1. Smart Grids, smart policy approaches
2. Electric vehicles: matching variable electricity supply to demand
3. Roadmaping 25% of power generation from solar
4. Pooling resources to speed energy innovation
5. Geothermal's rising fortunes
6. New IEA international R&D projects, new participants

• EURELECTRIC Annual Convention and Conference - New Energy World, Dublin (Ireland), 14-15 June 2010.

• Energy Storage – Matching the supply and demand in future - ECES Workshop, Bad Tölz 14-16 July 2010.

• CTI PFAN Africa Forum for Clean Energy Financing (AFRICEF), Johannesburg (South Africa), 21 July 2010.

• Saving More Energy Through Compliance - 4E Conference, London (United Kingdom), 14-16 September 2010.

• 10th International Conference on Greenhouse Gas Control Technologies, Amsterdam (the Netherlands), 19-23 September 2010.

• Inaugural GridWise® Global Forum, Washington (United States), 21-23 September 2010.

• 16th SolarPACES Conference, Perpignan (France), 21-24 September 2010. 

• EUROSUN 2010 - International Conference on Solar Heating, Cooling and Buildings, Graz (Austria), 28 September - 1 October 2010.

• Third International Conference on Ocean Energy (ICOE 2010), Bilbao (Spain), 6-8 October, 2010.

• 31st annual Workshop and Symposium of the International Energy Agency (IEA) Collaborative Project on Enhanced Oil Recovery (EOR), Aberdeen, Scotland (United Kingdom) from 18-20 October 2010. 

• Air Infiltration and Ventilation Centre Conference, Seoul (Korea), 26-28 October 2010.

• Delhi International Renewable Energy Conference (DIREC) 2010, New Delhi (India), 27-29 October 2010. 

• 8th International Conference on System Simulation in Buildings, Liege (Belgium), 13-15 December 2010. 

• Fifth International Conference on Clean Coal Technologies – CCT2011, Saragossa (Spain),  8-12 May 2011. 

• 10th IEA Heat Pump Conference, Tokyo (Japan), 16–19 May 2011.

• 2nd Oxyfuel Combustion Conference, Queensland, (Australia), 12-16 September 2011. 

1. Smart Grids, smart policy approaches.  With time-variable renewables, electric vehicles and heat pumps on the horizon for major power grid penetration, Smart Grids are high on the policy agenda. Huge expected changes will have a strong bearing on evolving electricity network issues and priorities. For example, early engagement with demand-side players will now be essential. Other priorities include action on technology demonstration and greater clarity about who pays and who benefits from investment. Meanwhile, the pace of change will call for flexibility in electricity markets and regulatory regimes, and for adequate skilled human resources.
These were among the findings from a recent Smart Grids workshop in Paris, organised jointly by the IEA Electricity Networks Analysis, Research and Development programme (ENARD), the IEA’s Electricity Co-ordination Group and its Secretariat. Under the banner Grid Policy Workshop “Electricity Grids – a key enabler in the delivery of a sustainable energy policy”, the 28 April event drew 85 delegates from 19 countries.  It represented a major landmark in ENARD’s work to inform government and corporate decision takers on accommodating developments in electricity transmission and development networks.  For a full report on the workshop, download ENARD Newsletter No.8 by clicking here. ENARD is one of the 42 IEA multilateral co-operative programmes.

2. Electric vehicles: matching variable electricity supply to demand. Patterns of electricity demand are often hard to match with patterns of electricity supplied from variable renewable sources like wind or photovoltaics. To help bridge the gap, electric vehicles are well placed to act as grid-connected electricity buffering capacity, ultimately saving money for grid operators and energy suppliers alike. The potential of exploiting synergies between transport and renewables-based power production through electric vehicles is explored in the newly released report RETRANS - Opportunities for the Use of Renewable Energy in Road Transport - Policy Makers Report. Published by the IEA Renewable Energy Technology Deployment programme (RETD), this study describes the technology options for connecting electric and plug-in hybrid vehicles to renewable electricity supply. It identifies the co-ordinated policy approaches needed to activate a structural transition to early, widespread use of renewable energy in road transport. More information and a link to the report can be found here. The press release can be found here. The RETD programme is an IEA multilateral collaboration.

3. Roadmapping 25% of power generation from solar. By 2050, up to one-quarter of global electricity generation could come from solar energy. Analysis in two new IEA Energy Technology Roadmaps shows how a combination of solar photovoltaics (PV) and concentrating solar power (CSP) could be generating 9 000 Terawatt hours of power by mid-century. The IEA’s latest roadmaps plot the technology and policy milestones for enhancing energy security and reducing CO₂ emissions by deploying these two technologies in a complementary way. PV would be used chiefly for on-grid distributed generation in many regions, also enhancing rural off-grid energy access; CSP would be used mostly for dispatchable electricity at utility scale from regions with hot sun and few clouds. Each of these roadmaps and its fold-out chart summary can be downloaded from the Energy Technology Roadmaps page on the IEA website.  Also downloadable are roadmaps on carbon dioxide capture and storage, efficient processes for the cement industry, electric and plug-in hybrid vehicles and wind. More roadmaps will be published over coming months. Visit IEA's website.

4. Pooling resources to speed energy innovation. Building a sustainable energy future will depend on the world's ability to mobilise enough low-carbon, efficient energy technology to trigger an energy technology revolution. International collaboration can play a catalytic role in accelerating energy technology R&D and deployment. This is underscored by the IEA’s newly published, downloadable Energy Technology Initiatives – Implementation through Multilateral Co-Operation. The IEA has many decades of experience in helping players with wide-ranging profiles to work together on advancing new energy technology solutions. Today, 42 IEA programmes work to develop and promote a wide diversity of energy technologies. At the IEA Secretariat in Paris, Carrie Pottinger has her finger on the pulse of these multilateral technology initiatives. Editor of the recently released IEA publication, she describes these initiatives' goals and how private-sector and public-sector participants can benefit from being on board. Access the interview here. Download the publication here.
To create predictable policy environments that foster energy-sector innovation, an open, ongoing dialogue between the public and private sectors is primordial. This is why the IEA, as an intergovernmental organisation, works hard to partner with industry and help build confidence to invest in developing energy technologies for a low-carbon future. Case studies describing the many ways in which the IEA cements these partnerships can be found in the newly launched brochure IEA & Business - Partnership to deliver results.

5. Geothermal's rising fortunes. The enormous potential of geothermal energy is a force to be reckoned with. Since 2005, geothermal energy's contribution to power generation has risen by 20%. Twenty-four countries around the globe are currently producing electricity from high-temperature underground hydrothermal sources of energy. It is estimated by some that geothermal could provide as much as 8% of total global electricity supply by 2050.
The World Geothermal Congress 2010 in Bali (Indonesia) on 25-30 April was the occasion for experts to share the latest information about geothermal and the technical and political context in which it is gaining ground. The IEA Geothermal Implementing Agreement (IEA-GIA) was well represented at the Bali event and contributed a series of papers on its work. Mike Mongillo and Chris Bromley, respectively Secretary and Chair of the IEA-GIA's Executive Committee, report to the OPEN Bulletin on some of the highlights regarding geothermal's past, present and future role in the world's energy systems. Access their article here. IEA-GIA is one of 42 IEA multilateral co-operative programmes.

6. New IEA international R&D projects, new participants. The portfolios of IEA Implementing Agreement collaborations evolve constantly to meet new challenges. New participants join their teams.

• Large scale hydrogen delivery infrastructure is the focus of Task 28 within the IEA Hydrogen Implementing Agreement (HIA). It will focus on transport and distribution of large-scale hydrogen delivery infrastructure, as well as production and end-use issues. To learn more, visit the HIA website and contact the HIA Executive Committee Secretary.

• Australia has become a Contracting Party to the Implementing Agreement for a Programme of Research and Development on Advanced Materials for Transportation Applications (IEA IA-AMT).

• China has become a Contracting Party to the following: the Implementing Agreement for a Programme of Research and Development on Energy Conservation through Energy Storage (ECES); the Implementing Agreement on a Co-operative Programme on Nuclear Technology of Fusion Reactors; and the Implementing Agreement for a Co-operative Programme on Photovoltaic Power Systems (IEA PVPS).

• Korea has become a Contracting Party to the Implementing Agreement for a Programme of Research, Development and Demonstration on Bioenergy (IEA Bioenergy).

• Russia has become a Contracting Party to the Implementing Agreement for Co-operation in the Field of Fluidized Bed Conversion of Fuels Applied to Clean Energy Production (IEA-FBC).

• Generic and site related wave data (2010).  Prepared by Annex II of the IEA Ocean Energy Systems Implementing Agreement (OES IA), this 42-page report answers many questions about the power, potential and nature of the wave energy resource in Europe and elsewhere. The OES IA is an IEA multilateral co-operative programme.

• Integrating Environmentally Responsive Elements in Buildings is the focus of Task 44 of the Energy Conservation in Buildings and Community Systems (ECBCS) Programme. Two of its recent reports can now be downloaded: Expert Guide - Part 1 Responsive Building Concepts; and Expert Guide - Part 2 Responsive Building Elements. Also now downloadable are the 26-page Best Practice Guidelines for Using Energy Performance Contracts To Improve Government Buildings from ECBCS Annex 46 on a Holistic Assessment Tool-kit on Energy Efficient Retrofit Measures for Government Buildings.  

• Free downloadable newsletters from IEA programmes;
- AMFI Newsletter – Issue 2/2010, April – from Annex XXVIII of the IEA Advanced Motor Fuels Agreement (IEA-AMF).
- DSM Spotlight - Issue 36, March 2010 - from the IEA Demand-Side Management Programme (IEA-DSM).
- Solar Update – Vol. 53, May 2010 – from the IEA Solar Heating and Cooling Programme (SHC).

• Annual reports from IEA programmes
- CTI Annual Report 2009 from the Climate Technology Initiative (CTI).
- IEA Greenhouse Gas R&D Progamme Annual Review 2009 from the IEA Greenhouse Gas R&D Programme (IEAGHG).
- PVPS Annual Report 2009 from the IEA Photovoltaic Power Systems Programme (IEA PVPS).

• ETDE - New OpenURL feature.  The Energy Technology Data Exchange World Energy Base (ETDEWEB) has recently added the capability to allow OpenURL resolvers to interpret the information in database records toward determining possible local document availability (useful if the PDF is not already available from the ETDE site, or if no DOI or other link is present). ETDE is an IEA collaborative programme.

• Solar heating and cooling updates.  From the IEA Solar Heating and Cooling Programme (IEA SHC), brief 2009 highlight sheets that recap on the issues, the work they do and key 2009 results: Solar Resource Knowledge Management;  Advanced Housing Renovation with Solar & Conservation;  Solar Air-Conditioning & Refrigeration; Polymeric Materials for Solar Thermal Applications;  Thermal Energy Storage:  Material Development for System Integration.  Check this programme’s pages on new publications.

• Summary of Country Reports Submitted to the Energy Efficiency Working Party.  How are IEA countries advancing with the energy efficiency drive? These highlights of significant energy efficiency policy action and planning in IEA nations, can be download from the IEA website.

• Energy Technology Perspectives 2010 - the pre-sale 10% reduction on the cover price of the IEA's flagship technology publication is offered until end-June 2010. Energy Technology Perspectives 2010 will report on whether the much needed fundamental energy-sector transformation is happening, on which key technologies can play a role, on the costs and benefits, and on the policies needed. Visit the IEA Online Bookshop.

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• EURELECTRIC Annual Convention and Conference - New Energy World, Dublin (Ireland), 14-15 June 2010. This year's event will focus on the proactive role played by the electricity industry in the new energy world in achieving a more efficient, carbon-neutral, secure and competitive energy economy. It will be the industry association's first climate-neutral event. Visit the IEA website and the Eurelectric conference site.

• Energy Storage – Matching the supply and demand in future - ECES Workshop, Bad Tölz (Germany) 14-16 July 2010. The aim of the workshop is to identify relevant R&D topics for joint activities viewed from the perspectives of the power sector, the grid and the end-use sectors; the workshop will seek suitable ways to co-operate. Visit the event page on the website of the organisers, the IEA Energy Conservation through Energy Storage programme (ECES), an IEA collaboration.

• CTI PFAN Africa Forum for Clean Energy Financing (AFRICEF), Johannesburg (South Africa), 21 July 2010. This forum of the newly launched AFRICEF will focus on selected clean energy projects and provide an opportunity to present proposed plans to potential investors. It is co-sponsored by the Climate Technology Initiative (CTI), one of IE's collaborative technology programmes. For more information, go to the AFRICEF website
or contact kuroda@icett.or.jp.

• Saving More Energy Through Compliance - 4E Conference, London (United Kingdom), 14-16 September 2010.  Organised by the IEA Implementing Agreement for Efficient End-use Electrical Equipment (4E) in partnership with the Collaborative Labeling and Appliance Standards Program (CLASP) and the UK Government, this event will bring together public and private sector stakeholders to share experiences in the design and operation of their compliance activities. Download the brochure and registration form from the website of 4E, an IEA international collaboration.

• 10th International Conference on Greenhouse Gas Control Technologies, Amsterdam (the Netherlands), 19-23 September 2010. This tenth conference in the series organised by the IEA Greenhouse Gas R&D Programme (IEAGHG) will provide a platform for discussion on finding opportunities to implement greenhouse gas mitigation technologies and overcome the barriers to applying these technologies. Visit the conference website.

• Inaugural GridWise® Global Forum, Washington (United States), 21-23 September 2010.  This event on smart grids, co-hosted by the GridWise® Alliance and the United States Department of Energy in partnership with IEA, will bring together policy and corporate leaders, technology innovators, legislators, regulators, consumer and environmental advocates as they collaborate to deliver on the promise of a smart grid.  Visit the event's website.

• 16th SolarPACES Conference, Perpignan (France), 21-24 September 2010.  For this event, IEA SolarPACES partners with the European Solar Thermal Electricity Association and with the DERBI French competitiveness cluster (Development of Renewable Energies in Buildings and Industry).  The conference will offer a forum for industry, research, political and financing stakeholders to discuss the future of concentrating solar energy, including a scientific and technical conference programme with a special emphasis on recent R&D results. Visit the conference website.

• EUROSUN 2010 - International Conference on Solar Heating, Cooling and Buildings, Graz (Austria), 28 September - 1 October 2010. Organised by the IEA Solar Heating and Cooling Programme (SHC), ISES and other bodies, EuroSun 2010 will enable participants to exchange and discuss the latest R&D results and learn more about problems and their solution. Visit the conference website.

• Third International Conference on Ocean Energy (ICOE 2010), Bilbao (Spain), 6-8 October, 2010.  Hosted and organised by the Ente Vasco de la Energía-EVE and Tecnalia, in partnership with the European Ocean Energy Association and the International Energy Agency's Implementing Agreement on Ocean Energy Systems (OES IA), this event will be a meeting place for the world’s leading ocean energy industry firms and experts. Visit the conference website. 

• 31st annual Workshop and Symposium of the International Energy Agency (IEA) Collaborative Project on Enhanced Oil Recovery (EOR), Aberdeen, Scotland (United Kingdom) from 18-20 October 2010.  This event will offer an opportunity to share knowledge, interact with world experts and further promote applications of Enhanced Oil Recovery technologies in oil and gas fields.  Visit the event website.   

• 31st Air Infiltration and Ventilation Centre Conference, Seoul (Korea), 26-28 October 2010. This 31st conference of the Air Infiltration and Ventilation Centre (AIVC) will enable participants to update on low-energy and sustainable ventilation technologies for green buildings. AIVC is part of the IEA Programme on Energy Conservation in Buildings & Community Systems (ECBCS).  Visit the conference website.

• Delhi International Renewable Energy Conference (DIREC) 2010, New Delhi (India), 27-29 October 2010. The DIREC 2010 is the fourth in this International Renewable Energy Conference series. It is a global ministerial-level conference on renewable energy and provides an international forum to address the goal of advancing renewable energy. The IEA supports the Ministry of New and Renewable Energy in making this event a success. See brochure for this event and visit the IEA website.  Contact:  rajneeshk@direc2010.gov.in.

• 8th International Conference on System Simulation in Buildings, Liege (Belgium), 13-15 December 2010.  Organised by the Thermodynamics Laboratory and the Department of Environmental Sciences and Management of the University of Liege in close co-operation with the IEA Energy Conservation in Buildings and Community Systems Programme (ECBCS), this event will enable researchers and specialists in buildings and in heating, ventilating and air-conditioning systems simulation to present papers and discuss the latest developments. Visit the conference website.

• Fifth International Conference on Clean Coal Technologies – CCT2011, Saragossa (Spain),  8-12 May 2011.  Organised by the IEA Clean Coal Centre and the Instituto de Carboquímica (ICB), Saragossa, on behalf of the Grupo Español del Carbón, this event  covering  clean coal technologies, developments in carbon capture and zero emissions technologies will provide an international networking opportunity for multiple stakeholders.  Visit the conference web page.

• 10th IEA Heat Pump Conference, Tokyo (Japan), 16–19 May 2011.  Taking as its theme “Heat Pumps - The Solution for a Low Carbon World”, this event will focus on heat pumps, air-conditioning and refrigeration equipment, and systems for residential, commercial and industrial applications. It is designed for those interested in technical, market, policy and standards information. Visit the conference website. The IEA Heat Pumps Programme is one of the IEA international energy technology collaborations.

• 2nd Oxyfuel Combustion Conference, Queensland, (Australia), 12-16 September 2011.  Organised by the IEA Greenhouse Gas R&D Programme in partnership with the Callide Oxyfuel Project Ltd. and Xstrata Coal, this event will build on the success of the 2009 event. A central theme will be “Retrofitability of Oxyfuel Combustion Technology to Existing Power Plant”.  Visit the conference page on the website of the IEA Greenhouse Gas R&D Programme (IEAGHG), one of the IEA international collaborations.