Affordable and Clean Energy

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Renewable energy in Africa: an opportunity in a time of crisis
(WoMin African Alliance ; 350Africa.org, 2020)
The report aims to give activists in ten African countries (Botswana, Democratic Republic of Congo, Egypt, Ghana, Côte d’Ivoire (Ivory Coast), Kenya, Nigeria, Senegal, South Africa, and Uganda) an overview of the renewable energy situation in their country, with a view to identifying leverage points to increase the sustainable uptake of renewable energy in those countries. The University of Cape Town’s Energy Research Centre conducted the research, commissioned by 350Africa.org and WoMin. This report also includes case studies and commentary from the commissioning organisations.
Energy technology perspectives 2023
(International Energy Agency (IEA), 2023)
The Covid-19 pandemic and Russia’s invasion of Ukraine have led to major disruptions to global energy and technology supply chains. Soaring prices for energy and materials, and shortages of critical minerals, semiconductors and other components are posing potential roadblocks for the energy transition. Against this backdrop, Energy Technology Perspectives 2023 (ETP-2023) provides analysis on the risks and opportunities surrounding the development and scaling up of clean energy and technology supply chains in the years ahead, viewed through the lenses of energy security, resilience and sustainability. Building on the latest energy, commodity and technology data – as well as recent energy, climate and industrial policy announcements – ETP-2023 explores critical questions around clean energy and technology supply chains. What are the main bottlenecks for efforts to scale up those supply chains sustainably and at the pace needed? How might governments shape their industrial policy in response to new energy security concerns for clean energy transitions? Which clean technology areas are at greatest risk of failing to develop secure and resilient supply chains? And what can governments do to mitigate such risks while meeting broader development goals? The Energy Technology Perspectives series is the IEA’s flagship technology publication, which has been key source of insights on all matters relating to energy technology since 2006. ETP-2023 will be an indispensable guidebook for decision-makers in governments and industry seeking to tap into the opportunities offered by the emerging new energy economy, while navigating uncertainties and safeguarding energy security.
Renewables readiness assessment: Solomon Islands
(International Renewable Energy Agency (IRENA), 2024) Soakai, Apisake; Gonelevu Rakai, Arieta
This renewables readiness assessment (RRA) for the Solomon Islands has been developed in collaboration with the Ministry of Mines, Energy and Rural Electrification through the SIDS Lighthouses Initiative. It identifies several drivers to accelerate the deployment of renewables and ramp up energy transition efforts in the country. These include strengthening energy security through increased investment in renewables, enabling policy and regulatory frameworks such as subsidies, tax credits, renewable energy standards to encourage private sector participation, job creation in installation, maintenance and research, strengthening energy independence, garnering community and public support and affordable and stable energy prices. The assessment also examines existing enabling frameworks for renewable energy deployment, and provides an overview of the renewable energy financing landscape, including international, regional and national financial instruments and programmes to promote renewable energy investments. The report outlines seven priority strategic areas for development: institutional restructuring of the electricity grid to foster market competition; developing and enforcing renewable energy standards for resilient off-grid renewable energy; creating innovative funding mechanisms; developing markets for electric mobility and innovative solutions for the maritime and aviation sectors; facilitating renewable energy implementation in key sectors such as health, agriculture, food, water, education, tourism, fisheries and forestry; promoting energy efficiency and energy conservation measures; and fostering partnerships and strategic engagements.
2022 year in review: climate-driven global renewable energy potential resources and energy demand
(International Renewable Energy Agency (IRENA) ' World Meteorological Organization (WMO), 2023)
This joint IRENA-WMO report explores intricate links between renewable energy resources, and weather and climate conditions, highlighting how climate variability affects renewable resource potential. By offering a nuanced understanding of climate impacts on wind, solar and hydropower capacities, the report reveals noticeable changes in selected energy indicators that vary both by technology and country, marking the initial step towards a more rigorous evaluation of the interplay between climate and renewable energy supply and demand. The report extends an open invitation to policymakers, scientists and stakeholders: to acknowledge and address the nuanced synergy between meteorology and renewable energy. By underscoring the significance of climate variability across the spectrum of renewable energy operations, management, planning and investment, the report encourages stakeholders to actively contribute to a sustainable and resilient energy future. Navigating the dynamic landscape of climate-aware renewable solutions, the WMO-IRENA 2022 Year in Review represents a pivotal guide to informed decision-making for a resilient energy future.
Sustainable bioenergy pathways in Latin America: promoting bioenergy investment and sustainability
(International Renewable Energy Agency (IRENA), 2024)
Latin America, with its favourable climate, land availability and strong agricultural industry, has considerable untapped potential for biomass production. A workshop held in São Paulo in March 2023, featuring public and private sector representatives, explored this potential, focusing on Argentina, Brazil and Colombia. The workshop reviewed successful instances of the assessment and valuation of greenhouse gas reduction using biofuels; identified the need for a robust legal and regulatory framework to ensure stable market conditions and reduce investment risk; and emphasised the importance of regional cooperation to share knowledge and overcome barriers, prejudices and bottlenecks. In order to promote the bioenergy sector in the region, the workshop also recommended implementing a bioenergy market with financial incentives and support for research, technology, and infrastructure, and the subsequent progressive development and diversification of products and markets.
Renewable energy markets: GCC 2023
(International Renewable Energy Agency (IRENA), 2023)
The GCC countries are some of the world’s most significant fossil fuel producers and exporters, and are among the world’s largest per capita emitters of CO2. However, this report shows that renewable energy deployment is growing in the region; albeit the share of renewables in the electricity mix of the GCC region remains negligible, accounting for only 3% of the region’s generation capacity in 2022. Renewable energy deployment also remains highly concentrated in the region, with the UAE accounting for more than 60% of the region’s total renewables capacity and close to 70% of renewable energy investments; yet investments and deployments are expected to accelerate across all GCC states as they implement their renewable energy plans. The energy transition, including renewable energy deployment, presents the region with opportunities for climate change mitigation and adaptation as well as economic diversification. Climate vulnerability is high in the region, reinforcing the importance of urgent climate mitigation and adaptation actions in which renewables play a critical role. The GCC has a solid energy infrastructure that can be leveraged and built on for increased shares of renewables. Domestically, investments in renewables in the GCC are expected to reach new heights in the years to come following COP28. While the region’s past has clearly been shaped by fossil fuels, its future may well be shaped by renewables.
Renewable energy for remote communities: a guidebook for off-grid projects
(International Renewable Energy Agency (IRENA), 2023)
As of 2021, 675 million people worldwide had no access to electricity. In order to achieve the objectives of UN Sustainable Development Goal (SDG) 7, and accelerate efforts to deliver universal access to modern energy across the globe, it is essential to determine the most suitable approaches to connect last mile settlements that are remote from the grid or are unlikely to benefit from grids being extended to their homes. This report provides analysis of nine, sustained off-grid projects providing electricity to remote communities around the globe. It aims to contribute to a greater understanding of viable, replicable delivery models and their success factors. The report finds that community engagement and ownership in such projects is essential to developing and sustaining decentralised renewable energy (DRE) projects for last-mile electricity provision.
Renewables-based electric cooking: climate commitments and finance
(International Renewable Energy Agency (IRENA), 2023)
Globally, around 2.3 billion people lacked access to clean cooking technologies and fuels in 2023. Despite substantial gains over the last decade, universal access to clean cooking may not be achieved by 2030 at the current rate of progress. The continued use of polluting fuels and inefficient cookstoves results in negative environmental, health and human livelihood externalities. Over the coming decades, as outlined in IRENA’s World Energy Transitions Outlook, the world will need to accelerate its shift to renewable cooking solutions. This will involve both cleaner bioenergy solutions (including biogas and bioethanol) and renewables-based electric cooking. Renewables-based electric cooking is essential to achieving the transition to a low-carbon economy, given that greenhouse gas emissions from cooking account for an estimated 2% of global emissions. This report assesses countries’ current access to renewables-based electric cooking in the context of their climate commitments. Only a handful countries assessed have already incorporated electric cooking into their climate commitments, with 22 countries including electric cooking in their Nationally Determined Contributions (NDCs) or Long-term low emission development strategies (LT-LEDS). Commitments toward increasing electric cooking adoption take many forms, with most countries setting qualitative targets towards promoting electric cooking. The report also highlights the importance of finance in supporting the adoption of electric cooking, and provides action plans to scale up electric cooking solutions for different country groups based on their current status.
Socio-economic footprint of the energy transition: Egypt
(International Renewable Energy Agency (IRENA), 2023)
Egypt is home to a population of around 110 million people, with a median age of 23.9 years in 2021. Egypt’s population growth rate and poverty rate, with 32.5% of the population living under the national poverty line in 2018, places significant fiscal and infrastructure burdens on the country’s social services. The country has been at the forefront of renewable energy deployment in Africa, particularly through its large hydro resources, tied to the River Nile. To meet its growing energy needs and contribute to job creation, Egypt has sought to develop several other forms of modern renewable energy, including through solar and wind projects, since the start of the century. Informed by IRENA’s World Energy Transitions Outlook, this report explores the potential socio-economic impacts of the energy transition in Egypt, and shows that a comprehensive and more ambitious energy transition will lead to improved socio-economic outcomes. Over the 2021‑2050 period, under IRENA’s 1.5°C Scenario, GDP is expected to be 5.5% higher than under the Planned Energy Scenario (PES), mainly driven by trade. Moving Egypt’s energy strategy away from fossil fuels towards renewables is expected to have a substantial positive impact, adding USD 63 billion to the country’s GDP in 2050. In addition, by 2050, employment is likely to be 0.3% higher under the 1.5°C Scenario than under the PES. To realise the benefits of the transition, however, Egypt requires a comprehensive and holistic policy framework that not only drives forward the transition of energy systems, but also protects people, livelihoods and jobs. Supportive policies tailored to the country’s socio-economic circumstances and challenges should therefore be delivered in tandem with the energy transition.
Green hydrogen for sustainable industrial development: a policy toolkit for developing countries
(International Renewable Energy Agency (IRENA) ; United Nations Industrial Development Organization (UNIDO) ; German Institute of Development and Sustainability (IDOS)., 2023)
Green hydrogen production can create domestic value and jobs, and enhance international competitiveness through local manufacturing of related technologies and infrastructure, greening emission-intensive sectors and attracting foreign direct investment into domestic industries. This report challenges the prevailing narrative that green hydrogen is primarily a product for export from renewable-rich and industry-poor countries; rather, it underscores green hydrogen’s potential as a catalyst for sustainable development within developing countries that can contribute to economic growth, environmental sustainability and social progress. A central theme of the report is the promotion of a just transition approach to green hydrogen development. Emphasising the importance of policy coordination, it introduces a ‘clover approach’ comprising four key elements: prioritising local use of green hydrogen; alignment with national objectives; starting with small- to medium-sized projects; and the phased implementation of green hydrogen production and applications. This approach ensures that green hydrogen production contributes to sustainable development, technological advancement and job creation in developing countries.
Sustainable bioenergy potential in Caribbean small island developing states
(International Renewable Energy Agency (IRENA), 2024)
This IRENA study on sustainable bioenergy in the Caribbean provides a holistic view of the bioenergy potential in six small island developing states in the Caribbean region – Cuba, the Dominican Republic, Haiti, Jamaica, Trinidad and Tobago, and Guyana. The report assesses the potential for using various feedstocks, such as sugarcane, oil palm and municipal solid waste, to produce bioenergy, taking into account the crucial balance between ecological health and socio-economic benefits in these states. The study presents a detailed assessment of the available land for bioenergy crops, estimating around 2.15 million hectares across the six countries. It highlights the opportunities for producing significant quantities of biofuels including ethanol and biodiesel, as well as the feasibility of generating bioelectricity. This is all evaluated within the context of existing technological capabilities and environmental considerations, aiming to provide a sustainable approach to energy needs while acknowledging related challenges and limitations. The report offers a nuanced perspective on the role of bioenergy in the Caribbean’s future energy landscape. It outlines the potential environmental benefits – such as reduced carbon emissions – and economic advantages, like job creation. However, it also recognises the uncertainties and challenges involved in realising this potential, emphasising the need for careful consideration and planning. The findings aim to inform and guide policy-makers and stakeholders in making informed decisions about the region’s energy future.
Off-grid renewable energy statistics 2023
(International Renewable Energy Agency (IRENA), 2023) Akande, Dennis; Ahmed, Iman; Prime, Julian
Off-grid electricity production from renewables, although largely unrecorded in most countries, is believed to be expanding rapidly. By combining information from surveys, administrative data and desk research, the International Renewable Energy Agency (IRENA) has attempted to illuminate major trends in off-grid renewable energy deployment. This publication presents statistics for the period 2013-2022 in trilingual tables, covering off-grid solar, hydro, bioenergy and wind power capacity, biogas production and numbers of people using off-grid power and biogas for cooking and lighting. Off-grid renewable power can come from a variety of sources, ranging from large isolated power grids to solar lights and solar home systems. In addition to households, off-grid renewables provide power for water pumping, street lighting, charging stations, telecommunications towers, rural schools and clinics, as well as for remote commercial and industrial facilities and other uses. The capacity figures presented here do not cover all the off-grid power sources reported in IRENA's annual capacity statistics. They do, however, provide more detail on the end-uses of some types of off-grid renewable power, along with information about the numbers of people using such sources of power.
North Africa: policies and finance for renewable energy deployment
(International Renewable Energy Agency (IRENA), 2023)
North Africa – Algeria, Egypt, Libya, Morocco, Tunisia and Sudan – is the African continent’s largest energy market. The region boasts relatively high rates of socio-economic development, industrialisation and access to modern energy. North Africa possesses significant renewable energy potential for utility-scale solar and wind power, beyond what has already been tapped. It also has decentralised, off-grid solutions set up in remote areas, and large potential markets in countries where access to electricity is limited, notably Libya and Sudan. These factors could make North Africa one of the continent’s most dynamic energy markets in the near future, including for renewable energy. The brief by the International Renewable Energy Agency, highlights North Africa’s large renewable energy potential and explores its current policy environment to support the energy transition and the deployment of renewable energy in the coming years. It provides an overview of the region’s energy sector, including the role played by renewable energy. It also highlights the renewable energy deployment commitments of North African governments in the coming decade as well as those incorporated under energy and climate mitigation plans. The brief outlines the evolving policy landscape for renewable energy in the region, including fiscal and financial incentives; power sector reforms; structured procurement products; and policies for the direct use of renewables in heating, cooling and transport. Focus sections explore green hydrogen and the opportunities for regional power trading. The brief explores investment and finance trends in North Africa and considers policies to prevent the most vulnerable populations from being further marginalised due to the structural transition away from fossil fuels and towards renewables.
International trade and green hydrogen: supporting the global transition to a low-carbon economy
(International Renewable Energy Agency (IRENA) ; World Trade Organization, 2023)
By complementing renewable electrification and contributing to the decarbonisation of heavy industry, shipping, aviation and other key sectors, green hydrogen could play a pivotal role in limiting global temperature rise to 1.5°C. IRENA estimates that hydrogen and its derivatives would satisfy 14% of global final energy demand by 2050 in its World Energy Transitions Outlook 1.5°C Scenario. To achieve this, total hydrogen production must increase more than five-fold from current levels to 2050. The scale-up of green hydrogen as a decarbonisation vector will require massive deployment of renewable power and electrolyser capacity, requiring the development of new supply chains. This will have significant implications for international trade of renewable hydrogen and related commodities, as well as trade in associated equipment and services along the value chain. This publication, jointly produced by the International Renewable Energy Agency (IRENA) and the World Trade Organization (WTO), explores how trade policies can support the development of green hydrogen. It maps trade-related challenges within the hydrogen supply chain, assesses potential global trade scenarios, and provides concise recommendations for policy makers to scale-up green hydrogen-related markets.
Renewables readiness assessment: Burkina Faso
(International Renewable Energy Agency (IRENA), 2023) Fichaux, Nicolas
This renewables readiness assessment (RRA) for Burkina Faso has been developed in collaboration with the Ministry of Energy, Mines and Quarries. It identifies several drivers for the country to accelerate its energy transition. These include securing a sustainable energy supply at affordable and stable prices; increasing the resilience of rural communities through energy access; leveraging its significant renewable energy potential to diversify its economy and create qualified and sustainable jobs; and honouring its international commitments to address climate and health impacts in the energy sector. The assessment also examines existing enabling frameworks for renewable energy deployment, as well as an overview of the renewable energy financing landscape, including international, regional and national financial instruments and programmes to promote renewable energy investments. Key recommendations in the report include the reinforcement of institutional frameworks; development and updating of an integrated resource plan with investment plans for grid capacity and electricity storage; development of business models for rural electrification; strengthening of financing capacities, and insurance and tax ecosystems; operationalisation of rooftop solar and net metering; regulation of the solar home systems market; supporting local industries and entrepreneurship; assessment of bioenergy potential; and review of hydropower potential.
Water for hydrogen production
(International Renewable Energy Agency (IRENA), 2023)
With clean hydrogen emerging as a key component in reducing emissions in "hard-to-abate" sectors like steel-making and the chemical industry, a better understanding of its water footprint is becoming increasingly important – particularly in water-stressed regions of the world. This report, co-authored by IRENA and Bluerisk, offers a groundbreaking analysis of the water implications of the global hydrogen industry. The report provides an in-depth analysis of water withdrawal and consumption intensities across various hydrogen production pathways, with green hydrogen emerging as the most water-efficient clean hydrogen production technology. The findings are based on extensive interviews with industry experts and thorough literature reviews. The report also explores the projected increase in global hydrogen production and its implications for freshwater withdrawal, emphasising the importance of integrating water considerations into energy planning. In particular, the report emphasises the need for careful consideration of water use in hydrogen production in areas facing water scarcity, to ensure sustainable and resilient energy and water sector development. By offering tailored recommendations, the report aims to guide policymakers and industry towards more water-efficient practices, ensuring a sustainable balance between meeting energy needs and conserving water resources.
Renewable energy targets in small island developing states
(International Renewable Energy Agency (IRENA), 2022) Rana, Faran; Abdullah Abou Ali
Climate change, combined with recent geopolitical developments, has sent shockwaves throughout the global economy, magnifying concerns around energy security, food security and weather-related disasters. Small island developing states (SIDS), which are amongst the lowest emitters worldwide, are most at risk from these potential threats. However, they are increasingly employing ambitious plans to deploy renewable energy in order to secure its multiple benefits. This technical paper presents a quantification of SIDS’ renewable energy targets, both in their national energy plans and in their NDCs, comparing commitments made within their national policies and plans with those that extend to the Paris Agreement framework. The conditionality of commitments is explored, where applicable highlighting the urgent need to mobilise international support to SIDS in the form of financing, technology transfer and technical assistance, to help meet their renewable energy commitments.
Potential limitations of marginal pricing for a power system based on renewables
(International Renewable Energy Agency (IRENA), 2022) Garcia-Casals, Xavier; Bianco, Emanuele
Marginal pricing wholesale power markets could produce significant barriers for the energy transition, and on their own do not appear to be appropriate organisational structures for renewables-based power systems. Besides the well-known cannibalisation and merit order effects (depressing renewable generator revenues as the transition advances), under a marginal pricing-based power system organisational structure, the high difference in marginal costs of the technologies needed to operate a renewables-based power system (bulk renewable generation and flexibility) may lead to socio-political instabilities such as those experienced during 2022 as a consequence of high natural gas prices. A way to prevent the misalignments and transition barriers explored in this Technical paper is to change the power system organisational structure in such a way that it honours the different techno-economic characteristics of both bulk renewable electricity generation and flexibility. IRENA’s dual procurement proposal is an example of such an organisational structure. Marginal pricing can still play a role but with its scope limited to the procurement of flexibility.
Critical materials for the energy transition: rare earth elements
(International Renewable Energy Agency (IRENA), 2022)
The technical paper on Critical Materials for the Energy Transition emphasises that an accelerated energy transition requires a growing supply of critical materials, with Chapter 7 of the IRENA’s World Energy Transition Outlook 2022 further elaborating on these materials. IRENA continues to publish technical papers on groups of critical materials: the first one focuses on lithium and this second paper focuses on rare earth elements. The rare earths are a group of 17 chemical elements, several of which are critical for the energy transition. While conventional energy also relies on rare earths, the mix of energy-relevant rare earths that are needed going forward differs from the past. This technical paper examines demand and market growth projections for electric vehicles and wind turbines and explores the efficiency of rare earths’ use. It pays special attention to patent activity in magnets around the world. On the supply side, it explores: the outlook for the mining and processing of rare earths; current costs and their implications; and approaches to enhance the security of rare earth elements supply. The paper also delves deeper into the opportunities that innovation can play in reducing dependency on rare earths and discusses related policy implications.
Tripling renewable power and doubling energy efficiency by 2030: crucial steps towards 1.5°C
(International Renewable Energy Agency ; COP28 ; Global Renewables Alliance (GRA), 2023)
The global energy transition requires a significant reduction in carbon emissions across the entire energy industry, as well as in end-use sectors. Leveraging low-cost solar PV, onshore and offshore wind, and other renewable electricity generation sources, the power sector must lead the way as solutions in other sectors scale up. Accelerating the progress of the transition worldwide requires a holistic approach, backed by systemic innovation to transform existing structures and systems built for the fossil fuel era. Whilst the phase down of fossil fuels is both essential and inevitable, it must also be responsible. The transition needs to be delivered in a way that ensures energy security, accessibility and affordability, while also sustaining socio-economic development and adopting nature-positive approaches. The speed at which the transition is achieved will be determined by how quickly zero-carbon alternatives can be introduced and scaled up. Greater ambition and stronger collective action are immediately required to accelerate progress, particularly in renewable energy and energy efficiency. Against this backdrop, policy makers, energy authorities, industry and civil society have an opportunity to align at COP28 to agree global targets to triple renewable power generation capacity and double the energy efficiency improvement rate by 2030. These goals represent some of the most important levers for change to advance the energy transition this decade. This report consolidates high-level analysis of these targets, detailing existing shortfalls and identifying key enablers to resolve them. It represents global perspectives within the renewable energy and climate change space, with the COP28 Presidency, the International Renewable Energy Agency (IRENA) and the Global Renewables Alliance (GRA) uniting to provide concrete recommendations on the means to meet these renewable power and energy efficiency targets. The solutions presented are technologically mature, cost-competitive and commercially available, and can be scaled up rapidly in most countries around the world; indeed, utility-scale solar PV and onshore wind are already the most cost-competitive sources of new electricity supply in most countries today (IRENA, 2023b). Accelerating progress in renewable energy deployment and energy efficiency improvement measures this decade would contribute to a cleaner energy system, improve energy security and reduce exposure – both in industry and for consumers – to the damaging risks of highly volatile fossil fuel prices. It would also improve air quality and reduce health costs; deliver universal access to clean affordable energy; and provide greater collective security and well-being. With the right policies in place, the global energy transition will also bring extensive socio-economic benefits, including in the form of job creation and income generation.

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