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Directorate of Sustainable Energy Policy and Technology (SPT)
The Directorate of Sustainable Energy Policy and Technology (SPT) is responsible for sustainable (demand-side) energy policy and energy technology policy. The Director serves as Chief IEA Technology Co-ordinator responsible for ensuring linkages between the Committee on Energy Research and Technology (CERT), the IEA Implementing Agreements and the Secretariat in terms of technology issues. The work of the Directorate is guided both by the CERT and the Standing Group on Long-Term Co-operation (SLT). The Directorate implements a considerable number of activities under the mandate of the G8 leaders in Heilgendamm (2007) and Hokkaido (2008). SPT includes two divisions and three units:
- Energy Efficiency and Environment Division (EED)
- Climate Change Unit (CCU)
- Energy Efficiency Unit (EEU)
Energy Efficiency and Environment Division (EED)
The Climate Change Unit (CCU) has a two-pronged work agenda on climate policy. First, in support of the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change, it contributes to the work of the OECD/IEA Climate Change Expert Group (formerly Annex I Expert Group on the UNFCCC) where it analyses issues on the negotiation table. Examples of recently explored issues include the measurement, reporting and verification of climate mitigation actions, and new, scaled-up international carbon market mechanisms. Second, in a more domestic framework, CCU explores best practice in climate policy, coupling carbon pricing, energy efficiency and technology deployment policies. CCU also maintains databases on climate change, energy efficiency and renewable energy policies. CCU’s overall aim is to improve the capacity of industrialised, emerging and developing countries to control energy-related CO2 emissions.
The IEA’s Energy Efficiency Unit (EEU) assists countries to exploit all cost-effective end-use energy efficiency potentials as part of their strategy to achieve sustainable energy futures. Specifically EEU aims to analyse energy efficiency potentials and best-practice policies, inform countries about these potentials and policies, assist countries to design, implement and evaluate best-practice policies and facilitate dialogue and international co-operation. EEU has embarked on an ambitious work programme in support of the “Three E’s” of balanced policymaking: energy security, economic development and environmental protection. This work programme is three fold and includes projects to enhance energy efficiency policy implementation, identify and address emerging policy challenges and facilitate and promote international collaboration and co-operation.
Energy Technology Policy Division (ETP)
The ETP division provides energy policy makers and other stakeholders with analysis that assesses promising technology pathways towards a more secure, more sustainable energy future. The division’s focus is on global strategies to accelerate market penetration and diffusion of a broad range of energy technologies, across both supply and demand sectors, including transport, buildings and industry. Central to this work is a Low-Carbon Energy Technology Platform where experts, business representatives and policy makers from IEA and non-IEA countries can join forces to implement those global strategies.
The flagship IEA publication Energy Technology Perspectives presents energy scenarios and strategies to 2050, along with detailed technology and policy insights on how energy technology can be instrumental in building a secure, efficient, low-carbon energy future. For individual technologies, the ETP division’s series of Energy Technology Roadmaps charts routes to climate change goals, including milestones for action on technology development, regulatory/policy frameworks, financing, public engagement and international collaboration.
The ETP Division works to increase the effectiveness of research, development and demonstration (RD&D) through improved analysis and exchange of best-practice policy experience, more accessible technology assessments that can catalyse targeted, more effective investment in sustainable energy solutions and enhanced, more accessible energy indicators data.
The Technology Network Unit oversees activities of the IEA global energy technology and R&D network, notably supporting the Low-Carbon Energy Technology Platform. The IEA provides a framework for countries around the world, businesses, NGOs and international organisations to work together in collaborative multilateral technology initiatives, which enable participants to optimise resources, speed progress and share results. Covering portfolios from basic research to deployment and information exchange on energy supply, transformation and demand, its 42 initiatives (also known as Implementing Agreements) focus on clean fossil fuels, renewables, fusion power, and energy efficiency in buildings, electricity networks, industrial processes and transport. The IEA NEET (Networks of Expertise in Energy Technology) initiative provides opportunities for stakeholders in non-IEA countries to meet experts from IEA multilateral technology initiatives and discuss technology R&D and international collaboration. So far, NEET workshops have been held in China, Brazil, India, Russia and South Africa.
The NET Unit is driven by strategic input from the IEA Committee on Energy Research and Technology (CERT), its working parties on fossil fuels (WPFF), on renewables (REWP), on end-use technologies (EUWP) and on fusion power (FPCC), as well as its experts groups on on R&D priority setting and on science for energy.
The online IEA OPEN Energy Technology Bulletin reports on activities within the global IEA energy technology network.
Carbon Capture and Storage Technology Unit (CCS)
The Carbon Capture and Storage Technology Unit works on the contribution that technologies for capturing and storing carbon dioxide can make to sustainability in fossil-fuel electrical power plants and industrial processes. CCS Unit activity includes techno-economic analysis of capture, transport and storage technologies, regulatory, legal and policy analysis and advice, as well as capacity building and outreach to non-IEA countries. The Unit works in close collaboration with other relevant actors such as the IEA multilateral technology initiatives, the Global CCS Institute and the Carbon Sequestration Leadership Forum; it engages in dialogue with governments, industry, academia, NGOs and other relevant stakeholders.