Power systems need to be increasingly flexible to accommodate rising solar and wind shares. This brief examines the uses of demand-side flexibility, outlines solutions to achieve these, and highlights examples in actual power systems.

With the energy systems of many African countries dominated by fossil-fuel sources that are vulnerable to global price volatility, regional and intra-continental power systems with high shares of renewable energy can provide least-cost option to support continued economic growth and address the continent’s acute energy access problem. Unlocking Africa’s huge renewable energy potential could help to take many people out of poverty, while ensuring the uptake of sustainable technologies for the continent’s long-term development.

Les énergies renouvelables à faible coût jouent un rôle de plus en plus important dans l’offre d’électricité en Afrique de l’Ouest. Ce rapport présente trois grands scénarios pour la croissance des énergies renouvelables dans les systèmes d’énergie de la région, notamment en ce qui concerne les principaux objectifs nationaux et régionaux.

Este informe de la Agencia Internacional de Energías Renovables (IRENA) describe un método para potencial la flexibilidad del sistema eléctrico desde el punto de vista de la planificación, específicamente para acomodar la mayor participación posible de energía renovable variable (solar y eólica).

The International Renewable Energy Agency (IRENA) presents two reports demonstrating its ground-breaking renewable energy resource-assessment tool, concentrating on the region of the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS):

Panamá ha colaborado con la Agencia Internacional de Energías Renovables (IRENA) para llevar acabo un análisis de flexibilidad del sistema eléctrico. El estudio con la herramienta FlexTool de IRENA para este país considera las implicaciones de una alta penetración de energía solar y eólica, o energía renovable variable (ERV), en los próximos años.

This report examines Paraguay’s energy institutions and their governance, long-term energy planning practices, and the socio-economic benefits of promoting renewable and low-carbon technologies in the end-use sectors.

The International Renewable Energy Agency (IRENA) and Sweden’s Royal Institute of Technology (KTH) have examined the potential for renewable power generation based on resource availability all over Africa.

Colombia engaged with the International Renewable Energy Agency (IRENA) to assess the flexibility of the electricity mix proposed in their latest national expansion plan which pointed to VRE penetration exceeding IRENA’s Renewable Energy Roadmaps (REmap) estimates.

Panama engaged with the International Renewable Energy Agency (IRENA) to carry out a flexibility analysis for the power system considering a high penetration of Variable Renewable Energy (VRE).

Ce rapport examine divers scénarios d'adoption accélérée des énergies renouvelables, sur la base d'un outil de modélisation développé par l'IRENA et testé avec l'aide de la Communauté économique des États de l'Afrique de l'Ouest (CEDEAO).

A FlexTool study on Thailand's power system suggests cost-efficient investment options and provides a sensitivity analysis to find ways to reach high shares of renewables.   

This white paper, developed by the IRENA Coalition for Action, explores the role of energy utilities in the energy transition and outlines the achievements and implementation strategies of national, regional and local utilities switching to 100% renewable energy. The paper also includes an updated global mapping of national and sub-national 100% renewable energy targets.

The International Renewable Energy Agency (IRENA) has conducted quantitative assessments of the prospects for renewable energy deployment in Africa’s five regional power pools. This synthesis report summaries the findings of those five regional power studies, adding a consolidated outlook for the continent. The report also explains the energy-modelling approach employed and suggests the way forward for promoting renewable energy in Africa.

This report examines various scenarios for accelerated renewable energy uptake, based on a modelling tool developed by IRENA and tested with assistance from the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS).

A collaborative campaign, launched at the 9th Clean Energy Ministerial (CEM) in May 2018 and co-ordinated by the International Renewable Energy Agency (IRENA), calls for wider adoption and improved use of model-based LTES. This brochure highlights findings from the first-year of the LTES campaign.

Scenario modelling has become an essential tool to lay the groundwork for clean, reliable, sustainable future energy systems.

The report outlines recommendations to help Tunisia achieve its 30% renewables goal while boosting growth and development.

This REmap study, prepared in co-operation with the European Commission,  identifies cost-effective renewable energy options for all EU Member States, spanning a wide range of sectors and technologies.

Colombia ha colaborado con la Agencia Internacional de Energías Renovables (IRENA) para evaluar la flexibilidad del parque de generación propuesto en los planes nacionales de expansión. El último plan reclama una penetración ambiciosa de energía solar y eólica que excede incluso las estimaciones del programa REmap de IRENA.

This report identifies useful regulatory practices for the era of rapidly improving renewable energy technologies. It draws key insights from experiences with integrated resource planning (IRP) in South Africa and the US.

This policy paper, presented by the International Renewable Energy Agency (IRENA) in collaboration with the UK Energy Research Centre (UKERC), investigates indicators used to evaluate renewable energy deployment policies. Focusing on effectiveness, efficiency, equity and institutional feasibility, it analyzes the literature associated with these four key success criteria in depth, with a specific focus on lower income countries.

The Global Atlas for Renewable Energy (Global Atlas) aims to close the gap between countries with access to the datasets, expertise and financial support to evaluate their renewable energy potential, and those lacking such elements. As of January 2015, a total of 67 countries and more than 50 institutes and partners were contributing to the initiative, which is coordinated by the International Renewable Energy Agency (IRENA).

This study seeks to map suitable areas in Burkina Faso for deploying utility-scale solar photovoltaic (PV) and wind power projects.