Summary report, 6–7 September 2012

The International Renewable Energy Agency (IRENA) Renewables and Islands Global Summit took place from Thursday, 6 to Friday, 7 September 2012 in Malta. More than 130 representatives from IRENA member states, including ministers from 14 states and participants from international organizations and the private sector participated in the Summit.

The two-day Summit featured panel presentations and general discussions on: the implications of the Rio+20 Outcome Document for island sustainable development and renewable energy; island energy trends and strategies; strategic partnerships; and enabling frameworks for investment. A session on best practices and challenges provided the opportunity for participants to share case-study experiences from different regions.

On the final day, participants discussed and adopted the Malta Communiqué on accelerating renewable energy uptake for islands, which includes proposed actions for future IRENA assistance to islands.

Most islands around the world are dependent on imported fossil fuels for the majority of their energy needs, especially for transport and electricity generation. For reasons of scale and isolation, energy infrastructure costs are higher on islands, and the impact of oil price and supply volatility has been severe, exacerbated by the small size of local markets.

 IRENA was established to promote the widespread and increased adoption and sustainable use of all forms of renewable energy. Through the provisions of the IRENA statute, adopted on 26 January 2009, and entered into force on 8 July 2010, and the Assembly decisions to date, the Agency has been requested to focus, as one of its priorities, on the accelerated deployment of renewable energy in islands.

A BRIEF HISTORY

SE4ALL: The UN General Assembly (UNGA) has declared 2012 the “International Year of Sustainable Energy for All.” (SE4ALL). In this context, the UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon launched his SE4ALL initiative to identify and mobilize action by stakeholders from across government, business, civil society, academia and the development community.

The SE4ALL Initiative aims to achieve three objectives by 2030: ensuring universal access to modern energy services; doubling the global rate of improvement in energy efficiency; and doubling the share of renewable energy in the global energy mix.

The International Year and the SE4ALL initiative include various activities at different levels, such as: the UN Secretary-General’s High-Level Group; national dialogues to facilitate stakeholder involvement; and policy formulation and evaluation, as well as a public-private partnership of practitioners in the energy community.

To date, many island nations have committed to the SE4ALL partnership.

Rio+20 Outcome Document “The future we want: The United Nations Conference on Sustainable Development (UNCSD, or Rio+20) took place on 20-22 June 2012 in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. It marked the 20th anniversary of the 1992 UN Conference on Environment and Development, which resulted in the adoption of the Rio Declaration on Environment and Development, and Agenda 21 (a 40-chapter programme of action). At UNCSD, representatives of 191 UN member states and observers, including 79 Heads of State or Government, adopted the Outcome Document entitled “The Future We Want.”

The agreement calls for the UNGA, at its next session, to take decisions on, inter alia: designating a body to operationalize the 10-year framework of programmes on sustainable consumption and production; determining the modalities for the third international conference on small island developing states (SIDS), which is to convene in 2014; and constituting a working group to develop global sustainable development goals to be agreed by the UNGA.

The Rio+20 Outcome Document contains five paragraphs on energy, which:

• recognize the critical role that energy plays in the development process, and commits to facilitate support for access to sustainable modern energy services by the 1.4 billion people worldwide currently without them;
• emphasize the need to address the challenge of access to sustainable modern energy services for all;
• reaffirm support for the implementation of national and subnational policies and strategies;
• commit to supporting efforts on electrification and dissemination of sustainable cooking and heating solutions;
• recognize the need for energy efficiency measures in urban planning, buildings and transportation, and in the production of goods and services and product design;
• recognize the importance of promoting incentives favoring, and removing disincentives to, energy efficiency and the diversification of the energy mix; and
• note the SE4All initiative and express determination to make sustainable energy for all a reality, while recognizing that countries set priorities according to their specific challenges, capacities and circumstances, including their energy mix.

REPORT OF THE RENEWABLES AND ISLANDS GLOBAL SUMMIT

OPENING SESSION

On Thursday, 6 September, George Pullicino, Minister for Resources and Rural Affairs, Malta, welcomed participants, noting that island states share a common vision of implementing renewable energy technology amidst limited financial resources and geophysical restrictions. He described Malta’s plans to generate 10% of all consumed energy from alternate sources by 2020, including from solar, offshore wind, biofuels and green energy generated from waste. Pullicino called for island states to lead by example, including by testing renewable energy technology before it is implemented on a larger scale.

Adnan Amin, Director-General, the International Renewable Energy Agency (IRENA), recognized that the energy challenges faced by islands are severe, noting that 34 out of 38 small island development states (SIDS) are net energy importers and that most SIDS spend between 5% and 20% of their GDP on fuel imports. Still, Amin stressed that renewable energy is economically and commercially viable and represents a mechanism for island states to overcome energy challenges within the spirit of Sustainable Energy For All (SE4ALL) initiative, which aims to double the share of renewable energy by 2030. Amin said the Rio+20 Outcome Document, “The Future We Want,” provides an internationally agreed platform to build upon specific actions. He called on participants to develop renewable energy action plans to transform energy systems and ensure a concrete energy outcome at the third international conference on SIDS in 2014.

Renewables and Islands – The Road from Rio

Sustainable Development: the Road from Rio: On Thursday morning, a high-level panel addressed the implications of the Rio+20 Outcome Document on sustainable island development and renewable energy. Panel moderator Elizabeth Thompson, Executive Coordinator, United Nations Conference on Sustainable Development (UNCSD, or Rio+20) encouraged panelists to focus on the challenges, priorities and opportunities for renewable energy in island states and the support needed from IRENA.

Darcy Boyce, Minister for Energy, Prime Minister’s Office, Barbados, presented the challenges faced by his country to reach its 30% renewable energy target by 2029, including the creation of enabling conditions for Barbados’ energy company to scale up commercial production of renewables. He mentioned a recently launched biomass production project as a commercially viable example of a joint venture between the government and the private sector.

Abdul Matheen Mohamed, Minister of State for Environment and Energy, Maldives, highlighted solar and ocean energy as his country’s focus for renewable energy production and the participation of the Maldives in the Scaling-Up Renewable Energy Program for Low Income Countries under the Strategic Climate Fund. He underscored the importance of sharing experiences among countries.

George Pullicino, Minister for Resources and Rural Affairs, Malta, highlighted the need to eliminate subsidies to reflect the real costs of electricity production to promote energy efficiency, and the importance of enabling policy environments among neighboring countries and the private sector to achieve targets on renewables. He stressed the linkages between water and energy efficiency and the importance of technology sharing.

Riddell Akua, Minister for Utilities, Nauru, emphasized the need for financial support to SIDS and the role of meetings such as this Summit in assisting SIDS in devising energy solutions and in facilitating technical advice on the most appropriate renewables.

Rolph Payet, Minister of Environment and Energy, Seychelles, highlighted the linkages between water and energy security and environmental conservation, recalling that high costs of energy experienced by poor people may lead to environmental degradation such as overexploitation of wood fuel. He called for assistance to build country capacity to deal with the opportunistic interests of private energy investors and to regulate energy efficiency.

Kausea Natano, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for Communication and Public Utilities, Tuvalu, highlighted the main energy-related challenges in his country, including: achieving energy efficiency; dependence on external assistance; water desalinization energy costs; territorial fragmentation and competition from other priority sectors.

Adnan Amin, Director-General, IRENA, emphasized IRENA’s demand driven approach to provide practical, technical support in response to the needs expressed by member states. He stressed the potential of private investments for renewable energy and the importance of creating enabling environments for investments, including looking at governance issues in countries.

During the discussion, country delegates asked questions on: fostering enabling conditions when energy utility monopolies exist; defining bankable projects; involving the private sector; inclusiveness of mainland states with islands; and capacity building. One respondent proposed that renewable energy systems be free of import duties to ensure low production costs. Noting the high transaction costs of the Clean Development Mechanism for small islands, a participant recommended support for technical and financial access. Another participant called for strong channels of communication between academia, government and industry to support capacity building in human and social capital. Amin said that capacity building should be a national choice and an endogenous process of developing both capacity and knowledge.

ISLANDS ENERGY TRENDS AND STRATEGIES: On Thursday morning an expert panel moderated by Valerie Browne, Permanent Secretary, Division of Technology and Telecommunications, Office of the Prime Minister, Barbados, discussed island specific energy opportunities and challenges.

Dolf Gielen, IRENA, recognized the role of renewable energy in sustainable island development and said islands can serve as examples for a global energy transition. He said there is a strong economic case to transition to renewable energy, though he noted challenges in some sectors, such as shipping. He identified barriers to renewable energy transitions in islands, including: moving from targets to roadmaps; financing; land ownership; sustainability of capacity building; and rising costs as the share of variable renewable energy rises.

Crispin Gregoire, UN Development Programme (UNDP), said the Caribbean region has a long history in hydropower and that wind, solar and geothermal energy is developing. He described sector specific challenges, including: hurricane risks, high capital costs and difficulty in site identification and acquisition for wind; geological uncertainties and financial difficulties for geothermal; and land acquisition for solar. He called for grant funding, low interest loans and private sector investment to support renewable energy development in SIDS.

Georgina Grenon, International Energy Agency - Renewable Energy Technology Deployment Executive Committee, said remote areas are ideal testing grounds for renewable energy technology. She stressed that public sector involvement remains necessary and recommended, inter alia: developing innovative models to mitigate risk and attract capital; determining appropriate levels of renewables penetration; and prioritizing energy efficiency.

Wendy Hughes, the World Bank, underscored the need to look at the renewable energy issue as part of an overall energy sector approach. She encouraged participants to reflect on: the drivers behind renewable energy in SIDS; whether efforts on securing funds for renewables are matched by the same level of effort for the energy sector as a whole; and whether there is a need for SIDS specific technology and research.

Manfred Weissenbacher, University of Malta, said electricity should not be subsidized and costs should reflect the true cost of generation. He recommended that policy goals include per capita consumption goals.

In the discussion, two delegates sought clarification on rapid assessment activities by IRENA and UNDP, stressing the need for coordination and avoiding duplication of efforts. In other interventions, participants: underscored the need for SIDS specific research and technology; supported the use of both grants and feed-in-tariffs to support uptake and investment in renewable energy; and stressed the need to include capacity building at all stages of project development. Gregoire called for transparent and accountable involvement of the private sector and another mentioned the inability of public utilities in SIDS to provide guarantees for the private sector as a challenge to private investments in renewables.

UNLOCKING THE INVESTMENT CODE

STRATEGIC PARTNERSHIPS FOR RENEWABLE ENERGY IN ISLANDS – IDENTIFYING THE NEEDS AND REQUIREMENTS FOR FINANCING: On Thursday afternoon, a panel discussion addressed strategic partnerhsips for renewable energy in islands and identifying financing needs and requirements.  

Michael Zammit Cutajar, former United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) executive secretary, opened the panel, noting that the challenges of island states also apply to isolated land areas.

José Brito, Cape Verde, shared his country’s experience with setting evolving targets for renewable energy, from 25% to 50% and then from 100% to 300% generation. He said such generation creates potential for agriculture and fishing in Cape Verde although mobilization of financing remains a challenge.

Michel Vandepoorter, Ambassador to Malta, France, described renewable energy policies in French overseas island territories. He said public and private financing, including purchasing tariffs for mature sectors and tenders for less mature sectors, represent factors in France’s renewable energy development. He added the private sector plays a key in role in investment financing.

Merinda-Lee Hassall, Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade, New Zealand, described the risk-related challenge for public-private partnerships and outlined her country’s initiatives in the Pacific region for improving the financial performance of public utilities, including the forthcoming Pacific Energy Summit in April 2013 in New Zealand.

Karsten Sach, Federal Ministry of the Environment, Nature Conservation and Nuclear Safety, Germany, underscored the importance of social learning for renewable energy systems uptake, and highlighted tourism as a promising sector for renewable energy. He called for an IRENA mechanism to follow up on this Summit.

Robert Ichord, Department of State, United States, outlined his country’s approach to supporting renewable energy, highlighting: creating enabling environments in the short and long term; technology partnerships; and leveraging of finance from private investments.

David Payton, UNDP, said the third international meeting on SIDS should address both climate change and renewable energy. He recognized the role of SE4ALL in ensuring accessible, affordable energy for all and drew attention to SIDS DOCK, an initiative to catalyze sustainable energy projects.

Ibrahim Babelli, Saudi Arabia, stressed the importance of understanding specific energy requirements and then devising appropriate solutions, giving examples of how Saudi Arabia addressed particular challenges in solar and wind energy and water desalinization.

ENABLING FRAMEWORKS FOR INVESTMENT: On Thursday afternoon, panel moderator Robert Ichord, United States, introduced the discussion theme for the private sector panel, noting that much works remains to be done on innovative financial models to support small projects in developing countries to reduce the risk for private investors.

Nicolas Buriez, Smart Grids Project, EDF, said diesel-based energy production in the French territories needs to be supported with greater investments, and underscored the need for a technical breakthrough for electricity storage from wind and solar energy sources.

Akira Kobayashi, Hitachi, presented the process and renewable energy related components of the Hitachi Smart City Solutions, emphasizing the involvement of local government and local communities.

Leopold Faye, Vergnet, described the adaptability of wind technology to island situations, illustrating the example of a tiltable wind turbine for cyclone-prone islands. He also stressed that wind energy is profitable.

Alexander Voigt, CEO, Younicos AG, said due diligence should be based on local knowledge and local legal frameworks.

Peter Grima, Enemalta Corporation, recommended that island sustainable energy action plans encourage diversification of energy sources.

During the discussion, one delegate drew attention to competitive finance procedures that create difficulties for small islands to access implementation support. Delegates also questioned support for long-term financing and commented on barriers, including institutional barriers and contracting and technical challenges.

SHOWCASING ISLANDS SOLUTIONS

BEST PRACTICES AND CHALLENGES IN DEPLOYING RENEWABLE ENERGY: On Friday morning, Adnan Amin, Director-General, IRENA, opened the panel on case studies on renewables in islands.

Søren Hermansen, Denmark, showcased Samsø, an island that transitioned from oil dependency to renewable energy including from wind, solar and biomass power. He attributed Samsø’s success to, inter alia: local ownership and commitment; practical action plans based on proven technology and feasible goals; and communication.

Benedikt Höskuldsson, Iceland, described Iceland’s reliance on its place-specific renewable energy resources, noting that its geothermal and hydropower production saves money and improves quality of life. He said the government facilitated risk mitigation for geothermal exploration and drilling, which made investments more attractive for project developers because of lower risks.

David Pérez Méndez-Castrillón and Alpidio Armas Gonzáles, Spain, presented on El Hierro’s wind hydropower project in the Canary Islands, which converts an intermittent fluctuating energy supply into a constant electricity supply. Méndez-Castrillón recognized public-private cooperation as critical in Spain’s renewable energy sector.

José Brito, Cape Verde, illustrated Cape Verde’s prospects in renewable energy development, stressing that over a 20-year time frame, renewables will be economically viable compared to fossil fuel. He shared their experience in developing a capacity building programme for the West Africa region.

In the discussion, one delegate highlighted community involvement and ownership as key to the success of projects. Another suggested the use of carbon credits as a way to finance projects on renewables, and one delegate reflected on the optimal political choice between setting ambitious renewable targets as high as 100%, compared to a progressive shift in order to benefit from future technological development. Moderator Amin highlighted the Clean Energy Solutions Center as a knowledge network for helping governments access relevant information.

Pablo Carvajal, Ecuador, said that the Galapagos’ clear renewable energy goals were based on feasibility studies, and that the National Plan for Good Living, which promotes a transition to renewable energy and energy efficiency, helped demonstrate national commitment that then attracted donors to support renewable energy projects.

Nicolas Buriez, EDF, described smart grid projects in French island territories that focus on domestic customers by placing energy storage boxes in individual households to study consumer behavior and acceptance of new technologies.

Gauri Singh, IRENA, explained IRENA’s Renewables Readiness Assessments (RRA), noting that the process is country-lead and country-owned. An RRA assesses conditions for renewable energy deployment in a country and identifies mechanisms for overcoming identified barriers. It covers all services and sources of renewable energy.

Raymond Nurse, Grenada, shared Grenada’s experience with conducting a RRA and its efforts to transition to renewable energy. He said that monopolistic electricity markets represent a challenge.

Inoke Vala, Tonga, outlined Tonga’s Energy Roadmap, which comprises: an initial phase during which relevant legislations and organizations are reviewed in collaboration with development partners; a second phase for addressing poverty alleviation and reducing dependence on fossil fuels; and a final phase involving the private sector in energy production, as well as other sectors to cut energy costs.

Responding to questions from delegates, Gauri Singh explained that the RRA is a demand driven approach in which the national engagement is critical, that the time frame of an RRA is two to three months and is based on cost-sharing with national and regional entities.

ADVANCING SUSTAINABLE AGENDA IN PARTNERSHIP WITH IRENA

NEW SOLUTIONS FOR ISLANDS: On Friday afternoon, Elizabeth Thompson, Rio+20, moderated the discussion on the draft Malta Communiqué on Accelerating Renewable Energy Uptake for Islands.

Adnan Amin, Director-General, IRENA, said the Communiqué aims to capture the ideas of island states and conclusions from the discussions, and provide IRENA with advice on priority areas and activities for future work programming.

Delegates considered whether to amend the Communiqué, discussing a number of issues, including: recognizing specific challenges of SIDS in the context of sustainable development; noting the challenges of middle-income island states; and referencing the Rio+20 outcome and SIDS DOCK. Delegates ultimately decided not to amend the document.

THE MALTA COMMUNIQUÉ notes that ministers and representatives of island countries and territories gathered in Malta on 6-7 September 2012 to:

• Affirm that renewable sources can provide sustainable energy solutions for many islands and contribute to energy security, economic prosperity and sustainable development;
• Encourage island states to develop actionable roadmaps to a sustainable energy future;
• Recognize IRENA’s unique mandate in promoting and accelerating the deployment of renewable energy globally;
• Affirm their willingness to share information and experiences;

It also calls on IRENA to assist islands by:

• Establishing a Global Renewable Energy Island Network to provide a knowledge pooling and sharing platform;
• Assisting the formulation of business cases for renewables deployment, with the involvement of the private sector;
• Identifying available financing mechanisms and supporting the development of innovative financing models;
• Assessing the suitability of relevant technologies for different island environments and provide advice on technology choices;
• Assessing renewable energy potential, including through RRAs, and assisting in the creation of enabling environment for investment;
• Facilitating capacity building;
• Developing project guidelines to address island-specific topics and methodologies for integrating renewables in sustainable tourism, transport and other industries and services in islands; and
• Advising on renewable energy applications for sustainable water management.

CLOSING SESSION 

In the closing remarks, on Friday afternoon, George Pullicino, Minister for Resources and Rural Affairs, Malta, congratulated delegates on the successful meeting and praised their action-oriented participation and collaborative spirit.

Adnan Amin, Director-General, IRENA, said the meeting reflected IRENA’s approach of encouraging wide participation and thanked island and non-island state participants for their engagement. He noted that the experiences shared during the Summit show that island states can lead the way in transformational change supported by renewable energy. The Summit closed at 5:11 PM.

UPCOMING MEETINGS

Transitions to Low Carbon Energy Systems: Which Pathways to Energy Access for All?: This workshop is being organized by the Low Carbon Energy for Development Network and hosted by the University of Sussex, UK. The aim of the workshop is to identify and discuss priority questions that need to be answered to meet the UN goal of “Sustainable Energy for All”. dates: 10-11 September 2012   location: Brighton (England), United Kingdom   contact: Rob Byrne   phone: +44 1273 873 217 e-mail: r.p.byrne@sussex.ac.uk  www: http://www.ukcds.org.uk/event-Transitions_to_low_carbon_energy_systems__which_pathways_to_energy_access_for_all_-1819.html         

Clean Energy Expo Asia: This Conference and trade fair will bring together representatives from government, industry and finance to address key issues in the areas of renewable energy, energy efficiency and sustainable mobility solutions. dates: 12-14 September 2012   venue: Centara Grand & Bangkok Convention Centre at CentralWorld, 999/99 Rama 1 Road   location: Bangkok (Krung Thep), Thailand   contact: Leslie Chew   phone: +65 6500 6717   fax: +65 6296 2771   e-mail: l.chew@koelnmesse.com.sg www: http://www.koelnmesse.com.sg/shows/ceea/index.php?q=home

High-level Event on Sustainable Energy for All: This high-level event on Sustainable Energy for All (SE4ALL) is organized by the Executive Office of the UN Secretary-General. date: 24 September 2012   venue: UN Headquarters, Conference Room 2 (NLB)   location: New York (New York), United States of America   contact: Jonas von Freiesleben   phone: 212-963-1660   e-mail: freiesleben@un.org www: www.sustainableenergyforall.org

All-Energy Australia 2012 Exhibition and Conference: This Conference will bring together policy makers, industry leaders, technical professionals and academics to discuss all types of clean and renewable energy sources and technologies, including wind energy, biofuels, solar energy, carbon capture and storage and marine energy, as well as energy efficiency and finance and investment opportunities. The Exhibition will showcase the latest clean and renewable energy technologies and products related to electrical vehicles, utility infrastructure, ground source heat pumps, and solar, biomass and wind energy technologies.  dates: 10-11 October 2012   venue: Melbourne Convention and Exhibition Centre (MCEC)   location: Melbourne (Victoria), Australia   contact: David Bebb   phone: +44 20 8450 5086 e-mail: david@mediageneration.co.uk www: http://www.all-energy.com.au/Home.html

Caribbean Renewable Energy Forum 2012 (CREF): This annual event is co-sponsored by the Government of Puerto Rico, the Inter-American Development Bank (IBD), Caribbean Community (CARICOM) and the Organization of America States (OAS), among others. Participants will look at policy and regulatory issues as well as forces driving finance and investment in renewable energy sources in the Caribbean context and the scope for a regional approach to renewables. Among the topics to be covered are project bankability, distributed generation, regional interconnection, the technological landscape, waste-to-energy and combining renewable energy with energy efficiency in Caribbean buildings.  dates: 15-17 October 2012   venue: Ritz-Carlton   location: San Juan (Puerto Rico), Puerto Rico   contact: Matthew Perks   phone: +1 845 440 7800   e-mail: mperks@caribbeanenergyforum.com www: http://www.caribbeanenergyforum.com/

Fourth Annual Renewable Energy Technology Conference and Exhibition: This conference will bring together over 3000 government, industry, finance and technology professionals to discuss policy, business and technology aspects of renewable energy. The pre-conference workshops on 15-16 October will include in-depth sessions on, inter alia, government contracting, community energy finance, and renewable energy and green jobs. The conference itself, to be held on 17-19 October, is divided in four tracks: national defense and security; power generation and infrastructure; transportation; and renewable energy technology.  dates: 15-19 October 2012   venue: Omni Shoreham, 2500 Calvert St NW   location: Washington (District of Columbia), United States of America   contact: Kim Arellano   phone: +1 713 343 1879   e-mail: KimA@tradefairgroup.com www: http://www.retech2012.com/

Fourth International Conference on Ocean Energy: This conference will bring together over 750 leaders from industry and academics to share experiences from research and demonstration efforts on the industrial development of renewable marine energy. Keynote speakers include: Fergus Ewing, Minister for Energy, Enterprise and Industry, Scottish Government; Arlene Foster, Minister of Enterprise, Trade and Investment, Northern Ireland Executive; Pat Rabbitte, Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources, Irish Government; and Xia Dengwen, State Oceanographic Administration, China. dates: 17-19 October 2012   venue: Convention Centre, Spencer Dock, North Wall Quay   location: Dublin (Dublin), Ireland   contact: Sarah Collins   phone: +353 1 296 8688   fax: +353 1 296 8678   e-mail: icoe2012programme@conferencepartners.ie  www: http://www.icoe2012dublin.com

Second Conference on Climate Change and Development in Africa: The second Climate Change and Development in Africa conference of the Climate for Development in Africa provides a forum for dialogue and engagement with various stakeholders involved in climate and development in Africa. It will be convened under the theme “Climate and Development in Africa: Advancing knowledge, policy and practice.” dates: 19-20 October 2012   location: Addis Ababa (Adis Abeba), Ethiopia   contact: African Climate Policy Center   phone: +251-11-544-4069   fax: +251-11-551-4416   e-mail: CCDA@uneca.org www: http://new.uneca.org/ccda2/home_ccda2.aspx

African Sustainable Energy Finance Summer Academy: The Sustainable Energy Finance Academy, being held within the new framework of the Frankfurt School – UNEP Collaborating Centre for Climate and Sustainable Energy Finance, will provide a comprehensive framework on renewable energy and energy efficiency financing in Nairobi, Kenya, with a special emphasis on renewable energy in Africa. dates: 21-26 October 2012   location: Nairobi (Nairobi Area), Kenya   contact: Summer Academy Team   phone: +49 (069) 154008 - 692   fax: +49 (069) 154008-4692   e-mail: summeracademy@fs.de www: http://www.frankfurt-school.de/content/en/intern_advisory/regional_summer_academies/sustainable_energy_finnce_sum_academy.html

World Energy Forum 2012: The World Energy Forum, which is being held for the first time outside UN Headquarters in New York, seeks to bring together world leaders, international organizations, financial institutions and other stakeholders to discuss progress towards cleaner, safer and more sustainable energy as well as how to achieve universal access to modern energy services. As 2012 has been designated as the International Year of Sustainable Energy for All, one of the main objectives of the Forum is to chart a roadmap for a sustainable energy mix that can fuel global economic and social development.  dates: 22-24 October 2012   location: Dubai (Dubai), United Arab Emirates   contact: World Energy Forum Administration   phone: +1 212 759 3185   fax: +1 646 666 4349   e-mail: administration@wef21.org www: http://www.worldenergyforum2012.org

Windaba 2012: Organized by the South African Wind Energy Association, this conference will address the financing and “bankability” of wind projects, their implementation, current policies and regulations impacting wind projects as well as training, technology and localization of wind power.  dates: 22-24 October 2012   venue: Cape Town International Convention Centre, Convention Square, 1 Lower Long Street, Cape Town, 8001, South Africa   location: Cape Town (Western Cape), South Africa   contact: Cheryl Peters   phone: +27 (0) 21 689 7881   fax: +27 (0) 86 656 3459   e-mail: cheryl@windaba.co.za www: http://www.windaba.co.za/

Singapore International Energy Week 2012: This annual event, organized by the Singapore Energy Market Authority of the Ministry of Trade and Industry, brings together policy makers, energy professionals and business leaders to discuss best practices and solutions for energy-related issues. During the week a range of roundtables, conferences and dialogues will be organized on several topics including: offshore renewable energy; electricity; solar energy; and smart grids. During a a two-day Asia Future Energy Forum specialists will discuss several renewable energy sources under the heading of “Powering Sustainability through Innovations.” dates: 22-25 October 2012   venue: Marina Bay Sands   location: Singapore (Singapore), Singapore   contact: Singapore International Energy Week Secretariat   phone: +65 6835 8000   fax: +65 6835 8020   e-mail: ema_siew@ema.gov.sg www: http://www.siew.sg/

Local Renewables 2012: The fifth Local Renewables Conference is organized by ICLEI – Local Governments for Sustainability, and hosted by the city of Freiburg. It will focus on locally generated renewable energy, smart girds and smart end-users with an emphasis on increased coordination among cities and regions. The Conference will include discussion on: linkages between urban and regional areas; effective planning; financing solutions; and concrete actions.  dates: 25-26 October 2012   location: Freiburg, Germany contact: ICLEI European Secretariat   phone: +49 761 368 92 20   fax: +49 761 368 92 29   e-mail: lr2012@iclei.org www: http://www.local-renewables-conference.org/freiburg2012

ECOWAS High-Level Forum: Paving the Way for Sustainable Energy for All in West Africa through Renewable Energy and Energy Efficiency: ECOWAS Energy Ministers at the High-Level Forum are expected to: hear on the policy papers on renewable energy and energy efficiency, with a view to the papers becoming regional policy; host the Steering Committee of the energy component of the Strategic Programme for West Africa of the Global Environment Facility; and adopt the ECOWAS Small Scale Hydro Power Program.  dates: 29-31 October 2012   location: Accra (Greater Accra), Ghana   contact: ECREEE Secretariat   phone: +238-260-4630   fax: +238-262-4614   e-mail: info@ecreee.org www: http://ecreee.vs120081.hl-users.com/website/index.php?ecowas-high-level-forum

First International Off-Grid Renewable Energy Conference: This conference will bring together key stakeholders to discuss the current status of rural electrification in Africa and other developing countries, highlight bottlenecks to scaling-up off-grid technology and share knowledge on innovative financing of off-grid technology as well as key policies and instruments globally. The event is organized as an official contribution to the UN Sustainable Energy for All Initiative.  dates: 1-2 November 2012   location: Accra (Greater Accra), Ghana   contact: ECREEE Secretariat   phone: +238-260-4630   fax: +238-262-4614   e-mail: info@ecreee.org www: http://ecreee.vs120081.hl-users.com/website/index.php?ecowas-high-level-forum

Renewable Energy World Africa 2012: Held simultaneously with Power-Gen Africa 2012, this conference is being held to facilitate knowledge exchange and discussions on the power needs, resources and issues facing electricity generation in Sub-Saharan Africa (SSA) throughout all sectors of society. dates: 6-8 November 2012   location: Johannesburg (Gauteng), South Africa   contact: Amy Nash   phone: +44 (0) 1992 656 621   fax: +44 (0) 1992 656 735   e-mail: amyn@pennwell.com www: http://www.renewableenergyworldafrica.com/index.html

World Energy Outlook 2012 Launch: The International Energy Agency will launch its flagship publication, the World Energy Outlook 2012, on 12 November at IEA Headquarters in Paris, France. The Outlook will include analysis and insights into global energy market trends and their meaning for energy security, environmental protection and economic development. It will also contain updated forecasts to 2035 of energy production and demand, investment, trade and emissions, broken down by country, fuel and sector. date: 12 November 2012   location: Paris (Ile-De-France), France   contact: Paweł Olejarnik   phone: +33 1 40 57 67 57   e-mail: pawel.olejarnik@iea.org www: http://www.worldenergyoutlook.org

Fourth IRENA Council Meeting: The Council, which meets twice per year, will gather in Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates. The event will bring together members of the Council and other IRENA Member States to discuss the work of the Council and its Administration and Finance, and Programme and Strategy Committees, among other issues. The current Members of the IRENA Council are Antigua and Barbuda, Australia, Denmark, Ecuador, Eritrea, France, Germany, India, Japan, Mali, Mexico, Nigeria, Poland, the Republic of Korea, Senegal, South Africa, Spain, Sweden, Tonga, the United Arab Emirates and the US.  dates: 12-13 November 2012   location: Abu Dhabi (Abu Dhabi), United Arab Emirates   contact: IRENA Secretariat   phone: +97124179000   e-mail: sroesch@irena.org www: http://www.irena.org/menu/index.aspx?mnu=cat&PriMenuID=44&CatID=62

Seventh Southern African Energy Efficiency Convention: This meeting aims to bring together stakeholders to discuss economic and market trends, new technologies and regulatory developments related to energy efficiency.  dates: 14-15 November 2012   venue: Emperors Palace, Convention Centre   location: Gauteng (Gauteng), South Africa   contact: Erika Kruger   phone: +27 18 290 5130   e-mail: convention@saee.org.za www: http://www.saeec2012.org.za/default.aspx 

UNFCCC COP 18: The 18th session of the Conference of the Parties (COP 18) to the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) and the eighth session of the Conference of the Parties serving as the Meeting of Parties to the Kyoto Protocol (COP/MOP 8), among other associated meetings, are scheduled to take place in Doha, Qatar.  dates: 26 November - 7 December 2012   location: Doha (Ad Dawhah), Qatar   contact: UNFCCC Secretariat   phone: +49-228-815-1000   fax: +49-228-815-1999   e-mail: secretariat@unfccc.int www: http://www.unfccc.int

International Conference on Energy and Urban Sustainability: Transforming Municipal Solid Waste into Energy: UN-HABITAT and the Municipality of Tehran, in collaboration with the International Arts and Architecture Research Association, are hosting an international conference on Sustainable Urban Energy to provide a platform for discussing innovations and best practices in sustainable urban energy, with a particular focus on biogas technology. Local authorities and municipal waste experts from the region as well as interested experts, practitioners and decision-makers are invited to attend.  dates: 12-13 December 2012   location: Tehran (Tehran), Iran, Islamic Republic of   contact: Fredrick Ochieng   e-mail: Fredrick.Ochieng@unhabitat.org www: http://www.unhabitat.org/content.asp?cid=11407&catid=26&typeid=11

Third Session of the IRENA Assembly: The third session of the IRENA Assembly is scheduled to take place in January 2013. dates:13-14 January 2013 location: Abu Dhabi, UAE contact: Stephanie Roesch  phone: +971-2-4179001 email: secretariat@irena.org www: http://www.irena.org

Fifth International Renewable Energy Conference (ADIREC): The objectives of the conference are to analyze and highlight the achievements of the UN Secretary General’s Sustainable Energy for All initiative and discuss the contribution of renewable energy to economic development, energy security and mitigation of climate change. The conference is expected to offer a strategic platform to discuss the impact of the 18th session of the Conference of the Parties (COP 18) to the UNFCCC to be held in Qatar at the end of 2012, and the role of renewable energy on economic development, energy security and climate change mitigation. presentations, speeches and exhibitions. dates: 15-17 January 2013   location: Abu Dhabi (Abu Dhabi), United Arab Emirates   contact: Jonathan Skeen, REN 21 Consultant   phone: +33 1 44 37 50 98   e-mail: jonathan.skeen@ren21.net www: http://ren21.net/REN21Activities/IRECs/ADIREC2013/tabid/104175/Default.aspx

World Future Energy Summit (WFES) 2013: Hosted by Masdar, and acting as the centerpiece of the Abu Dhabi Sustainability Week, the sixth WFES aims to bring together global leaders in policy, technology and business to discuss the state of the art, develop new ways of thinking and shape the future of renewable energy. The WFES will take place simultaneously with the Abu Dhabi International Renewable Energy Conference (ADIREC), the sixth in the IREC series, as well as with the International Water Summit, which will focus on the water-energy nexus in arid climates. dates: 15-17 January 2013   venue: The Abu Dhabi National Exhibition Centre (ADNEC)   location: Abu Dhabi (Abu Dhabi), United Arab Emirates www: http://www.worldfutureenergysummit.com/

Clean Energy Financing Forum for Central America and the Caribbean: This meeting will seek to bring together screened clean technology proposals from the region that offer environmental and social benefits with potential investors.  date: 26 April 2013   location: San Pedro Sula (Cortes), Honduras   contact: Fernando Alvarado e-mail: fernando.alvarado@flexenergygroup.com www: http://cti-pfan.net/events_detail.php?eventsid=43

The Asian and Pacific Energy Forum (APEF 2013): The APEF 2013 is expected to adopt a Ministerial Declaration and a Regional Action Plan outlining a regional vision for cooperation on energy security and the sustainable use of energy, and containing initiatives addressing specific needs.  dates: 27-30 May 2013   location: Vladivostok (Primor’Ye), Russian Federation   e-mail: escap-esdd-ers@un.org www: http://www.greengrowth.org/?q=event/asian-and-pacific-energy-forum-apef-2013

The IRENA Renewables and Islands Global Summit Bulletin is a publication of the International Institute for Sustainable Development (IISD) <info@iisd.ca>, publishers of the Earth Negotiations Bulletin © <enb@iisd.org>. This issue was written and edited by Laura Russo and Catherine Benson. The Digital Editor is Mike Muzurakis. The Editor is Robynne Boyd <robynne@iisd.org>. The Director of IISD Reporting Services is Langston James “Kimo” Goree VI <kimo@iisd.org>. Funding for coverage of this meeting has been provided by the International Renewable Energy Agency (IRENA). IISD can be contacted at 161 Portage Avenue East, 6th Floor, Winnipeg, Manitoba R3B 0Y4, Canada; tel: +1-204-958-7700; fax: +1-204-958-7710. The opinions expressed in the Bulletin are those of the authors and do not necessarily reflect the views of IISD. Excerpts from the Bulletin may be used in other publications with appropriate academic citation. Electronic versions of the Bulletin are sent to e-mail distribution lists (in HTML and PDF format) and can be found on the Linkages WWW-server at <http://enb.iisd.org/>. For information on the Bulletin, including requests to provide reporting services, contact the Director of IISD Reporting Services at <kimo@iisd.org>, +1-646-536-7556 or 300 East 56th St., 11D, New York, New York 10022, USA.