International Renewable Energy Agency (IRENA)

The International Renewable Energy Agency (IRENA) promotes the widespread and increased adoption and the sustainable use of all forms of renewable energy. This includes energy produced from renewable sources in a sustainable manner, such as bioenergy, geothermal energy, hydropower, ocean, solar and wind energy.

IRENA was founded 2009 in Bonn, Germany, by 75 states, and as of September 2012, IRENA participants include 158 states and the European Union (EU). Many of the organisation’s members rely on traditional biomass to satisfy their basic needs, while others have decades of experience in renewable energy generation and technologies. Some members are oil-producing countries, while others are small island states, entirely dependent on fossil fuel imports for their energy supply. IRENA believes that this diverse membership provides a wealth of experience, resources and specialist knowledge.