More than 150 countries to be represented at upcoming IRENA Assembly in UAE

The discussions will take place under the auspices of the 2013 IRENA Assembly from 13-14 January at the St Regis Hotel in Saddiyat Island, UAE.

During the annual flagship meeting of its General Assembly, IRENA will launch REMAP 2030, a pathway to increase the share of wind, solar, hydropower, geothermal, ocean and sustainable biomass to at least 30 per cent of the global energy mix, in line with the UN Secretary-General’s Sustainable Energy for All initiative.

IRENA, as the global hub for renewable energy, will also launch the world’s first Global Atlas for Renewable Energy Resources, a collaborative and openly accessible map of solar and wind resources, as well as launching a network to promote renewable energy in islands, a report on Africa’s renewable future and a number of other landmark technical and policy studies.

The two-day Assembly opens Abu Dhabi Sustainability Week, a global gathering of policy makers and business leaders.

Other highlights on IRENA’s agenda include:

• The IRENA-FT Question Time Debate, moderated by Ed Crooks, US Energy and Industry Editor for the Financial Times, with Adnan Z. Amin, IRENA Director-General; Martin Lidegaard, Danish Minister for Climate, Energy and Building and President of the third session of the IRENA Assembly; and other leaders in the field of sustainable energy;
• Establishment of the Global Renewable Energy Islands Network (GREIN);
• The first South America-Arab Countries (ASPA) energy ministerial (16 Jan);

During the World Future Energy Summit and Abu Dhabi International Renewable Energy Conference (15-17 Jan), IRENA will hold side events, offer expert briefings and issue reports on renewable energy issues daily at the IRENA booth in the Abu Dhabi National Exhibition Centre (ADNEC), including:

• Africa’s Renewable Energy Future;
• The falling cost of renewable energy;
• Renewables Readiness Assessment reports for Senegal, Mozambique, Kiribati and Grenada;
• 40 Years of Policies for Wind Energy: Lessons Learnt from 12 Wind Energy Markets;
• An assessment of Tariff-Based Support Mechanisms for renewable energy;
• The transition to renewable energy in Gulf Countries;
• IRENA project navigator to help renewable energy project development.

Formally established in 2011, IRENA is the first major international organization to be headquartered in the Middle East.

For additional information:

IRENA