Pelosse takes up reins at Irena

The International Renewable Energy Agency (Irena) has followed its decision to locate its headquarters at Masdar City in Abu Dhabi by appointing Hélène Pelosse as the agency's first director-general.

In what is being seen as a major coup for the French government, Pelosse, who currently works for the French Minister for Ecology, Energy, Sustainable Development and Town and Country Planning, won a close election and will take up her position as interim director-general ahead of the agency's official launch next year.

The victory is likely to be interpreted as a further snub to Germany, which had already lost out to Abu Dhabi in the race to host the new agency's headquarters and had been pushing for Danish renewable energy expert Hans Jørgen Koch to be awarded the director-general role.

Bonn has been selected to host Irena's Centre for Technology and innovation, but having been behind the original plan to set up a rival to the International Energy Agency (IEA), German ministers are likely to be frustrated at having seen their candidate lose out.

The appointment will also fuel concerns in some quarters that the agency's remit could be extended to promote low-carbon technologies, such as nuclear, as well as renewable energy.

France supported Abu Dhabi in its efforts to host Irena's HQ after signing a nuclear co-operation deal with the United Arab Emirates, and some insiders have suggested the French government is quietly lobbying for nuclear power to be included under the agency's remit.

However, supporters of Pelosse will point out that she is a seasoned operator in the field of renewables and sustainability, having headed France's negotiating team for the EU's climate and energy package and worked on the country's Renewable Energy Plan.

She has also worked closely in the past with international environmental and energy bodies, including the IEA and the United Nations Environment Programme.