BONN 26-27 January 2009 Germany hosts inaugural meeting of International Renewable Energy Agency 

The global International Renewable Energy Agency plans to have charter documents ready for signatures at its founding meeting in January. Mandated by governments worldwide, IRENA aims to guide and coordinate renewable energy initiatives on an international level. The organizers point out that many initiatives exist around the world, but they lack a focal point. One of its functions will be to prevent duplication of effort. IRENA will be modeled on the International Atomic Energy Agency.

In Apr 2008, representatives of 60 countries met in Berlin at the invitation of the German Federal Government, which is spearheading the initiative, for a preparatory conference. Discussions centered on the future objectives, activities, organisational structure and financing of the agency. It was agreed that IRENA should constitute an independent driving force behind renewable energy and help to create a level playing field for the development of renewable energy.

According to the organizers, there has been no international organization in place to date that focuses on supporting and providing concrete advice to industrialized and developing countries on the expansion of renewable energies and the setting of better regulatory frameworks.

IRENA describes renewable energy as one of the key solutions to the current challenges facing the world’s energy future. Oct/08

RELATED READING:

IRENA - offical site
http://www.irena.org

Memorandum for the Establishment of anInternational Renewable Energy Agency (IRENA)
http://72.14.205.104/search?q=cache:AJOtCtxCu0oJ:www.wcre.de/en/images/stories/pdf/IRENA_Memo_English.pdf
+United+States+IRENA+renewables&hl=en&ct=clnk&cd=4&gl=us