Climate Action 2011-2012

Climate policy, Governance & Finance
Renewable energy
© P123
Alternative energies like wave power are now being explored.
Realising the promise
of renewable energy
22 climateactionprogramme.org
By Adnan Z. Amin, Director-General, International
Agency for Renewable Energy (IRENA)
By embracing renewable energies the world can produce
the power it needs to develop sustainably. It can assist
developing countries, lift isolated communities out of
poverty, create jobs and tackle the problems of energy
security, climate change and energy access. Current
technologies are rapidly advancing, new innovations
are in the pipeline, investment is growing and uptake is
increasing. Yet the world is still only slowly recognising
the full potential of renewable energy. The author asks
why and suggests what must be done.
These are exciting times for renewable energy. Investment
in the clean energy industry is growing faster than ever
before. Developing countries are increasingly viewing
renewable energy as a means to raise their standards of
living and meet their fast-growing energy needs. At the
same time, many developed countries are realising the
potential of the green economy to assist their economic
situation, while improving their environmental position.
Harnessing these opportunities and placing the world on the
path to sustainable, clean energy is a key challenge for the
International Agency for Renewable Energy (IRENA).
Untapped potential
Each renewable energy industry is at a different stage of
development in terms of market, technology and efficiency
of energy production. Recognised and mature industries
include onshore wind energy, hydropower and geothermal.
The solar energy industry is well established in some markets
but the recent advancements in efficient and cost effective
technology are opening up new possibilities. Bioenergy is
another industry that has long had a strong presence. The
development of second and third generation bioenergy
sources is reducing the food vs fuel concerns and creating
the potential for wider utilisation. Recent developments
have also been announced in relation to marine renewables,
with tidal and wave projects moving closer to becoming
commercial realities.
Each renewable energy industry is
at a different stage of development
in terms of market, technology and
efficiency of energy production.
As well as these commonly recognised technologies,
there are numerous ideas under development for new
and more efficient technology. Scientists at Penn State
University are developing ‘microbial fuel cells’ that promise
to harness electricity generated by bacteria. A joint venture
between Abu Dhabi’s leading future energy company,
Masdar, and SENER, the leading Spanish engineering and
technology group, has developed and built a project known