IEA OPEN Energy Technology Bulletin

1. CO2 - capture and storage potential - co-ordinating trade and environment policies. Is carbon capture and storage (CCS) a realistic future option for large-scale greenhouse-gas mitigation? IEA Secretariat analysis suggests that, already in the early 21st century, CCS can play an important role in reducing CO2 emissions in a carbon-constrained world, notably in the electricity sector. The IEA Working Paper The Future Role of CO2 Capture and Storage – Results of the IEA-Energy Technology Perspectives Model explains how. But the paper also warns that investor uncertainty and insufficient RD&D for capture technologies and effective long-term storage could limit practical application of these technologies.

Another recent IEA Working Paper, Challenges in Energy and Environment Modelling: a Materials Perspective, underscores the importance of good data and model structure for the quality of results. Here, the integrated energy and materials approach in the IEA Energy Technology Perspectives Model is developed for application to “carbon leakage”. This is an economic and international commodity trade issue. If large volumes of emissions-intensive industrial production shift to alternative sites around the world, how does this affect global emissions? The results suggest that, if new climate policy instruments are not adopted globally, up to 45% of gains in one region could be cancelled out by emissions transferred elsewhere.

2. Energy-efficiency facilitator role for IEA in international sustainable energy market-expansion effort. As an advisor to energy policy-makers in member countries, the IEA is well placed to advance the aims of the multi-stakeholder Renewable Energy and Energy Efficiency Partnership (REEEP), recently launched in London. Initiated in August 2002 at the Johannesburg World Summit on Sustainable Development (WSSD), REEEP brings together governments, businesses and organisations committed to speeding more widespread development of renewable and energy efficiency systems around the world. The partnership provides an open, flexible global framework for governments, business and civil society to share the knowledge and best practice needed to break through barriers to more sustainable energy production and use. Working through regional focal points and collaborating with international bodies, REEEP focuses on promoting new approaches to policy and regulations, innovative finance and communications. For more about REEEP, consult its Website.

3. IEA coal industry award recognises importance of coal in sustainable development. The first IEA Coal Industry Advisory Board (CIAB) Coal Award has been presented to Professor Michael Karmis by CIAB Chairman Dr Jürgen Stadelhofer (President of RAG Coal International, Germany).

The CIAB, which supports the IEA in all coal-related matters, has created the Award for Sustainable Development to recognise and celebrate work which enhances the sustainability of coal as a contributor to world energy resources. Professor Karmis has earned the award for his contributions to mining education and improved mining technologies, mine health and safety, and improving the environmental performance of coal mining.

Michael Karmis is Stonie Barker Professor of Mining and Minerals Engineering, and Director of the Virginia Center for Coal and Energy Research at Blacksburg, Va. (United States). Visit CIAB’s Website.

4. Renewables in Russia, Renewables for Power Generation - two new IEA books. These two publications offer realistic assessments of renewables' potential contribution to energy-sector sustainability. Parts of each can be downloaded free.

Renewables in Russia – From Opportunity to Reality explains how renewable energy can offer real, cost-effective options for addressing some of Russia’s energy and economic challenges. It explores the preconditions for drawing Russia’s resources in wind, hydro, geothermal, biomass and solar energy into the energy mix, alongside the nation’s abundant and dominant oil, gas and coal. Visit IEA’s bookshop.

Worldwide, some renewable energy technologies are well established in the market, while others are just starting to show potential. Renewables for Power Generation - Status & Prospects assesses the outlook under differing market scenarios for six leading renewable energy technologies: small hydro power, solar photovoltaic, concentrating solar power, biopower, geothermal power and wind power. Present and likely future costs are analysed, along with market developments for these rapidly evolving technologies. Key areas are highlighted for further research and development and for policy support. Visit IEA’s bookshop.

5. More Publications & websites

IEA World Energy Investment Outlook- a pioneering in-depth study on investment needs by fuel and by region. Offering crucial insight for policy makers, investors and all who address energy issues, this publication can be purchased in various formats, including pdf for multi-users. Click here for sample tables. Click here to consult the Table of Contents, download the Executive Summary or order the publication.

Ocean Energy – two publications are now downloadable free of charge from the Website of the IEA Implementing Agreement on Ocean Energy Systems. Wave and Marine Current Energy – Status and Research and Development Priorities examines the technical, economic, environmental and social aspects of ocean energy systems and assesses R&D priorities for these technologies. Development of Recommended Practices for Testing and Evaluating Ocean Energy Systems provides guidelines that could become standards for testing, costs assessment and presentation of results.

Trends in Photovoltaic Applications – Survey report of selected IEA countries between 1992 and 2002. This can be downloaded free of charge from the Website of the IEA Photovoltaic Power Systems Programme, along with some recent studies dealing with deployment of photovoltaic systems in developing countries. Click here to access.

Economies in Transition, the IEA and Renewable Energy - readers can download the IEA’s Background Paper and the presentations made at this public information forum, held in Budapest (Hungary) on 13 October, 2003.

A single CADDET Website now combines free downloadable information on both renewables and energy-efficiency sustainable energy technologies, projects, demonstration results and markets. This site is part of a range of free services offered by the Centre for the Analysis and Dissemination of Demonstrated Energy Technologies (CADDET), created in 1988 under IEA auspices. Click to visit. Check out E-nnouncements, CADDET’s free monthly electronic news service for the energy and environmental community. It can be customised for your needs.

Implementing Agreement Highlights 2002-2003 – downloadable free, this publication describes results and achievements of the IEA Implementing Agreements in 2002/2003. Almost three decades of experience have shown that these international collaborative R&D projects are contributing significantly to achieving faster technological progress at lower cost. Also downloadable, IEA Implementing Agreements - Background and Framework as of 2003 outlines how the Implementing Agreements function.

Energy to 2050 – Scenarios for a Sustainable Future - Strategic planning and political decisions demand exploration of options for the future, best developed through scenarios. This volume from IEA introduces different types of scenario, evaluating how they can be used to analyse specific aspects of the interaction between energy and environment over the longer term.

The Power to Choose - Demand Response in Liberalised Electricity Markets. This IEA study analyses the impact of price-responsive demand and shows how pricing, policy and technology can be used to inform consumer behaviour and choice. It explores the economic, efficiency and security benefits and identifies the changes in electricity tariffs and the network infrastructure needed to achieve greater demand response.

Power Generation Investment in Electricity Markets. IEA’s analysts look at how investors have responded to the need to internalise investment risk in power generation. While capital and total costs remain the parameters shaping investment choices, the value of technologies which can be installed quickly and operated flexibly is increasingly appreciated.

Recently published IEA books were presented at COP9, alongside a number of information papers and brochures available for free download, including:

6. Upcoming Events

Towards Sustainable Use of Building Stock - OECD/IEA Workshop on Sustainable Buildings, Tokyo (Japan), 15-16 January 2004. At this international gathering, building researchers, practitioners, officials, industry representatives and students will exchange the latest know-how and experience on achieving the maximum level of sustainability in existing buildings. To learn more, access the Website at the OECD.

Highly efficient energy utilisation in factories and buildings - IEA/METI/ECCJ Workshop, Tokyo (Japan), 19 January 2004. Focusing on business models and information technology for centralised management of energy consumption in factories and buildings, this event is organised by Japan's Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry, together with the Energy Conservation Centre, Japan, and the IEA. Participants will share experience in use of advanced energy-efficiency practices and waste heat recovery systems in IEA countries and discuss the role of co-operation between government and the private sector in expanding their deployment. To learn more, click here.

Zero Emissions Technologies: Fossil Fuels for Sustainable Development, IEA Asia Pacific Conference, Gold Coast, Queensland (Australia), 17-19 February, 2004. This event will explore the viability, development and deployment of zero emissions technologies for fossil fuels, and their potential as part of a portfolio of cleaner energy options for the Asia Pacific region. Organised by the IEA Working Party on Fossil Fuels, with support from the United Nations, IEA member countries, the Australian and Queensland Governments and the United States Department of Energy, it will bring together players from government, environmental bodies and non-governmental organisations.

International Workshop on Saving Energy in Set-Top Boxes, IEA Headquarters, Paris (France), 27-28 May 2004. Design improvements in TV-connected and other set-top boxes, including converters and decoders, could generate large energy savings. Bringing together manufacturers, service providers and representatives from government energy offices, this event will seek to establish an informal agreement among the various players to ensure effective and consistent efficiency programmes. For more information, see the IEA Website.

The Windsor Workshop, Transportation Technology and Fuels Forum - an international event on emerging transportation technologies, fuels, systems and policies - Westin Harbour Castle, Toronto, Ontario (Canada), 14-17 June, 2004. International experts from public and private sectors will gather to focus on all fields of research, policy, fuel supply and vehicle manufacturing. The workshop is sponsored by Natural Resources Canada, U.S. Department of Energy, in cooperation with Environment Canada, Transport Canada and the IEA.

7th International Conference on Greenhouse Gas Control Technologies, Vancouver (Canada), 5-9 September 2004 (see GHG Programme's Website). Organised by the University of Regina and Natural Resources Canada, in co-operation with the IEA Greenhouse Gas R&D Programme, this conference will provide a forum for discussion of the latest advances in the field of Greenhouse Gas Control Technologies, including capture, storage and utilisation of carbon dioxide (CO2).