World Energy Outlook 2007

continue to make an important contribution to the rapid and widespread
deployment of new technologies. Technology collaboration has been a core
activity of the IEA since its establishment in 1974. The IEA brings together
policy makers and experts through working parties and expert groups, and
provides a legal framework for international collaborative research projects,
known as Implementing Agreements (Box 6.3). Initially, collaboration was
mainly limited to member countries. In recent years, the participation in
collaborative projects of major non-member countries, including China and
India, has expanded considerably. China currently participates in four
Implementing Agreements: on fusion materials, the IEA Clean Coal Centre,
multi-phase flow sciences and hydropower. India participates in the agreements
on Greenhouse Gases Research and Development, the Clean Coal Centre and
Demand-Side Management. Both countries are discussing participation in
more than a dozen other agreements. At the request of the G8 and as part of
the G8 Gleneagles Programme, the IEA, with the support of the World Bank
and other international and non-governmental organisations, launched in
2005 a major initiative to engage the “big five” developing countries – Brazil,
China, India, Mexico and South Africa – and Russia more fully in international
energy technology collaboration, including the Agency’s Network of Expertise
in Energy Technology (NEET).
6
Box 6.3: IEA Implementing Agreements and Technology Network
IEA Implementing Agreements – a legal contract between two or more IEA
countries on technology collaboration – form the core of the IEA’s
Technology Co-operation Programme. They bring together experts in energy
technology research, development, demonstration and commercialisation
around the world. There are currently 40 active agreements covering
advanced, clean exploitation of fossil fuels, the optimisation of new and
renewable energy, hydrogen, fusion power and the application of best practice
in efficient energy end use in transport, buildings and industry. The scope,
strategic plan and work plan of each agreement, which is subject to approval
by the IEA Committee on Energy Research and Technology and the
Governing Board, must be consistent with the IEA’s Shared Goals. Nonmember
countries and private organisations can participate.
A network of IEA working parties and expert or ad hoc groups, involving
several hundred people, links the centres of expertise provided by the
Implementing Agreements and policy-making bodies in the energy
technology field. The network provides a platform for exchanging national
experience, through which delegates can learn from each other and thereby
help increase the effectiveness of national and international approaches to
accelerating development and market penetration of promising technologies.
Chapter 6 - Energy Policy Ramifications 237