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Partner Country Series - Gas Pricing: China’s Challenges and IEA Experience
…term, but notable challenges remained, particularly concerning gas pricing and the institutional and regulatory landscape. While China’s circumstances are, in many respects unique, some current issues are similar to those a number of IEA countries have faced. This report highlights some key challenges for China in its transition to greater reliance on natural gas, then explores in detail relevant experiences from IEA countries, particularly the United Kingdom, the Netherlands and the United States as well as the European Union. Preliminary suggestions about how lessons learned in other countries could be applied to China’s situation are offered as well.
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Proving the viability of underground hydrogen storage
…co-ordinated collaboration and knowledge dissemination, by bringing together research and industry organisations across the world and linking related scientific industrial and societal disciplines.Many steps need to be taken before safe and responsible large-scale deployment and commercialisation of UHS becomes reality. Timely preparation is vital, as development will take many years and the demand for large-scale underground energy storage is expected to increase rapidly.Three pilot projects already testing UHS are:HyStock (Netherlands): testing of pure hydrogen storage in salt caverns;Sun Storage, RAG (Austria): mixed and pure hydrogen storage in gas fields; underground methanisation using combined…
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Renewables 2020
Analysis and forecast to 2025 In May 2020, the IEA market update on renewable energy provided an analysis that looked at the impact of Covid-19 on renewable energy deployment in 2020 and 2021. This early assessment showed that the Covid-19 crisis is hurting – but not halting – global renewable energy growth. Half a year later, the pandemic continues to affect the global economy and daily life. However, renewable markets, especially electricity-generating technologies, have already shown their resilience to the crisis. Renewables 2020 provides detailed analysis and forecasts through 2025 of the impact of Covid-19 on renewables in…
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China's Power Sector Reforms: Where to next?
China's Power Sector Reforms: Where to next? In 2005, China added the equivalent of all the power plants in Norway and Sweden to its electricity generating capacity - and its remarkable demand growth shows no sign of abating. But how can the government best assure affordable and environmentally sustainable electricity supply in the future? Assessing the current state of electricity regulation in China, this report draws on experience elsewhere to explore how better to develop and communicate strategy, how to moderate growth in demand through increased efficiency, how to integrate environmental goals into planning and operation, how to ensure sufficient…
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Energy Efficiency Policy Recommendations for Latin America and the Caribbean
This publication was prepared by the IEA, with the support of more than 50 energy efficiency experts from Latin America and the Caribbean, together with the United Nations Economic Commission for Latin America and the Caribbean (UN ECLAC), and the Ministry of Energy and Mines of Peru. The 20 detailed recommendations span five sectors and cover policies ranging from measures to implement mandatory minimum energy performance standards for buildings and appliances, to improve transport system planning and efficiency and promote energy management systems for industry. They are tailored to regional barriers and opportunities. The IEA has also worked with regional…
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Energy Transitions in G20 Countries
Energy data transparency and market digitalization In collaboration with Argentina’s Ministry of Energy, the IEA presents two reports that track the trends in energy transitions in G20 countries. The Energy Data report presents actions for G20 countries and beyond to boost the quality and comprehensiveness of energy data to support energy policies in a more and more digitalised, decentralised, and consumer-focused world, as well as energy market transparency. These reports were prepared in collaboration with IEF, IRENA and OLADE.
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Implementing Clean Energy Transitions
Focus on road transport in emerging economies This report assesses the impact of the road transport sector on energy demand, CO2 emissions and air pollution in several selected major emerging economies over the coming decades under several IEA modelling scenarios. Most notably the Announced Pledges Scenario (APS) aims to show to what extent announced ambitions and targets, including the most recent ones, are on the path to deliver emissions reductions required to achieve net zero emissions by 2050.Bringing about a road transport decarbonisation pathway in line with the APS in the selected major emerging economies - Brazil, People’s Republic…
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Integrating Distributed Energy Resources in China
Lessons from international experience Like no other country in the world, the People’s Republic of China (hereafter, “China”) is witnessing rapid growth in distributed energy resources (DERs), including rooftop solar photovoltaics, battery storage and electric vehicle (EV) chargers. As China advances towards its carbon peaking and neutrality goals, these resources offer a unique opportunity to support a more flexible, efficient and resilient power system, provided their integration is well-managed.This report analyses recent trends in DER deployment across China and highlights the emerging challenges their growth poses for power system planning and operation, calling for renewed attention to…
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District Energy Systems in China
The People's Republic of China’s district heat network is the world’s largest. In 2015, it consumed more energy than the entire United Kingdom. While progress is being made, the total impact of energy use and emissions from district heating and even district cooling – on the Chinese economy, on local air quality and health, and on the overall well-being of China’s population – is nevertheless significant. China has great opportunities of lowering the environmental footprint of its district energy system. While the country has pursued assertive public policy decisions in recent years, it is essential to elevate…
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Fuel Economy in Major Car Markets
Technology and Policy Drivers 2005-2017 investigating the fuel economy of newly registered light-duty vehicles (LDVs) across the world from 2005 to 20173. While the average fuel economy of vehicles continues to improve, the rate of progress has slowed in recent years. Fuel Economy in Major Car Markets looks at fuel economy development in the period 2005-2017 for the Global Fuel Economy Initiative (GFEI). It shows that the average amount of fuel required to travel 100 km improved by 1.3% in 2016 and 2017, down from 2% per year between 2013 and 2015. Important drivers for this…