Row over energy agency site

Germany and the UK are at loggerheads over the location of a new international agency for renewable energy. Germany would like to keep the International Renewable Energy Agency in Bonn, the site of the current temporary headquarters, but the UK is preparing to throw its weight behind Abu Dhabi. 

According to Claude Turmes, the Green Luxembourgeois MEP who drafted the 2008 renewables directive, the split is “another disaster” for a single EU voice on energy issues. The choice will be made on 29-30 June by more than 100 countries gathered in the Egyptian resort of Sharm el-Sheikh.

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Denmark, Germany and Spain were key movers behind the January start-up of the agency, which has an initial budget of €17 million to promote energy from wind, sun and water. Two-thirds of EU countries are already members, with two more (the UK and Malta) set to join.

Supporters of Bonn say it is important that the EU continues to put its mark on the agency. “In our opinion it would be strange if the EU did not have a stake in this field,” said one official.

To bolster the chances of Bonn being chosen, Denmark has withdrawn its own candidate city, Copenhagen, although a Danish national remains in the running for the post of general-secretary.

The UK is ready to support Abu Dhabi because of the signal on renewable power that this would send to the oil-rich region. In January, the United Arab Emirates government announced a goal for Abu Dhabi to get 7% of its energy from renewable sources.