Background:
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Summary
MONDAY, 30 OCTOBER 2006
Chair: Giuseppe Montesano, ENEL
Opening remarks
Vincenzo de Luca, Head of International Public Affairs, ENEL.
Richard Baron, Principal Administrator, Energy Efficiency and Environment Division,
IEA
Session 1 – Stage-setting: electricity generation and climate
change
This session presented trends in the power generation sector and associated
CO2 emissions, including projections coming from the IEA World Energy Outlook
(2030) and the IEA Energy Technology Perspectives (2050, with various technology-based
technologies).
Presentation:
Discussant:
Session 2 – Stage setting: climate and other related policies
in the power sector
What are the existing policies and measures applied to the power sector (from
the cap-and-trade – e.g. EU ETS – to renewable portfolio standards
and demand-side management)? How do they interact?
Presentation:
Discussant:
- Nancy Ryan (California Public Utility Commission)
- Roberto Schaeffer (University of Rio de Janeiro)
Session 3 – Existing sector-wide initiatives
The power generation sector (all along its production chain) has developed
a range of collaborative initiatives at international level, to directly contribute
to greenhouse gas mitigation or pool R&D in promising low-GHG technologies
(from renewables to nuclear and CO2 capture and storage). This session gave
an opportunity to present such initiatives as illustrations of possible sectoral
approaches in the sector.
Speakers:
- Wendy Poulton (Eskom) on WBCSD Electricity Utilities Sector Project
- Jim Burpee (Executive VP, Ontario Power Generation) E8
- Barbara McKee (US DOE) on the Carbon
Sequestration Leadership Forum
Session 4 – What could sectoral approaches consist of?
Based on the previous session and on existing research, a range of options
seems available to the power sector if it seeks to promote a coordinated
sectoral approach to mitigate GHG emissions. These include: voluntary actions
aimed towards an international / national benchmark in a given timeframe,
various types of GHG targets (absolute or per kWh of output), the adoption
of low and no-GHG technologies, with targets and timetables (e.g. a rate
of diffusion of specific technologies by a given date). Further, existing
policy instruments like the Clean Development Mechanism could be broadened
to incorporate sectors as a whole, a step up from the existing project-based
approach. This session sought to trigger preliminary discussions on the validity
of possible approaches, given the heterogeneity of players, fuel mixes and
regulatory approaches across the world. The discussion focussed around the
following themes:
•
From CDM to sectoral crediting for power generation. What are the current limits
of the CDM vis-à-vis the diffusion of best available technologies in
power generation (e.g. capture-ready plants, clean coal) and electricity use
(DSM, standards, etc.)?
Speaker:
Discussant:
•
International collaboration (including information sharing) on research,
development and deployment of climate-friendly power generation. How could
targets be elaborated?
Are there barriers – other than financial – to the access to
clean generation technologies (e.g. related to intellectual property rights,
tariffs,
etc.)?
Speakers:
•Demand-side policies: Lessons learned. What is the scope for international
collaboration on end-use efficiency?
Speaker:
Discussants:
TUESDAY, 31 OCTOBER 2006
Chair: Richard Baron, IEA
Session 5 – How would sectoral approaches fit in the international
framework
How can sectoral approaches help define a post-2012 climate change policy framework?
Can they co-exist within other existing or planned frameworks (e.g., Kyoto
Protocol, EU ETS, etc.) or would they imply a redefinition of the latter? Would
these approaches be inside or outside? What interactions would there be among
existing and new frameworks? Is emissions trading a key component of sectoral
approaches in the power sector? Is the UNFCCC the proper negotiation forum
for all sectoral approaches discussed earlier (e.g., technology collaboration
and diffusion, demand-side measures, etc.)?
Speaker:
Discussants:
Session 6 – How would sectoral approaches fit domestic policy
frameworks
Session 2 presented existing policy tools aimed at promoting lower GHG emissions
from the power generation sector – including via end-use energy efficiency
improvements. Questions raised in Session 5 lead to different issues when considered
at domestic / regional level. How would sectoral approaches interfere with
existing policy tools? Do they need to be adapted to a broader international
approach for the sector or can they co-exist?
Speaker:
Discussants:
Session 7 – Institutional issues
What would be the institutional framework of such approaches, be they technology
goals, benchmarks, sectoral crediting? How would it be structured (e.g.,
regional, international, etc.)? What forum is needed to bring together electric
utilities, equipment suppliers, appliance manufacturers, and other actors
in the electricity supply-demand chain? Can there be a role for international
power sector federations, regulators and competition authorities or should
all approaches lead to domestic policy and government oversight? Which institution
would monitor, verify, review and enforce implementation of agreements? Last,
how does a sectoral approach fit in a context of energy market liberalisation?
Speaker:
Discussant:
- Gianni Silvestrini (Ministry of Economic Development, Italy)
Summary session – Wrap up
The chairpersons offered a summary of the two days’ discussions, followed
by two discussants and a general discussion.
Discussant:
- Arne Mogren (Vattenfall)
- Roberto Schaeffer (University of Rio de Janeiro)
Task XIV Final Report
A low carbon Electricity Scenario |
