The Role of Renewables in the Energy Transformation: The Need for Innovation in Technology, Business Models and Policy

Background

The renewable energy (RE) sector is a critical player in the current energy revolution. Progress has been promising, with growth in RE power generation generally in line with that needed to meet IEA low-emissions scenario targets. But a number of challenges need to be overcome to continue this promising trend. Innovation – in technology, overall energy system design and integration, business models and opportunities and in regulatory frameworks – is the key to transforming these challenges into opportunities.

The workshop discussed the following issues:

- Can new business and financing models push the deployment to globally significant scales?
- How can the next generation of technologies make it quickly to the market?
- How can policy makers create the climate in which innovation can thrive?

The IEA Working Party on Renewable Energy Technologies (REWP), with the active participation of its Renewable Industry Advisory Board (RIAB) members, hosted a workshop on the need for innovation in technology, business models and policy, to examine opportunities across the whole RE value chain and with the various stakeholder groups, and came up with recommendations on the conditions and actions needed to stimulate and catalyse the needed innovation. The workshop brought together senior decision makers from the key players worldwide: governments, technology providers, utilities and project developers.

Programme

Welcome
Hans Jørgen Koch, Former REWP Chairman
Maria van der Hoeven, Former IEA Executive Director

From Billions to Trillions – New Business and Financing Models
Moderator: Paolo Frankl, IEA

• Francesco Starace, ENEL Green Power
• Thierry Lepercq, Solairedirect
• Mike Eckhart, Citigroup

Discussion

The Next Wave of Technologies – How can they escape the valley of death?
Moderator: Cédric Philibert, IEA

• Andreas Wagner, German Offshore Wind Energy Foundation
• Angelo Moreno, IEA Hydrogen Implementing Agreement, ENEA - Hydrogen and Fuel cells
• Nick Medic, RenewableUK

Discussion

How can policy makers help create the right framework for innovation?
Moderator: Martin Schöpe, REWP Vice-Chair

• Rémi Chabrillat, ADEME
• Steve Lindenberg, US DoE
• Mario Ragwitz, Fraunhofer Institute

Discussion

Conclusions and Summary
Hans Jørgen Koch, Former REWP Chair
Roberto Vigotti, REWP Vice-Chair and RIAB Coordinator