Organizations Engaged in Renewable Energy
Below are selected organizations related to markets, policy, and investment, mostly excluding those whose main focus is technical research and development.
▪ Market Facilitation Organizations
▪ International Networks and Partnerships
▪ Advocacy and Educational Groups
▪ National Government Agencies
▪ Intergovernmental Agencies
▪ Foundations
▪ Organizational Initiatives Supporting Corporate Use of Renewable Energy
▪ Research Centers
▪ Universities with Degree-Granting Programs
MARKET FACILITATION ORGANIZATIONS
Market facilitation organizations (MFOs) support the growth of renewable energy markets through some combination of networking, information dissemination, market research, user education, partner matching, business-deal identification and facilitation, technical assistance, consulting services, financing, and policy advocacy or advise. MFOs may be supported through private funds, public funds, or both. Many MFOs could also be considered in the "advocacy and educational groups" category below, and vice-versa. This paper has a section on MFOs.
African Energy Policy Research Network (AFREPREN)
American Biomass Association
American Council for Renewable Energy (ACRE)
American Wind Energy Association (AWEA)
ASEAN Centre for Energy
Basel Agency for Sustainable Energy (BASE)
Biomass Users Network Brazil
Biomass Users Network Central America
Brazilian Renewable Energy Companies Association
Business Council for Sustainable Energy (BCSE)
China Renewable Energy Industries Association (CREIA)
Cogen Europe
e8 Network of Expertise for the Global Environment
European Biomass Industry Association (EUBIA)
European Geothermal Energy Council (EGEC)
European Photovoltaic Industry Association
European Renewable Energy Exchange
European Renewable Energy Council (EREC)
European Small Hydro Association (ESHA)
European Solar Thermal Industry Federation (ESTIF)
European Wind Energy Association (EWEA)
German Industry Association for the Promotion of Rural Electrification by Renewable Energies
Greenpeace International
India (Kerala) Renewable Energy Center (Mithradham)
India Renewable Energy Development Agency (IREDA)
International Geothermal Association (IGA)
International Institute for Energy Conservation (IIEC)
International Solar Energy Society (ISES)
Mali Folkecenter
MicroEnergy International
Organizations for the Promotion of Energy Technologies (OPET)
Renewable Energy Policy Project (REPP)
Solar Electric Light Fund (SELF)
Solar Energy Industries Association (SEIA)
Winrock Brazil
Winrock India
Winrock International
World Alliance for Decentralized Energy (WADE)
World Business Council for Sustainable Development (WBCSD)
World Council for Renewable Energy (WCRE)
World Resources Institute (WRI)
World Wind Energy Association
World Wildlife Fund (WWF)
WWF China
WWF Thailand
INTERNATIONAL NETWORKS AND PARTNERSHIPS
Networks bring large numbers of participants together for the purpose of exchanging information, facilitating new contacts, collaborating on joint publications and projects, and connecting individual projects and programs to a wider whole. Networks sometimes "take credit" for the work of participants, which may be partly justified from their facilitative roles. In recent years there has been an explosion of renewable energy networks, each with different emphasis and focus.
African Energy Policy Research Network (AFREPREN). Policy research studies and connections between reseachers and policy-makers.
European Renewable Energy Research Centers (EUREC) Agency. A network of about 40 research centers throughout Europe for renewable energy technology, industry support, and policy. Complete descriptions of each center, including contact information, is available from EUREC.
Global Network on Energy for Sustainable Development (GNESD). Knowledge and experience sharing and research on energy and development issues.
Global Village Energy Partnership (GVEP). Organizations working to promote sustainable energy in rural communities in developing countries.
International Network for Sustainable Energy (INFORSE). A network of NGOs working on sustainable energy, with publications, information and news, advocacy, and visions to 2050.
Renewable Energy and Energy Efficiency Partnership (REEEP). Organizations conducting energy efficiency and renewable energy projects and working on policy and finance.
REN21 Renewable Energy Policy Network for the 21st Century. Working to engage policy makers and a wide variety of constituents. Assessing specific progress with the Bonn Renewables 2004 Action Plan. Sponsor of the "Renewables Global Status Report."
UNEP Sustainable Energy Finance Initiative. Information for financiers, along with support for financial innovation. Connects financiers with developers and conducts investment forums.
World Council on Renewable Energy (WCRE). Regional councils established around the world to address policy, finance, education, and other topics.
World Renewable Energy Congress/Network (WREC/WREN). Informational sharing, biannual congresses, and regional meetings and networking.
ADVOCACY AND EDUCATIONAL GROUPS
Many of the Market Facilitation Organizations listed above also engage in advocacy and public education.
Friends of the Earth
Greenpeace International
International Network for Sustainable Energy (INFORSE)
Natural Resources Defense Council
Sustainable Energy and Economy Network (SEEN)
Union of Concerned Scientists
Worldwatch Institute
World Resources Institute
World Wildlife Fund
Australia AusAID
Canada Sustainable Development Technology Canada (SDTC)
Canada International Development Agency (CIDA)
French Fund for the Global Environment (FFEM)
French Agency for Environment and Energy Management (Ademe)
German Agency for Development Cooperation (GTZ)
German Development Finance Group (KfW)
India Ministry for Non-Conventional Energy Sources
Netherlands Agency for Energy and the Environment (Novem)
Swedish Energy Agency (STEM)
UK Carbon Trust
UK Department for International Development (DFID)
US Agency for International Development
US Environmental Protection Agency
Food and Agriculture Organization of the UN
Global Environment Facility
International Energy Agency -- Renewable Energy Page
International Renewable Energy Agency
UN Development Programme, Energy and Environment
UN Environment Programme, Division of Technology, Industry, and Economics
UN Industrial Development Organization
UNDP/World Bank ESMAP (Energy Sector Management Assistance Program)
UN Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC)
World Bank, Energy Program
World Bank, Asia Alternative Energy Unit (ASTAE)
European Bank for Reconstruction and Development Renewable Development Initiative. Offers country profiles, news, project, policy, and market information for 27 countries within the EBRD's area of operations (Central and Eastern Europe and the Former Soviet Union).
Energy Foundation
Joyce Mertz-Gilmore Foundation
MacArthur Foundation
Packard Foundation
Rockefeller Foundation
Shell Foundation
UN Foundation
ORGANIZATIONAL INITIATIVES SUPPORTING CORPORATE USE OF RENEWABLE ENERGY
EPA Green Power Partnership
World Business Council for Sustainable Development member companies
Business Council for Sustainable Energy member companies
Pew Center for Climate Change, Business Environmental Leadership Council
World Resources Institute corporate partners
Green Power Market Development Group
ASEAN Centre for Energy - Research on power sector and renewable energy policies in ASEAN countries.
Asian Energy Institute - A collection of research centers with interests in technology, economic, policy, and social research.
Battelle Pacific Northwest National Laboratory, Advanced International Studies Unit - Focus on sustainable energy in economies in transition and China.
Center for Resource Solutions - Research on renewable energy policies and regulation, with emphasis on green power marketing, public benefits funds, renewable energy in China, and state-level utility regulation in the United States.
Energy Foundation - A variety of energy and climate policy studies, with emphasis on electric power, distributed generation, and the western United States.
Energy Research Center of the Netherlands (ECN) - Policy studies for renewable energy.
European Renewable Energy Research Centers (EUREC) Agency - A network of about 40 research centers throughout Europe for renewable energy technology, industry support, and policy.
Institute for Sustainable Energy Policies - Research, information and advocacy for renewable energy and climate change policies in Japan and worldwide, including local initiatives.
International Development Research Centre (IDRC) - Uses of renewable energy in rural development.
International Energy Agency - Information and publications on renewable energy.
International Energy Agency PVPS programme - This collaborative research program coordinated by the International Energy Agency produces a wealth of market data and technical information on applications of solar PV around the world. Offers publications, case studies, country information, information on research programs, etc.
International Solar Energy Society -- RESuM Rural Energy Supply Models - A compilation of definitions, characteristics, model-specific advantages, problems and success factors for different rural energy supply models, including examples.
Lawrence Berkeley Laboratory, Environmental Energy Technologies Division, Electricity Markets and Policy Group - The most comprehensive and informative publications on U.S. renewable energy policies available, particularly state-level policies.
Lund University, Department of Environmental and Energy Systems Studies - An extensive range of research reports on energy and environmental topics, many with a focus on biomass use, and some in English.
Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Center for Energy and Environmental Policy Research - Economic and public policy research on such topics as global climate change, energy security, and utility restructuring.
Massachusetts Institute of Technology, The Laboratory For Energy and the Environment -- Brings together collaborating faculty and staff in 13 departments to address the complex interrelationships between energy and the environment, and other global environmental challenges.
National Renewable Energy Laboratory - Technology, market, and policy research for the U.S., plus international programs. The Global Village Energy Partnership site (formerly called "Renewables for Sustainable Village Power") contains case studies of over 140 projects in developing countries. The 65-page Information Resources Catalog lists internet resourses, technical reports, conference papers, and journal articles. NREL also has a China research program with extensive publications on Chinese markets and applications. Thousands of renewable energy photographs are availabe from the Photographic Information Exchange.
Open University, Faculty of Technology, Energy and Environment Research Unit - Interdisciplinary and policy research on a range of sustainable energy topics, with emphasis on renewable energy, plus development of distance education courses.
Princeton University, Energy and Environmental Studies - Technology, economic, and policy studies for advanced biomass, carbon sequestration, and hydrogen energy technologies.
Rocky Mountain Institute - Founded by Amory Lovins, author of the classic "Soft Energy Paths" (1977), RMI works on energy efficiency, transportation, and distributed generation.
Royal Institute for International Affairs (Chatham House): Energy, Environment, and Development Program - Energy, environment, climate change, and corporate responsibility.
Stanford University, Global Climate and Energy Project - Gearing up for major program of corporate-sponsored energy technology and policy research.
Stockholm Environment Institute (SEI) - Conducts research and implements projects on a range of energy and environmental topics. Periodic newsletter Renewable Energy for Sustainable Development.
Tata Energy Research Institute (TERI) - Energy and environmental policy research and programs, with emphasis on rural energy and poverty alleviation.
UNEP Risoe Centre on Energy, Climate and Sustainable Development - A wide range of studies on energy planning and policy, particularly for developing countries.
University of California at Berkeley, Renewable and Alternative Energy Laboratory (RAEL) - RAEL designs, tests, and disseminates renewable energy systems. Under the direction of Professor Dan Kammen, the group has produced many papers on energy R&D, energy and climate change policy, energy and health (particularly indoor air pollution from fuelwood combustion), rural biomass use, and applications of solar photovolatic technologies.
University of Cape Town (South Africa), Energy and Development Research Centre (EDRC) - Policy, technology, and development studies, focusing on rural energy.
Winrock International Energy Publications - A series of annual and quarterly "Renewable Energy State of the Industry" reports, plus other research reports and newsletters from the global network of REPSO offices.
Wuppertal Institute - Climate, energy, and environment studies.
UNIVERSITIES WITH DEGREE-GRANTING PROGRAMS
Three good directories: (1) The U.S. Department of Energy has a page on Higher Education Programs, Courses, and Degrees in Energy. (2) The EU and French CLER and ADEME published the 2003 directory Courses and Trainings in Europe in the Field of Sustainable Energy. (3) The REEEP Renewable Energy and Energy Efficiency Partnership is developing a comprehensive database of renewable energy courses. This is a work in progress at the REEEP Training, Education, and Development page.
The American Council on Renewable Energy (ACORE) was developing an updated list. The section below is still being developed into a comprehensive listing, but the universities below are among the most visibly related to renewable energy.
Boston University, Center for Energy and Environmental Studies
Carnegie-Mellon University, Department of Engineering and Public Policy
European Master in Renewable Energy offered by the European Renewable Energy Research Centers (EUREC Agency) is a 12-month program focused on technology and engineering, also including socio-economic aspects. Theoretical and practical courses along with a 5-month company placement. Offered through nine different European Universities in English, French, and Spanish.
Harvard University, JFK School of Government, Center for Science & International Affairs
Imperial College (London), Department of Environmental Science and Technology
Lund University (Sweden), Department of Environmental and Energy Systems Studies
Lund University (Sweden), International Institute for Industrial Environmental Economics
Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Technology and Policy Program
The Open University (UK), Faculty of Technology (see also EERU)
Princeton University, Science, Technology and Environmental Policy Program
Stanford University Program on Energy and Sustainable Development. Research and courses on electric power policy, natural gas, energy and development, and climate change policy.
TERI University. This relatively new institution in New Delhi, India offers advanced degrees in energy, environment, and regulatory and policy studies. It is affiliated with The Energy and Resources Institute (TERI).
TERI School of Advanced Studies. This new institution in New Delhi, India offers advanced degrees in energy, environment, and regulatory and policy studies. It is affiliated with the Tata Energy Research Institute (TERI).
Tufts University, Fletcher School of Law and Diplomacy
University of California at Berkeley, Energy and Resources Group
University of Delaware, Center for Energy and Environmental Policy
University of Flensburg (Germany) Sustainable Energy Systems and Management offered in the International Institute of Management. MSc degrees features research with partner organizations such as UNDP and rotations to different countries.
University of Indiana School of Public and Environmental Affairs. Offers degrees in public affairs with concentrations in environmental policy.
University of Maryland, School of Public Affairs
University of Oldenburg (Germany) Postgraduate Programme in Renewable Energy offered through the , Faculty of Physics, Department of Energy and Semiconductor Research. MSc degrees on science, technology and applications, particularly in developing countries.
Yale School of Forestry and Environmental Studies has courses and research on renewable energy. This school also sponsors the Yale Center for Environmental Law and Policy, which includes renewable energy policy research.