IRENA Office in Germany Officially Inaugurated
Newsletter
The office of IRENA’s Innovation and Technology Centre (IITC) in Bonn has been officially inaugurated during a symbolic “handover of keys” by the German Federal Government to the Agency. Germany is hosting IRENA’s innovation and technology hub since 2011.
The opening ceremony took place in the presence of IRENA’s Deputy Director-General Gauri Singh, representatives from the German Federal Ministries for Economics and Climate Action (BMWK) and Environment (BMUV) as well as Her Excellency Dr. Nawal Al-Hosany, the Permanent Representative of the United Arab Emirates to IRENA, representing the host country of the Agency’s headquarters in Abu Dhabi.
Deputy Director-General Gauri Singh thanked the German Federal Government for its continued support and contribution to the IRENA Innovation and Technology Centre in Bonn: “I wish to thank the German Government for being a great cooperation partner. The establishment of the IITC in Bonn complements IRENA’s global mission to facilitate the widespread adoption of renewable energy technologies. The IITC serves as a key component of IRENA’s mission by driving innovation and technological advancement in the renewable energy sector.”
Initially and temporarily, the IITC was hosted by the Federal Ministry for the Environment. Due to the transition of the renewable energy portfolio within the German Government, the Ministry for Economics and Climate Action has become the focal point for IRENA.
While IITC staff has already moved to the new office in 2020, the formal opening of the building had been postponed due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Now, with over 300 energy experts from around the world gathering in Bonn for the IRENA Innovation Week 2023, the official ceremony was carried out.
IITC’s Director Roland Roesch added: “IRENA is grateful for having the opportunity to work in close proximity to other international organisations. IITC forms an integral part of Bonn’s wider sustainability hub with multiple opportunities to collaborate with research centres, companies and think tanks, as well as connecting with other international organizations like the UN and EU in Brussels. This collaborative ecosystem fosters international cooperation and facilitates the exchange of knowledge and expertise to advance renewable energy solutions.”
Within IRENA’s overall mission to promote the widespread and increased adoption of renewable energy, its Innovation and Technology Centre in Bonn supports this mission by advising member countries in the area of technology status and roadmaps, power system transformation, energy planning, cost and markets and innovation policy frameworks. IITC celebrated its 10th anniversary on 7th October 2021.
