1. IEA and South Africa reinforce energy technology links (NEET workshop)
2. Nuclear power - bridging the generation gap
3. Slovak Republic is invited to join IEA
4. Electric light bulbs and the race for efficiency
5. Efficiency gains in ammonia production

. Risk assessment in CO₂ capture, storage
. CO₂ storage feasibility in Silesia, Poland
. Newsletters from IEA programmes
. IEA technology group's strategy (CERT)
. Free, in Greek, Energy Policies of Greece

. Technology transfer in Asia
. Financing energy-efficient homes
. Hydropower & good practices
. Energy security and climate policy
. Energy policies in Hungary, in the UK

. International Workshop Biomass Supply Issues and Solutions, Bregenz (Austria), 14–16 May 2007.

. Third International Conference on Clean Coal Technologies for our Future, Cagliari, Sardinia (Italy), 15-17 May 2007.

. International Workshop on Technology Learning and Deployment, Paris (France), 11-12 June 2007.

. Eurelectric Annual Convention and Conference The Next 10 Years, Antwerp (Belgium), 11-12 June 2007.

. IEA/CSLF Assessment Workshop on Near-Term Opportunities for Carbon Capture and Storage, Oslo (Norway), 21-22 June 2007.

. International Workshop Fuel Efficiency Policies for Heavy-Duty Vehicles, Paris (France), 21-22 June 2007.

. International Workshop Energy Efficient Set-Top Boxes & Digital Networks, Paris (France), 4-6 July 2007.

. Conference Building Low Energy Cooling and Advanced Ventilation Technologies in the 21st Century, Aghia Pelaghia, Crete (Greece), 27-29 September 2007.

. 9th IEA Heat Pump Conference, Advances and Prospects in Technology, Applications and Markets, Zürich (Switzerland), 20-22 May 2008.

1. IEA and South Africa reinforce energy technology links. Solid foundations were recently laid in Johannesburg for stronger South African participation in the IEA’s international energy technology collaborative programmes. More than 100 South African energy-sector stakeholders met some 20 experts from the IEA’s international technology network to compare experience and identify synergies for accelerating energy technology advances and improving policy approaches.
The event was a joint workshop on 20-22 February, hosted by the new South African National Energy Research Institute (SANERI) in tandem with the institute's own launch. The workshop was organised jointly with the IEA NEET initiative (Networks of Expertise in Energy Technology). The NEET initiative is part of the IEA’s programme in support of the G8 nations’ plan of action on climate change, clean energy and sustainable development. This was the first of NEET’s workshops in “Plus-5” countries to stimulate the dialogue between IEA programmes, the international business and finance communities, policy makers, researchers and academia.
The South Africa NEET workshop has prompted moves to expand South Africa’s participation in IEA international energy technology programmes. Brian Hitson, Executive Committee Chair of the IEA Energy Technology Data Exchange (ETDE) was present in Johannesburg and reports on the NEET initiative in action. See also NEET’s web pages for workshop press releases, presentations and a draft summary. NEET contact: alexandra.niez@iea.org

2. Nuclear power - bridging the generation gap. As climate and energy security issues continue to grab the headlines, nuclear power is becoming an increasingly attractive option for some countries. Worldwide, more than 400 nuclear power plants are already providing 16% of the electricity supply. New capacity is under construction. Is nuclear technology advancing fast enough? How can public perceptions of nuclear be enhanced? Are we likely to see a shortage of uranium if nuclear becomes a more widespread choice? These are some of the questions that the OPEN Bulletin put to Stan Gordelier, Head of the Nuclear Development Division at the OECD Nuclear Energy Agency. Access the interview.
Meanwhile, the IEA Secretariat has recently added a four-page technology update on nuclear power to its series IEA Energy Technology Essentials (ETE). This ETE brief looks at nuclear power generation processes, technology status, costs, potential shares in the energy mix and deployment barriers. Visit the IEA ETE web page.

3. Slovak Republic is invited to join the IEA. The International Energy Agency has invited the Slovak Republic to become its 27th member country. Following approval by the Agency's Governing Board on 7th March, IEA Executive Director Claude Mandil declared “We are delighted that the Slovak Republic will join the IEA. The country plays an important role in Europe´s energy supply chain. Its geographic position as a key energy transit country in Central and Eastern Europe means that its membership will greatly enhance the Agency´s presence and energy security in the region.”
To become a full member country, the Slovak Republic will now need to complete the procedures and take the necessary steps under its national legislation to accede to the IEA´s founding Agreement on an International Energy Program. Access the IEA press release.

4. Electric light bulbs and the race for efficiency. Industry is taking a front-line position in combating inefficient electricity use by inadequate light bulbs. And some governments are moving vigorously ahead with the policy artillery. Only 5% of the energy consumed by today's most common incandescent lamps actually produces light; the remaining 95% is converted into heat. Is the incandescent lamp to become an easy target in the energy-efficiency drive? The outlook seems promising, judging from the debate at IEA's 26 February workshop on the quality of compact fluorescent lamps and on phasing out the incandescent variety. Industry, government and concerned interest groups together shone some crucial light on how to move forward in this very promising area of energy efficiency. IEA energy-efficiency specialist Paul Waide reports on a number of very encouraging developments surrounding the workshop. Access the article.

5. Efficiency gains in ammonia production. Each tonne of ammonia produced today consumes an average 30% less energy than thirty years back. This is good news for CO₂ emissions, but also for balance sheets in the fertilizer industry, where ammonia is a key input. The need for fertilizers grows in pace with growth in populations and economies. A recent workshop in Ho Chi Minh City (Vietnam) provided an opportunity for interested parties from many countries to compare notes on numerous aspects of performance and prospects in the ammonia sector. Organised jointly by the IEA and the International Fertilizer Industry Association (IFA), this 12-14 March event focused notably on energy efficiency today and on opportunities for investment in cleaner technology. A summary of findings from the workshop can be found on IEA's website. The presentations and papers can be accessed on IFA's website.

. Role of Risk Assessment in Regulatory Framework for Geological Storage of CO₂ - Feedback from Regulators and Implementers - this study is obtainable in CD format free of charge for readers from countries and sponsor organisations participating in the IEA Greenhouse Gas R&D Programme (IEA GHG) - see: http://www.ieagreen.org.uk/members.html. Requests should be e-mailed to sian@ieaghg.org. IEA GHG is one of some 40 international energy technology R&D programmes within IEA's collaborative framework.

. Reduction of CO₂ emission by means of CO₂ storage in coal seams in the Silesian coal basin of Poland (RECOPOL) - final report from a European Commission-funded project to investigate the technical and economical feasibility of storing CO₂ permanently in subsurface coal seams. The CD is obtainable free of charge for readers from countries and sponsor organisations participating in the IEA Greenhouse Gas R&D Programme (IEA GHG) - see: http://www.ieagreen.org.uk/members.html). Requests should be e-mailed to sian@ieaghg.org.

. Free technology newsletters from IEA's international collaborative programmes:
- Greenhouse Issues, March 2007, from the IEA Greenhouse Gas R&D Programme.
- IEA Hybrid and Electric Vehicles Implementing Agreement Newsletter, March 2007.
- IETS Newsletter No. 1/2007 from the IEA Implementing Agreement on Industrial Energy-Related Technologies and Systems.
- RETD Newsletter, January 2007, from the IEA Implementing Agreement on Renewable Energy Technology Deployment.

. The IEA Committee on Energy Research and Technology (CERT) has just published its new five-year strategy: CERT Strategic Plan 2007-2011. The CERT brings together representatives from all IEA member countries, as well as the European Commission and the OECD Nuclear Energy Agency. It's role, in partnership with the IEA Secretariat, is to oversee a portfolio of energy technology RD&D and deployment programmes and projects targeting IEA countries' goals of energy security, economic growth and environmental/climate protection. Download from the IEA website.

. Energy Policies of Greece - a Greek-language version of IEA's recently published review can be downloaded free, also the press release in Greek.

. Reports from Climate Technology Initiative (CTI) Industry Joint Seminar: Successful Cases of Technology Transfer in Asian Countries, New Delhi (India), 7-8 March 2007. Consult CTI's website for a seminar summary and link to a detailed report carried by the reporting services of the International Institute for Sustainable Development (IISD). CTI is one of the IEA collaborative programmes.

. Financing Energy Efficient Homes: Existing policy responses to financial barriers. Existing buildings account for over 40% of the world’s total final energy consumption and 24% of world CO₂ emissions. But currently available technology could radically change that. Market barriers are a key issue. This free downloadable study explains how carefully designed policy packages and strong political will are more important than increased capital availability in overcoming the financial barriers to energy efficiency. It is essential to remove the obstacles that private-sector actors face. Download from IEA's website.

. Hydropower Good Practices: Environmental Mitigation Measures and Benefits. Produced by the Task VIII team of the IEA Hydropower Implementing Agreement, this comprehensive, freely downloadable publication comprises a 26-page Summary Report and 60 case histories from 20 countries. Essential reading for developers, policy makers, investment institutions, non-government bodies and concerned members of the public, this aid to objective evaluation of hydropower can be downloaded from the website of the IEA Hydropower Implementing Agreement, one of some 40 international energy technology R&D programmes within IEA's collaborative framework.

. Energy Security and Climate Policy: Assessing Interactions. How can the objectives of energy security and climate change mitigation be reconciled in policy making? This IEA publication offers an unprecedented analytical approach to assess interactions between efforts to address these two vital policy concerns. See press release. Visit IEA's Online Bookshop.

. The latest IEA reviews of energy policies in individual IEA countries.
Energy Policies of IEA Countries - Hungary - 2006 Review. Read the press release in Hungarian. Visit the IEA Online Bookshop. 
Energy Policies of IEA Countries - United Kingdom - 2006 Review. Visit the IEA Online Bookshop. 

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. International Workshop Biomass Supply Issues and Solutions, Bregenz (Austria), 14–16 May 2007. Organised jointly by Task 29 of IEA Bioenergy, the Land Vorarlberg and Energieinstitut Vorarlberg, this event will provide an opportunity for specialists and non-specialists to learn and participate in exchanges to promote understanding of the complex social and economic interactions between bioenergy and communities. Visit the website of IEA Bioenergy's Task 29 on Socio-Economic Drivers in Implementing Bioenergy Projects. IEA Bioenergy is one of some 40 international energy technology R&D programmes within IEA's collaborative framework.

. Third International Conference on Clean Coal Technologies for our Future, Cagliari, Sardinia (Italy), 15-17 May 2007. The move towards zero-emissions coal-fired power plants is gathering momentum. Co-organised by the IEA Clean Coal Centre, this Clean Coal Technologies event will build on the success of its previous May 2005 conference in Cagliari, taking further the debate underlying important decisions the coal industry must take for our future.

. International Workshop on Technology Learning and Deployment, Paris (France), 11-12 June 2007. Technology learning is important for energy R&D and for energy investment decisions on emerging new technologies. Experience curves help to clarify potential benefits of deployment programmes and identify technology and policy options which can support the transformation of energy systems. The main focus will be on supply technologies. Invitations to this invitations-only workshop can be requested from Cecilia Tam at IEA. Visit the IEA's website.

. Eurelectric Annual Convention and Conference The Next 10 Years, Antwerp (Belgium), 11-12 June 2007. Against a backdrop of new momentum in European energy policy, 2007 is a critical year for the European electricity industry and the challenge of establishing a competitive, secure and sustainable European energy market. Ten years after the first liberalisation moves, Eurelectric’s 2007 annual convention and conference comes at an opportune moment to look ahead to the next 10 years. Visit Eurelectric's website. Download the flyer.

. IEA/CSLF Assessment Workshop on Near-Term Opportunities for Carbon Capture and Storage, Oslo (Norway), 21-22 June 2007. This workshop is the second in a three-workshop series responding to a G8 request and organised by IEA and the Carbon Sequestration Leadership Forum. It will assess the issues raised at the August 2006 San Francisco workshop Near-Term Opportunities for CO₂ Capture and Storage in the Fossil Fuel Sector. A third workshop, to be announced, will focus on recommendations to help accelerate development and commercialisation of carbon capture and storage. To learn more about these workshops, contact Jacek Podkanski at IEA.

. International Workshop Fuel Efficiency Policies for Heavy-Duty Vehicles, Paris (France), 21-22 June 2007. Heavy-duty vehicles are responsible for 30% of world-wide fuel use. While vehicle efficiency has improved significantly, large potential savings remain. Hosted by the IEA and the European Conference of Ministers of Transport (ECMT), this workshop will explore measures to achieve those savings. The workshop will welcome policy makers, government officials, researchers, and representatives from non-governmental organisations and industry. Visit IEA's website.

. International Workshop Energy Efficient Set-Top Boxes & Digital Networks, Paris (France), 4-6 July 2007. Design criteria for these products must embrace low power requirements and now is the time to ensure that the right protocols and standards are in place. Hosted by IEA in conjunction with the International Task Force for Sustainable Products (ITFSP), this workshop will bring together stakeholders to share information on current developments in technologies, standards and policies, and to decide on the key elements for future activities. Visit IEA's website.

. Conference Building Low Energy Cooling and Advanced Ventilation Technologies in the 21st Century, Aghia Pelaghia, Crete (Greece), 27-29 September 2007. Co-organised by IEA's Air Infiltration and Ventilation Centre (AIVC) as its 28th conference, this event aims to cover all aspects of technology and building design dealing with ventilation and passive cooling techniques. AIVC is part of the IEA Programme on Energy Conservation in Buildings & Community Systems (ECBCS). Consult the conference website.

. 9th IEA Heat Pump Conference, Advances and Prospects in Technology, Applications and Markets, Zürich (Switzerland), 20-22 May 2008. This event will focus on technology, markets, policy and standards within a context of desired environmental benefits and energy conservation. Heat pumps will be addressed, along with air conditioning and refrigeration equipment, also systems for residential, commercial and industrial applications, together with heat pumping technologies for heating and cooling of low energy houses and systems for district heating and cooling. Abstracts are due on 30 April 2007. Visit the website of the IEA Heat Pump Centre and the conference website.