Spain will hold the vice-presidency of the Assembly of the International Renewable Energy Agency

 

España assumes the vice-presidency of the 16th Assembly of IRENA en Abu Dabi, leadered by Joan Groizard. The goal is to strengthen multilateralism and finance the program PARLA to accelerate the energy transition in América Latina during 2026 and 2027.

 

Spanish leadership in the global energy transition

 

Spanish energy diplomacy takes a step forward this January. España will hold the vice-presidency of the Assembly of the Agencia Internacional de Energías Renovables (IRENA), the leading international forum for the sector, which celebrates its sixteenth edition between January 10 and 12 in Masdar, Abu DabiThe national delegation will be headed by the Secretary of State for Energy, Joan Groizard.

 

The Vice President of the Government and Minister for Ecological Transition and the Demographic Challenge, Sara AagesenThe announcement has been made official, highlighting the country's commitment to international institutions. «España will serve as Vice President of IRENA during 2026 and will increase its contribution to this multilateral institution that is committed to defending renewables as a vector of opportunity.", has pointed out Aagesen.

 

This positioning comes at a key moment, where España It seeks to consolidate its strategic autonomy after having achieved renewable energy coverage of 57% of electricity demand last year. During the meeting, Groizard It will advocate for accelerating the energy transition not only as a climate response, but also as an engine of economic growth.

 

Key Indicator	Data / Figure
Coverage of renewable electricity demand in España (Previous year)	57 %
Annual contribution of España a PARLA (2026-2027)	Minimum $250.000 / year
Date of the 16th Assembly IRENA	January 10 - 12

 

Financial boost for PARLA: Focus on Latin America

 

One of the central focuses of the Spanish vice-presidency will be the financing of the work program for 2026 and 2027 of the Asociación para el Avance de las Energías Renovables en América Latina (PARLAThis initiative, jointly promoted by IRENA and the Government of BrasilIt seeks to correct the investment imbalance in the region.

 

Despite that América Latina It has an electricity grid where renewables represent 60% (mostly hydroelectric), the region only captures the 5% of global investment in these technologies. To mitigate this gap, España will contribute a minimum of $250.000 per year.

 

The program PARLA It is structured on three pillars identified by the member states:

 

• Infrastructure and Networks: Strengthening cross-border connections, adapting to climate change, and deploying monitoring systems.
• Sustainable Bioenergy: Promotion of production of Combustibles de Aviación Sostenibles (SAF) and Aceites Vegetales Hidrogenados (HVO) to decarbonize heavy transport.
• Socioeconomic Transformation: Using the energy transition as a lever for inclusive development.

 

Investment trends and geopolitical context

 

The intervention of España It also has a geopolitical interpretation. Sara Aagesen has regretted the withdrawal of the "world's largest economy" from critical forums such as the Convención Marco de Cambio Climático or IPCC, reaffirming that España It will maintain its commitment to global action and scientific evidence.

 

In the regional financial sector, the data show a change in trend that PARLA It aims to accelerate. Since 2015, the flow of capital into clean technologies has increased significantly, while that destined for fossil fuels has declined.

 

Sector in América Latina	Investment Evolution (since 2015)	Estimated figure 2025
Renewable Energy	+ 25 %	$70.000 billion
Fossil fuels	-20%	$90.000 billion

 

Key points and frequently asked questions about Spain's Vice Presidency at IRENA

What role will it play España at the 16th Assembly of IRENA?
España assumes the vice-presidency of the Assembly. The delegation led by Joan Groizard will work to promote multilateralism, share national progress (57% renewable electricity) and lead project financing in América Latina.

What is the initiative PARLA and how she supports it España?
They are the acronyms of the Asociación para el Avance de las Energías Renovables en América Latina, driven IRENA y Brasil. España It will finance its work in 2026 and 2027 with a minimum of $250.000 annually to improve infrastructure and promote bioenergy.

How is energy investment evolving in América Latina?
The region shows a positive trend: investment in renewables has grown by 25% since 2015, reaching $70.000 billion in 2025, while investment in fossil fuels has fallen by 20% in the same period.