World Renewable Energy Congress / Network (WREC/WREN)

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World Renewable Energy Congress (WREC)


Session in Denver 2004

The major event organised by WREC/WREN is the biennial congress, normally held during the summer of every even year. The congresses are mostly run and organised by the WREC headquarters which are in Brighton, UK. All members of WREC/WREN are entitled to bid to host the Congress. The WREC/WREN Council meets and decides the location based on: availability of local funding and sponsorship; ease of travel to the location; extent of host government and institutional support; benefits to the local country. All local organisation and services must be provided by the host country.

The first three congresses were held in the UK (Reading), followed by a move to Denver (USA) and then to Florence (Italy). In the year 2000 the congress returned to the UK (Brighton) with every effort being made to ensure that this event enhanced the recognition of Renewable Energies in the new millenium. In 2002 the congress took place in Cologne (Germany) and 2004 once more in Denver (USA). In 2006 the congress was held in Florence (Italy) and in 2008 in Glasgow (UK). The next congresses will be in Abu Dhabi (UAE) in 2010 and in Australia in 2012 respectively.

The following table shows the statistics for the pevious WREC conferences:

No	Date	No of Countries Contributing	Place of Congress	No of Attendants
I	Sept 1990	79	Reading UK	650
II	Sept 1992	86	Reading UK	580
III	Sept 1994	96	Reading UK	620
IV	June 1996	107	Denver USA	768
V	Sept 1998	110	Florence ITALY	765
VI	July 2000	112	Brighton UK	801
VII	July 2002	117	Cologne GERMANY	879
VII	Sept 2004	97	Denver USA	1127
IX	Aug 2006	107	Florence ITALY	902
X	July 2008	88	Glasgow UK	850

Mission Statement WREC XI, Abu Dhabi 2010

With the accelerated approach of the global climate-change point-of-no-return the need to address the pivotal role of renewable energy in the formation of coping strategies, rather than prevention, is more crucial than ever. Sustainability, green buildings, and the development of the large-scale renewable energy industry must be at the top of all development, economic, financial and political agendas. The time for action has arrived. Prevention and questioning how and why we face this great challenge is a luxury we can no longer indulge. We welcome the establishment of the long overdue International Renewable Energy Agency which we hope will work side-by-side with similar intergovernmental agencies striving for the adoption of renewable energies.

Purpose of WREC

At no time in modern history has energy played a more crucial role in the development and well being of nations than at present. The source and nature of energy, the security of supply and the equity of distribution, the environmental impact of its supply and utilization, are all crucial matters to be addressed by suppliers, consumers, governments, industry, academia, and financial institutions.

The World Renewable Energy Congress (WREC), a major recognised forum for networking between these sectors, addresses these issues through regular meetings and exhibitions, bringing together representatives of all those involved in the supply, distribution, consumption and development of energy sources which are benign, sustainable, accessible and economically viable. WREC enables policy makers, researchers, manufacturers, economists, financiers, sociologists, environmentalists and others to present their views in Plenary and Technical Sessions and to participate in discussions, both formal and informal, thus facilitating the transfer of knowledge between nations, institutions, disciplines and individuals. The World Renewable Energy Congress VIII in Denver, USA attended by more than a thousand participants, signalled the increasing importance of renewable energy, but much effort is still required to make it a major energy supplier.

REGIONAL World Renewable Energy Conferences

Members of the Council who would like to run a regional WREC conference for the benefit of their country and their region can do so providing:

It does not clash with other WREC meetings.
It will promote the area and encourage the use of renewable energy.
It is supported by the various technical and educational establishments of the country.
WREC and the member of Council in the country enter into a formal agreement, outlining the role and commitment of each side.
It is understood that WREC cannot carry out more than four regional meetings per year in years without a WREC Congress.


Reginal Meeting in Sharjah, UAE 2005

WREN is fully committed in helping its members to increase local awareness and implementation of renewable energy technologies. This is done by supporting the organization of workshops and seminars on a national or regional basis. Such activities may be co-sponsored by other bodies such as the British Council, European Commission, United Nations and local common interest groups. To date regional events have been held in the Virgin Islands (St. Thomas, St. Lucia), the West Indies (Barbados, Jamaica), Guyana, Egypt, Morocco, Mauritius, Turkey, South Africa, Tunisia, Bahrain, Oman, Poland, India, Indonesia, Malaysia, France, the UK, Australia, Lybia, the UAE and Taiwan. The next Regional Conference will be in Thailand in May 2009.

> For an updated list of events see the Calendar of Events

WREC involvement in other national and international meetings


European PV Conference, Barcelona 2005

WREC/WREN also supports other Congresses and has participated in many renewable energy activities held around the globe. These include the Photovoltaic Science and Engineering Conference (PVSEC); the European Photovoltaic Solar Conferences; the NREL Photovoltaic Review Meetings; the UNESCO World Solar Summits; North Sun Conferences; World Energy Conferences; European Wind Energy Conferences; Passive and Low Energy Architecture Conferences; International Hydrogen Energy Conferences; International Solar Energy Society Conferences and several regional, national and international meetings.

> For an updated list of events see the Calendar of Events