The wide availability of renewable energy sources in the Middle East and North Africa (MENA) is at the core of several large-scale European initiatives to support clean energy generation in the region and import part of it to Europe. Given the current socio-economic and political challenges in...

The Middle East and North Africa region has been the focal point of large investments in renewable energy, primarily due to high solar irradiation and wind speed in coastal areas. Most countries in the region have set renewable energy targets to diversify their energy mix. Investments have also...

Bioenergy is a hotly debated issue worldwide, with its impacts on rural development and food security arguably among the most crucial issues for poor African countries. Too often, however, debates and policies regarding bioenergy in and on Africa simply echo concerns and debates elsewhere. At...

Renewable energy technologies (RET) play an important role in industrialised countries’ strategies for reducing CO2 emissions, and thus in mitigating climate change, as well as for achieving long-term energy security. Based on the principle of common but differentiated responsibilities, the...

The concept of sustainable development and the idea of an integrated approach that satisfies the complex linkages between water, energy and land should be part of a post-2015 development agenda. Water, energy and land are essential for many lifesupporting functions and key for satisfying basic...

Despite much progress in expanding energy systems in developing countries, an estimated 1.3 billion people do not have access to electricity, and around 2.8 billion people do not have access to clean cooking facilities. Instead, they rely on traditional fuels – predominately animal dung, crop...

During the last decade, hydropower has made a remarkable return to the global agenda, after having been absent due to heavy criticism because of its social and environmental impacts. The proponents of hydropower development claim that hydropower is 'clean' and 'green' and can thus support...