Looking beyond the age of oil

The candidacy of an oil-producing country to host the headquarters of the world’s recently formed renewable energy agency has “special meaning”, according to Dr Hermann Scheer, a key figure behind the establishment of the International Renewable Energy Agency (Irena).

“It is a serious ambition to look beyond the present energy age,” he said. “It has a special meaning if the bid comes from an oil-producing country. It is a good sign that an oil-producing country gives the signal that the way we should go is for renewable energy.”

But Dr Scheer, who is chairman of the World Council for Renewable Energy, was careful to emphasise that his comments must not be interpreted as an offer of support for any of the contending parties.