The International Renewable Energy Agency (IRENA) plays a central role in advancing renewable energy worldwide by supporting its Members with evidence, analysis, and international cooperation. This role was reaffirmed at the recent IRENA Assembly, held th  in the United Arab Emirates, which brought together ministers, senior government officials, industry leaders, and international partners from across the globe. 

Alongside the Assembly, the World Future Energy Summit (WFES) provided a platform to connect policy discussions with practical insights on energy systems and technologies. Together, these events offered an important setting to highlight the growing links between climate variability, renewable energy resources, and energy demand. 

Within this context, Dr. Alberto Troccoli CEO at Inside Climate Service srl, Managing Director at World Energy & Meteorology Council, contributed to ongoing WMO–IRENA collaboration focused on strengthening the climate evidence base available to the energy community. He also represented the World Meteorological Organization (WMO) in his role as Chair of the WMO Study Group on Renewable Energy Transition. This work was carried out in close collaboration with WMO. 

We caught up with Dr.Troccoli to hear directly from him about his experience at the IRENA Assembly and the World Future Energy Summit.  

Q: What was the focus of your participation at the IRENA Assembly and the World Future Energy Summit?

My participation focused on two main activities. The first was the official public launch of the WMO–IRENA joint publication “2024 Year in Review: Climate-driven Global Renewable Energy Resources and Energy Demand”, which took place during the World Future Energy Summit. I presented the key messages of the report, building on previous editions of the Year in Review series.

The second activity related to ongoing discussions around the Global Partnership for Weather, Water and Climate Services for a Clean Energy Transition, which aims to strengthen collaboration between weather and climate service providers and the energy sector. 

Q: What does the 2024 Year in Review report show?

The report documents how climate variability during 2024 influenced both renewable energy resources and energy demand at a global scale. It highlights, for example, the effects of extreme heat on energy demand, as well as variations in wind, solar, and hydropower resources linked to observed climate conditions. 

The analysis is based on authoritative datasets and draws in large part on information from the Copernicus Climate Change Service (C3S) Energy service, illustrating how operational climate services can support energy-related analysis

“The Year in Review highlights how observed climate variability is influencing renewable energy resources and energy demand. Strengthening the link between climate information and energy analysis is an important part of supporting informed discussions on the energy transition.” — Dr. Alberto Troccoli 

Q: Why is this type of analysis relevant for IRENA and its Members?

For IRENA and its Members, understanding how climate variability affects renewable energy resources and demand is an important element of energy system planning. The Year in Review provides a consolidated overview of observed conditions and recent trends, helping to inform discussions on energy system performance and resilience. 

In this sense, the report contributes to IRENA’s broader work by strengthening the evidence base available to policymakers and energy stakeholders. 

Q: How do WEMC and Inside Climate Service contribute to this collaboration? 

WEMC supports dialogue and knowledge exchange between the meteorological and energy communities, helping to connect climate science with energy sector needs. Inside Climate Service contributes by developing and applying climate data, forecasts, and projections for energy-related analysis and decision support. 

Together, these roles support WMO–IRENA collaboration by helping translate climate information into formats and insights that are relevant for the energy community. 

The launch of the WMO–IRENA 2024 Year in Review at WFES highlights the value of continued collaboration between international organisations, climate service providers, and the energy sector. As renewable energy systems continue to expand globally, understanding the influence of climate variability on both supply and demand will remain an important area of focus.