee of energy supplyEven substantial increases in energy de-

mand can be covered with wind, solar and othersources of renewable energy. The potential en-ergy from solar radiation exceeds human energy

needs more than a thousand times over. Techni-cal progress has made use of these resources andconsiderably accelerated in recent years. Renew-able energy technologies offer increasingly com-petitive alternatives to fossil and nuclear fuels.Sources of renewable energy are limitless, uni-versally available and able to meet the need forstand-alone energy solutions in rural areas. Evenisolated regions can receive energy supplies, andthus gain access to development, as renewableenergies can be used far from centralised elec-tricity systems. Renewable energies reduce hu-

man dependence on rapidly diminishing fossilfuel resources. Furthermore, they diversify andincrease domestic supply, thereby saving costsfor ever more expensive imports of conventionalfuels.

Renewable energies can meet the demandfor electricity, satisfy heating and cooling needsand provide propulsion for vehicles withoutharming the environment.



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Global warmingIf growing demands for fossil fuels con-

tinue, greenhouse gas emissions will increaseup to 60 percent by 2030 . This could lead to acompletely unsustainable temperature rise ofabout 5°C. 5 The United Nations (UN) ClimateChange Conference in Bali in 2007 again stressedthe necessity to limit global warming to nomore than 2°C. The 4 th Assessment Report of theIntergovernmental Panel on Climate Change(IPCC) concludes that in order not to exceed thisceiling, global emissions need to decrease by atleast 50 percent by 2050. Action must be taken inorder to change current trends. The Stern Reportestimates that without swift action, economiclosses due to climate change could reach 20percent of global Gross Domestic Product (GDP)each year. 6

Using renewable energy:stabilising the climateIn addition to energy efficiency, increasing

the use of renewable energy will be an essentialfactor in mitigating climate change. In Ger-many, for example, the use of renewable energyprevented 115 million tonnes of greenhouse gasemissions in 2007. 7 Renewable energy that is pro-duced and used in a sustainable manner relievesthe pressure on the environment and humanhealth.

Renewable energies help mitigate theeconomic impact of climate change. The costsresulting from damages to humans and the envi-ronment caused by the overall use of energy arecurrently not included in energy prices. Costs ofelectricity generated by modern coal technolo-gy, for instance, are estimated to range betweensix and eight €-Cent/kWh (*), whereas they areonly about 0.5 €-Cent/kWh in the case of renewa-ble energy. 8 If external costs were included in thecurrent energy prices, renewable energy wouldalready be highly competitive.

(*) Kilowatt hours (kWh): Measure or energy correspondingto the electrical power o one kilowatt (1000 Watts) applied

or the duration o one hour (1 kW x 1 hour).

Source: Nitsch, F. (2007): Technologische und energiewirtscha tliche Perspektiven erneuerbarer Energien.Deutsches Zentrum ür Lu t- und Raum ahrt.

The physical potential of renewable energies

Solar radiation (continents) (1800 x GPEC)

Wind energy (200 x GPEC)

Biomass (20 x GPEC)

Geothermal energy (10 x GPEC)

Ocean and wave energy (2 x GPEC)

Hydro energy (1 x GPEC)

Current global primary energyconsumption (GPEC)

P r o m o t i n g r e n e w a b l e e n e r g y w o r l d w i d e



1 0 Fo u n d i n g a n i n t e r n a t i o n a l r e n e w a b l e e n e r g y a g e n c y ( i r e n a )

Increasing energy pricesSatisfying the growing demand for energy

with conventional energy sources is becomingnot only increasingly difficult but also increas-ingly costly. Oil prices almost doubled over thelast year . For the first time the price per barrelreached USD 147 in 2008. We are shifting fromcheap oil to peak oil. Prices for other convention-al energy sources are also rising fast. Althoughoil prices are difficult to predict, clear indica-tions show that prices will continue to grow in

the future.Increasing energy prices place consumers

as well as companies under enormous pressure.Businesses rely on cheap and secure energy,whether they are energy-intensive industrialoperations or small or medium-sized enterprises.Growing demand and increasing scarcity of fos-sil energy resources have a negative impact onthe global economy.

Source: Scotiabank (2008): Commodity Price Index.

WTI oil jumps to new recordin early July

US Dollar per barrel

New record highJuly 11, 2008: US Dollar 147.90

Data to July 2008.

160

140

120

100

80

60

40

20

0

160

140

120

100

80

60

40

20

070 75 80 85 90 95 00 05 10

Low-income economies that import fossilfuels are particularly vulnerable to such priceincreases, as they upset their balance of pay-ments. Access to energy services is an importantprecondition for meeting basic needs and fordeveloping a modern economy. A smoothlyfunctioning energy supply system is importantfor a country’s economic stability. Energy is thusan indispensable element to overcome povertyand to achieve the United Nations’ MillenniumDevelopment Goals.



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Using renewable energy:providing economic opportunitiesRenewable energy technologies can lay

the groundwork for a modern, affordable andsustainable energy supply in developed and de-veloping countries. Recently, the price of gener-ating energy from renewable sources has contin-ued to fall as technological innovation rapidlyaccelerates. Many renewable energy technolo-gies are now mature and ready for the market.For example, the costs for electricity generation

of solar power decreased about 60 percent from1991 to 2003. 9 The costs for generating windpower declined more than 80 percent from theearly 1980s until 2007. 10

Investments in renewable energy morethan doubled between 2004 and 2007 and ex-ceeded over USD 100 billion in 2007. 11The indus-

try attracts major commercial and investmentbanks, venture capitalists, private investors anddevelopment organisations. Moreover, thesenew technologies create skilled jobs. Globally,renewable energy accounted for 2.4 million jobsin 2006. 12 Not only can the global economy ben-efit from the use of renewable energy, but manylocal and regional economies can too.

Renewable energy may allow developingcountries to leapfrog directly into a clean energyscenario. Better access to sustainable energy

services is necessary to foster economic growthat the macro level, and to stimulate businessesand income-generating activities at the micro-level. Renewable energies generate additionalincomes and reduce expenses by preventingthe emergence of pollution and alleviating thedependence on energy exporting countries.




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3. IRENA contributesto overcoming obstacles

Many obstacles remain to the widespread use of renewable energy. Low public awareness, marketdistortions caused by governments in favour of subsidising conventional energy sources, ineffectivepolitical frameworks, inadequate technical know-how, misinformation – all these are major barriers toincreasing the share of renewable energy in our total energy consumption. 13

In 2006, renewable energy contributedsome 18 percent to the total energy consump-tion (counting traditional biomass, large hy-

dropower, and “new” renewables such as smallhydro, modern biomass, wind, solar, geother-mal, and bio uels). Still, the contribution o thenew renewables was marginal with 2.4 percent,while traditional biomass represented 13 per-cent o the total energy consumption in 2006.During the fve-year period 2002-2006, globalrenewable energy capacity grew at rates o

15-30 percent annually or many technologies,including wind power, solar hot water, geother-mal heating, and o -grid solar PV. 14

In spite o this dynamic development inrenewable energy, the continued growth in pri-mary energy consumption is e ectively cancel-ling out this e ect. It is there ore not surprising,but all the more alarming, that the share orenewables has not been rising relative to thetotal consumption during the last ew years. 15

Source: REN21 (2008): Renewables 2007 Global Status Report.

Renewable Energy Share of Global Final Energy Consumption, 2006

Nuclear 3 %

Fossil fuels 79 %

Renewables 18 %

Biofuels 0.3 %Power generation 0.8 %Hot water / heating 1.3 %Large hydropower 3 %

Traditional biomass 13 %




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ó Structural political and market barriers:

Political structures, legislation and supportprogrammes often place renewable energyat a disadvantage compared to other energysources. By comparison, fossil and nuclearenergy currently enjoy a number of advantag-es – fully developed technology, establishedindustries, strong market structures, power-ful companies and considerable financialsubsidies. Moreover, current market struc-tures hinder the spread of renewable energy,because renewable energy often requires newtechnological, power and service structures,whose costs have to be calculated differently.

ó Lack of information: While many countrieshave shown themselves willing or able to cre-ate the necessary conditions for the spreadof renewable energy, information is lackingwith regard to efficient renewable energypolicies (appropriate legislation, marketincentives and institutional frameworks),industry requirements and research, devel-opment, education and training. Providingaccess to applicable and useful informationrelated to renewable energy is of paramount

importance.

ó Lack of technical know-how: Implement-

ing renewable technologies in the nationalenergy strategies requires not only the will-ingness but also the technical ability to userenewable energies. Achieving a high share ofrenewable energy in the total energy supplyrequires new approaches to the design andmanagement of energy systems and grids.Developing countries, in particular, oftencannot access renewable technologies withregard to buying, maintaining and repairingthe equipment. Market access to these newtechnologies is not enough. Developing coun-tries need to develop the capacity to producesuch technologies autonomously.

Even though the potential of renewable energiesis huge and their advantages are great, remain-ing obstacles limit their diffusion and adoptionthroughout the world. An international institu-tion is needed to close the gap between whatcould be achieved with renewable energy andwhat is currently being achieved. IRENA fillsthis gap with its governmental mandate, whichwill enable the agency to handle current global,national and local barriers.




Why a new internationalorganisation?In the 1950s the desire to exploit the op-

portunities offered by a new energy source ledto the foundation of the International AtomicEnergy Agency (IAEA). In the 1970s, the fear ofshortages arising in fossil fuel supply promptedthe foundation of another organisation – theInternational Energy Agency (IEA).

Today there are new challenges impact-ing on the global energy supply, as described in

more detail in Chapter 2 above. These challengesrequire urgent changes in the global energystructure, and a transformation to a sustainableenergy system. Key players must be present inorder to change the current mindsets on theinternational level and promote renewable ener-gies worldwide. IRENA is the first internationalorganisation to solely concentrate on renewable

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energy and offer support to industrialised anddeveloping countries alike. A combination ofboth is needed in order to set the course for alow-carbon, sustainable, clean and safe energyuse.

For the time being, the idea to make IRENAa new United Nations or United Nations-affili-ated organisation does not appear as a realisticoption. To ensure that the Agency can beginoperating swiftly, it needs to be set up independ-ently. However, in the long term the integra-

tion of IRENA into the United Nations should beconsidered. Sharing synergies with the existinginternational organisations related to renewableenergy issues, IRENA will seek an open exchange,drawing on each other’s expertise, developingshared ideas and supporting each other’s workwherever possible.




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4. IRENA’s activities

IRENA strives for excellence. As an interna-tional governmental organisation working at therequest of its member states, IRENA will fosterthe change in the global energy sector towardsa sustainable economy with great reliance onrenewable energy. As the overall objective ofIRENA is to promote the widespread and in-creased adoption and sustainable use of renew-able energy worldwide. IRENA will increasethe contribution of renewable energy to envi-ronmental and climate protection, economic

growth and social cohesion, including povertyalleviation, security of energy supply, regionaldevelopment and inter-generational equity.

IRENA‘s overall objective needs to be bro-ken down into a number of concrete activities,including :

ó Developing a comprehensive knowledgebase: IRENA aims at becoming the key in-ternational institution for the promotion ofrenewable energy. For this reason, there mustbe a comprehensive understanding of what

activities are currently promoting renewableenergies and what resources are available.For example, IRENA will research current usesand further potential of renewable energy,existing policy instruments, incentives,investment mechanisms, technology, grids,conservation, storage and efficiency issues.Furthermore, it will collect its own data byconsulting with experts – both, academicsand practitioners – who will systematise, re-view and update the data.

The comprehensive data base will not onlyenable IRENA to inform and advise its mem-bers, but also to disseminate information tothe public and thus increase public aware-ness of the benefits and potential offered byrenewable energy.

ó Providing policy advice: IRENA focuses on

working with national governments. Mostcountries currently lack an integrated per-spective on their renewable energy potentialand the options available to them. They alsolack appropriate strategies for achieving thestructural shift towards renewable energy.The most appropriate and efficient use ofrenewable energy depends on the specificgeographical, structural, socio-economic andcultural conditions. A key task of IRENA willtherefore be the provision of comprehensiveadvice on selecting and adapting energysources, technology and system configura-tions, business models as well as organisation-al and regulatory frameworks. The agencywill also help countries to make the best useof available funding.




IRENA can, for instance, begin by advisingan initial group of member states on theseissues. Members of this group might includecountries that are advanced with respect totheir use of renewable energy and those thatare less so, as well as both developed anddeveloping nations, in order to reflect thebroad spectrum of existing energy systemsand experience. This approach would alsoallow IRENA to develop its own consultingmethods while at the same time assembling atoolbox of successful methodologies, policies,programmes and regulatory frameworks, aswell as gaining useful insights.

Policy advice will not only be given on anational level, but also at local and regionallevels. These activities will develop integratedapproaches on the use of renewable energy inrural and urban areas.

ó Promoting technology transfer and pro-viding advice on financing : technologytransfer will be one important cornerstone in

order to rapidly reduce greenhouse gas emis-sions without adversely affecting economicdevelopment.

Enormous efforts are required to facilitatetechnology transfers and investments in de-veloping countries. IRENA will help developappropriate framework conditions. Further-more, it will support the development and im-plementation of related funding mechanismsfor technology transfer in the renewablesector.

One option for the initial period is to con-duct a conference to discuss possible fundingmechanisms and strategies for technologytransfer. By looking specifically at solutions inthe renewable field, IRENA can make a valu-able contribution to the ongoing discussionon financing and technology transfer for thepost-2012 period. A further possibility forIRENA is to evaluate specific technologytransfer projects in different countries, theresults of which could contribute to thedevelopment of an appropriate assessmentmethodology that takes into account culturaland socio-economic issues. It would also helpimprove developing countries’ access to tech-

nology transfer.

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ó Enhancing capacity building : the avail-ability of appropriately trained experts andpractitioners is frequently a limiting factor inthe renewable energy sector. Decentralisedrenewable energy systems and traditionalcentralised systems have different humanresource requirements. Local planning, in-stallation and maintenance need well-trainedpersonnel. The spread of renewable energydepends on the availability of trained andmotivated contractors and technicians at the

regional level.Training might encompass a wide range of

qualifications and involve educational insti-tutions at all levels. Identifying specific train-ing needs and opportunities requires coop-eration between numerous partners. IRENAcan facilitate the international exchange ofexperience and the development of coherentmethodologies. Different sources of renew-able energy have different markets, differenttechnical structures and require differentqualifications. Here, IRENA can help develop

differentiated approaches, contributing to ashared pool of knowledge and methods.

ó Stimulating research : IRENA requires asolid scientific basis for its work. The researchsector will play an important role in provid-ing the organisation with information on thelatest scientific developments. Consultationswith experts from academia and industry willenable IRENA to develop practical approach-es and to encourage and stimulate researchactivities in the field of renewable energy. Inaddition, IRENA can foster the disseminationof research results.

ó Networking - Cooperating with otherorganisations, institutions and networks :there are several organisations that shareIRENA‘s aim to promote the use of renewableenergy. Amongst these organisations arethe following: the United Nations Develop-ment Programme (UNDP), the United NationsEnvironment Programme (UNEP), the UnitedNations Industrial Development Organisation(UNIDO), international organisations like the

International Energy Agency (IEA) linked to

the OECD, the World Bank, networks like theRenewable Energy Policy Network for the 21stCentury (REN21), the Renewable Energy andEnergy Efficiency Partnership (REEEP), theGlobal Bioenergy Partnership (GBEP), and anumber of non-governmental organisations.These organisations, however, operate in dif-ferent ways, on different levels (local, region-al, global) and from different perspectives.One of IRENA’s main goals will be to establisha close cooperation with existing organisa-

tions and initiatives. This should lead toenhanced synergy effects. IRENA could there-fore initiate a variety of exchanges with theseorganisations, while simultaneously identify-ing potential cooperation for the future.




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In order for IRENA to successfully pursueits tasks and objectives, the structure of theorganisation demands thoughtful design. IRENAneeds to operate effectively and to support itsmember states in the best way possible.

IRENA is to be an international govern-mental organisation working closely togetherwith all stakeholder groups whose work is relat-ed to that of the agency. Observer status may begranted to, amongst others, inter-governmentaland non-governmental organisations active in

the field of renewable energy sources. The aimis to build a broad-based membership structure:large and small, industrialised and develop-ing countries alike are to be represented in theorganisation.

The agency is to consist of three main or-gans: the Assembly, the Council and the Secretar-iat. The Assembly is the supreme organ of IRENAand will be composed of all member countries.Amongst its tasks are the yearly adoption of the

5. Institutional design

budget and the work programme of the agency.The Assembly elects representatives from mem-ber states into the Council. The Council willconvene semi-annually. Its main responsibilitiesare to facilitate consultations and cooperationamong members at their request. The Councilwill also substantiate the work programme asadopted by the Assembly. The Secretariat will beheaded by a Director-General who is appointedby the Assembly. His/her main task, togetherwith the staff of renowned international experts,

will require implementing the work programme.The statutes and work programme are

being designed in such a way as to make IRENAan effective and efficient agency that can oper-ate as soon as possible. IRENA’s budgetary needsare closely linked to the work programme. Thebudget will be financed mainly by membershipcontributions. The amount of mandatory contri-butions will be calculated using the UN scale ofassessment.

Source: Own compilation


2007 20102008 2009



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The road towards IRENAThe idea to promote renewable energy

by establishing an international organisationwas originally presented by EUROSOLAR and theWorld Council for Renewable Energy and hasbeen extensively discussed for several years atvarious international level forums. The numberof parties supporting this idea has consistentlygrown. Finally, the International Conference forRenewable Energies in Bonn, 2004, supportedby the International Parliamentary Forum on

Renewable Energies, paved the way towards abreakthrough for the promotion of renewablesworldwide.

The German establishment of IRENA hasreceived positive feedback. Consultations withrepresentatives from countries worldwide in2007 gave clear evidence of a high level of inter-est for the proposed initiative. Strongly support-ed by Spain and Denmark, the German govern-ment organised two international meetings in2008 with the goal of enhancing the preparationprocess for the founding of IRENA. More than

50 countries supported this idea. During thepreparatory conference in April 2008 the firstactivities for the agency were developed alongwith the first conceptions on the possible struc-ture of IRENA. In June/July 2008 the statutes, thefinancing and the initial activities of IRENA wereintensely discussed within two parallel work-shops.

At the invitation of the Spanish govern-ment 51 states attended the Final PreparatoryConference on the 23 rd and 24 th of October,in Madrid, Spain and finalised discussions onIRENA’s Statute. Furthermore, documents andprocedures aiming at an effective and quick startof IRENA were discussed.

At the Founding Conference on 26 th and27 th January, 2009, in Bonn, Germany, the stat-utes will be signed . Decisions on the processesof the initial phase will be made to ensure thatIRENA can begin its operations on time. Coun-tries that signed will agree on a procedure andsubstantial criteria for applications for the pre-liminary seat of the Secretariat and the agency’spreliminary Director-General. This ensures thata transparent application and selection process

will occur.

IRENA’s initial phaseThe initial phase starts with the Found-

ing Conference where IRENA’s statutes will besigned and lasts until the statutes enter intoforce after being ratified by member countriesaccording to their respective national constitu-tions. Considering the magnitude and urgencyof the tasks ahead for IRENA, it is indispensablethat the agency commences with its activities asquickly as possible. Effective working structureswill be established to start operations. In June2009, those countries that have signed the treatywill decide on the preliminary seat of the Sec-retariat and the agency’s preliminary Director-General. The Director-General will then begin tobuild up the agency without delay, to ensure itsvisibility on the international level.

After the entry into force of IRENA’s stat-utes the organs of IRENA will begin to operate of-ficially. During the first meeting of the Assembly,the Council will be elected, a formal decision onthe work programme, on the budget and on theseat of the agency will be taken and the Director-

General formally appointed.




6. Join the initiative for IRENA

Fo u n d i n g a n i n t e r n a t i o n a l r e n e w a b l e e n e r g y a g e n c y ( i r e n a )2 0

The truly global challenges related to en-ergy issues – global warming, depleting naturalresources, increasing energy demand, risingenergy prices and unequal distribution of energysources – urgently require action:Countries worldwide must take a firm stand andcooperate in order to facilitate the necessarytransformation of today’s deficient energy sys-tem towards a world relying on a secure, afford-able, clean and sustainable energy supply basedon the two cornerstones of renewable energy

and energy efficiency.IRENA is a decisive step towards the exten-

sive and sustainable use of renewable energy ona global scale. All interested UN member statesare invited to join IRENA. A broad-based mem-bership structure is strongly desired.

Though IRENA will be an internationalgovernmental organisation, industry, academia,NGOs and civil society will be actively involvedas well. IRENA will seek an open exchange withall organisations and interested groups work-ing towards the rapid promotion of renewableenergy, developing shared ideas and supportingeach other’s work wherever possible. Countriesare most welcome to join the organisation, whileorganisations and interested groups are encour-aged to become cooperation partners.

IRENA‘s founding members will benefitfrom participating in shaping the agency fromthe initial stages according to their national con-ceptions and global needs.

We invite all interested parties to join usand to take action in shaping IRENA, for the ben-efit of all inhabitants of planet Earth and for thefuture of generations still to come.



Fo u n d i n g a n i n t e r n a t i o n a l r e n e w a b l e e n e r g y a g e n c y ( i r e n a )2 2

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2 IEA (2007): The World Energy Outlook. Executive Summary 2007, Paris, p. 4; IEA (2006):World Energy Outlook 2006, Paris, pp. 46-47

3 IEA (2007): The World Energy Outlook. Executive Summary 2007, Paris, p. 4; IEA (2006):World Energy Outlook 2006, Paris, pp. 46-47

4 IEA (2006): The World Energy Outlook. Executive Summary 2006. Paris, pp. 4, 115 IEA (2007): The World Energy Outlook. Executive Summary 2007. Paris, pp. 4, 2016 Nicholas Stern (2006): The Economics of Climate Change. The Stern Review, New York7 BMU (2007): Renewable energy sources in figures – national and international development.

Status: June 2007, Berlin, p. 5

8 BMU (2007): Renewable energy sources in figures – national and international development.Status: June 2007, Berlin, p. 36

9 BMU (2007): Erfahrungsbericht 2007 zum Erneuerbare-Energien-Gesetz, Berlin10 Goodstein, E.S. (2008): Economics and the Environment, New Jersey. p. 361f.11 UNEP and SEFI (2007): Global Trends in Sustainable Energy Investment 2007, p. 812 REN21 (2008): Renewables 2007 Global Status Report, Paris, p. 613 Steiner, A. et. al. (eds.) (2006): International Institutional Arrangements in Support of Rene-

wable Energy. In: Renewable Energy – A global review of technologies, policies and markets,London; Ren21 (2004): Renewables 2004: Policy Recommendations for RE, Paris, p. 10

14 REN21 (2008): Renewables 2007 Global Status Report, Paris, p. 915 IEA (2007): Renewables Information (2007 edition), Paris, pp. 3-5

Photographs

Paul Langrock | G. Bramsiepe | dpa/Picture-Alliance (Titel 1. Reihe); dpa/Picture-Alliance |H.-G. Oed | Rosseforp/Voller Ernst (Titel 2. Reihe); Rainer Jahns (2); Thomas Köhler/Photothek (5);

REA/Laif (6); Brigitte Hiss/BMU (7); Agentur für Erneuerbare Energien (8); Harald Theissen/Voller Ernst(10); Siemens (11); Raupach/argus (13); Öberhäuser/BMU (14); Franz Waldhaeusl/Alimdi.net (15); Nordex(16); Xinhua/Das Fotoarchiv (17); IRENA.org (19); GTZ (20); Jan Oelker (21); Helga Lade Fotoagentur (23)



Imprint

Publisher Federal Ministry for the Environment, Nature Conservation and Nuclear SafetyPublic Relations Division - 11055 BerlinEmail: [email protected] · Internet: www.bmu.de – www.erneuerbare-energien.de

Editors Adelphi Consult

Environmental Policy Research Centre (FFU), Freie Universität BerlinDivision KI I 4, Federal Ministry for the Environment, Nature Conservation and Nuclear SafetyDivision 313, Federal Ministry for Economic Cooperation and DevelopmentDivision 410, Federal Foreign Office

Design design_idee, buero_fuer_gestaltung, Erfurt

DateOctober 2008

Print run Silber Druck oHG, Niestetal

IRENA Brochure En

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