Minister Hood calls for reduced cost for renewable energy technologies

Minister Hood addresses IRENA

Abu Dhabi, UAE, April 4, 2011 – Grenada wants developed countries to provide significantly reduced cost of renewable energy technologies to small island states.

This was among issues highlighted by Foreign Minister Karl Hood as he addressed the Inaugural First Session of the International Renewable Energy Agency (IRENA) in the United Arab Emirates on Monday.

Minister Hood, who is leading a Grenada delegation to the meeting, said that IRENA should be the driving force of this initiative and warns against developing countries using it as a marketing bazaar “to sell expensive and sometimes inappropriate technology to developing countries”.

“We look forward to active participation in IRENA and the meaningful role that this agency will play to assist our economy in its transition to a sustainable energy pathway,” Mr Hood said at the formal launch.

He said that Grenada has been working to increase the efficiency of its energy use and to develop its renewable energy sector and following two years of extensive consultation, the Government last month approved a National Energy Policy and a Sustainable Energy Action Plan “which will transition our economy unto a lot carbon development path”.

The Grenadian minister said that the island is blessed with abundant sources of renewable energy including geothermal, wind and solar. However, harnessing these resources require significant technology transfer and financial investment, he said.

Minister Hood is also scheduled to meet with the Foreign Minister of the UAE to discuss bilateral cooperation between Grenada and the Emirates. He is also schedule to hold discussions with the designated Director-General of IRENA, Mr. Adnan Amin.

Hood is accompanied by Energy Minister Nazim Burke, Foreign Service Officer Alva Browne and Energy Advisor in the Ministry of Finance, Dr. Hugh Sealy.

IRENA was officially established in Bonn, Germany on January 26, 2009. To date 148 states and the European Union signed the Statute of the Agency; amongst them are 48 African, 38 European, 35 Asian, 17 American and 10 Australia/Oceania States.

Mandated by these governments worldwide, IRENA will promote the widespread and increased adoption and sustainable use of all forms or renewable energy. Acting as the global voice for renewable energies, IRENA will facilitate access to all relevant renewable energy information, including technical data, economic data and renewable resource potential data. IRENA will share experiences on best practices and lessons learned regarding policy frameworks, capacity-building projects, available finance mechanisms and renewable energy related energy efficiency measures.