BAKU, Azerbaijan, April 13. The International
Renewable Energy Agency has urged governments to take immediate and
long-term measures to mitigate the impact of ongoing disruptions to
global energy markets caused by the conflict in the Middle East,
Trend reports
via IRENA.
According to IRENA, the situation — including partial closures
of the Strait of Hormuz and continued attacks on energy
infrastructure — has significantly disrupted global oil and gas
flows. This has triggered sharp and volatile price increases, with
ripple effects extending beyond energy markets into food systems,
transport, supply chains, inflation, and overall economic activity.
The agency warned that vulnerable communities are likely to bear
the brunt of these impacts.
To address the crisis and build resilience against future fossil
fuel shocks, IRENA outlined a set of policy actions across short-,
medium-, and long-term horizons.
In the short term (0–6 months), the agency recommends rapidly
deploying distributed renewable energy solutions to support
essential services such as healthcare, agriculture, and sanitation.
It also calls for accelerating the rollout of solar photovoltaic
mini-grids with battery storage in remote and underserved areas to
reduce reliance on diesel.
Additional measures include launching public campaigns to curb
energy demand, especially during peak periods, and introducing
time-of-use electricity tariffs to encourage consumption when
renewable supply is abundant. IRENA also highlights the need for
financial incentives—such as subsidies and tax breaks—to support
electrification, alongside efforts to boost electric mobility,
particularly in emerging economies. Reducing trade barriers for
renewable energy equipment is also seen as critical.
In the medium term (6–12 months), IRENA advises governments to
fast-track renewable energy and grid infrastructure projects, while
ensuring continued financing for projects in the pipeline. It also
recommends revising policy frameworks to reflect inflation and
supply chain pressures, and promoting battery storage, demand-side
management, and grid modernization to improve system
flexibility.
The agency further suggests expanding renewable-based heating
solutions, scaling up storage in off-grid systems, simplifying
permitting for electric vehicle charging infrastructure, and
supporting the development of sustainable aviation fuel
projects.
Over the longer term (1–3 years), IRENA emphasizes the
importance of establishing clear and stable policy frameworks to
attract investment in the energy transition. It calls for
integrating electrification planning into national energy
strategies, strengthening domestic and regional supply chains for
clean energy technologies, and promoting project hybridization to
combine renewables with storage.
Other recommendations include incentivizing electrification in
industry, developing targeted financing for renewable mini-grids in
vulnerable regions, and linking financial support for fossil fuel
industries to progress on renewable energy targets.
IRENA concludes that coordinated and forward-looking policy
action will be essential not only to navigate the current crisis
but also to accelerate the global transition to a more resilient
and sustainable energy system.
