1. IEA welcomes its new Executive Director
2. Participation in IEA R&D collaborations gathers pace
3. Troubleshooting in biomass plant development
4. Photovoltaic applications trends, 1992-2006
5. Issues for near-term CO₂ capture and storage

• CHP/DHC updates
• Bioenergy and future energy demand
• Clean coal technology RD&D
• Newsletters from IEA programmes
• IEA FAQ brochure in more languages
• Electrical equipment efficiency regulations

• Aluminium industry energy efficiency
• Renewable energy policy making
• Building the hydrogen economy
• Reviewing R&D policies
• IEA Statistics manual in Chinese
• Renewables Information 2007

• International Workshop on Degradation Issues of Fuel Cells, Crete (Greece), 19-21 September 2007.

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

• Workshop Tracking Industrial Energy Efficiency and CO₂ Emissions: The Way Forward, Paris (France), 1-2 October 2007.

• Deploying Demand Side Energy Technologies Workshop, Paris (France), 8-9 October 2007.

• 7th Annual Workshop of Greenhouse Gas Emission Trading, Paris (France), 8-9 October 2007.

• Global CHP/DHC Policies - Best Practices and Lessons Learned- Policy Maker's Roundtable, Paris (France), 10-11 October 2007.

• 3rd Workshop on Building the Hydrogen Economy: Enabling Infrastructure Development, Shanghai (China) 22-24 October 2007.

• Expert consultation Sustainable Biomass, Dubrovnik (Croatia), 25-26 October 2007.

• Workshop New Energy Indicators for Buildings and Appliances: The Way Forward, Paris (France), 25-26 October 2007.

• Methane to Markets Partnership Expo: A Forum for Projects, Technology, Financing and Policy, Beijing (China), 30 October–1 November 2007.

• Expert workshops organised by the IEA Implementing Agreement on Industrial Energy-Related Technologies and Systems (IETS), Amsterdam (Netherlands), 6-7 November 2007.

• Workshop on Ecodriving, Paris (France), 22-23 November 2007.

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

• 9th International Conference on Greenhouse Gas Control Technologies, Washington, DC (United States), 16-20 November 2008.

1. IEA welcomes its new Executive Director. On 1 September 2007, Nobuo Tanaka of Japan succeeded Claude Mandil of France as Executive Director of the International Energy Agency. A message from Mr. Tanaka to OPEN Bulletin readers can be found here. Click here for a biographical note on Executive Director Tanaka. A tribute to outgoing Executive Director Claude Mandil can be found on the IEA website.

2. Participation in IEA R&D collaborations gathers pace. Between January and August 2007, nineteen new national contracting parties joined IEA international energy technology collaborative programmes. This is already close to the 20 new participations for the full year 2006. See the details. The IEA energy technology network brings together some 40 international R&D programmes enabling participants to pool resources for advancing wide-ranging energy technologies and to share results of their work.
Five of the new participants represent non-IEA countries, with which IEA countries are establishing partnerships to help promote more efficient, more rational production and use of energy. Brazil, for example, recently became the eighth partner in the IEA Hydropower programme (IEA Implementing Agreement for a Co-operative Programme on Hydropower Technologies and Programmes). The cementing of this link early in August reflects the efforts of the IEA NEET Initiative (Networks of Expertise in Energy Technology), which facilitates stronger representation of non-IEA countries in IEA collaborative energy technology programmes. Visit the IEA website pages on the NEET Initiative, one of the IEA projects supporting the G8 Plan of Action for clean energy and sustainable development.

3. Troubleshooting in biomass plant development. Bioenergy solutions are certainly an increasingly attractive option. But designing and bringing a biomass plant into operation can be less simple than developing a wind farm or hydropwer plant. The red tape is often very time-consuming. Markets for output of electricity or biofuel products must be established early on. Long-term supplies of sustainably produced biomass feedstock need to be secured, and bulky provisions transported and stored. Other basic issues like plant location, water use, emissions, noise and traffic have to be addressed.
Rich insight on circumventing barriers when developing bioenergy projects is provided in the IEA publication Good Practice Guidelines - Bioenergy Project Development & Biomass Supply. Downloadable free from the IEA website, this guide for the many stakeholders involved highlights potential pitfalls and ways to avoid them, and thus contribute to better exploitation of this important renewable energy resource. See below for more on bioenergy.

4. Trends in Photovoltaic Applications Between 1992 and 2006. Valuable updates on the application of PV systems and their components are provided in this latest downloadable overview survey from the IEA Photovoltaic Power Systems Programme (IEA PVPS). The report provides an overview for business and public-sector strategists of how this technology is contributing to sustainable energy systems in selected countries, notably participants in this IEA collaborative programme. The report's findings draw on the more detailed IEA PVPS National Survey Reports, again downloadable from the IEA PVPS website. Also now available on the IEA PVPS website are presentations from a recent workshop on PV Services for Developing Countries Water Services. The 28 June gathering in Bangkok reviewed past and ongoing PV-water projects to identify key lessons, also taking a look at recent technological advances. IEA PVPS is one of some 40 programmes within the IEA collaborative network.

5. Issues for near-term CO₂ capture & storage. What are the key issues for near-term CO₂ capture and storage (CCS)? Where should stakeholders be focusing in order to seize technically and economically viable opportunities to apply CCS technologies or to initiate demonstration or commercialisation efforts? The recently published free downloadable IEA report Near-Term Opportunities for Carbon Dioxide Capture and Storage offers some perspective. It draws on the findings of the first of three workshops, organised by the IEA in partnership with the Carbon Sequestration Leadership Forum (CSLF) and bringing together industry, government, academia and civil-society participants from around the world. These high-level events are generating recommendations requested by G8 leaders, due to be submitted at the G8 summit in Japan in 2008. Options for accelerating implementation of CCS, timetables and the required policy measures are on the agendas for the second and third CSLF/IEA workshops. The first workshop's speeches and presentations can be accessed on the CSLF website. See also Legal Aspects of Storing CO₂ - Update and Recommendations. Contact: Jacek Podkanski at IEA.

• CHP/DHC updates. The recently created IEA International Combined Heat and Power (CHP)/District Heating and Cooling Collaborative (DHC) now offers numerous useful information items on its web pages, including a fact sheet, data, information on barriers to deployment, current participants and outcomes from the initiative's kick-off workshop in March 2007. The IEA CHP/DHC Initiative was created to analyse and report on the prospects for increased use of CHP and DHC. Its Policy Makers' Roundtable Global CHP/DHC Policies - Best Practices and Lessons Learned, to take place at IEA Headquarters in Paris on 10-11 October 2007, will highlight international examples of best-practice CHP and DHC policy, with a view to contributing to the IEA’s input to G8 Ministers on climate change and clean energy.
Meanwhile, the IEA Implementing Agreement programme on DHC and CHP has published a concise new three-page brochure describing its international collaborative activities and the benefits of DHC.

• Potential Contribution of Bioenergy to the World's Future Energy Demand is a new, 12-page downloadable report from IEA Bioenergy, whose current Annual Report, also downloadable, contains a 16-page feature on Biomass Pyrolysis. Similarly available from the website of IEA Bioenergy are summary, conclusions and presentations from its April 2007 workshop The Biorefinery Concept. See also "Events" below. IEA Bioenergy is one some some 40 programmes operating in the IEA collaborative network.

• Clean Coal Technology R,D&D – Significant achievements of European Coal and Steel community R&D Programmes in the development of clean coal power generation technology. This summary report was prepared under the European Commission Research Programme of the Research Fund for Coal and Steel. It can be downloaded from the website of the IEA Clean Coal Centre, one of the programmes operating within the IEA collaborative network. A new downloadable brochure presents a profile of the Clean Coal Centre. See also the presentations from the 15-17 May 2007 Third International Conference on Clean Coal Technologies for our Future in Sardinia (Italy), which was co-organised by the IEA Clean Coal Centre and brought together more than 200 attendees from more than 32 countries.

• Free technology newsletters from IEA's international collaborative programmes:
- AMFI Newsletter, from the IEA Advanced Motor Fuels programme, Issue No. 3/2007, July 2007.
- IEA Bioenergy News, from IEA Bioenergy, Volume 19, Number 1, July 2007.
- Newsletter from the IEA Clean Coal Centre, Number 53, July 2007.
- DSM Spotlight from the IEA Demand-Side Management Programme, July 2007.
- Solar Update from the IEA Solar Heating and Cooling Programme, Volume 47, July 2007.

• Now available in Chinese, Portuguese, Russian and Spanish, the IEA Frequently Asked Questions brochure on participating in IEA collaborative energy technology programmes (Implementing Agreeements).

• Experience with Energy Efficiency Regulations for Electrical Equipment. This free downloadable 105-page IEA study in support of the G8 Plan of Action investigates the coverage and impact of forms of minimum energy performance standards (MEPS) and comparative energy labelling programmes.

• Proceedings from IEA/International Aluminium Institute Energy Efficiency and GHG Emission Reduction Workshop, Paris, 24 May 2007. Organised by the IEA in collaboration with the International Aluminium Institute, this event in support of the G8 Plan of Action brought together an advisory group of aluminium industry experts and IEA energy and emissions policy experts to discuss past trends and potential for future action in the sector.

• Global Best Practice in Renewable Energy Policy Making - Summary of workshop Findings. This report can be accessed on the IEA website, together with the presentations from the IEA workshop in Paris on 29 June 2007.

• Report and presentations from the Detroit workshop Building the Hydrogen Economy, 2-4 April 2007. This workshop, organised by the International Energy Agency and the International Partnership for the Hydrogen Economy (IPHE), was one of three under the joint project "Building the Hydrogen Economy - An Infrastructure Strategy", the second and third taking place in Paris (10-12 July 2007) and Shanghai (22-24 October 2007). The IEA website provides access to more details on the series of workshops.

• Reviewing R&D Policies. IEA peer reviews of member countries' energy policies are a well established aid for helping to establish best practice in many policy areas, including those associated with R&D. This free handbook from the IEA provides tools and guidance for review teams. It can be downloaded free from its website.

• The free downloadable IEA Energy Statistics Manual has recently been published in Chinese. This aid to strengthening the expertise and experience of energy statisticians is also downloadable in French, German, Russian and Spanish.

• Renewables Information 2007. This IEA publication contains essential statistics on renewables and waste energy sources, thus providing a strong foundation for policy and market analysis. It is one in a series of recently released IEA statistical publications. Visit the IEA Online Bookshop

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• International Workshop on Degradation Issues of Fuel Cells, Crete (Greece), 19-21 September 2007. The IEA Implementing Agreement programme on Advanced Fuel Cells (IEA-AFC) sits on the organising committee for this workshop, which will aim to gain understanding of fundamental degradation issues, pinpoint measures to increase fuel cell lifetime and reliability, and identify necessary R&D and future activities to evaluate degradation and harmonise test procedures. Click for the second announcement and the agenda.

• 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 website.

• Workshop Tracking Industrial Energy Efficiency and CO₂ Emissions: The Way Forward, Paris (France), 1-2 October 2007. This workshop will help inform and enhance ongoing IEA work on industrial energy efficiency and CO₂ emissions to enrich analysis for key IEA publications supporting the G8 Plan of Action. The IEA website provides more details.

• Deploying Demand Side Energy Technologies Workshop, Paris (France), 8-9 October 2007. A Workshop in the Framework of the G8 Dialogue on Climate Change, Clean Energy and Sustainable Development, this event will bring together key experts with hands-on experience in technology deployment policy setting from governments, industry, academia and international organisations in both IEA Member and non-Member countries. They will be invited to share experience and provide input to the IEA's 2008 Energy Technology Perspectives publication. Visit the IEA website.

• 7th Annual Workshop of Greenhouse Gas Emission Trading, Paris (France), 8-9 October 2007. Organised by the International Emissions Trading Association, the Electric Power Research Institute and the IEA, this 7th workshop will provide an opportunity for government, business and NGO stakeholders in the emissions trading debate to discuss some of the key issues relating to international climate policy. Visit the IEA website.

• Global CHP/DHC Policies - Best Practices and Lessons Learned - Policy Maker's Roundtable, Paris (France), 10-11 October 2007. This Policy Maker’s Roundtable will highlight international examples of best-practice CHP and DHC policy, with a view to contributing to the IEA’s Programme of Work for G8 Ministers on climate change and clean energy. The IEA website provides more details.

• 3rd Workshop on Building the Hydrogen Economy: Enabling Infrastructure Development, Shanghai (China) 22-24 October 2007. Workshop objectives: to bring together public and private sector officials in an international strategic process to evaluate transition planning scenarios for the expansion of infrastructure for the hydrogen economy; to inform policymakers on opportunities to accelerate the process. Visit the IEA website.

• Expert consultation Sustainable Biomass, Dubrovnik (Croatia), 25-26 October 2007. Organised by Tasks 29, 38 and 40 of IEA Bioenergy, together with the Energy Institute Hrvoje Pozar and Joanneum Research, this workshop will address key questions relating to different aspects of sustainability. For details, visit the website of IEA Bioenergy, one of some some 40 programmes operating in the IEA collaborative network.

• Workshop New Energy Indicators for Buildings and Appliances: The Way Forward, Paris (France), 25-26 October 2007. The purpose of this workshop is to discuss what new indicators and data are needed to support energy efficiency policy for buildings and appliances and to inform and guide the future development of the IEA’s indicators work in these areas. Visit the IEA website.

• Methane to Markets Partnership Expo: A Forum for Projects, Technology, Financing and Policy, Beijing (China), 30 October – 1 November 2007. This event, for which the IEA is an organising sponsor, will provide the opportunity to promote project opportunities and technologies for methane recovery and use. Visit the event pages on the website of the Methane to Markets Partnership. The IEA contact is Tom Kerr.

• Expert workshops organised by the IEA Implementing Agreement on Industrial Energy-Related Technologies and Systems (IETS), Amsterdam (Netherlands), 6-7 November 2007 on the following topics: Use of membranes for hydrocarbon separation (contact: Jaap Vente); Industry-based biorefineries (contact: Isabel Cabrita); Industrial combustion (contact: James Quinn).

• Workshop on Ecodriving, Paris (France), 22-23 November 2007. This workshop will aim to provide support for policy makers in developing and implementing schemes to promote ecodriving, a way of driving and equipping vehicles that reduces fuel consumption and greenhouse gas emissions. Findings will feed into the preparation of recommendations to G8 heads of state at their 2008 summit and serve as input to the May 2008 Leipzig International Transport Forum on Energy for Transport: The Challenge of Climate Change. Visit the IEA 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. Visit the website of the IEA Heat Pump Centre and the conference website.

• 9th International Conference on Greenhouse Gas Control Technologies, Washington, DC (United States), 16-20 November 2008. Organized by the IEA Greenhouse Gas R&D Programme in collaboration with the Massachusetts Institute of Technology, and with sponsorship from the United States Department of Energy, this is the latest in the series of Greenhouse Gas Control Technologies (GHGT) conferences, created in 1997. Visit the conference website.