The International Renewable Energy Agency (IRENA) has concluded its 16th Assembly in Abu Dhabi, cementing its role as the central hub for global efforts to triple renewable energy capacity by 2030.
Founded in 2009 and now with 171 member states, the agency provides critical data, policy advice, and financial expertise to support a worldwide sustainable energy transition.
The Assembly, held under the theme “Powering Humanity: Renewable Energy for Shared Prosperity,” conducted a detailed examination of key accelerants for the energy transition, including artificial intelligence, finance, and grid modernization.
These discussions form part of IRENA’s core mandate to advance actionable dialogue in policy, finance, and innovation for an inclusive shift to renewables.
Betty Soto, Deputy Minister of Innovation and Energy Transition of the Dominican Republic and representative of the incoming Presidency, emphasized the critical link between the energy transition and issues of vulnerability and equity, particularly for Small Island Developing States (SIDS).
“For Small Island Developing States, the energy transition is inseparable from resilience, justice, and the right to a secure future,” Soto stated.
IRENA has solidified its legacy as a foremost driver of the global renewables agenda through its authoritative data, analysis, and expertise on the complex issues surrounding a just transition.
This role is enabled by its flagship annual publications, such as Renewable Capacity Statistics and the Renewable Energy and Jobs: Annual Review, which track global progress.
The agency reported record-breaking global renewable capacity additions, with 582 GW added in 2024, the highest annual increase ever, marking a 19.8% rise from 2023.
IRENA has also been designated as the official custodian agency for monitoring global progress toward the tripling target annually through 2030.
Outgoing Assembly President Bojan Kumer, Slovenia’s Minister for the Environment, Climate and Energy, praised IRENA’s consistent leadership.
“At a time of uncertainty, IRENA stands as a clear and trusted voice for global cooperation on renewable energy technologies,” Kumer said.
The agency’s analytical work provided the foundation for the landmark COP28 UAE Consensus in 2023, where nearly 200 nations agreed to triple global renewable power capacity to over 11 terawatts and double the rate of energy efficiency improvements by 2030. These targets align directly with IRENA’s 1.5°C Scenario outlined in its World Energy Transitions Outlook reports.
In his closing remarks, IRENA Director-General Francesco La Camera set a bold tone, highlighting the economic and security imperative of the energy transition amid global challenges.
“It’s time to ignite a global push and positive vision for the energy transition,” La Camera declared.
He noted that, according to IRENA data, global renewable capacity has surged to 4,443 GW, representing a 143% increase since 2014, and supporting 16.6 million jobs worldwide in 2024, despite a slight slowdown in the job growth rate amid record installations.
La Camera emphasized that renewables now outperform fossil fuels in terms of cost, resilience, and stability, framing the shift toward decentralized clean energy systems as an irreversible economic imperative for global security and growth.
