Renewable energy small and medium enterprises (SMEs) play a crucial role in energy transition as they stimulate innovations, attract investments and shape the markets to drive the transition. To strengthen SMEs’ role in industrial decarbonization and support the scaling up of their initiatives, the International Renewable Energy Agency (IRENA) initiated a pilot twinning programme for entrepreneurs in early 2021. Fifteen enterprises from IRENA member states participated in the programme where they were paired with larger and more established renewable energy enterprises.

The Enterprise Twinning Programme (ETP) developed a set of action plans and a manual outlining the processes, with steps on selection, twinning, financing, evaluation, safeguards etc. Overall, the twinning programme demonstrated that enterprises/entrepreneurs do benefit from peer-to-peer mentorship (twinning), as well as entrepreneur and business level cooperation across IRENA members.

To amplify the work accomplished in the ETP and to further support renewables enterprises to implement ambitious climate actions through peer-to-peer collaborations, a new platform to build partnerships is born. Seeing that the Alliance for Industry Decarbonization (AFID) – coordinated by IRENA and gathers companies across all industry sectors to accelerate net-zero ambitions – has the Sustainable Energy Knowledge Sharing initiative to support companies in embedding sustainability into their strategies, it is proposed that ETP should be integrated with the Sustainable Energy Knowledge Sharing, focusing on twinning enterprises from the developing countries with those from developed countries in different geographies.

Developed by AFID, the Enterprise Twinning Platform is a dynamic online tool that connects AFID members and partners – currently 85 worldwide – with external organisations to promote industrial decarbonization through partnerships and collaboration. Open to all organisations interested in climate action and the energy transition, the platform also provides AFID members with easier access to each other’s activities, expertise, and sustainability efforts. This approach will enhance knowledge sharing and fuel collaboration.

How the Platform Drives Partnerships

The Platform categorises AFID members by geographical scope, organisation type, sector, and AFID working groups. This structure simplifies identifying relevant partners and engaging in meaningful collaboration. It enables users to easily identify AFID members by regional focus, industry expertise, and role in the energy transition. It covers sectors such as aluminium, cement, energy, finance, steel, and mining. Users can search by organisation type: Knowledge Partners providing strategic guidance, Technology Providers delivering innovative decarbonization solutions, or Industry Partners actively reducing emissions in energy-intensive sectors.

Additionally, members are grouped by the different AFID Working Groups, covering renewables, green hydrogen, bioenergy with carbon capture utilisation and storage (CCUS), circularity, finance, and human capital development. These groupings help collaborators find partners with similar ambitions, while the Collaboration Form, facilitated by IRENA, jump-starts connections.

The platform offers multiple ways to explore such as an interactive map, hierarchical tree, or structured table, enabling quick searches by region or expertise. A dedicated form streamlines collaboration requests, serving as a straightforward tool to initiate connections. Publicly available sustainability reports help users assess an organisation’s progress in decarbonization, while data drawn from these reports ensures transparent, reliable insights.

By integrating the ETP into the AFID platform, IRENA builds on prior successes, including the pilot programme with 15 enterprises from different continents, and broadens its global reach. ETP participants benefit from pre-screening and onboarding, where standardised profiles simplify partnership evaluation. They also benefit from facilitated matchmaking, as the platform connects them with governments, investors, and other ecosystem partners.

Support for scaling up includes risk-reduction strategies to attract potential funding from impact investors. A shared knowledge base helps refine strategies for sustainability, develop local manufacturing, and streamline supply chains. By merging data, mentorship, and collaboration, the AFID Enterprise Twinning Platform drives industry-wide innovations for a net-zero future.

Beyond fostering partnerships, AFID members have also set ambitious joint targets for 2030 to accelerate climate action. These include commitments to reducing carbon emissions, expanding renewable energy capacity, increasing investments in decarbonization projects, and deploying CCUS in bioenergy. Annual progress reviews keep members accountable, with the platform providing an open record of these commitments.

To explore the platform and see potential collaboration opportunities, visit the AFID Enterprise Twinning Platform here.