Renewables First
Renewables First is an Islamabad-based, non-profit think-and-do tank (founded 2021, 23 staff) that drives Pakistan's clean energy transition through policy research, data platforms like the PECI Dashboard, energy finance innovation via PEFN and CEFIL, and capacity building through the Margalla School on Energy and Climate.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded-
- Headquarters—
- Headcount11–50
- GTM typeB2B
- OfferingServices
What Renewables First does
Renewables First is a Pakistan-based, non-profit think-and-do tank founded in 2021 and headquartered in Islamabad, operating with 23 employees as an independent private entity. It is structured as Pakistan's first dedicated energy transition think-and-do tank and runs five interlocking core programs covering Power Markets, Data & Analytics, Energy Finance, Energy & Climate Diplomacy, and Learning & Development. The organization serves four primary stakeholder segments: government and policymakers, energy finance professionals, clean energy developers, and the energy sector workforce, with the goal of shifting Pakistan's electricity system from assumption- and politics-driven decisions to evidence-based ones and unlocking renewable energy capital.
Its core product surface combines research, data platforms, and stakeholder convening infrastructure. The Pakistan Energy and Climate Insights (PECI) Dashboard provides centralized energy and climate analytics, complemented by proprietary toolkits such as a dynamic Levelized Cost of Energy (LCOE) Solar Toolkit for utility-scale project evaluation. Wholly-owned subsidiaries extend the platform: the Pakistan Energy Finance Network (PEFN) convenes financial institutions, regulators, and developers, while the Clean Energy Finance Innovation Lab (CEFIL) pilots innovative financial instruments for distributed solar, EVs, and storage. Additional flagship initiatives include the Margalla School on Energy and Climate (MSEC) educational program, the RE Coalition advocacy coalition, and the RE Developers Forum. Distribution is hybrid, combining direct government and institutional engagement, partner network distribution, and open-access digital publishing, including an annual Solar. Storage. Flexibility. conference in Islamabad.
The business model is grant- and partnership-funded advocacy and research rather than commercial product sales; pricing is not publicly disclosed and no revenue figure is available. The organization monetizes influence and ecosystem position through publications, training, and convening, with a stated emphasis on South-South cooperation, particularly with China, as a platform for technology transfer and green finance flows into Pakistan.
Renewables First firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- Renewables First
- Legal name
- Renewables First
- Website
- https://renewablesfirst.org
- Company type
- Private
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 11–50 employees
- Short description
- Renewables First is an Islamabad-based, non-profit think-and-do tank (founded 2021, 23 staff) that drives Pakistan's clean energy transition through policy research, data platforms like the PECI Dashboard, energy finance innovation via PEFN and CEFIL, and capacity building through the Margalla School on Energy and Climate.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
Renewables First industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Renewable Energy Research and Advisory
- NAICS
- Solar Electric Power Generation (221114), Electric Power Generation, Transmission and Distribution (2211)
- SIC
- Electric Services (4911)
- akta.pro primary industry
- Distributed Generation (DG) Solar & Small Wind (EUAMAJAD)
- akta.pro secondary industries
- Renewable Distributed Generation (Rooftop/Onsite Solar, Small Wind, Small Hydro) (EUACALAJ), Siting, Resource Assessment & Environmental Tech R&D (Remote Sensing, Wake Modeling, Wildlife Mitigation) (EUAMAOAJ)
Keywords
Renewables First business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2B
- Offering type
- Services
- Cost components
- Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Technology or R&D, Others
Distribution channels3 records
Marketing channels5 records
Renewables First product offering
Product offeringCore offering
Renewables First is a think-and-do tank that conducts data-driven research, advocacy, and partnership-building to accelerate Pakistan's clean energy transition. It delivers five core programs (Power Markets, Data & Analytics, Energy Finance, Energy & Climate Diplomacy, and Learning & Development) and operates data products such as the PECI Dashboard and LCOE Solar Toolkit, alongside initiatives like CEFIL, PEFN, RE Coalition, RE Developers Forum, and the Margalla School on Energy and Climate.
Product overview
Renewables First is Pakistan's leading energy transition think-and-do tank offering a portfolio of research programs, data products, and initiatives. The core programs cover Power Markets, Data & Analytics, Energy Finance, Energy & Climate Diplomacy, and Learning & Development. Key products include the Pakistan Energy and Climate Insights (PECI) Dashboard, LCOE Solar Toolkit, Clean Energy Finance Innovation Lab (CEFIL), Pakistan Energy Finance Network (PEFN), and the Margalla School on Energy and Climate. The organization publishes annual reviews (Pakistan Electricity Review), sector studies, and market diagnostic reports, while hosting the Solar. Storage. Flexibility. annual conference. The offerings form an integrated ecosystem of research, data, financing innovation, education, and stakeholder engagement to accelerate Pakistan's clean energy transition.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Products and services
- Power Markets Program Program strengthening long-term electricity planning, advocating for market competition, and improving grid flexibility through energy modeling, stakeholder engagement, and policy reform to build a reliable, affordable, and renewable electricity system in Pakistan.
- Data & Analytics Program Program transforming Pakistan's energy sector from assumption-driven to evidence-based through accessible dashboards, regular analysis, and comprehensive data platforms for informed energy decision-making.
- Energy Finance Program Program transforming Pakistan's energy financing landscape from exclusive to inclusive through innovative financial instruments, institutional capacity building, and policy advocacy to enable new clean energy investments.
- Energy & Climate Diplomacy Program Program transforming international energy cooperation to enable local manufacturing, technology transfer, and green finance flows through high-level dialogues, global capital mobilization, and business matchmaking, including South-South cooperation models with China.
- Learning & Development Program Program building expertise for energy transition through a three-tiered approach targeting internal teams, partner organizations, and the broader ecosystem, including the flagship Margalla School on Energy & Climate.
- Pakistan Energy and Climate Insights (PECI) Dashboard Interactive dashboard providing Pakistan energy and climate data, insights, and analytics for stakeholders to transform scattered sector data into evidence-based decision making.
- Levelized Cost of Energy (LCOE) Solar Toolkit Dynamic Excel-based calculator enabling stakeholders to evaluate the financial viability of utility-scale solar projects through detailed scenario analysis, combining practical utility with educational value.
- Clean Energy Finance Innovation Lab (CEFIL) Launchpad for innovative financial instruments that unlock capital for Pakistan's energy transition, designed to identify, structure, and pilot financial products for distributed solar, EVs, and battery storage.
- Pakistan Energy Finance Network (PEFN) Platform bringing together Pakistan's leading energy finance professionals to address the financing gap constraining the clean energy transition, with institutional support of Renewables First.
- Margalla School on Energy and Climate Flagship educational initiative developing young professionals who become champions of evidence-based energy policy within their organizations.
- RE Coalition Coalition focused on accelerating renewable energy adoption and facilitating phase-out of fossil fuels through strategic partnerships, data-driven research, and advocacy.
- RE Developers Forum Forum connecting renewable energy developers to amplify sustainable impact and collaborate on crafting a just energy transition.
Companies that use Renewables First
Customer profileSegments4 records
Ideal customer profiles4 records
Renewables First technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed Yes
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Feature2 records
Renewables First partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
Seven partnerships are on record, tiered core and flagship.
- RE Coalitioncore
- RE Developers Forumcore
- Margalla School on Energy and Climate (MSEC)core
- Pakistan Energy Finance Network (PEFN)core
- Clean Energy Finance Innovation Lab (CEFIL)core
- Financial Institutions (PEFN Members)corePEFN unites practitioners representing financial institutions, regulators, and independent experts behind the shared goal of unlocking capital for solar, storage, electric mobility, and other clean energy solutions. Operating with institutional support of Renewables First.
- China (South-South Cooperation)flagshipThrough Energy and Climate Diplomacy program, supporting new models for South-South cooperation particularly focusing on cooperation with China that other developing economies can replicate.
Recent moves6 records
Expansion highlights6 records
Renewables First competitors and assessment
Company assessmentDirect peers
- Institute for Energy Economics and Financial Analysis (IEEFA): Research and advisory organization focused on energy finance, market analysis, and the transition away from fossil fuels. IEEFA is highly comparable to Renewables First's Energy Finance and Power Markets programs and its evidence-based advocacy posture.
- Sustainable Energy for All (SEforALL): International organization working to accelerate sustainable energy access and transition through partnerships, country engagement, and advocacy. SEforALL's focus on energy access, finance, and policy reform in emerging markets is a close analogue to Renewables First's mission.
- Climate Policy Initiative (CPI): Global climate finance policy and analytics organization. CPI's work on climate finance flows, blended finance, and clean energy investment mapping closely mirrors Renewables First's CEFIL, PEFN, and energy finance diagnostic studies.
- Rocky Mountain Institute (RMI): Global clean energy think-and-do tank combining research, policy advocacy, and partnerships to accelerate energy transitions. RMI directly parallels Renewables First's integrated research-plus-action model and program structure across power markets, finance, and industrial decarbonization.
Emerging players
- Ember Climate: Independent climate and energy think tank focused on the transition to clean, renewable electricity through open data and policy insights. Ember's data-driven, country-focused approach parallels the PECI dashboard and Electricity Review outputs.
- International Institute for Applied Systems Analysis (IIASA): International research institute applying systems analysis to energy, climate, and resource questions. IIASA's energy modeling capability is closely comparable to the modeling and grid-integration analyses Renewables First undertakes in its Power Markets program.
Regional players
- The Energy and Resources Institute (TERI): India-based research and policy organization covering energy, environment, and sustainable development. TERI provides a comparable regional think-tank model for South Asia, though operating primarily in India rather than Pakistan.
Broad incumbents
- International Energy Agency (IEA): Intergovernmental energy data and policy organization producing flagship global energy outlooks and country-level analyses. The IEA operates as a broad incumbent whose data products and policy frameworks overlap with Renewables First's PECI dashboard and Electricity Review work.
- World Resources Institute (WRI): Global research organization spanning climate, energy, water, and food systems with a strong policy and data orientation. WRI's integrated research-plus-advocacy model across emerging markets broadly parallels Renewables First's approach, though at much larger scale.
- International Renewable Energy Agency (IRENA): Intergovernmental organization supporting renewable energy adoption globally through data, policy advice, and capacity building. IRENA's mandate on policy reform, statistics, and partner networks is structurally similar to Renewables First's renewable-focused programs and country-level engagement.
Market position
Strengths5 records
Weaknesses5 records
Competitive moat6 records
Key risks5 records
Key highlights7 records
Customer concentration
Renewables First social profiles
Digital presenceRenewables First financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
Renewables First leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Renewables First subsidiaries and ownership
Company hierarchySubsidiaries2 records
Renewables First funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds
Investors
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Renewables First M&A and investment
M&A and investmentM&A
Investments
M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Frequently asked questions about Renewables First
What does Renewables First do?
Renewables First is a think-and-do tank that conducts data-driven research, advocacy, and partnership-building to accelerate Pakistan's clean energy transition. It delivers five core programs (Power Markets, Data & Analytics, Energy Finance, Energy & Climate Diplomacy, and Learning & Development) and operates data products such as the PECI Dashboard and LCOE Solar Toolkit, alongside initiatives like CEFIL, PEFN, RE Coalition, RE Developers Forum, and the Margalla School on Energy and Climate.
Is Renewables First a public or private company?
Renewables First is a private company. It is classified as nonprofit foundation owned and is currently operating.
When was Renewables First founded?
Renewables First was founded in -1. It employs 11 to 50 people.
Who are Renewables First's main competitors?
Direct peers on record are Institute for Energy Economics and Financial Analysis (IEEFA), Sustainable Energy for All (SEforALL), Climate Policy Initiative (CPI) and Rocky Mountain Institute (RMI). Emerging players are Ember Climate and International Institute for Applied Systems Analysis (IIASA). The Energy and Resources Institute (TERI) is listed as a regional player. Broad incumbents are International Energy Agency (IEA), World Resources Institute (WRI) and International Renewable Energy Agency (IRENA).
Does Renewables First have an API?
No public API is recorded for Renewables First.
What industry is Renewables First in?
Renewables First's product category is Renewable Energy Research and Advisory. Its primary akta.pro industry code is EUAMAJAD, Distributed Generation (DG) Solar & Small Wind, with a secondary code of EUACALAJ, Renewable Distributed Generation (Rooftop/Onsite Solar, Small Wind, Small Hydro). Its NAICS code is 221114 and its SIC code is 4911.