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Energy Technology and R&D
The Office of Energy Technology and R&D (ETO) focuses on how energy technology and appropriate policies for its development and deployment – notably through international collaboration – can help underpin energy security, economic growth and sustainability. Under guidance from the Committee on Energy Research and Technology (CERT), the ETO provides authoritative information and analysis on how energy technology can make a difference. It plays a strong role in IEA work under the 2005 Gleneagles Summit mandate from G8 leaders to “advise on alternative energy scenarios and strategies aimed at a clean, clever and competitive energy future”.
Energy Technology Policy Analysis
The ETO produces analysis for energy policy makers and public-sector stakeholders that assesses promising technology pathways towards a more sustainable energy future. ETO advises on global strategies to accelerate market penetration and diffusion of a broad range of energy technologies. Activities include estimating costs and benefits under different policy and market conditions and modeling various scenarios for power generation and for energy use in buildings, industry and transport. Energy indicators work provides an important gauge of how economic activity and people’s lifestyles affect energy supply and trends.
Studies draw on outcomes from workshops that bring together policy makers and experts from around the world and on the expertise and findings of the IEA international technology collaboration network, which conducts research, development and demonstration (RD&D) and information dissemination in the various technology fields.
IEA Technology Collaboration
The ETO helps oversee the international collaborative activities of the IEA energy technology network, which includes more than 40 international collaborations known as “Implementing Agreements”. These function within IEA collaborative framework enabling experts from different countries to optimise R&D investment by working jointly on RD&D and information dissemination and sharing results. The ETO liaises with the CERT and its working parties on fossil fuels, renewable energy, end-use technologies and fusion power. Expert/ad hoc groups provide additional cross-cutting analysis and support on R&D priority setting and evaluation, on oil and gas technology, and on reinforcing links between basic science and energy technology communities. IEA international energy technology network activities involve vigorous efforts to reach out to partners in non-IEA countries, notably through the NEET Initiative, created under the G8 mandate to the IEA.
Strong emphasis is placed on advancing R&D and policy analysis on clean fossil fuels technologies and carbon dioxide capture and storage. Promoting application of viable alternative energy sources, ETO advises on global strategies to accelerate market penetration and diffusion of wide-ranging renewable energies, notably providing such tools as its global policies and measures database. Work on next-generation technologies promotes innovation in hydrogen and fusion-power technologies and monitors prospects for their place in tomorrow’s markets.
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