The Beyond Rio Resource Centre, run by the Sussex Climate Change Network at the University of Sussex, UK, offers information about new ideas and practical solutions for sustainability. It is aimed at practitioners, policymakers, academics and students interested in sustainable development. The website publishes information on two overarching themes — the green economy and institutional frameworks — and seven critical issues, including food, water and energy. It includes open access publications supporting these themes, and a wide range of briefings, project reports, website links and films.

This web portal is the starting point for Africa-related biomass information. It contains the latest news on biofuels research on the continent, as well as an events calendar and discussion forum.

Biopact is a non-profit volunteer organisation connecting African and European citizens. It seeks to establish a 'mutually beneficial' biofuel and bioenergy relationship between the two continents. The group is web-based, and provides consulting services for a number of initiatives, including various bioenergy projects in the South.

Some of Biopact's ongoing projects include compiling an 'atlas' of biofuel production for use in estimating production factors, and exploiting Nica fruticans, a potential Nigerian biofuel crop.

Checkbiotech's Green Portal focuses on using biotechnology for a sustainable future. It contains news and features on biofuels research and development in both developed and developing countries.

Articles focus on: how improving production methods with enzymes can increase biofuel yields; key research breakthroughs; how enhancing plant genetics can improve biofuel yields and make agriculture more sustainable; world politics surrounding biofuels; who the key industry players in the biofuels market are; and how biofuels are changing global economics.

The Energy Research Centre at the University of Cape Town, South Africa, focuses on energy technology, policy and development research, education and capacity building. It provides information on its research and training opportunities, and links to open-access publications and relevant websites. It also publishes its own quarterly journal, Journal of Energy in Southern Africa, which is accredited by the South African Department of Education.

Part of the UN Development Programme, the Environment and Energy group work in six areas: water governance, frameworks and strategies for sustainable development, sustainable energy, sustainable land management, biodiversity and chemicals management.

The group publishes information on its projects in each of these areas as well case study analyses, policy papers, toolkits for practitioners, press information and links to external websites.

GBEP aims to unite G8+5 countries in a commitment to promoting bioenergy for sustainable development. Its primary activities relate to energy security, food security and sustainable development.

GBEP aims to produce an updated inventory of networks, initiatives and institutions dealing with bioenergy. It also seeks to: identify gaps in knowledge or areas of weak understanding; carry out feasibility studies for market building activities, in cooperation with developing countries; establish mechanisms for raising awareness and dealing with internationally relevant issues, such as environmental standards, food security and trade, and gaps in technology and policy; and formulate standard guidelines to measure emission reductions gained by promoting and using biofuels in the transport and energy generation sectors.

This network, supported by the UN Environment Programme, brings together researchers from 20 'centres of excellence' across the developing world to share knowledge on energy, development and environment issues. It publishes information on its activities and links to each of its member centres. It includes a list of publications, from policy briefs to technical or meeting reports.

Grameen Shakti is a renewable energy company in Bangladesh focused on distributing solar home systems in rural areas. It installs, maintains and provides microfinance for solar home systems and trains solar engineers. Its website includes information about individual programmes, links to its research and publications, and photographs and videos of its activities.

The Guardian Environment website publishes news and commentary on environmental issues such as climate change, energy, ethical living, food and recycling.

It also provides blogs, job listings and multimedia, including audio and video podcasts. Users can comment and are encouraged to join discussions.

The website also aggregates relevant news from members of the Guardian Environment Network, which brings together the world's best environment websites including SciDev.Net, China Dialogue, Real Science and the World Resources Institute.

HEDON is an online forum dedicated to household energy efficiency in the South. It aims to build a network of practitioners, policymakers, funders, and business-owners to collect and disseminate information on local, national, regional and international energy efficiency initiatives in the household energy sector.

HEDON publishes a journal, Boiling Point, with freely available archives dating back to 1982 as well as information on key topics, including forestry, gender, climate change and policy. It also publishes relevant news, events and announcements.

IEA Bioenergy was set up by the International Energy Agency in 1978, with the goal of fostering collaboration between countries with national bioenergy programmes. It undertakes a series of 'tasks', each with a work programme led by a participating nation. Ongoing tasks include analysing bioenergy systems and producing biomass from sustainable forestry.

This non-profit organisation aims to develop sustainable ecological farming in Africa and India. ICRISAT's mission is "to help empower 600 million poor people to overcome hunger, poverty and a degraded environment in the dry tropics through better agriculture".

ICRISAT's BioPower initiative aims to ensure that bioenergy research benefits the poor. Its activities include analysing bioenergy trends and understanding their repercussions for the poor, and enabling governments to formulate pro-bioenergy policies that benefit poor people.

This website presents a collection of the International Energy Agency's information and resources on renewable energy. It includes a list of publications, events, projects and activities on renewable energy technologies and markets, including biofuels, solar, wind and geothermal power.

The International Institute for Water and Environmental Engineering (2ie) is a research and training institute specialising in water, energy and the environment. It provides educational facilities to develop research capacity for innovation and entrepreneurship on the African continent, focusing on water and environmental management; solar energy and biofuels; eco-material; and civil engineering. The 2ie website publishes information on available courses including how to apply and admission requirements, as well as upcoming conferences and workshops, jobs and internships, and access to online libraries.

Mandated by 75 countries worldwide, the International Renewable Energy Agency (IRENA) aims to promote the transition to and sustainable use of renewable energy. Its website provides information — in English, French, German and Spanish — on the potential, best practices, technology available and funding for renewable energies.

It includes a presentation making the case for IRENA, a discussion paper on its role in the context of other organisations and initiatives, an overview of its founding, preparatory conferences and a roadmap.

LAMNET is a worldwide network of 48 institutions from 24 countries, funded by the European Commission. Its main objective is "to establish a trans-national forum for the promotion of sustainable use of biomass in Latin America and other emerging countries". It offers literature on bioenergy, including publications from journals, newspapers and conference proceedings.

Lighting Africa, an initiative of the International Finance Corporation and the World Bank, supports the private sector to develop and sustain markets for affordable, clean and efficient lighting and energy through off-grid technologies — including solar systems — in Sub-Saharan Africa. It provides information on business opportunities and projects, publishes news about its activities and links to relevant events.

This website publishes information about the global transition to a low carbon economy. It includes regular news about developments across the world, online discussions, and links to relevant events, products and organisations.

The National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL), in the United States, focuses on research and development in renewable energy and energy efficiency. It publishes information about all its research programmes — from biomass to solar photovoltaics — and other activities including technology transfer partnerships, industry partnerships, and technical assistance to US and international government agencies and organisations.