BAKU, Azerbaijan, October 17.
The International Renewable Energy Agency (IRENA) has identified
accelerating electrification, modernizing energy infrastructure,
expanding investment, and strengthening international cooperation
among the seven key priorities for boosting the global energy
transition by 2035.
This was reflected in the World Energy Transition Outlook 2026
report, published on the website of IRENA.
According to the report, the primary task for the coming decade
lies not so much in setting new long-term goals as in the practical
implementation of commitments already made.
IRENA identified the development of comprehensive plans and
market mechanisms as the first priority, mechanisms that align the
growth of renewable energy, electrification, infrastructure
modernization, and investment activity. Such frameworks should
provide predictable, long-term conditions for investors and help
identify and remove barriers to project implementation, while still
allowing for market-based decision-making.
The second priority involves developing national energy
transition roadmaps tailored to the specific circumstances of each
country. These should integrate measures for expanding renewable
energy sources, advancing electrification, improving energy
efficiency, utilizing sustainable fuels, and ensuring a just
transition away from fossil fuels.
The third priority, according to the agency, is to accelerate
investment in the expansion and modernization of energy
infrastructure—most notably power transmission and distribution
grids, energy storage systems, solutions for grid flexibility, and
digital infrastructure. At the same time, market reforms are
required to provide effective price signals and incentivize
investment in the reliability and flexibility of energy supply.
The fourth priority entails the development of comprehensive
industrial strategies to foster competitive clean energy sectors.
Specifically, this involves strengthening national and regional
supply chains, building professional expertise, and increasing
domestic value-added, all while maintaining access to international
markets and technological partnerships, IRENA noted.
The fifth priority is to create a stable environment for
investment, reduce the cost of capital, and develop national
financial markets. According to IRENA, public funding should be
strategically directed toward supporting renewable energy,
infrastructure, workforce training, and industrial transformation,
while also serving to attract additional private capital,
particularly in developing countries.
The sixth priority involves ensuring that the energy transition
delivers social, economic, and environmental benefits. This
requires measures to maintain energy affordability for the public,
strengthen social and environmental protections, expand equal
economic opportunities, and involve the public in decision-making
processes.
As a seventh priority, IRENA highlighted the importance of
strengthening international cooperation, including technology
transfer, the diversification of supply chains, the development of
regional industrial partnerships, collaboration among Global South
nations, knowledge sharing, and expanding access to affordable
financing.
The report placed particular emphasis on the electrification of
end-use energy consumption. The agency identified this as a core
pillar of the energy transition by 2035, as it bridges the gap
between the expansion of clean electricity generation and the
transformation of the transport, building, and industrial
sectors.
IRENA pointed out that while international efforts are already
focused on accelerating the deployment of renewable energy
capacity, improving energy efficiency, strengthening power grids,
and developing sustainable fuels, the transformation of end-use
energy consumption has received comparatively less attention.
"Elevating electrification to a key priority will help link
existing international commitments to practical changes within the
energy system, accelerate the reduction of reliance on fossil
fuels, and keep within reach the goal of limiting global warming to
1.5 degrees Celsius," the report added.
