IRENA (International Renewable Energy Agency)
Overview:
| IRENA Established: | 26 January 2009. |
| IRENA Headquarters: | Masdar City, United Arab Emirates. |
| IRENA Members: | 169 members. |
| IRENA Objective: | IRENA drives the widespread adoption and sustainable use of all forms of renewable energy. |
| Organization Type: | Renewable Energy Agency. |
What is IRENA?
IRENA stands for the International Renewable Energy Agency. IRENA is a leading global intergovernmental agency for energy transformation that supports countries in their transition to a sustainable energy future and serves as the principal platform for international cooperation, a centre of excellence, and a repository of policy, technology, resource and financial knowledge on renewable energy.
Establishment of IRENA:
It was founded on 26 January 2009 in Bonn, Germany, and its statute entered into force on 8 July 2010.
Objectives of IRENA:
IRENA drives the widespread adoption and sustainable use of all forms of renewable energy, including bioenergy, geothermal, hydropower, ocean, solar and wind energy in the pursuit of sustainable development, energy access, and energy security, for economic and social resilience and prosperity and a climate-proof future.
IRENA supports countries in their energy transitions and provides state-of-the-art data and analyses on technology, innovation, policy, finance and investment.
Headquarters of IRENA:
The headquarters of IRENA is situated in Masdar City, United Arab Emirates.
IRENA Members:
Currently, IRENA comprises 169 members including the EU. Together, they decide on the strategic direction and programmatic activities of the organization, in line with the global energy discourse and priorities to accelerate the deployment of renewables-based energy transitions worldwide.
Organization Structure:
The structure of the IRENA includes an Assembly, council and Secretariate.
IRENA Assembly: The IRENA assembly is the ultimate decision-making authority, made up of one representative from each Member. It convenes annually to discuss and decide upon issues such as the work programme, budget, adoption of reports, applications for membership and potential amendments to agency activities.
IRENA Council: The IRENA Council is composed of 21 Member States elected for a two-year term and is accountable to the Assembly. Council members serve on a rotating basis to ensure the effective participation of both developing and developed countries and a fair and equitable geographical distribution.
The Council’s responsibilities include facilitating consultation and cooperation among IRENA Members and reviewing the draft work programme, draft budget and annual report.
IRENA Secretariate: The IRENA Secretariat comprises the Director-General and his staff and 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 implementing the work programme.