[ Last Updated 25 May 2009 ]
Short Description
EDIN is an international partnership between New Zealand, the United States and Iceland which aims to advance the deployment of renewable energy and energy efficiency (ie clean energy) technologies in island nations and territories around the world.
EDIN is an international partnership between New Zealand, the United States and Iceland which aims to advance the deployment of renewable energy and energy efficiency (i.e. clean energy) technologies in island nations and territories around the world.
New Zealand became an official EDIN Partner on 24 July 2008 when New Zealand's US Ambassador Roy Ferguson signed the Terms of Reference at a ceremony in the Bahamas. The United States, represented by Andy Karsner, then Assistant Secretary of Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy, also signed at that time.
The Partnership became operational on 27 August 2008 when Iceland became the third official EDIN Partner following the signing of the Terms of Reference by Ossur Skarphedinsson, the then Icelandic Minister of Industry, Energy and Tourism.
The Partnership is intended to achieve its aim by bringing together governments, policy advisors, technical experts, and financial leaders to develop clean energy deployment projects. The focus of the Partnership is on deployment rather than research and development, and it is intended that the bulk of the funding for EDIN projects will come from the private sector.
New Zealand involvement
New Zealand is one of three EDIN Partner countries, and is represented on the EDIN Steering Committee by the Ministry of Economic Development. We are currently in the process of developing potential EDIN Projects, with a key focus on the Pacific region.
EDIN Structure
Terms of Reference
The key founding document for EDIN is the Terms of Reference. The Terms of Reference make provision for two categories of involvement with EDIN and for the establishment of a Steering Committee.
EDIN Partner
The first category of involvement is "EDIN Partner". These countries are the full EDIN members who each contribute one voting representative to the EDIN Steering Committee (currently New Zealand, United States and Iceland). Partner nations share certain common traits:
- They are either islands themselves or include islands within their jurisdictions;
- They have clean energy manufacturing facilities or businesses that specialize in clean energy development (or both);
- They demonstrate an interest in deploying renewable energy and energy efficiency technologies, which is evident in their existing laws and policies;
- They have made a strong commitment to helping other islands achieve greater energy security and independence through the deployment of renewable energy and energy efficiency technologies; and
- They are members of the OECD.
Project Participant
The second category is "Project Participant". EDIN's Project Participants will be islands with:
- Leaders who are committed to pursuing clean energy development;
- Key stakeholders (such as utilities, landholders, government leaders, or major industry partners) that are motivated to deploy energy efficiency and renewable energy technologies;
- Communities that support energy efficiency and renewable energy;
- Renewable energy resources that could have a significant and positive impact on the island (for example, by lowering electricity prices, increasing energy security, and creating jobs); and
- A proposed project that can provide lessons learned (for example, about processes and technical knowledge gained) that can be applied to future projects.
The EDIN Steering Committee will select Project Participants on a project-by-project basis.
EDIN Steering Committee
The Steering Committee is EDIN's governing body, which consists of one representative from each Partner nation. The initial organizational meeting of the Partners was hosted by New Zealand in Taupo in September 2008.
The EDIN Steering Committee will meet at least once per year to:
- Approve all projects that EDIN undertakes and ensure their consistency with EDIN's goals;
- Set priorities;
- Create ways for Partners and other island nations to share their expertise.
The Steering Committee is supported by a small Secretariat located at the National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL) in Denver, Colorado.
Further information
Additional information is available online at the EDIN partnership website.