Worldwide – and that includes much of the emerging economies – there is a widespread conviction that regardless of any controversy on climate change or “peak oil”, it is vitally important to boost all forms of sustainable energy as much as possible.
To achieve this on a global scale, three years ago the International Renewable Energy Agency (IRENA) was founded in Germany. If you have not heard much of IRENA so far, there is a reason: the organization got off to a rocky start, complete with a financial and managerial crisis.
However, under the leadership of its new Director-General, the dynamic Kenyan lawyer Adnan Amin, IRENA has quickly recovered in recent times. It is increasingly becoming recognized in international forums as the major international voice for renewable energy policy and is launching major new initiatives, such as the Global Wind and Solar Atlas.
Still, one may wonder whether we really need another international energy organization in an already crowded policy field. I had an elaborate exchange of views with Adnan Amin in London – with some surprising results. It turns out Amin is a man who very much has his eyes on the ball: he is highly ambitious about spreading the renewable energy gospel, but at the same time highly pragmatic – and impatient to get real results.
You can read the interview by clicking here.