IRENA Report on Renewables for Refugee Settlements

Refugees and displaced people mostly depend on the energy that is unsustainable and can harm their health and well-being. Sustainable energy based on renewables, in contrast, bridges the gap between humanitarian response and development, enhancing the well-being of displaced people and communities.

This study from the International Renewable Energy Agency (IRENA), prepared in collaboration with the UN Refugee Agency, UNHCR, highlights prime opportunities to strengthen any humanitarian operation. In parallel, IRENA has contributed to UNHCR’s Global Strategy for Sustainable Energy 2019-2024, addressing the need for efficient, clean, affordable and reliable energy in humanitarian situations.

The report assesses four refugee settlements in Iraq and Ethiopia, proposing renewable energy solutions to provide clean, cost-effective and reliable energy to refugees and humanitarian organisations.