Data collection and dissemination to be key medium-term activities

Abu Dhabi: Data collection and dissemination, and strategies to enable the accelerated deployment of renewables, will be some of the key activities undertaken by the International Renewable Energy Agency (Irena) over the next few years, agency officials announced in the capital on Monday.

The agency will also work to develop the REMAP 2030, Irena’s global roadmap to double the share of global renewable energy by 2030, in line with the UN Secretary General Ban Ki Moon’s Sustainable Energy for All initiative.

These plans were discussed at the third Irena assembly, which concludes in the capital on Monday. The assembly saw more than 800 delegates discuss the global renewable energy sector.

Irena is working to realise the required increase in share of renewables, announced Adnan Z Ameen, director general at the Irena.

Initial assessments however suggest that the current rate of progress worldwide will allow for the share of renewables to increase to just 21 per cent of global energy mix in 2030, leaving a gap of 9 per cent compared to the set target.

“2012 was the year of a new renewable energy reality. Evidence on the economic case of renewables mounted, as the industry went through a shakeout that is leading to less fragmentation, increased viability and growing investment despite economic challenges,” Ameen said.

“This year has already produced other positive developments. The US has extended their production tax credit for wind energy, which will encourage continued large investment into developing and deploying this technology. China has announced further targets of at least 10 GW of solar generation, which sets China for becoming the largest solar PV market worldwide,” he added.

To enable greater deployment of renewables, the agency will work with other international organisations, such as the International Energy Agency and REN-21, to fill information gaps and share technological knowledge. An annual report providing information on market trends, future directions, emerging energy technologies and others will also be launched at the fourth Irena assembly, Ameen said.

“The report will be produced by Irena as a universal, unbiased publication to disseminate accurate data and analysis,” he explained.

Cross-regional cooperation on geothermal energy efforts will also be fostered by establishing the geothermal experts network, Ameen added.

According to the official, 2013 itself will also be a more stable year for the agency. The approved budget for activities and efforts currently stands at $29.7 million (Dh109.1 million), made up of a core budget of $18 million (Dh66.1 million) and voluntary contributions of $11.7 million (Dh42.9 million).

“We hope to increase the core budget by $2 million (Dh7.3 million) to support an increased number of activities and staff this year,” Ameen explained. An additional $300,000 (Dh1.1 million) is being sought by the agency to support activities at its Information and Technology Centre.

The two-day Irena assembly was organised as part of Abu Dhabi Sustainability Week, which runs in the capital till Thursday. The sixth World Future Energy Summit, and the first edition of the International Water Summit, will be inaugurated on Tuesday.