International Renewable Energy Agency
The International Renewable Energy Agency (IRENA) is an intergovernmental organisation that supports countries in their transition to a sustainable energy future, and serves as the principal platform for international cooperation, a centre of excellence, and a repository of policy, technology, resource and financial knowledge on renewable energy. IRENA promotes the widespread adoption and sustainable use of all forms of renewable energy in the pursuit of sustainable development, energy access, energy security and related economic growth and prosperity. IRENA encourages governments to adopt enabling policies for renewable energy investments, provides practical tools and policy advice to accelerate renewable energy deployment, and facilitates knowledge sharing and technology transfer to provide clean, sustainable energy for the world's growing population. With more than 170 Member States actively engaged, IRENA promotes renewable resources and technologies as the key to a sustainable future and helps countries achieve their renewable energy potential.
EREF is a founding member of IRENA's multi-stakeholder Coalition for Action, which was established in January 2014. Today, the Coalition brings together over 80 leading renewable energy players including private sector companies, industry associations, civil society, research institutes and intergovernmental organisations. The Coalitions activities are facilitated by working groups with an annual mandate — in 2018, there is a Business and Investors Working Group with a Community Energy sub-Group, a Communications and Outreach Working Group and a Towards 100% Renewable Energy Working Group, which is chaired by EREF's Vice President Rainer Hinrichs-Rahlwes.