REN21

REN21, formally the Renewable Energy Policy Network for the 21st Century, is an international policy network focused on accelerating the global transition to renewable energy. It brings together governments, intergovernmental institutions, non-governmental organisations, research and academic bodies, industry associations and other stakeholders that work on renewable-energy policy and deployment. The network was launched in June 2004 as an outcome of the International Conference for Renewable Energies in Bonn, Germany. Its secretariat is based in Paris and the organisation operates as a registered non-profit association under German law. REN21 is designed as a knowledge and cooperation platform rather than as a commercial energy producer, developer or equipment manufacturer. Its role is to make developments in renewable energy easier to understand, compare and use in policymaking. REN21 collects and coordinates information on renewable-energy markets, technologies, investment, policy frameworks and deployment. Its best-known publication is the annual Renewables Global Status Report, which examines renewable energy across electricity, heating and cooling, and transport. The report draws on contributions from a large international expert and researcher community and is subject to an open peer-review process. It is accompanied by wider perspectives on the pace, barriers and enabling conditions of the energy transition. The network also produces regional status reports, thematic studies, global futures research and the Renewables in Cities Global Status Report. These publications address topics such as mini-grid policy, community power, renewable-energy tendering, transport decarbonisation, city-level transition and regional deployment trends. REN21's Global Futures Report presents expert perspectives on the feasibility and challenges of a predominantly or fully renewable energy system; it is intended to stimulate debate rather than serve as a conventional forecast. Beyond publishing, REN21 convenes stakeholders through the REN21 Renewables Academy and the International Renewable Energy Conference series. The academy provides a setting for contributors and members to discuss policy drivers and practical issues affecting the energy transition. IREC conferences are hosted by national governments and have been held in countries including China, the United States, India, the United Arab Emirates, South Africa and Mexico. REN21 collaborates with institutions including the International Energy Agency, the International Renewable Energy Agency, the World Bank, the United Nations Environment Programme's Frankfurt School collaborating centre and the Sustainable Energy for All initiative. As of 2024, the network had more than 100 member organisations and more than 4,000 active community members. Its principal contribution is independent-looking, network-based knowledge that helps policymakers and other stakeholders assess progress and identify where renewable-energy deployment remains too slow, particularly in heating, cooling and transport.

REN21 emerged from the International Conference for Renewable Energies held in Bonn in June 2004. The conference created momentum for a continuing international mechanism through which governments and other stakeholders could exchange information and coordinate around renewable-energy policy. REN21 was subsequently established as a policy network, with its secretariat based in Paris and its legal form registered as a non-profit association under German law. The organisation's early work concentrated on assembling dispersed information about renewable-energy deployment and policy. In 2005 it began publishing the Renewables Global Status Report, an annual assessment that covers renewable electricity as well as heating, cooling and transport. The report became the network's central knowledge product. Rather than relying only on a single institutional data source, REN21 draws on contributions from its member organisations, experts and researchers, followed by an open peer-review process. This model allows the report to combine quantitative information with policy and market context. REN21 broadened its coverage through regional status reports beginning in the late 2000s. Reports addressed markets and policy conditions in regions and groupings such as China, India, the Middle East and North Africa, the Economic Community of West African States, the Southern African Development Community, the United Nations Economic Commission for Europe region and the East African Community. The regional programme supported local and regional data collection while giving policymakers material tailored to their own institutional and market environments. The network also developed thematic and forward-looking research. Thematic publications examined subjects including mini-grid policies, community power, renewable-energy tendering, transport decarbonisation and policy change. The Global Futures Report series explored expert views about the feasibility of achieving a world supplied entirely or overwhelmingly by renewable energy. Its purpose was to identify opportunities, constraints and areas for debate rather than to provide a conventional forecast. REN21 later added the Renewables in Cities Global Status Report to examine city-level deployment, local commitments and the relationship between municipal action and national policy. Convening became another important part of REN21's work. The International Renewable Energy Conference series was initiated from the 2004 Bonn conference and has been held on a biennial basis with host governments. Conferences took place in Beijing, Washington, New Delhi, Abu Dhabi, South Africa and Mexico City. REN21 also created the Renewables Academy, beginning with a 2014 event in Bonn and followed by a larger 2018 gathering in Berlin. These meetings brought contributors and stakeholders together to debate policy design, heat, transport and the broader transformation of energy systems. Leadership of the secretariat changed over time. Paul Hugo Suding served as the first executive secretary after the network's formation, followed by Virginia Sonntag O'Brien, Christine Lins and Rana Adib. Under this succession, REN21 remained focused on network coordination, evidence gathering and public reporting rather than commercial operations. It worked with organisations such as the International Energy Agency, the International Renewable Energy Agency, the World Bank, the United Nations Environment Programme's Frankfurt School collaborating centre and the Sustainable Energy for All initiative. By 2024, REN21 reported more than 100 member organisations and over 4,000 active community members. Its members span governments, international organisations, industry associations, non-governmental organisations and scientific and academic institutions. The network's continuing role is to clarify the state of renewable-energy deployment, expose gaps between political commitments and actual progress, and enable cooperation among groups involved in the global energy transition.

• 2024

  Network exceeds 100 member organisations

  [1]REN21en.wikipedia.org

  REN21 reported more than 100 member organisations and over 4,000 active community members.

• 2021

  Renewables in Cities reporting develops

  [1]REN21en.wikipedia.org

  REN21 released the second edition of its Renewables in Cities Global Status Report series.

• 2018

  Second Renewables Academy in Berlin

  [1]REN21en.wikipedia.org

  More than 160 participants from 80 countries met in Berlin to discuss ways to accelerate energy-system transformation.

• 2017

  Global Futures Report examines a 100% renewable-energy future

  [1]REN21en.wikipedia.org

  The report presented expert perspectives on the feasibility and challenges of a fully renewable energy system by mid-century.

• 2014

  First REN21 Renewables Academy

  [1]REN21en.wikipedia.org

  The first academy took place in Bonn with participants from 40 countries.

• 2009

  Regional status reporting expands

  [1]REN21en.wikipedia.org

  REN21 developed regional reporting covering areas including China and the Middle East and North Africa.

• 2006

  Secretariat leadership begins under Paul Hugo Suding

  [1]REN21en.wikipedia.org

  Paul Hugo Suding became the first executive secretary after REN21's formation.

• 2005

  First Renewables Global Status Report

  [1]REN21en.wikipedia.org

  REN21 began its annual global assessment of renewable-energy markets, policy and deployment.

• 2004

  REN21 is launched after the Bonn renewable-energy conference

  [1]REN21en.wikipedia.org

  The network was created as an outcome of the International Conference for Renewable Energies in Bonn, Germany.

An independent, network-based source of renewable-energy policy knowledge and a convening platform connecting public, private, academic and civil-society stakeholders.

• Global energy-status report · 2005

  Renewables Global Status Report

  REN21's annual flagship report tracks renewable-energy deployment, policy, markets, industry and investment across electricity, heating and cooling, and transport. It is assembled with contributions from the network's international expert and researcher community and undergoes open peer review. The report is intended to provide a factual baseline for policymakers and other stakeholders while showing where progress is strongest and where fossil-fuel dependence remains entrenched.

• Regional energy-status report · 2009

  Regional Renewable Energy Status Reports

  This series examines renewable-energy policy and deployment in particular regions and institutional groupings. Published coverage has included China, India, the Middle East and North Africa, West Africa, Southern Africa, the UNECE region and the East African Community. The reports support regional data collection and provide decision-makers with evidence adapted to local policy, market and infrastructure conditions.

• Energy-transition futures research · 2017

  Global Futures Report

  The Global Futures Report series presents expert perspectives on the opportunities and obstacles associated with a global energy system supplied by renewable sources. It focuses on feasibility, institutional choices and implementation challenges rather than producing a standard market forecast. The series is designed to broaden discussion about how a 100% renewable-energy future might be approached and what barriers would need to be addressed.

• Thematic policy research

  Thematic Spotlight reports

  REN21's thematic publications investigate specific issues in renewable-energy policy and deployment. Topics have included mini-grid policy, community power, tendering in Latin America and the Caribbean, renewable-energy policy during periods of transition and decarbonising transport in the G20. These reports complement the broad annual status assessment with deeper treatment of selected technologies, sectors or policy mechanisms.

• Urban renewable-energy report · 2020

  Renewables in Cities Global Status Report

  The Renewables in Cities Global Status Report series documents renewable-energy developments, trends and commitments at city level. It is intended to provide evidence for municipal and national policymakers, improve coordination between levels of government and inform regulatory frameworks. The series addresses the role of cities in the energy transition and the ways local action can complement national targets and programmes.

• Stakeholder forum · 2014

  REN21 Renewables Academy

  The Renewables Academy is a convening and knowledge-exchange programme for REN21 contributors and stakeholders. Its sessions explore policy drivers and practical questions affecting renewable-energy transformation, including heat, transport and integrated energy systems. The first academy was held in Bonn in 2014, followed by a Berlin event in 2018 with participants from a broad international community.

• International policy conference · 2004

  International Renewable Energy Conference series

  The IREC series is a biennial international conference programme initiated at the 2004 Bonn renewables conference and convened by REN21 with national government hosts. Events have taken place in Beijing, Washington, New Delhi, Abu Dhabi, South Africa and Mexico City. The conferences provide a platform for governments and other stakeholders to discuss renewable-energy policy, deployment and international cooperation.

• 2005

  Launch the Renewables Global Status ReportProduct launch

  Background

  Renewable-energy policy and deployment information was dispersed across jurisdictions and sectors.

  Action taken

  REN21 began publishing an annual report covering renewable-energy markets, technologies, policy and deployment.

  Aftermath

  The report became REN21's principal reference publication and was expanded to cover electricity, heating and cooling, and transport.

  Source

• 2004

  Create a continuing multi-stakeholder renewable-energy policy networkStrategy

  Background

  The Bonn International Conference for Renewable Energies created a need for an ongoing mechanism to maintain policy dialogue and share evidence beyond a single conference.

  Action taken

  REN21 was launched as a network connecting governments, international organisations, civil society, research institutions and industry around renewable-energy policy and deployment.

  Aftermath

  The network established a permanent Paris-based secretariat and developed reporting, research and convening activities.

  Source

1. 1REN21en.wikipedia.org
2. 2REN21 official websiteren21.net