So, what or who is IRENA? IRENA stands for International Renewable Energy Agency. It is not a perfect acronym, but it fits and is easy to say. Currently there are 88 member countries and a decision to choose a headquarter location will be made soon.

There are four proposed locations, with Germany, Austria, Denmark, and the United Arab Emirates. The location will probably be chosen next week.

Expect to see IRENA in environmental and renewable energy related articles more and more.

IRENA was established on 26 January 2009 in Bonn, Germany. After a visit to the website and looking at a list of current members, up to 110 signatory states now, the United States is not on the list. I wonder if our leaders are aware of this new organization.

From the IRENA FAQ page: "The overarching goal of IRENA is a rapid transition towards the widespread and sustainable use of renewable energy worldwide."

Click the related link to go straight to the FAQ page. There is a PDF you can download to view current members.