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SIDS Lighthouses Initiative
The SIDS Lighthouses Initiative (LHI) is a framework for action to support Small Island Developing States (SIDS) in their energy transition efforts from fossil fuel dependence to renewables. The Initiative brings together 40 SIDS as well as 38 partners, including developed countries, regional and international organisations, development and multilateral agencies, private companies, research institutes and non-profit organisations. IRENA is the coordinator and facilitator of the initiative.
Click here to read more about SIDS LHI Priorities
Download the Annual Progress Report 2023
Partners
Small Islands Developing States (40)
Antigua & Barbuda, Aruba, Bahamas, Barbados, Belize, British Virgin Islands, Cape Verde, Comoros, Cook Islands, Cuba, Curaçao, Dominica, Dominican Republic, Fiji, Grenada, Guyana, Kiribati, Maldives, Marshall Islands, Mauritius, Micronesia (Federated States of), Montserrat, Nauru, New Caledonia, Niue, Palau, Papua New Guinea, Saint Kitts and Nevis, Saint Lucia, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, Samoa, São Tomé & Príncipe, Singapore, Seychelles, Solomon Islands, Tonga, Trinidad and Tobago, Turks and Caicos, Tuvalu, Vanuatu.
Partners (38)
Australia, Denmark, France, Germany, Japan, Italy, The Netherlands, New Zealand, Norway, United Arab Emirates, United States of America
Akuo, Association of the Overseas Countries and Territories of the European Union, Caribbean Climate-Smart Accelerator (CCSA), Caribbean Electric Utility Services Corporation (CARILEC), Clean Energy Solutions Center, Clinton Climate Initiative, ENEL, European Union, Greening the Islands, Island Innovation, Indian Ocean Commission, International Renewable Energy Agency, Islands and Small States Institute (ISSI) , Organisation of Eastern Caribbean States, Pacific Community (SPC), Pacific Islands Development Forum, Pacific Power Association, Rocky Mountain Institute - Carbon War Room, Solar Head of State, Sustainable Energy for All, Sur Futuro Foundation, Caribbean Development Bank (CDB), United Nations Development Programme, United Nations Office of the High Representative for the Least Developed Countries, Landlocked Developing Countries and Small Island Developing States (UNOHRLLS), University of Delaware, University of Malta, World Bank
Affiliated Partners with Cooperation Agreements and Workplans
Alliance of Small Island States (AOSIS), Caribbean Centre for Renewable Energy and Energy Efficiency (CCREEE), CARICOM Development Fund, Caribbean Community Climate Change Centre (CCCCC), Pacific Community (SPC), SIDS DOCK, UNOHRLLS
How to join
IRENA as the coordinator of the SIDS Lighthouses Initiative (LHI) welcomes partnerships with Small Island Developing States (SIDS) and other partners, including governments, international and regional organizations, non-government organisations (NGOs), financing institutions, research and academic institutes and private sector entities, to work together in strengthening SIDS climate resilience and sustainable development. It is also important to note that becoming a partner of the SIDS Lighthouses Initiative is free of charge.
The official letter and Expression of Interest (EOI) to become a partner of the SIDS Lighthouses Initiative should be addressed to:
Mr Francesco La Camera
Director General
International Renewable Energy Agency
Masdar, Abu Dhabi
United Arab Emirates
The EOI can be emailed to odg@irena.org and copied to islands@irena.org.
Renewable Energy Progress

IRENA costing analysis has shown that recent cost reductions in technologies such as solar PV and onshore wind, can make renewable energy an affordable solution for SIDS.
Since the launch of SIDS LHI in 2014, the uptake of renewable energy in SIDS has been unhindered in its trajectory, despite challenges such as the global supply chain disruption due to the COVID-19 pandemic and recurring natural disasters and adverse weather related to global warming.
The uptake of renewables in SIDS continues to grow consistently. Total installed RE capacity has increased substantially from 2014 to 2021, almost doubling from 3.5 GW to 6.5 GW. The greatest growth in technology has been in solar – with almost seven times’ growth in capacity. Wind power capacity has doubled, with about 60% increase in bioenergy capacity.