Europe Can Double Renewable Energy Share by 2030, IRENA Says

The European Union can boost the share of renewables to 34 percent of its energy mix by 2030, triggering hundreds of billions euros in investment and accelerating reduction of greenhouse gases blamed for global warming, according to the International Renewable Energy Agency (IRENA).

Lawmakers in the 28-nation bloc are currently discussing policies for the next decade, with the European Parliament calling to increase the share of renewables to at least 35 percent of energy consumption, more than level of 27 percent or more endorsed by the heads of government. That compares with 17 percent reached in 2016 as part of the EU strategy to cut pollution and increase energy security.

2017 Outlook: Geothermal Is Trending Upwards

Overall, the 2017 geothermal outlook is positive, based on GEA analysis.

Geothermal is posed to grow by leaps and bounds internationally in the coming years, with rapid growth in countries like Indonesia, the Philippines, and Kenya, all rich in geothermal resources. Major players involve investment banks like JICA and the IADB, who are teaming up with countries with untapped geothermal energy like Chile to diversify their national energy portfolios and meet the Paris Climate Agreement goals of significantly lowering the global output of CO2 in coming decades. Countries like Kenya and Indonesia have set frameworks in place and target goals of geothermal development to be achieved in the coming years, providing a significant portion of electricity as these countries go green.

IRENA Convenes Legislators Forum to Engage Key Actors in Renewable Energy Policy

Lawmakers from around the world met last week in Abu Dhabi to discuss the policies needed to support the transformation of the global energy system. Held the day before the opening of the seventh Assembly of the International Renewable Energy Agency (IRENA), the 2017 Legislators Forum, “Renewable Energy – the Role of Legislators in Catalyzing Action”, is the second meeting of its kind hosted by the Agency. The Forum facilitates dialogue between lawmakers on the deployment of renewables and critical challenges facing the energy transformation underway in countries around the world, covering areas of policy, legislation, and tools to support legislators.

IRENA Holds First Legislators Forum to Discuss Renewable Energy Policy

Roughly 30 legislators, selected to represent all regions of the world, met in Abu Dhabi to support the transformation of the global energy system from the policy side. The Legislators Forum 2016, held on the eve of the International Renewable Energy Agency’s (IRENA) sixth Assembly, is the first event of its kind hosted by the Agency. The Forum seeks to facilitate dialogue between legislators on the deployment of renewables and critical elements of the energy transformation underway in countries around the world.

Support Platform for Renewable Energy Innovation Launched

Irena launches new platform to support renewable energy innovation, quality and collaboration via world's largest collection of global renewable energy standards, patents.

Policy makers and other energy sector players can now access the world’s largest collection of global renewable energy standards and patents thanks to a new online platform launched earlier this month by the International Renewable Energy Agency (Irena).