SEI and IRENA form partnership on renewable energy work

SEI and the International Renewable Energy Agency (IRENA) signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) on 11 May, formalizing a collaboration on areas such as energy modelling, policy analysis, finance for renewable energy and research and training.

Based in United Arab Emirates, IRENA includes 167 country members, plus the European Union. It supports countries in their energy transitions and provides data and analyses on technology, innovation, policy, finance and investment.

As recent examples of this collaboration, SEI and IRENA have provided mutual input on energy-related publications, including reports on solar and wind energy in Colombia and bringing renewable energy targets in line with Paris Agreement goals.

Members from the two organizations have also participated in each other’s events, such as IRENA’s global assembly in January and SEI’s renewable energy finance workshop in Zambia last fall.

The MoU solidifies the new partnership, which will include work on energy modelling training, finance for renewable energy projects in developing countries, local benefits from renewable energy transitions and more. Possible initiatives include joint work on an updated renewable energy policy database, collaboration on SEI’s flagship energy modelling tool LEAP, and bringing renewable energy approaches to energy-intensive industries through LeadIT. SEI and IRENA also plan to co-host a renewable energy workshop in Accra, Ghana this fall.

“This partnership with IRENA solidifies our belief that we are stronger when we work together with like-minded organizations toward a more resilient energy system,” said Måns Nilsson, executive director of SEI. “Through our shared expertise and dedication, we are determined to power sustainable development with lasting renewable energy solutions.”