The International Renewable Energy Agency (IRENA) launched the fourth edition of the IRENA NewGen Renewable Energy Accelerator (NewGen), aimed at supporting young entrepreneurs and innovators in driving the renewable energy transition.
NewGen provides capacity building, mentorship, and tailored support to youth-led start-ups and growth businesses that develop innovative solutions to advance renewables deployment.
The initiative is delivered with the support of the Government of the United Arab Emirates, in partnership with Social Alpha (a non-profit organisation based in India that supports social start-ups) and Enel Foundation (a global non-profit think-tank focused on energy transition and climate change).
Both partners serve as knowledge partners, contributing technical expertise and mentorship to help participants turn their ideas into scalable solutions.
Building on the success of three editions, the 4th NewGen aims to continue its impact. Last year saw 13 startups from emerging markets – including six women-led ventures – take part in the programme. The 2025 edition produced three IRENA Rising Stars Award winners whose solutions included battery-swapping networks (Bangladesh), solar-powered cooling technology and edible coatings (Uganda), and artificial intelligence (AI)-driven precision farming (Zambia).
Reflecting on her experience, last year’s participant, Stuti Kakkar, from Meine Energy (India), said: “The IRENA NewGen Accelerator helped us sharpen our understanding of renewable energy markets by giving us access to global founders, expert insights, and market perspectives that clarified where our technology can create the greatest impact in enabling the clean energy transition.”
Oliver Mbuzi from Netagrow (Zambia), last year’s third-place winner, added: “The IRENA NewGen Renewable Energy Accelerator has been a transformative journey for Netagrow, strengthening our clean-energy and AI-driven approach to climate-smart agriculture by connecting us with global renewable energy experts, mentors, and partners.
“The programme enabled us to scale solutions that empower over 10,000 farmers with energy-efficient, climate-resilient farming systems that contribute to the global energy transition and sustainable food production.”
Open to start-ups from around the world, NewGen seeks innovative solutions across three key areas: renewable energy technologies, climate adaptation technologies, and climate mitigation technologies. Applicants must be between 18 and 35 years old, with the call for applications running from April 6 to May 3, 2026. Selected participants will be announced on May 18, 2026.
In a period of four months, participants will take part in a hybrid acceleration programme featuring a tailored curriculum in renewable energy and clean technology, expert-led webinars and workshops, and dedicated mentorship from IRENA experts. They will also gain access to pitching events, investment matchmaking, and the chance to be recognised through the IRENA Rising Stars Award.
The Accelerator reflects IRENA’s broader commitment to accelerating a global energy transition through renewables, led by youth. For more information and to apply, please visit NewGen Renewable Energy Accelerator. Applications close on May 3, 2026.