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Tuesday, 13 December 2022, 14:00 – 14:30 CET
“Solar PV: A Gender Perspective”
The solar photovoltaic (PV) industry stands as a significant contributor to the renewable energy sector, with approximately 4.3 million jobs globally. As the sector expands, it is crucial to adopt a gender-inclusive approach; otherwise, there is a risk of neglecting a critical talent pool vital for its advancement. A recent webinar addressed the current status of women’s participation in the solar PV landscape and presented insights from the International Renewable Energy Agency (IRENA) report titled Solar PV: A Gender Perspective. This document, which is the third installment in IRENA’s gender perspective series, delves into the representation of women in the solar workforce, the challenges they encounter—including those in off-grid scenarios—and the necessary steps toward fostering a more inclusive workforce in solar energy.
Featured speaker:
Celia García-Baños, Programme Officer – Policy, Gender and Socioeconomics
Access the presentation slides here.
Tuesday, 22 November 2022, 14:00 – 14:30 CET
“Renewable Energy: Jobs along the supply chain”
This session highlighted findings from IRENA’s latest report, Renewable Energy and Jobs – Annual Review 2022. The report provides a comprehensive analysis of the job landscape in the renewable energy sector, examining experiences from various countries. It sheds light on job quality issues in the extraction and processing of raw materials for renewable technologies and the management of materials post-decommissioning. Amid rising geopolitical tensions, many nations are focusing on localizing supply chains and implementing policies that enhance domestic job creation. Key objectives include fostering decent work conditions and ensuring equal employment opportunities for women, youth, and marginalized communities.
Featured speaker:
Michael Renner, Head – Socioeconomics and Policy
Access the presentation slides here.
Tuesday, 18 October 2022, 09:30 – 10:00 CET
“Powering Agri-food Value Chains with Geothermal Heat: A Guidebook for Policymakers”
As global population projections estimate a rise to 9.8 billion by 2050, food and water demand is anticipated to surge by 50%. This escalating demand pressures current food and water systems, creating a pivotal role for clean energy innovations like geothermal energy. The utizilation of geothermal resources within the agri-food sector can enhance food production, processing, and preservation, contributing to overall food security.
The Global Geothermal Alliance’s report titled Powering Agri-food Value Chains with Geothermal Heat: A Guidebook for Policymakers outlines:
- Benefits and opportunities from geothermal applications in agri-food.
- Immediate actions to promote widespread adoption.
- Investment strategies and decision-making tools.
Featured speaker:
Jack Kiruja, Associate Programme Officer, Geothermal Energy
Access the presentation slides here.
Tuesday, 04 October 2022, 14:00 – 14:30 CET
“Renewable Power Generation Cost Report 2021”
From 2010 to 2021, the renewable sector experienced continuous cost reductions, particularly in solar and wind power, despite rising costs in materials and equipment due to extended delivery timelines. IRENA’s Renewable Power Generation Costs report provided crucial insights on installation costs, capacity factors, and cost-effectiveness of various renewable technologies, emphasizing:
- The significant advantages posed by renewable energy amidst the fossil fuel price crisis in 2022.
- The potential to save approximately USD 55 billion globally on electricity generation costs through new renewable installations in 2021.
- How escalating commodity prices may impact the competitive edge of renewables going forward.
Featured speakers:
Pablo Ralon, Programme Officer, RE Cost Status and Outlook
Sonia Al-Zoghoul, Associate Professional, RE Cost Status and Outlook
Access the presentation slides here.
Tuesday, 20 September 2022, 10:00 – 10:30 CET
“Global Hydrogen Trade to Meet the 1.5°C Climate Goal”
Hydrogen plays a crucial role in reducing emissions, particularly in hard-to-abate sectors such as chemical production, steel manufacturing, and shipping. The combination of renewable hydrogen production and international trade promotes electrification opportunities while connecting low-cost supply regions with high-demand areas. However, as hydrogen requires specific handling processes before transport, additional infrastructure investment becomes necessary. This presentation explored the cost, potential, and technological pathways necessary for hydrogen trade aligned with the 1.5°C climate target.
Featured speaker:
Herib Blanco, Analyst, Hydrogen Energy (Power-to-X), IRENA
Access the presentation slides here.
Tuesday, 06 September 2022, 14:00 – 14:30 CET
“Grid Codes for Renewable Powered Systems”
This webinar provided insights on the IRENA publication Grid Codes for Renewable Powered Systems, which covers best practices in developing grid connection guidelines for systems reliant on variable renewable energy sources like solar and wind. Grid codes are essential for establishing trust between system operators and other stakeholders, as they lay out the technical standards and regulations required for integrating power generation and storage technologies, thus ensuring reliability and efficiency of supply.
Featured speakers:
Arina Anisie, Analyst, Renewable Energy Innovation for Developing Countries, IRENA
Gayathri Nair, Associate Programme Officer, Renewable Energy Grid Integration, IRENA
Access the presentation slides here.
Tuesday, 05 July 2022, 14:00 – 14:30 CET
“Innovation Outlook – Renewable Ammonia”
This session addressed the outlook for renewable ammonia, covering market trends, competitive costs, technological advancements, and the necessary policies to transition from fossil fuel-based to renewable ammonia production. The findings from the report Innovation Outlook: Renewable Ammonia, developed in partnership with the Ammonia Energy Association (AEA), sparked discussions among industry experts on the key actions required to harness the potential of renewable ammonia in the energy sector.
Featured speakers:
Gabriel Castellanos, Shipping Decarbonisation team, IRENA
Kevin Rouwenhorst, Technology Manager, AEA
Access the presentation slides here.
Tuesday, 21 June 2022, 14:00 – 14:30 CET
“Renewable Energy Roadmap for Central America: Towards a Regional Energy Transition”
IRENA’s Renewable Energy Roadmaps Programme, known as REmap, seeks to formulate strategies tailored for regional energy transitions, offering insights into future pathways for 2030 and 2050. This initiative aims to respect each nation’s unique energy strengths and socio-economic conditions while collectively contributing to global emission reduction efforts and capitalizing on local energy investment opportunities.
This webinar discussed the scenarios developed for Central America by REmap, focusing on innovative decarbonization solutions across multiple sectors such as power generation and efficiency, as well as the integration of existing regional energy markets. Key findings emphasized funding opportunities, sector technology developments, and actions to accelerate the energy transition.
Featured speakers:
María Vicente García, Associate Professional, REmap 2030 team, IRENA
Raul Miranda, Associate Analyst, Power Sector Transformation Strategies team, IRENA
Access the presentation slides here.
Tuesday, 07 June 2022, 14:00 – 14:30 CET
“Innovation trends in electrolysers for hydrogen production”
A joint report by the European Patent Office (EPO) and IRENA revealed significant innovation trends in electrolyser technology. This webinar highlighted the key findings of the report, which utilized patent statistics to showcase advancements in hydrogen production through electrolysis. The notable increase in patent activity indicates a continued momentum for innovation in this area, as the demand for cost-effective, efficient electrolysis solutions intensifies.
As renewable electricity becomes more central to producing green hydrogen, the expansion of electrolyser manufacturing and deployment will be an essential component in supporting this market growth, requiring a concerted focus on driving down costs and enhancing technological capabilities.
Featured speakers:
Francesco Pasimeni, Associate Programme Officer – Innovation, Standards and Patents for Renewable Energy, IRENA
Geert Boedt, Business Analyst – Business Use of Patent Information, EPO
Access the presentation slides here.
Tuesday, 05 April 2022, 14:00 – 14:30 CET
“Smart Electrification with Renewables: Driving the Transformation of Energy Services”
The transition from fossil fuels to renewable energy represents a significant historical shift in global energy consumption patterns. A comprehensive transformation of energy services requires an extensive proliferation of renewable technologies, the development of smarter electricity grids, and increased utilization of electric-based applications across various sectors. Collectively known as “Smart Electrification,” this strategy is essential for transitioning to a renewable-energy-led world.
This session presented key details from the IRENA report Smart Electrification with Renewables: Driving the Transformation of Energy Services, which offers policymakers a conceptual framework to guide the electrification process using renewables. Conducted in collaboration with the State Grid Corporation of China, it identifies critical innovation trends, potential long-term pathways, and the priority actions needed to achieve optimal coordination across power generation, electrification, and digitalization.
Featured speaker:
Daniel Russo, Long-Term Planning, IRENA
Access the presentation slides here.
Tuesday, 22 March 2022, 14:00 – 14:30 CET
“Geopolitics of the Energy Transformation: The Hydrogen Factor”
The rapid expansion of renewable energy is catalyzing a global transition, with hydrogen emerging as a crucial element in decarbonizing sectors that are traditionally hard to abate. As nations pursue aggressive net-zero targets, the shift towards a global hydrogen market requires an exploration of its geopolitical implications. IRENA’s recent analysis delved into the intricacies of hydrogen’s role within this transformation, building on earlier works to provide a comprehensive overview of potential disruptions to future energy systems and strategies for stakeholders to navigate uncertainties while seizing opportunities.
Featured speaker:
Elizabeth Press, Director – Planning and Programme Support, IRENA
Access the presentation slides here.
Tuesday, 08 March 2022, 14:00 – 14:30 CET
“INSPIRE: IRENA’s Platform on Patent Data and International Standards for Renewables”
The INSPIRE database, developed by IRENA, is a dynamic online platform that offers insights into patent data and international standards for renewable energy technologies. This resource serves as a bridge for dialogues among key stakeholders and offers valuable analytics on trends in renewable technology innovation. The webinar highlighted how users can utilize this database to pinpoint advancements in specific renewable sectors and identify leading countries and organizations in this space.
Featured speaker:
Francesco Pasimeni, Innovation team, IRENA
Access the presentation slides here.
Tuesday, 22 February 2022, 14:00 – 14:30 CET
“Pathways to Decarbonise the Shipping Sector by 2050”
The international shipping industry, responsible for transporting about 90% of global trade, presents a substantial challenge in terms of decarbonization. This webinar provided insights from IRENA’s report titled A Pathway to Decarbonise the Shipping Sector by 2050, which evaluates renewable fuel technologies for shipping and proposes actionable steps necessary for achieving a decarbonized maritime sector by mid-century. The session emphasized that a feasible approach to transitioning the shipping industry lies in strategic planning and collaboration.
Featured speaker:
Gabriel Castellanos, Shipping Decarbonisation team, IRENA
Access the presentation slides here.
Tuesday, 08 February 2022, 14:00 – 14:30 CET
“Sector Coupling in Facilitating the Integration of Variable Renewable Energy in Cities”
To meet the net-zero targets by 2050, IRENA projects that variable renewable energy sources will contribute to 63% of total electricity generation. This significant reliance on renewables necessitates enhanced grid flexibility to accommodate their integration. This session shared findings from the report Sector Coupling in Facilitating Integration of Variable Renewable Energy in Cities, presenting how cities can harness sector coupling strategies to optimize their energy systems including the adoption of technologies that bolster grid stability.
Featured speaker:
Yong Chen, Sustainable Urban Energy team, IRENA
Access the presentation slides here.
Tuesday, 25 January 2022, 14:00 – 14:30 CET
“Reaching Zero with Renewables: Capturing carbon”
IRENA predicts that the pathway to achieving net-zero emissions by 2050 will largely center on renewable energy solutions, comprising electrification, energy efficiency, and innovative technologies that incorporate carbon capture and storage (CCS). This webinar provided insights from the IRENA report Reaching Zero With Renewables: Capturing Carbon, outlining the utilization and potential of carbon capture technologies in complementing renewable initiatives for a sustainable energy future.
Featured speaker:
Martina Lyons, End-use Sectors and Innovation team, IRENA
Access the presentation slides here.
Source
www.irena.org