REN21 is a multistakeholder policy network focused exclusively on renewable energy. It was founded in 2004 at the International Conference for Renewable Energies in Bonn, Germany. REN21 aims to enable a rapid global transition to renewable energy to meet the needs of both industrialized and developing countries in addressing climate change, energy security, development, and poverty alleviation. REN21 derives its legitimacy from its mandate and ability to convene and engage key leaders and stakeholders to provide authoritative information on renewable energy policies, markets, and industry trends through publications like its annual Renewables Global Status Report.

1. 15.12.15 1Virginia Sonntag O‘Brien
REN21
Virginia Sonntag-O‘Brien
Executive Secretary
RETECH 2010
Washington, D.C.
Feburary 4, 2010

2. 15.12.15 2Virginia Sonntag O‘Brien
REN21
REN21 convenes international multistakeholder leaders with
the aim to enable a rapid global transition to renewable
energy. REN21 promotes renewable energy to meet the
needs of both industrialised and developing countries that
are driven by climate change, energy security, development
and poverty alleviation.
Founded in the Political Declaration of the International
Conference for Renewable Energies, renewables 2004,
in Bonn, Germany, June 2004.
www.ren21.net

3. 15.12.15 3Virginia Sonntag O‘Brien
Legitimacy, Accountability, and Relevance
• REN21 is the only independent, multistakeholder policy
network focusing exclusively on renewable energy. Its
multistakeholder nature gives credibility to both its message,
as well as its function as messenger.
• REN21 derives its legitimacy from its mandate and power to
convene and engage key leaders and stakeholders to
provide authority on renewable energy.

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REN21 Renewables Global Status
Report
• Has become industry standard
• Product of an international team of over 150
recognised researchers, contributors and
reviewers from around the world
• Includes global market overview, investment flows,
industry trends, policy landscape, rural (off-grid)
renewable energy
• Release of next edition scheduled for June 2010

5. 5
Annual Clean Energy Investment Growth 2004-2009 ($bn)
[v10.01]
Source: New Energy Finance
Note: Includes 4 quarter running average. Financial sector investment only (i.e. excludes corporate and government R&D,
and residential scale projects). Not adjusted for re-invested equity. Total values include estimates for undisclosed deals.
36
62
98
148
155
145
2004 2005 2006 2007 2008 2009
Growth: 70% 58% 52% 5% -6%
S/RP, corp RD&D, gov R&D
Financial investment

6. REN21 launched Renewables Interactive Map
The Map provides
disaggregated data on
• support policies
• expansion targets
• current shares
• installed capacities
• current production
• future scenarios
• policy pledges
for different renewable
energy technologies
worldwide
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www.ren21.net/map

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International Renewable Energy
Conferences (IREC)
•June 2004, Germany hosted the
International Conference for Renewable Energies Bonn 2004, as announced
by Chancellor Gerhard Schröder at the World Summit on Sustainable
Development in Johannesburg in September 2002
•November 2005, the Beijing International Renewable Energy Conference 2005
(BIREC) was held at the Great Hall of the People in Beijing
•The Washington International Renewable Energy Conference (WIREC) was
held from 4-6 March 2008 in Washington, D.C.
• The Delhi International Renewable Energy Conference will be held in
October 2010 (DIREC2010), hosted by Indian Government, with a focus on
energy access and rural electrification

8. International RE Action Programme
• Governments and stakeholders worldwide are
taking voluntary actions to advance and benefit
from renewable energy
• Today, REN21 maintains a
database of all pledges (350) that were submitted
at both the Bonn and Washington conferences
and is soliciting pledges independent of the
IRECs.
15.12.15 8Virginia Sonntag O‘Brien

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International Renewable Energy Agency (IRENA)
• Established in Bonn on 26th January 2009; now to date, 141
governments and the European Union have signed the Statute
• Headquarters in Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates, with Technology
Innovation Center in Bonn and Liaison Office in Vienna
• Aims to provide RE policy advice and support to both industralised
and developing countries
• 2010 work plan: establish itself as the global base for renewable
energy knowledge, build a network of international experts, provide
advice to its Members on successful policies and financial schemes
to promote renewables

10. 15.12.15 10Virginia Sonntag O‘Brien
virginia.sonntagob@ren21.org