31 May 2017 Seventh session of the Assembly of IRENA Abu Dhabi, 14 – 15 January 2017 REPORT OF THE SEVENTH SESSION OF THE ASSEMBLY OF THE INTERNATIONAL RENEWABLE ENERGY AGENCY Document Title Number Page Report of the seventh session of the Assembly of IRENA A/7/SR/1 2 Annex 1 Agenda of the seventh session of the Assembly A/7/1 25 Annex 2 List of observers at the seventh session of the Assembly A/7/2 27 Annex 3 Report of the Credentials Committee A/7/4/Rev.1 31 Annex 4 Decision on the membership of the Council of IRENA A/7/DC/1 34 Decision on the appointment of an external auditor of Annex 5 A/7/DC/2 36 IRENA Decision on the Indicative IRENA Scale of Contributions Annex 6 A/7/DC/3 37 for 2017 Decision on temporary measure on the length of staff Annex 7 A/7/DC/4 38 service Annex 8 List of Participants A/7/PRC 39 Assembly Report, 14 – 15 January 2017 A/7/SR/1 Report of the seventh session of the Assembly of the International Renewable Energy Agency Agenda Item 1: Opening of the meeting 1. The seventh session of the Assembly of the International Renewable Energy Agency (IRENA) was held on 14 and 15 January 2017 in Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates. There were over 1050 registered participants, including 63 Heads of State or Government and Ministers, along with delegates from 150 countries and the European Union. The attendees comprised 130 Members of IRENA, 17 Signatories and States in Accession, 4 other states and 137 other entities. 2. The President of the sixth session of the Assembly, Egypt, represented by H.E. Mr. Magdy Rady, Assistant Minister of Foreign Affairs for International Economic Relations and International Cooperation, welcomed delegations. H.E. Mr. Rady noted that renewable energy has become an integral source within the energy mix of countries rather than a mere “alternative” resource. He highlighted Egypt’s efforts to use its renewable energy potential to become an energy hub in the Mediterranean region and invited all interested parties to take part in this ambitious endeavour. Agenda Item 2: Organisation of work a. Election of officials 3. The Assembly had, at its sixth session, designated Italy by acclamation as President of the seventh session. Accordingly, the outgoing President proposed that the Assembly elect Italy as President of this seventh Assembly session. 4. The Assembly elected by acclamation Italy, represented by H.E. Mr. Mario Giro, Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation, as President of the seventh session of the Assembly. 5. Today, energy generates not just light, but also peace, and thanks to renewables we are increasing our energy security, observed H.E. Mr. Giro in his opening remarks. Renewable energy can help the world achieve three other key goals, he said: creating new job opportunities and economic growth; combatting climate change while bolstering sustainable development; and facilitating access to energy, which thereby addresses some of the root causes of large migration flows. He added that in only a few years, IRENA has emerged as the global voice for renewable energy, become an essential instrument of multilateral cooperation, and doubled its membership, becoming a truly universal forum. He welcomed the Agency’s activities with Members of Parliament, stressing the importance of the work of parliaments in shaping strategic and ambitious legislation. 6. H.E. Mr. Giro said Italy was deeply committed to the objectives of the Agency, adding that renewables currently make up around 40% of the country’s power generation. Innovation and access, along with the linkages between climate change, energy security and sustainable energy, would be a focus of Italy’s membership on the United Nations Security Council and Presidency of the G7, he said. Moreover, Italy supports renewable energy within the European Union, contributing to the target of attaining a zero-carbon economy within this century. 2 A/7/SR/1 Assembly Report, 14 – 15 January 2017 7. The President emphasised that this Assembly, coming at a time of extraordinary global growth for renewable energy, was the first important event on energy transition after the 22nd Conference of the Parties (COP22) in Marrakech and the entry into force of the Paris Agreement. He expressed his confidence that this Assembly would set the course for a new era of renewable energy across the globe and that IRENA Members would put all their efforts into the transition to a low-carbon future. 8. The Assembly elected by acclamation  the Dominican Republic, represented by H.E. Mr. Antonio Isa Conde, Minister of Energy and Mines;  Indonesia, represented by Mr. Rida Mulyana, Director General for New and Renewable Energy and Energy Conservation;  Jordan, represented by H.E. Mr. Ibrahim Saif, Minister of Energy and Mineral Resources; and  Morocco, represented by Mr. Abderrahim El Hafidi, Secretary General of the Ministery of Energy, Mines, Water and Environment, as Vice-Presidents of its seventh session. 9. The Assembly appointed as Rapporteur Djibouti, represented by H.E. Mr. Yassin Houssein Bouh, Minister of Energy in Charge of Natural Resources. b. Adoption of the Agenda (A/7/1) 10. The President introduced the ‘Provisional Agenda’ (A/7/L.1). 11. The Assembly adopted the Agenda (A/7/1). c. Appointment of a Credentials Committee 12. The President proposed to the Assembly that it appoint Angola, the Dominican Republic, Fiji, Germany, Kazakhstan, Kenya, Pakistan, the Philippines and Poland as members of the Credentials Committee. 13. The Assembly appointed the proposed nine Members to constitute the Credentials Committee. d. Participation of Observers (A/7/2) 14. The President introduced the ‘List of applicants for observer status at the seventh session of the Assembly’ (A/7/L.2). 15. The Assembly considered the matter and granted observer status for its seventh session to those entities on the list (A/7/2). 3 Assembly Report, 14 – 15 January 2017 A/7/SR/1 Agenda Item 3: Host country welcome speech and other opening remarks Welcome remarks of the Director-General of IRENA 16. In his opening remarks Mr. Adnan Z. Amin, Director-General of IRENA noted that the Assembly is meeting at a time of profound change when the energy transformation is fuelled by a remarkable surge in renewables driven by markets, cost reductions and technological innovation. He emphasised that renewable energy is now firmly at the centre stage of global efforts to meet climate and sustainable development objectives, and is becoming the preferred source of energy for an ever-growing number of governments, businesses and consumers around the world. 17. The Director-General noted that the Agency welcomed its 150th member in 2016 and had a further 30 countries in the process of accession, and that the unparalleled speed with which IRENA has developed near universal membership means that it has at its fingertips a wealth of knowledge and experience that will allow its work to expand in size and scope, thereby reaching new stakeholders and bringing cutting-edge evidence and analysis to decision-makers all over the world. 18. The Director-General stressed that the speed and scale of the energy transformation calls, more than at any time before, for a strengthened global cooperation, through concrete action and initiatives, to seize its opportunities and grapple with the changes and challenges that it brings. He noted that the Assembly is an opportunity to do this, and expressed his beliefs that the knowledge and experience that will be shared among delegations will contribute to shaping a common sustainable energy future. 19. He highlighted the support of the host country, which has been central in reaching the level of success and ambition that IRENA has been able to achieve, and in the spirit of international co-operation he welcomed the delegations to the seventh session of the IRENA Assembly. Welcome remarks of the host country 20. On behalf of the Agency’s host country, the United Arab Emirates (UAE), H.E. Mr. Thani Ahmed Al Zeyoudi, Minister of Climate Change and Environment, noted the momentum of renewables as a major factor in the global energy market, as reflected in the record investments and new capacity addition seen in 2015. He underscored the importance of renewable energy to achieve the Sustainable Development Goals and fulfil the Paris Agreement. H.E. Mr. Al Zeyoudi highlighted IRENA’s growth in membership and its contribution to the global energy transition through its advocacy and analytical work, including engagement at COP22 and the publication of REmap. He highlighted IRENA’s role in convening various stakeholders, including governments, the private sector and academia, to accelerate the global energy transition. 21. H.E. Mr. Al Zeyoudi affirmed the UAE’s support for IRENA and emphasised the partnership between the Agency and the Abu Dhabi Fund for Development (ADFD). He underlined the UAE’s long-term commitment to deploy renewable energy and build a low-carbon economy, while stressing the UAE’s engagement in international energy cooperation and support for energy projects abroad. Highlighting the record low prices for solar power achieved in auctions, he pointed to expectations of further cost declines for renewable energy through 2025. He closed by inviting delegates to participate actively in the Assembly, as well as in the events of the Abu Dhabi Sustainability Week. 4 A/7/SR/1 Assembly Report, 14 – 15 January 2017 Report from the meeting on the SIDS Lighthouses Initiative: Power Sector Transformation in Small Island Developing States (13 January 2017) 22. H.E. Mr. Henry Puna, Prime Minister of the Cook Islands, highlighted the importance of the Paris Agreement and the Sustainable Development Goals as frameworks for combatting climate change. Reporting back from the meeting on power sector transformation in Small Island Developing States (SIDS), he said renewable energy is the key solution to achieve the goals set out in these frameworks. Many SIDS have set ambitious renewable energy targets, and the meeting aimed to look at how to match these ambitions with reality, he explained. 23. The Prime Minister noted the need for greater support to implement the energy-related component of Nationally Determined Contributions (NDCs) under the Paris Agreement. He highlighted that the Initiative for Renewable Island Energy (IRIE), launched by the Alliance of Small Island States (AOSIS) at COP22 in partnership with IRENA’s SIDS Lighthouses Initiative, aims at accelerating the implementation of energy NDCs through the increased deployment of renewables and energy efficiency on islands. He underlined the actions that were identified to further support the implementation of energy-related NDCs, such as the exchange of knowledge and best practices, the development of capacity and the co-ordination of island-related work among international organisations. Report from the High-Level Meeting on Renewable Energy in South East Europe (13 January 2017) 24. Reporting back from the meeting, Mr. Koli Bele, Secretary General of the Ministry of Energy and Industry of Albania, noted the high level of interest in examining ways to scale-up IRENA’s support to governments of South East Europe (SEE). Mr. Bele highlighted the launch of IRENA’s report Cost- competitive Renewable Power Generation: Potential across South East Europe, which shows the region’s cost-competitive potential from renewables to be 15 times higher than the planned total capacity addition by 2020. He welcomed the findings of the report as input to upcoming decision- making processes, stressing governments’ current, ambitious commitments to scale-up renewables by 2020 and the region’s aim to further increase the level of ambition for deployment by 2030. 25. Mr. Bele highlighted the areas that had been identified for closer co-operation between the governments of South East Europe, IRENA and development partners, namely resource assessment, renewable energy planning, socio-economic benefits of renewables, data availability (particularly in bioenergy), enabling frameworks to promote investments in renewables, grid integration, and renewable energy financing and risk mitigation. He informed the Assembly that participants had also discussed the ‘Action Plan for IRENA’s engagement in SEE’ and welcomed the ‘Abu Dhabi Communique on accelerating the uptake of renewables in South East Europe’ as a strong signal for a common vision in the region. Report from the 2017 Legislators Forum (13 January 2017) 26. Reporting back from the Legislators Forum 2017, Ms. Kathleen Van Brempt, Member of the European Parliament, highlighted the relevance of policy instruments, such as auctions or feed-in- tariffs, for deploying renewable energy. Ms. Van Brempt noted that participants had underlined the importance of public engagement and support for achieving the energy transition. She referred to the participants’ discussion on options for international financing instruments, such as the Green Climate Fund, to shift towards providing risk mitigation services to leverage private financing. Ms. Van Brempt noted that parliamentarians had emphasised the potential of decentralised energy solutions in rural and urban contexts to provide access to energy. 5 Assembly Report, 14 – 15 January 2017 A/7/SR/1 27. Ms. Van Brempt concluded that participants had stressed the value of IRENA’s engagement with parliamentarians, such as through the Legislators Forum, to facilitate knowledge exchange and international co-operation. They had welcomed tools such as the IRENA Project Navigator and the International Energy Agency (IEA)/IRENA joint Policies and Measures Database, as well as IRENA’s analytical work on policy instruments, financial risk mitigation and off-grid energy solutions. Ms. Van Brempt noted that participants had encouraged IRENA to extend its analytical work on legislative frameworks while further exploring avenues to disseminate its work to parliamentarians. 28. The Assembly received with appreciation the remarks and reports provided. Agenda Item 4: Annual Report of the Director-General on the implementation of the Work Programme and Budget for 2016-2017 (A/7/3) 29. The Director-General introduced his Annual Report on the Implementation of the Work Programme and Budget for 2016-2017 by providing an overview of key global energy trends in 2015 and 2016. He underlined the central role of renewable energy to achieve the objectives of the Paris Agreement and the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). He stressed that the transition to a sustainable energy future brings unprecedented new opportunities that can revitalize economies and lift people out of poverty, and that the Agency is taking an active part in global efforts to accelerate this transition. 30. The Director-General highlighted that plummeting costs and rapid innovation had spurred investments, transforming renewable energy from niche to an economically and technically preferred solution. He emphasised the growing momentum behind renewable energy pointing to record power capacity additions, investments and jobs added in 2015. He mentioned that while early estimates for 2016 indicate that investments have not reached the levels of 2015, the price decreases have also led to record capacity additions for different technologies, as a result of the falling costs. He also provided examples of ambitious plans, investments and achievements in renewable energy deployment from several countries during the past year. 31. The Director-General described IRENA’s engagement with international processes such as the 22nd session of the Conference of the Parties (COP22) to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC), the G7, the G20 and the Berlin Energy Transition Dialogue. 32. The Director-General further outlined the progress of the Agency’s programmatic activities. He announced the release of the third edition of REthinking Energy, which analyses the latest developments in policy, technology and finance, and identifies areas of action to advance the energy transition. 33. He also noted the launch of the second edition of REmap – IRENA’s global renewable energy roadmap for 2030 – which shows the need for an acceleration of renewable energy deployment across all sectors particularly end-use sectors. The Director-General stressed the importance of IRENA’s support to countries, such as that provided through the Renewables Readiness Assessments (RRA) undertaken in 30 countries to date, and expanded regional activities, such as the Clean Energy Corridor initiative and support to islands. 34. The Director-General noted that socio-economic benefits, such as job creation, are increasingly becoming a driver of renewable energy deployment, along with a compelling business case and declining costs. He emphasised the key role of the private sector in general and as reflected more recently, for example, in renewable energy coprporate sourcing initiatives. He highlighted the need for policy and regulatory stability to further scale-up private sector investments and reduce costs. 6 A/7/SR/1 Assembly Report, 14 – 15 January 2017 35. The Director-General stressed the importance of innovation as an enabler of change that has helped several countries to successfully integrate substantial shares of variable renewable energy into their power grids. He referred to IRENA’s first Innovation Week, held in Bonn, Germany in May 2016, as part of the Agency’s efforts to bring together stakeholders which can shape and accelerate the transformation of the energy sector. 36. The Director-General highlighted the existing and steadily growing potential of off-grid renewable energy, driven by technological innovation and new business models. He pointed to the success of the third International Off-Grid Renewable Energy Conference (IOREC), held in Nairobi, Kenya in September 2016, as a testament to the significant contribution off-grid renewable energy solutions can make towards the achievement multiple Sustainable Development Goals. 37. The Director-General stated that the Agency will continue to provide decision makers with accurate knowledge for the planning and implementation of the energy transition. He stressed that IRENA will continue its efforts to amplify its impact through close collaboration with a wide range of partners in its programmatic activities such as the Global Geothermal Alliance (GGA), SIDS Lighthouses Initiative, and Sustainable Energy Marketplace (Marketplace). He underscored the importance of IRENA’s continued engagement with relevant international organisations and international processes, including the United Nations, the G7, and the G20. 38. The Director-General concluded by thanking Members for the timely transmission of core resources and expressed his gratitude to the European Union, France, Germany, Japan, Norway and the United Arab Emirates for additional voluntary contributions to support the implementation of the Work Programme in 2016. He informed Members that IRENA has qualified as an Official Development Assistance (ODA) eligible international organisation. 39. In the ensuing discussion, delegations emphasised the importance of the Assembly as a platform for Members to discuss current trends in renewable energy, exchange knowledge and best practices, foster international co-operation, and take concrete steps to accelerate the global energy transition. One delegation expressed its appreciation for the holding of the high level event on South East Europe. 40. Delegations welcomed the report of the Director-General and commended the Agency on its progress in implementing the Work Programme and rapid growth in membership. They affirmed their continued support for IRENA’s work, and several delegations expressed their interest in continued cooperation with the Abu Dhabi Fund for Development (ADFD). 41. Delegations highlighted the contribution of IRENA’s initiatives and analytical work to national energy policy-making and implementation, such as through the Clean Energy Corridors, Global Atlas, GGA, REmap analysis, RRAs, SIDS Lighthouses Initiative, Marketplace and other project development tools, as well as its analytical work on bioenergy, corporate sourcing, financial risk mitigation instruments, electricity storage, geothermal energy, off-grid renewable energy options and policies, technological market trends, and cost reductions. Delegations encouraged IRENA to continue these activities. 42. Delegations highlighted the momentum and framework created by the entry into force of the Paris Agreement, COP22, the SDGs, and the 6th Tokyo International Conference on African Development (TICAD) for the deployment of renewable energy and achievement of universal access to energy. Several delegations emphasised IRENA’s role in assisting Members in implementing the Paris Agreement and raising the level of ambition in Nationally Determined Contributions, as well as in pursuit of the SDGs. 7 Assembly Report, 14 – 15 January 2017 A/7/SR/1 43. Delegations emphasised the central role of renewable energy in the implementation of the Paris Agreement and achievement of a low-carbon economy, as well as its cross-cutting impact on other SDGs including poverty reduction, food security, clean water, public health, education, economic growth, women’s empowerment and combatting climate change. They also underscored the role of renewable energy in enhancing energy supply and security. 44. Several delegations welcomed IRENA’s engagement with international processes, such as COP22, G7 and G20, as well as with international organisations, such as the IEA, and encouraged the Agency to continue its efforts in this regard. One delegation invited IRENA to amplify its co-operation with the Global Green Growth Institute (GGGI) and the Green Climate Fund (GCF) Readiness Programme. Another delegation encouraged IRENA to collaborate with regional organisations and development partners, such as the Pacific Community and the Pacific Islands Forum. 45. A number of delegations stressed the need for further technological innovation to fulfil the Paris Agreement and achieve SDGs and encouraged IRENA to promote the adoption of new renewable energy technologies. 46. Several delegations highlighted that energy access remained an important issue and encouraged the Agency to continue its work in this area. Noting the potential of off-grid renewable energy in contributing to energy access, one delegation encouraged IRENA to lead an initiative promoting stand- alone solar systems as part of achieving the SDGs. 47. A number of delegations emphasised IRENA’s role as a source of knowledge and policy advice, and as a promoter of international co-operation and implementation of renewable energy technology and business models to ensure a secure and sustainable energy future. 48. A number of delegations invited IRENA to provide policy advice and capacity building for their current national energy transition efforts. One delegation commented that, in their particular case, grid stability, the seasonality of renewable energy, and regulating consumer electricity prices remained a challenge. 49. Delegations expressed their commitment to the energy transition and shared their national efforts in promoting renewable energy deployment, energy efficiency and energy access. Delegations noted the business case of, and declining costs for, renewable energy. 50. Some delegations called upon Members to increase their efforts in accelerating the global energy transition. A number of delegations emphasised the importance of gender equality in renewable energy policy making and deployment. 51. Several delegations highlighted the need for IRENA to continue to focus its efforts on countries most vulnerable to the impacts of climate change, and encouraged Members to continue their support for the SIDS Lighthouses initiative. 52. Delegations emphasised the importance of private sector investments in accelerating the energy transition and encouraged governments to lead by creating an enabling environment. One delegation encouraged IRENA to support countries in establishing enabling frameworks for private sector investment, and another delegation expressed its support for IRENA’s engagement with the private sector. 53. Delegations stressed the impact of greater regional integration of energy markets and power grids for energy security and decarbonising economies, referring to IRENA and other initiatives such as the Asian Supergrid, Clean Energy Corridors, the Eastern Africa Power Pool, the European Power Market, Global Energy Interconnection, and the Southern African Power Pool. 8 A/7/SR/1 Assembly Report, 14 – 15 January 2017 54. A number of delegations stressed the importance of international co-operation in the fields of knowledge exchange, research and development, and cost-reduction. One delegation encouraged international co-operation on improving efficiency along the fossil fuel value chain to strengthen climate change mitigation, energy security and energy supply. 55. Several delegations welcomed the launch of the Initiative for Renewable Island Energy (IRIE) at COP22. One delegation also noted the work of the ECOWAS Centre for Renewable Energy and Energy Efficiency (ECREEE) in West Africa. 56. A delegation pointed to the role of natural gas in decarbonising the power sector, while another one highlighted the potential of hydrogen technologies in transport and grid stability. One delegation noted the role of off-shore wind energy in the energy transition. Another delegation underscored the importance of storage solutions and waste management policies to achieve sustainable development. 57. Delegations encouraged IRENA to become more action-oriented in its work by assisting Members in the implementation of their strategies, and proposed to IRENA to focus on key trends and cross- cutting issues in combating global warming, and to deliver tangible and practical results. Two delegations called upon IRENA to strengthen the monitoring and evaluation framework of its tools and services to maximise the impact of its work. 58. The Deputy Director-General remarked that several countries’ national achievements in promoting renewable energy had been included in IRENA’s analytical work and disseminated to Members. He stressed that country interventions provided valuable input and guidance to the Agency’s programmatic activities, particularly to the upcoming discussions on the next work programme for 2018-2019. 59. The Director-General welcomed countries’ commitment to ambitious renewable energy policy targets and actions, including the promotion of innovation and international co-operation. He noted that discussions on renewable energy deployment had evolved beyond the decarbonisation of the power sector to include the transformation of economic and industrial activities. 60. Charing the last part of the morning session, the Vice President of the Assembly, H.E. Mr. Antonio Isa Conde, Minister of Energy and Mines of the Dominican Republic requested the delegations to consider the latest developments in the work of the Agency with regard to the IRENA/ Abu Dhabi Fund for Development (ADFD) Project Facility. 61. In his introductory remarks for the presentation of the selected projects of the fourth cycle of the IRENA/ADFD Project Facility, the Director-General presented the facility as an innovative model of collaboration and partnership that is supporting developing countries in their transition to a sustainable energy future. He expressed his appreciation for the cooperation between IRENA and the ADFD, noting the achievements of the IRENA/ADFD Project Facility’s work in leveraging co-finance from other sources and driving renewable energy deployment. The Director-General concluded by acknowledging the contribution of the Advisory Committee members during the fourth cycle and encouraged Members to continue to participate in the Committee during the fifth cycle. 62. H.E. Mr. Mohammed Saif Al Suwaidi, the Director-General of the ADFD, highlighted the catalytic role renewable energy plays in achieving the SDGs. He affirmed the ADFD’s commitment to the objectives of the IRENA/ADFD Project Facility, and to pursue efforts to further expand its impact. H.E. Mr. Al Suwaidi announced the allocation of a total of USD 44.5 million to the four selected projects in the fourth cycle, which were the Solar Hybrid Micro-grid Project in the Marshall Islands, the Solar Rural Electrification Project in Niger, the Ile de Romainville Solar Park Project in the Seychelles, and the Tina River Hydro Development Project in the Solomon Islands. He closed by thanking the Advisory Committee and Panel of Experts for their work. 9 Assembly Report, 14 – 15 January 2017 A/7/SR/1 63. The Chair of the IRENA/ADFD Advisory Committee, Mr. Mike Allen, Special Envoy for Renewable Energy of New Zealand, reported on the selection process of the projects in the fourth cycle, and presented the ‘Report of the Chair of the Advisory Committee on the fourth project cycle of the IRENA/ADFD Project Facility’, set out in document A/7/5. He noted that the four projects selected for funding represented geographical and technological diversity. 64. The Chair’s report was followed by statements from country representatives of the four projects selected for funding in the fourth cycle. Representing the Marshall Islands, Hon. Mr. Alfred Alfred Jr., Minister of Resources and Development, highlighted the relevance of partnerships such as the IRENA/ADFD Project Facility in achieving a clean energy future. In particular, he noted the impact of the renewable hybrid micro-grid project in contributing towards the national renewable energy and climate change targets, achieving energy security, and ensuring improved quality of life for the population through access to clean, reliable, affordable and sustainable energy services. 65. On behalf of Niger, H.E. Ms. Amina Moumouni, Minister of Energy, emphasised the contribution of the project towards achieving energy access in rural areas, and improving living standards by providing renewable energy services to schools, health centres, administrative and religious facilities, public areas, as well as for irrigation and drinking water. 66. H.E. Mr. Didier Dogley, Minister of Environment, Energy and Climate Change of Seychelles, stated that the project would support the country in making progress towards its long-term goal of 100% renewable power generation, unlocking additional investments in renewable energy, strengthening energy security, and reducing CO2 emissions. H.E. Mr. Dogley pointed to the potential of the project to create jobs and to obtain significant annual savings from the reduced need for fossil fuel imports. 67. On behalf of the Solomon Islands, Hon. Mr. David Day Pacha, Minister of Mines, Energy, and Rural Electrification, noted that access to concessional financing, expansion of the grid, the development of enabling policies and regulatory frameworks, as well as appropriate business models to leverage private investments represent a substantial challenge for the Solomon Islands. He stressed the central role of renewable energy in achieving energy access and transforming the power sector, and highlighted the impact of the ADFD-funded hydropower project on the country’s efforts in this regard. He closed by underlining the significant potential of the project to contribute to the people’s social and economic welfare in the country. 68. The Assembly took note with appreciation and adopted of the ‘Annual report of the Director- General on the implementation of the Work Programme and Budget for 2016-2017’ (A/7/3). Agenda Item 5: Programmatic discussion: Enabling the private sector to accelerate renewable energy deployment – Corporate sourcing of renewables (A/7/DN/1) 69. Chairing the session, the Vice-President of the Assembly H.E. Mr. Ibrahim Saif, Minister of Energy and Mineral Resources of Jordan, introduced the topic, highlighting that the past year has seen a significant increase in the voluntary demand for renewably sourced electricity from large corporations to supply their own operations and supply chains. Corporate sourcing presents important opportunities for renewable energy market growth, said H.E. Mr. Saif. To further scale up corporate procurement of renewables, regulatory challenges and barriers need to be assessed, in order to support governments in making informed decisions on enabling framework conditions. He underlined the importance of the private sector in creating a sustainable energy future in Jordan, emphasising enabling policy and legal frameworks that have been developed in the country to further promote public-private partnerships. 10