WWEA congratulates those governments that have signed the IRENA founding documents and offers full cooperation and support

Bonn (WWEA) – Representatives from 125 governments and numerous non-governmental organisations met in Bonn yesterday for the founding conference of the International Renewable Energy Agency IRENA. 75 Governments signed the statute of IRENA during the ceremony, which was concluded by a standing ovation of the attending delegates. Several additional governments indicated before and during the conference that they will join IRENA in the near future.

According to the IRENA statute, it is the objective of the agency that it “shall promote the widespread and increased adoption and the sustainable use of all forms of renewable energy”. IRENA will be a “centre of excellence for renewable energy technology” and will offer “support on all matters relating to renewable energy”.

WWEA has supported the initiative for the creation of IRENA, which was started by the German Parlamentarian Dr. Herman Scheer, since many years. Now, as the establishment process has begun, WWEA offers its full support to the operations of the agency. Stefan Gsänger, Secretary General of WWEA: “IRENA will be a primary tool for the accelerated deployment of renewable energy on the global scale by bringing together the leading international experts from all over the world, covering all renewable energy sectors. As a government agency, IRENA will have a high degree of authority. This will be important for international decision-making processes and it will change the still widely-spread underestimation of the potentials, benefits and actual contributions of renewable energy.As WWEA, we will be more than happy to provide our assistance for the buildup of IRENA in order to achieve as soon as possible the necessary vigor which IRENA will need to become fully effective. WWEA comprises practical expertise from all over the world on how to implement wind energy – this is done every day by our members from currently 90 countries. We will make sure that this broad expertise will be made available for IRENA.”