November 2014: The Renewable Energy Policy Network for the 21st Century (REN21) has published its 2014 Annual Report, which describes highlights from the year and notes that a decade has passed since the meeting of the first international conference dedicated exclusively to renewable energy, whose steering committee evolved into REN21.
In November 2014, REN21 celebrated its 10th anniversary by hosting the first REN21 Renewables Academy, where participants agreed that renewables were a viable energy source and discussed how to advance a global renewables transition. Going forward, the REN21 Renewables Academy will convene every two years, bringing together REN21’s network to collectively examine emerging issues.
2014 also saw: the release of the REN21 Renewables 2014 Global Status Report (GSR), which showcased new developments, particularly the increase in renewable energy targets and policies in developing countries; the presentation of the Mini-grid Policy Toolkit, which outlines necessary elements to successfully scale-up mini-grids; the release of the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) Renewable Energy and Energy Efficiency Status Report; and the publication of a 10-year retrospective on the evolution of renewable energy uptake, ‘The First Decade: 2004-2014,’ which details the growth of the sector, as well as its untapped potential.
Over the course of 2014, REN21 also expanded its networks and outreach efforts, and cooperation with other organizations. For example, REN21: became a member of the Clean Technology Center and Network (CTCN); continued its collaboration with the UN Environment Programme (UNEP) on the ‘Clean Energy Voyage’; agreed to cooperate with the UN Industrial Organization (UNIDO) on publications for UNIDO renewable energy and energy efficiency regional centers; and collaborated with the International Renewable Energy Agency (IRENA) on data collection, macroeconomic impacts of renewable energy deployment and “debunking myths about renewables.” REN21 is also helping to prepare the 2015 edition of the Sustainable Energy 4 All (SE4ALL) Tracking Framework.
Looking ahead, REN21 will be organizing the South Africa International Renewable Energy Conference in October 2015 in Cape Town, South Africa, to enable Africa to showcase its “nascent yet promising renewable energy industry” and learn from those countries at the “forefront of renewable energy deployment.” REN21 is producing, with UNIDO and the Southern African Development Community (SADC), a renewable energy status report for the SADC region. REN21 is also expected to expand its regional report series to cover Central and Eastern Europe and East Africa. The Renewables 2015 GSR will look at renewables and climate change in the lead up to the UN Climate Change Conference in Paris, France, in December 2015.
REN21 is a global multi-stakeholder network with the objective of advancing the transition to renewables. [Publication: REN21 Annual Report 2014] [IISD RS Story on The First Decade Report] [IISD RS Story on ECOWAS Status Report] [IISD RS Story on Mini-Grid Toolkit] [IISD RS Story on Global Status Report]