The International Renewable Energy Agency (IRENA)

        General Information

IRENA was founded in 2009 in Bonn, Germany. The organization's membership includes 171 countries and the European Union. The organization provides for the discussion of priority global energy issues and acts in the direction of promoting an energy transition based on renewable energy around the world.

Since 2019, the position of Director-General of IRENA has been held by Francesco La Camera.

Cooperation with IRENA

The Republic of Azerbaijan has been a member of IRENA since 2009. Ambassador of the Republic of Azerbaijan to the United Arab Emirates (UAE) Elchin Bagirov has been the Permanent Representative of the Republic of Azerbaijan to IRENA since 15 March 2023.

Within the framework of cooperation with IRENA, the report titled Renewable Energy Readiness Assessment: Republic of Azerbaijan was prepared in 2019.

Azerbaijan joined the Global Geothermal Alliance initiative coordinated by IRENA in 2023.

Membership in the IRENA Council

On 14-15 January 2023, according to the decision adopted at the 13th Session of the Irena Assembly, Azerbaijan was elected a member of the Irena Council.

The council consists of 4 members elected from 21 regional groups. Azerbaijan was elected to the Irena Council for 2023-2024 and 2025-2026.

Events jointly organized by COP29 chairmanship of Azerbaijan and IRENA:

- On 11 October 2024, the event entitled Tracking the Outcomes of the UAE Consensus on Energy – Presentation of the Report was held in partnership with the COP28 and COP30 Presidencies and the Global Renewables Alliance.

- On 15-16 November 2024, COP29 on Energy Transition Investment Forum for Central Asia; Accelerated Partnership for Renewable Energy in Central Asia (APRECA) initiative was first presented in Azerbaijan last year as part of COP29;

- On 15.11.2024, the COP29 Ministerial Meeting on Energy Initiatives;

- On 15.11.2024, the event entitled Management of the Chief Executive Officers of Utilities for Net Zero Alliance (UNEZA);

- On 16.11.2024, (Science, Technology and Innovation/Digitalization Day), the High-Level CEO Dialogue of the Alliance for Industry Decarbonization (AFID) was held.

The Utilities for Net Zero Alliance (UNEZA), operating with the support of IRENA, endorsed the initiatives Global Energy Storage and Grids Pledge and Green Energy Pledge: Green Energy Zones and Corridors, both put forward by the COP29 Presidency of Azerbaijan.

Vice-Presidency of the IRENA Assembly

During the 16th session of the IRENA Assembly, held on 11–12 January 2026 in Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates, Azerbaijan’s candidacy for the Vice-Presidency of the 17th session of the IRENA Assembly to be held in 2027 was approved in accordance with the decision of the Assembly.