Latest news with #FrancescoLaCamera
Zawya
2 days ago
- Business
- Zawya
Renewables boom highlights growing regional divide
Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates - The Renewable Energy Statistics 2025 released by the International Renewable Energy Agency (IRENA) today shows that despite renewables capacity growing by over 15% in 2024, the growth gap widens across regions. Asia has kept its leading position since the past few years, accounting for 71% of new renewables capacity in 2024, followed by Europe and North America (respectively contributed 12.3% and 7.8% to the addition), leaving a huge gap with Africa, Eurasia, Central America and the Caribbean which together only accounted for 2.8% of total renewables capacity addition. Despite its massive economic and development opportunities, Africa only increased its renewables capacity by 7.2%. Commenting on the data update, IRENA Director-General Francesco La Camera said: 'The renewable energy boom is transforming global energy markets, driving economies and creating vast investment opportunities. However, the growing regional divide highlights that not everyone is benefiting equally from this transition. Countries and regions that attract substantial investment in renewables are seeing enhanced energy security, increased industrial activity, and new jobs, fueling broader socioeconomic development.' La Camera added: 'Bridging the divide and closing the investment gap between countries and regions is critical. It requires targeted policies, international financing, and partnerships that unlock capital and technology where they are needed most. By aligning investment flows with policy frameworks, we can ensure that the green transition becomes a powerful engine for resilience and sustainable economic growth worldwide.' 'The global shift to renewables is increasingly inevitable, but its massive human and economic benefits are not yet being shared across all countries and regions,' said UN Climate Change Executive Secretary Simon Stiell. 'To deliver on the global agreement at COP28 to triple renewables by 2030, we need to move much further and faster, and make more progress on the key enablers for vulnerable developing countries. The investments required will pay huge dividends – cutting emissions, driving economic growth, creatin jobs, and supporting affordable, secure energy for all.' As the custodian Agency for tracking the global goal to triple installed renewable capacity by 2030, IRENA remains committed to reviewing progress and identifying gaps towards the target on an annual basis. Although the 582 GW of renewable capacity added in 2024 represented a record annual increase, it still falls short of the pace required to reach the global tripling target of 11.2 TW by 2030. If the same annual growth rate continues, the world will only reach 10.3 TW of renewables capacity, missing the target by 0.9 TW. Achieving the target by 2030 would require renewable capacity to expand even faster at 16.6% annually in less than the remaining five years. The renewables capacity trend also reveals the dominance of solar and wind power. Both have jointly accounted for 97.5% of all net renewables additions in 2024, with solar increasing by 453 GW. This proves the economic competitiveness of solar energy; providing business opportunities and energy security quickly and sustainably. Wind energy is following behind with 114 GW of total renewables capacity addition. With renewables now catching up with fossil fuels in the share of installed capacity (46.2% of renewables vs 47.3% of fossil fuels), the case of renewables being a smart investment that creates jobs and drives sustainable growth has become stronger. The report also shows the continuous growth of renewable power generation, driven by solar and wind energy. Renewable electricity grew by 5.6% in 2023 compared to 2022, reaching 8 928 terawatts hour. Meanwhile, non-renewable power grew by only 1.2% in 2023 compared to 2022. As such, renewable energy sources accounted for almost 30% of global electricity generation by 2023. The Renewable Energy Statistics 2025 shows over 70% of renewables capacity growth occurred in Asia, while other regions particularly Africa lagged behind. About the International Renewable Energy Agency (IRENA) IRENA is the lead intergovernmental agency for the renewables-based energy transition in pursuit of a systemic change across the energy sectors. A global energy agency comprised of 169 countries and the EU, with 14 additional countries in accession, IRENA provides knowledge, technical assistance and capacity building, project and investment facilitation. The Agency enables international cooperation and partnerships to fight climate change and promote sustainable development, energy access, energy security and resilient economies and societies. Contact information: Nicole Bockstaller, Chief, Communications Officer, IRENA, nbockstaller@
Trade Arabia
03-06-2025
- Business
- Trade Arabia
Brazil, Irena to co-host first global energy planning summit
The Government of Brazil and the International Renewable Energy Agency (Irena) will co-host the 1st edition of Energy Planning Summit which runs until June 4 at the BNDES Headquarters in Rio de Janeiro. The event will mark the official launch of the Global Coalition for Energy Planning (GCEP), a landmark initiative emerging from Brazil's 2024 G20 Presidency to help close the investment gap in the clean energy transition through improved energy planning, said the organisers. The Summit and the Coalition will contribute to building momentum ahead of COP30 in Brazil and other key global milestones, they stated. "Although significant investment opportunities exist in emerging markets and developing economies, perceived risks remain a key barrier to investment, particularly from private sources," said Irena Director General Francesco La Camera. "Brazil has demonstrated how long-term energy planning, which incorporates investment-ready strategies, can help reduce those risks, attract private capital, scale up renewables, and strengthen local supply chains," he stated. "As GCEP Secretariat, Irena will leverage its near-universal membership and extensive repository of best practices for renewable energy planning and modelling to support countries, particularly in the Global South, in developing energy strategies that align with national development and climate goals," observed Le Camera. Alexandre Silveira, Brazil's Minister of Mines and Energy, said: 'Promoting a just and effective energy transition necessarily requires recognizing the leadership of developing countries. By advancing the Global Coalition for Energy Planning, Brazil reaffirms its commitment to multilateral dialogue and to strengthening tools that connect strategic planning, public policy, and financing mechanisms in support of a more inclusive and sustainable energy future.' This high-level event will bring together senior officials from energy planning and finance ministries in a structured dialogue to establish a new global platform for cooperation. Expected outcomes include agreement on priority workstreams, a roadmap for thematic coordination, and an initial mapping of partners ready to collaborate, said the organisers. By demonstrating how robust planning can reduce risks and unlock investment, the Summit aims to strengthen political commitment to use energy planning as a strategic tool to inform national and international development strategies.
Zawya
02-06-2025
- Business
- Zawya
Brazil and IRENA to host first Global Energy Planning Summit
Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates – The Government of Brazil and the International Renewable Energy Agency (IRENA) will co-host the 1st Energy Planning Summit on 3–4 June 2025 at the BNDES Headquarters in Rio de Janeiro. The event will mark the official launch of the Global Coalition for Energy Planning (GCEP), a landmark initiative emerging from Brazil's 2024 G20 Presidency to help close the investment gap in the clean energy transition through improved energy planning. The Summit and the Coalition will contribute to building momentum ahead of COP30 in Brazil and other key global milestones. 'Although significant investment opportunities exist in emerging markets and developing economies, perceived risks remain a key barrier to investment, particularly from private sources,' said IRENA Director General Francesco La Camera. 'Brazil has demonstrated how long-term energy planning, which incorporates investment-ready strategies, can help reduce those risks, attract private capital, scale up renewables, and strengthen local supply chains.' 'As GCEP Secretariat, IRENA will leverage its near-universal membership and extensive repository of best practices for renewable energy planning and modelling to support countries, particularly in the Global South, in developing energy strategies that align with national development and climate goals.' H.E. Alexandre Silveira, Brazil's Minister of Mines and Energy, said: 'Promoting a just and effective energy transition necessarily requires recognizing the leadership of developing countries. By advancing the Global Coalition for Energy Planning, Brazil reaffirms its commitment to multilateral dialogue and to strengthening tools that connect strategic planning, public policy, and financing mechanisms in support of a more inclusive and sustainable energy future.' This high-level event will bring together senior officials from energy planning and finance ministries in a structured dialogue to establish a new global platform for cooperation. Expected outcomes include agreement on priority workstreams, a roadmap for thematic coordination, and an initial mapping of partners ready to collaborate. By demonstrating how robust planning can reduce risks and unlock investment, the Summit aims to strengthen political commitment to use energy planning as a strategic tool to inform national and international development strategies. Founding members and partners will sign a Letter of Principles at the Summit, outlining the Coalition's shared vision and guiding priorities. Effective energy planning is central to ensure that energy policy meets national and regional energy needs. About the International Renewable Energy Agency (IRENA) IRENA is the lead intergovernmental agency for the renewables-based energy transition in pursuit of a systemic change across the energy sectors. A global energy agency comprised of 169 countries and the EU, with 14 additional countries in accession, IRENA provides knowledge, technical assistance and capacity building, project and investment facilitation. The Agency enables international cooperation and partnerships to fight climate change and promote sustainable development, energy access, energy security and resilient economies and societies. Contact information: Nicole Bockstaller, Chief, Communications Officer, IRENA, nbockstaller@
Yahoo
27-03-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Global renewable energy capacity hits record expansion
Global renewable energy capacity increased 15.1% year-on-year in 2024, the largest expansion ever recorded but still short of the pace needed to achieve the COP28 goal of tripling capacity by 2030, the International Renewable Energy Agency warned in a report. With six years to go, annual capacity additions of more than 1,120 GW will now be needed to keep the planet on a 1.5°C warming trajectory, IRENA's Director-General Francesco La Camera said, noting that 'significant disparities remain': China alone accounted for nearly 64% of the total growth, adding more than eight times as much capacity as the US and five times that of Europe. Besides, raw wind and solar deployment numbers only tell one part of the story, said Seaver Wang, the director of the Breakthrough Institute's climate and energy program. China's rapid buildout, for example, is 'impressive' but just beginning to cover growing energy demand and not yet significantly altering its emissions profile, he told Semafor.
Arab News
27-03-2025
- Business
- Arab News
Global renewable energy capacity up 585 GW in 2024: IRENA
RIYADH: Global renewable energy capacity saw a record annual growth rate of 15.1 percent in 2024, increasing by 585 gigawatts, according to a new analysis. In its latest report, the International Renewable Energy Agency said that this addition brought the total installed power capacity in the sector to 4,448 GW. Despite this record increase, IRENA highlighted that growth is still falling short of the 11.2 terawatts needed to align with the global goal to triple the installed renewable energy capacity by 2030. The study further said global renewable capacity should expand by 16.6 percent annually to meet the stipulated 2030 target. Earlier this month, the International Energy Agency said that renewable energy sources accounted for most of the growth in international supply in 2024 at 38 percent, followed by natural gas at 28 percent, and coal at 15 percent, as well as oil at 11 percent and nuclear power at 8 percent. IEA's estimate of renewable energy installations was also higher than the projections made by IRENA. IEA said that new renewable installations hit record levels for the 22nd consecutive year, with around 700 GW added to the total capacity in 2024, of which around 80 percent was from solar photovoltaic. Reflecting on the new analysis, IRENA Director-General Francesco La Camera said: 'With just six years remaining to meet the goal adopted at COP28 to triple installed renewable power capacity by 2030, the world now needs additions in excess of 1,120 GW each year for the rest of this decade to keep the world on a 1.5-degree Celsius pathway.' La Camera also urged governments to leverage the next round of Nationally Determined Contributions as an opportunity to outline a clear blueprint of their renewable energy ambitions. He further called on the international community to enhance collaborations to support the renewable ambitions of the countries of the Global South. 'The continuous growth of renewables we witness each year is evidence that renewables are economically viable and readily deployable. Each year, they keep breaking their own expansion records, but we also face the same challenges of great regional disparities and the ticking clock as the 2030 deadline is imminent,' said the director-general. He added: 'With economic competitiveness and energy security being increasingly a major global concern today, expanding renewable power capacity at speed equals tapping into business opportunities and addressing energy security quickly and sustainably.' According to IRENA, solar and wind energy saw the most significant expansion in 2024, accounting for 96.6 percent of all net renewable additions. Over three-quarters of the capacity expansion was in solar energy, which increased by 32.2 percent, reaching 1,865 GW, followed by wind energy, growing by 11.1 percent. In 2024, China added 278 GW of solar energy capacity, followed by India at 24.5 GW. Commenting on the IRENA report, UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres said: 'Renewable energy is powering down the fossil fuel age. Record-breaking growth is creating jobs, lowering energy bills and cleaning our air.' He added: 'Renewables renew economies. But the shift to clean energy must be faster and fairer — with all countries given the chance to fully benefit from cheap, clean, renewable power.' According to IRENA, hydropower capacity reached 1,283 GW in 2024, demonstrating a notable rebound from 2023, driven by growth in China. The world saw wind energy capacity reaching 1,133 GW by the end of last year, driven by expansion in the US and China. Bioenergy expansion rebounded in 2024, with a growth of 4.6 GW of capacity compared to an increase of 3 GW in 2023. This rise was propelled by China and France, which added 1.3 GW each last year. Geothermal energy increased by 0.4 GW overall, led by New Zealand, followed by Indonesia, Turkiye, and the US. Off-grid electricity capacity expansion, excluding Eurasia, Europe, and North America, nearly tripled, growing by 1.7 GW to 14.3 GW. La Camera added that renewables accounted for 46 percent of global installed power capacity. 'Even as renewable energy almost accounts for half of total capacity, many energy planning questions still need to be addressed to establish renewables as the most significant source of electricity generation — including in the context of grid flexibility and adaptation to variable renewable power,' he said. During the opening ceremony of the annual UN climate summit in November, Mukhtar Babayev, president of COP29, underscored the vitality of increased funding to enable climate efforts and urged governments, the private sector, and multilateral financial institutions to work together to meet the goals outlined in the Paris Agreement. That treaty, signed in 2015, compels signatories to work toward limiting the global temperature increase to 1.5 degrees Celsius above pre-industrial levels.
