International Renewable Energy Agency (IRENA) is organizing the third International Off-grid Renewable Energy Conference and Exhibition (IOREC) in an effort to improve electricity access by scaling up off-grid renewables.
IOREC 2016 will focus on four overarching themes: stand-alone systems for rapid expansion of electricity access; technology innovation to unlock new opportunities; mini-grid development to meet growing demand; and socio-economic benefits of off-grid renewable energy system deployment.
Participants will share experiences and best practices on the design and implementation of enabling policies, tailored financing schemes, innovative business models, and technology applications to boost off-grid development, according to IRENA.
Adnan Amin , IRENA’s General Director, said: “Dramatic cost reductions in recent years have made renewable technologies the most economic option for off-grid electrification – even cheaper than diesel-fired generation or kerosene-based conventional lighting in majority of contexts. Off-grid renewables can spur socio-economic growth while also contributing to multiple Sustainable Development Goals.”
IRENA is organizing the event in partnership with the Kenyan Ministry of Energy and Petroleum and the Alliance for Rural Electrification (ARE).
IOREC 2016 will be held in Nairobi, Kenya, from September 30 to October 1, 2016.