Joining forces to advance public finance for clean energy
The SEF Alliance is the only convening body in the international system for public finance agencies in the clean energy sector. Its members are visionary organisations from various countries pushing the forefront of how to do public finance for clean energy. They have joined forces to advance their own work and the broader field as a whole. The result: improved effectiveness of public and publicly backed organisations to facilitate, finance and transform clean energy and clean technology markets.
The SEF Alliance is under the remit of the Sustainable Energy Finance Initiative (SEFI), a joint initiative of the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) and BASE - a UNEP Collaborating Centre. However, the Alliance is governed directly by its members and pursues activities according to their interests. Members use the platform to exchange best practices, pool resources, launch joint projects, assist governments in establishing new or different clean energy financing models, and generally evolve the overarching vision, understanding, and practice of this work.
Current SEF Alliance members include:
Canada Sustainable Development Technology Canada (SDTC)
Chile CORFO Renewable Energy Centre
Energy Efficiency Programme, National Energy Commission
Finland Sitra, the Finnish Innovation Fund
Ireland Sustainable Energy Authority Ireland (SEAI)
Mexico FIRA - Agricultural Trust Funds Development Bank
UK Carbon Trust
Some key characteristics of the SEF Alliance:
- It has a global geographic remit and a permanent secretariat with full-time staff.
- It aims to help both developed and emerging markets strengthen public finance approaches in the clean energy sector, with related but distinct strategies in each case.
- It is governed by a Steering Committee made up of representatives from the member organisations.
Start-up of the Alliance was supported by: 
