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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 44 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.
Non-partner Small Islands Developing States (17)
Haiti, Jamaica, Suriname, Timor-Leste, American Samoa, Anguilla, French Polynesia, Guadeloupe, Puerto Rico, Sint Maarten, Bermuda, Cayman Islands, Commonwealth of Northern Marianas, French Polynesia, Guadeloupe, Guam, Martinique, Montserrat, Puerto Rico, Sint Maarten, U.S. Virgin Islands.
Partners (39)
Australia, Denmark, France, Germany, Japan, Italy, The Netherlands, New Zealand, Norway, United Arab Emirates, United States of America
Airborne Wind Europe, Akuo, Association of the Overseas Countries and Territories of the European Union, Caribbean Climate-Smart Accelerator (CCSA), Caribbean Development Bank (CDB), 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, 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 (7)
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

The trend of increasing the adoption of innovative solutions including RE, energy efficiency and other innovative technologies in SIDS continues to evolve. This is evidently reflected in the cumulative installed RE capacity that has increased substantially from 2014 to 2022, equating to a twofold increase from 3.5 GW to 7.6 GW. This progressive shift is notable across various RE technologies, particularly for solar energy that has exhibited a remarkable ninefold capacity increase from 0.3 GW to 3.2 GW. On the other hand, the wind power capacity has doubled from 0.5 GW to 0.9 GW since 2014, contributing to the overall growth of the RE landscape in SIDS. Furthermore, the bioenergy capacity has expanded by approximately 68% totalling 1.7 GW in 2022. The accelerated deployment of innovative solutions in SIDS underpins their ongoing commitment in collaboration with partners towards a just and equitable energy transition for sustainable development for a climate resilient future.