IRENA’s Abu Dhabi council meeting highlights focus on resilient renewable supply chains and sustainable aviation fuels

The International Renewable Energy Agency (IRENA) is gearing up for its 29th Council meeting, which is scheduled to take place in Abu Dhabi on September 11, 2025. Over two days, more than 400 government officials from IRENA’s 169 member countries along with representatives from the European Union will gather for what’s expected to be a pretty significant set of strategic discussions. This kind of biannual meeting is really essential for steering the agency’s work plan and tackling the key challenges that are shaping today’s global energy transition. It also highlights Abu Dhabi’s ongoing status as a major hub for international climate and energy policy talks—something that’s becoming increasingly important these days.

One of the main topics on the agenda for the 29th Council is a detailed programmatic focus on energy security. Now, this isn’t just a passing comment—it’s about exploring ways to diversify renewable energy supply chains, bolster next-generation technologies, and strengthen regional manufacturing abilities. These are all critical factors, especially given the shifting geopolitical and economic uncertainties around renewable energy sources. IRENA intends to showcase its latest insights, particularly concerning the solar photovoltaic (PV) sector, which remains a core element in the global clean energy expansion.

Francesco La Camera, IRENA’s Director-General, really stressed the urgency of developing supply chains that are diverse, resilient, and transparent. He mentioned, “While shifting towards renewables is a fundamental step for energy security and independence, we see that global supply chains still tend to be concentrated in just a few countries.” Basically, La Camera pointed out that efforts to broaden the supply base are complicated by complex economic realities, and solving this will require collective international cooperation. Achieving the ambitious global goal of tripling renewable power capacity by 2030 will, without a doubt, depend heavily on overcoming these supply chain vulnerabilities.

The Council will also touch on boosting investments in sustainable aviation fuels (SAF). IRENA sees these fuels as pivotal for decarbonizing long-haul flights—something that’s notoriously tough to electrify and a notable contributor to global greenhouse gas emissions. Through different financing platforms, IRENA is supporting projects that aim to move sustainable aviation fuels from just ideas into bankable investments. This fits into a broader push to make transportation sectors, historically heavily dependent on fossil fuels, more sustainable.

Leading the meeting as Chair is H.E. Francisco Chacón Hernández, who’s the Ambassador of Costa Rica to the UAE, Saudi Arabia, and Jordan. He shared Costa Rica’s leadership vision, emphasizing inclusivity and mutual respect. “IRENA has proven to be a successful, inclusive vehicle that unites many countries in their search for solutions toward a sustainable energy future,” he said. And, reflecting Costa Rica’s own pioneering environmental policies, Hernández added that the Council aims to foster a spirit of collaboration focused on energy transition, decarbonization, and renewable energy sources—all while respecting and incorporating different viewpoints.

These discussions are happening at a time when global geopolitical tensions are intensifying—things that highlight how vulnerable concentrated renewable energy supply chains can be, especially in solar PV manufacturing, which is dominated by just a handful of countries. Given that, IRENA’s agenda resonates strongly with the UAE’s own goals of becoming a regional leader in industry and clean energy. It underscores the potential for expanding regional manufacturing capabilities and contributing to a more distributed, resilient global supply network.

At the conclusion of the 29th Council, delegates will set the key priorities for IRENA’s upcoming work, and they’ll also address important institutional matters in preparation for the 30th session. This forward-looking approach is crucial because the whole international effort to meet the UN Sustainable Development Goals and adhere to the Paris Agreement is speeding up—despite the increasing complexities of geopolitical challenges.

All in all, the 29th IRENA Council meeting is a vital platform for advancing global dialogue around energy security and supply chain resilience, both of which are essential for the success of the clean energy transition. It exemplifies the broad international cooperation needed—highlighting regional dynamics, policy alignment, investment strategies, and technological innovation—all working toward a more sustainable energy future. For anyone involved in climate technology within the UAE and beyond, these developments offer a pretty interesting look into how multilateral efforts can build more secure, diversified, and sustainable energy systems worldwide.

Source: Noah Wire Services