The International Renewable Energy Agency (IRENA) has launched a new initiative aimed at supporting young entrepreneurs and innovators in driving the renewable energy transition. The IRENA NewGen Renewable Energy Accelerator (NewGen) will provide capacity building, mentorship and other resources to youth-led projects and start-ups that are developing innovative solutions to advance the adoption of renewable energy at the global level.
The initiative was revealed during the World Utilities Congress at the Youth Energy Forum held by the TAQA Youth Council in Abu Dhabi. Supported by the United Arab Emirates, NewGen is being developed in collaboration with Social Alpha, a non-profit organisation based in India that supports social start-ups, and Enel Foundation, a global non-profit organisation focused on supporting the development of studies and research mainly in the energy field.
IRENA's Director-General, Francesco La Camera, stressed the importance of empowering a new generation of renewable energy leaders with the resources they need to tackle the pressing challenges of our time. “The rapid transition to renewable energy is crucial for the future of our planet, and young entrepreneurs are playing a vital role in powering this change. By launching NewGen, we are empowering a new generation of renewable energy leaders with the resources they need to tackle the pressing challenges of our time.”
NewGen will be open to youth-led projects and start-ups with a focus on innovative solutions in areas such as energy storage, grid integration, and energy efficiency. Selected participants will receive training, mentorship, and other resources to help them develop and scale their solutions. They will also have the opportunity to compete for the IRENA Youth Award, which will offer financial support for the top 5 solutions.
Manoj Kumar, Founder and CEO of Social Alpha, expressed his enthusiasm for the partnership and said, “We believe that by supporting young entrepreneurs and innovators, we can drive the adoption of renewable energy and accelerate the transition to a sustainable future.”
Carlo Papa, Managing Director of Enel Foundation, also shared his thoughts on the potential of NewGen, “We are excited to contribute to this initiative, which has the potential to drive innovation and further accelerate the energy transition. Young talents will help win the race to a clean energy future.”
The accelerator is part of IRENA's broader effort to support the acceleration of a global energy transition powered by renewables. By supporting youth-led innovation and entrepreneurship, IRENA aims to create new opportunities for clean energy development and help the global community achieve climate objectives and sustainable development goals.
