Knowledge Resources Related to Renewable Energies
- The Dictionary of Green-e, the renewable electricity certification program
Green-e is the United States's leading independent renewable energy certification and verification program. The logo provides a way for consumers to quickly identify environmentally superior energy options and is used by businesses to communicate the purchase and/or generation of certified renewable energy. Regardless of income, location, or property ownership, consumers across the U.S. can choose Green-e certified renewable energy to "green" their home and/or business. Green-e is administered by the Center for Resource Solutions, a 501(c)3 nonprofit organization based in San Francisco, California.
The website also provides a comprehensive dictionary for technical terms related to renewable energies, such as "aggregator", "attribute" or "Tradable Renewable Certificates".
- The Prometheus Institute for Sustainable Development
The goal of the Prometheus Institute for Sustainable Development is to accelerate the deployment of socially-beneficial sustainable technologies, including those of energy, water, and food, by educating industry participants, advocates, and policymakers about their benefits. They achieve this mission by collecting and disseminating reliable data, quantitative analysis, and practical information about these industries. Today, the Institute strives to be the world's leading source of publicly available primary data on the photovoltaic (PV) supply chain and end-markets through a series of data collection and dissemination projects and the publication of the industry's oldest newsletter, PV News. Currently, the Institute remains solely focused on its initiatives in the solar energy industry.
- The Renewable Planet
The Renewable Planet is a free and accessible resource that highlights the number and variety of renewable energy projects from around the world.
- Wikipedia Free Encyclopedia
Wikipedia on-line encyclopedia provides a good introduction to the different types of renewable energy technologies.
Renewable Energy Policy
- The American Council on Renewable Energy (ACORE)
The American Council On Renewable Energy, a 501(c)(3), non-profit organization in Washington, D.C., is focused on accelerating the adoption of renewable energy technologies into the mainstream of American society through work in convening, information publishing and communications. With a focus on trade, finance and policy, ACORE promotes all renewable energy options for the production of electricity, hydrogen, fuels and end-use energy.
- US Department of Energy's programs on renewables
The Department of Energy is committed to the development of renewable sources of energy. For instance, DOE believes tomorrow's generation of automobiles and trucks will have to be cleaner and much more efficient if the United States is to strengthen its energy security and continue to improve its environment. In addition, the Department of Energy's Office of Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy (EERE) focuses on the range of renewable energy sources, partnering with other government entities and the private sector to better leverage the Federal investment in research, development and deployment (RD&D) of new technologies. These partnerships involve other components of the Department of Energy, including the Offices of Fossil Energy, Nuclear Energy, Science and Technology, and Science, as well as other Federal agencies. EERE also has begun to establish a much closer working relationship with State organizations pursuing energy technology R&D.
- EPA's Clean Energy Programs
EPA states that clean energy offers a cost-effective way to meet US's growing demand for electricity and natural gas while reducing emissions of air pollutants and greenhouse gases, lowering consumers' energy bills, and improving the reliability and security of our energy system. EPA's Clean Energy Programs are working with state policy makers, electric and gas utilities, energy customers, and other key stakeholders. By identifying, designing and implementing clean energy policy and technology solutions, they try to deliver important environmental and economic benefits.
- International Energy Agency (IEA) Renewable Energy Policies and Measures on a Global Scale
The Global Renewable Energy Policies and Measures Database is an initiative led by the International Energy Agency, and is being implemented in collaboration with the European Commission and the Johannesburg Renewable Energy Coalition. The Database features over 100 countries and offers renewable energy market and policy information in one format in one location for countries that together represent almost total global renewables supply.
The Database is freely accessible online via the IEA website. Visitors can search for information according to country, policy instrument, renewable energy technology, renewable energy target and other criteria. This online searchable database is part of a continued effort by the International Energy Agency to contribute to the international dialogue on renewable energy by providing unbiased information and analysis for the use by decision-makers, policy experts, researchers and industry, as well as by the broader public.
- The Sustainable Energy and Climate Change Initiative of the Inter-American Development Bank
The mission of IDB's Sustainable Energy and Climate Change Initiative (SECCI) is to support the Latin America and the Caribbean region in its urgent challenge to find economically and environmentally sound energy options. Its core objectives are to expand the development and use of renewable energy sources, energy efficiency technologies and practices, and carbon finance in the region, as well as to promote and finance climate change adaptation strategies that reduce the region's climate vulnerability.
- United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC)
Over a decade ago, most countries joined an international treaty -- the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) -- to begin to consider what can be done to reduce global warming and to cope with whatever temperature increases are inevitable. Recently, a number of nations have approved an addition to the treaty: the Kyoto Protocol, which has more powerful (and legally binding) measures. The UNFCCC secretariat supports all institutions involved in the climate change process, particularly the COP, the subsidiary bodies and their Bureau.
- UNEP Renewable Energy
UNEP Energy's renewable energy activities focus on the needs of developing and transition economies in various facets of renewable energy technology research, development, and commercialization. UNEP Energy works with a broad spectrum of partners in these efforts, including industry associations, NGOs, financial institutions and the private sector.
- REN21 - Renewable Energy Policy Network for the 21st Century
REN21 is a global policy network that provides a forum for international leadership on renewable energy. Its goal is to bolster policy development for the rapid expansion of renewable energies in developing and industrialized economies.
- World Council for Renewable Energy
The WCRE is a global voice for Renewable Energies. The Objectives:- Communicating the urgent and global need for Renewable Energies and their availability for all energy demands;
- Analyzing the international barriers to Renewable Energies and preparing proposals to overcome these;
- Documenting experience of initiatives for Renewable Energies and communicating best-practice examples world-wide;
- Evaluating the advanced technological opportunities and applications of Renewable Energy Technologies
- World Bank Renewable Energy Web Site
The World Bank Group's energy work helps developing countries achieve the following objectives:- Improve access to clean, modern and affordable energy services for their poor.
- Achieve sustainability in the environmental, financial, and fiscal aspects of their energy sectors.
Renewable Energy Finance
- UNEP Sustainable Energy Finance Initiative (SEFI)
SEFI is the UNEP Sustainable Energy Finance Initiative - a platform providing financiers with the tools, support, and global network needed to conceive and manage investments in the complex and rapidly changing marketplace for clean energy technologies. SEFI's goal is to foster investment in sustainable energy projects by providing up-to-date investor information, facilitating deal origination, developing partnerships, and creating the momentum needed to shift sustainable energy from the margins of energy supply to the mainstream.
A part of SEFI is the Sustainable Energy Finance Directory. This is a free-of-charge online database of lenders and investors who actively provide finance to the sustainable energy (renewable energy and energy efficiency) sector worldwide.
Solar and Wind Energy Resource Assessment (SWERA)
Designed and maintained by UNEP/GRID-Sioux Falls