IRENA and Fraunhofer ISE sign MoU

ABU DHABI & GERMANY: The International Renewable Energy Agency (IRENA) and the Fraunhofer Institute for Solar Energy Systems ISE signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) to enhance their cooperation. IRENA, the global hub for renewable energies, is based in Abu Dhabi. Fraunhofer ISE in Freiburg is one of the world’s leading solar energy research institutes that works for providing technologies for the transformation of the global energy system towards the efficient use of ultimately 100 percent renewable energy.

“By joining forces we intend to create synergies and accelerate the deployment of energy efficiency and renewable energy solutions on a global level,” said Prof Dr Eicke R. Weber, director of Fraunhofer ISE at the signing ceremony which took place on January 17, 2013, at the World Future Energy Summit in Abu Dhabi, a global gathering of policy makers and industry leaders.

Fraunhofer ISE has been closely linked to IRENA since its foundation in 2009, the establishment of the headquarters in Abu Dhabi and later the IRENA Innovation Center in Bonn.  Collaboration is ranging from joint public event support, in making energy more accessible via the UN Sustainable Energy for All program, to providing insights on how Fraunhofer is developing technologies in different solar energy sectors. These include methodologies on cost analyses which impacted the well-known IRENA “Cost of renewable electricity” studies.

A new focus has been set on the integration of renewable power into electric grids, assessing the competitiveness status and outlook for solar energy technologies as well the development of global and national frameworks up to NAMAs (Nationally Appropriate Mitigation Actions) and respective strategies to spur innovation and the uptake of state-of-the-art solar energy technologies.

Currently, collaboration is expanding in planning grid integration and off-grid solutions, based on photovoltaic (PV) hybrid systems for rural areas in developing and threshold countries. Fraunhofer ISE has nearly 30 years of experience in this field, with skills covering the whole value chain, ranging from system analysis and system development to standardization and the transfer of knowledge.

Additionally Fraunhofer will engage with IRENA staff in renewable energy storage solutions and make latest research findings in this sector accessible to the organization and member states.