Policy makers attending will have an opportunity to learn from their counterparts and leading innovators about the status and opportunities arising from emerging innovations. Innovators and innovative companies attending will have an opportunity to inform the strategies of a diverse range of policy makers, from around the world. Together policy makers and innovators will improve their mutual awareness of the opportunities and challenges created by emerging innovations and explore ways to broaden uptake.
In the two years since Innovation Week 2016, we have seen further remarkable cost reductions in renewable energy to the extent that many commercially available renewable power generation technologies will be competitive with conventional fuels by 2020. In parallel, we are witnessing transformative changes in the way energy systems are operated, driven by trends such as the growing digitalisation of systems, the increased decentralisation of electricity supply, the need for system flexibility, and the electrification of end-use sectors.
While the transformation of the power sector is well underway, the challenge now is to build on the potential of low-cost renewable power and ensure all countries can reliably integrate high shares in their power systems.
Find out more about Innovation Week 2018. Contact innovationweek@irena.org to express interest in attending.
Image credits: IRENA