The German Ministry for the Environment, Nature Protection and Nuclear Safety commissioned adelphi in 2004 to analyze existing activities of more than 50 international organizations and networks that promote the expansion of renewable energy. It examines why up until 2004 there has not been a comprehensive international effort to enhance the promotion of renewable energy. In fact, a distinct lack of coordination and cooperation of activities towards increasing the share of renewables in energy production can be observed. This is closely linked with inappropriate institutional support for the coordination of existing activities. As a consequence, the current opportunities for change towards a more sustainable system of energy supply are not being sufficiently utilized. There have been different suggestions on how to improve this situation ranging from establishing an information clearinghouse mechanism to creating specialized international agencies that exclusively focus on the promotion of renewable energy. The project therefore focuses on two main questions: which initiatives and activities exist for the promotion of renewable energy and what kind of deficits and needs in the context of the promotion of renewable energy can be identified on the international level? On this basis it examines the usefulness of various institutional concepts (e.g. network, international treaty, special agency etc.) as models for the promotion of renewable energy. A central goal of the project is to evaluate, which institutional form will be most suitable to promote the expansion of renewable energies in the current political environment.