Inclusive Pathways For Clean Energy: IRENA’s Toolkit On Participatory Planning

The International Renewable Energy Agency (IRENA) has developed a toolkit on participatory processes in long-term energy planning to help governments and institutions foster inclusive and effective strategies for clean energy transitions. This highlights that the global energy transition demands unprecedented coordination across all sectors of society, requiring inclusive planning that engages a diverse range of stakeholders. Traditional energy actors are now joined by prosumers, cooperatives, local communities, civil society, and businesses from different sectors, making participatory approaches more important than ever.

The toolkit is built on experiences gathered from IRENA’s Long-Term Energy Scenarios (LTES) Network and provides a practical guide for energy planners. It identifies key benefits of participatory planning, including building consensus and trust, gathering diverse inputs to avoid blind spots, improving implementation by aligning scenarios with political and institutional realities, and enhancing energy literacy among different groups. The report introduces a strategic framework organized into three main categories: knowledge gathering, co-creation, and knowledge dissemination. Each of these elements is linked to tools such as workshops, public consultations, steering committees, scenario visualizations, and interactive platforms to ensure stakeholder engagement is meaningful and effective.

Case studies from thirteen countries illustrate how participatory approaches have been implemented in different contexts. Brazil, for instance, used online debates and virtual workshops to broaden engagement, while Cyprus focused on developing clear policy briefs to communicate effectively with stakeholders. Chile emphasized inclusive consultation frameworks to build trust and legitimacy, and Canada created an Energy Modelling Hub to facilitate dialogue between policymakers and scientists. These examples demonstrate that there is no one-size-fits-all approach, but rather a need to adapt participatory methods to local contexts and resources.

The conclusion stresses that participatory methods are becoming more central to government planning activities, particularly in advancing a clean and just energy transition. The toolkit is presented as a versatile resource that not only provides tools and guidance but also showcases lessons from real-world applications. Planners are encouraged to draw inspiration from case studies and tailor engagement methods to their specific contexts. For countries with limited resources, online tools may provide a cost-effective solution, while those aiming for broader engagement can adopt multi-stakeholder workshops.

However, the report also acknowledges challenges. In some cases, stakeholder engagement has been treated as a box-ticking exercise, undermining trust. A lack of mechanisms to show participants how their input shaped outcomes remains a gap, and ensuring reciprocal communication is identified as critical to sustaining stakeholder interest. Additionally, biases in scenario modeling and institutional constraints such as limited funding or political will can restrict meaningful participation. Measuring the effectiveness of participatory processes also remains a challenge, as key performance indicators are not always well defined.

Looking ahead, the report points to opportunities to integrate advanced technologies like artificial intelligence, machine learning, and natural language processing to better analyze stakeholder priorities and feedback. These innovations could make participatory planning more robust and transparent, ensuring that energy transitions are both inclusive and credible.

Overall, IRENA’s toolkit underlines that participatory energy planning is not only a tool for enhancing technical robustness but also a pathway to legitimacy, equity, and trust in energy transitions. By involving diverse voices and adopting tailored methods, governments and institutions can accelerate progress toward ambitious climate and energy goals while ensuring no one is left behind.