December 2013: At the sixth meeting of the Council to the International Renewable Energy Agency (IRENA), delegates debated IRENA’s 2014-2015 Work Programme, which includes initiatives to address key challenges to renewable deployment such as costs, grid infrastructure and improving understandings of global renewable energy potential.

The Work Programme is to be adopted at the upcoming Fourth meeting of the IRENA Assembly, which is IRENA’s supreme decision-making body. The Assembly will convene from 18-19 January 2014, in Abu Dhabi, UAE.

At the Council meeting, which took place on 10-11 December 2014, in Abu Dhabi, UAE, IRENA launched the “IRENA Costs” web portal, which offers renewable energy cost analysis aimed at combating outdated and inaccurate perceptions of the competitiveness of renewables. The site offers publications and presentations, and presents the IRENA Renewable Costing Alliance. Furthermore, the Council meeting saw the launch of a working paper titled ‘Smart Grids & Renewables: A Guide for Effective Deployment,’ which offers guidance to, and a set of strategies for, regulators, utilities and policy-makers on ramping up the deployment of smart grids to enable more uptake of renewables.

IRENA’s membership currently stands at 123 full Members, with 44 States in accession, for a total of 167 participating countries. [IRENA Council Meeting Press Release] [IRENA Costs Press Release][IRENA Costs Website] [IISD RS Information on Fourth IRENA Assembly meeting] [IISD RS Story on IRENA Smart Grids working paper]