IRENA and the challenge for Renewable Energy
I have just returned from the 4 th General Assembly of the International Renewable Energies Agency (IRENA) based in Abu Dhabi. It is the youngest intergovernmental body with now 124 countries as full members and 43 states in accession. At this Assembly China joined IRENA and attended with a large delegation. China brings substantive weight to IRENA due to being the largest producer of solar energy, the largest installed wind power capacity in the world, they also have something like 20% ethanol in the total automotive fuel consumption not to mention that hydropower also is providing over 210 GW. China is also the largest producer of CO2 now more than the next two countries combined (USA and India). It is hoping to reduce its production from 70% to closer to 30-50% by 2015. This will require even more investment in renewables and therefore being a strong member of IRENA they hope will help in identifying the best ideas around in the area of renewables. IRENA had a good...