1. Priorities for 2006 - an interview with IEA Executive Director Claude Mandil
2. New IEA collaborations - heat pumps, solar PV, hybrid & electric vehicles
3. Energy technology & climate change - working internationally
4. Lessons from electricity market reform - two new IEA studies

- Emissions trading and EU oil refining
- IEA books downloadable free
- Technology newsletters: Bioenergy; Greenhouse Gas R&D

- Coal's role in a clean, clever and competitive energy future
- Energy Policies of IEA Countries
- IEA's activities at COP 11

. Oil and Gas Innovation in the Fossil Fuel Future, European Seminar and Dialogue, Brussels (Belgium), 22-23 February 2006.

. CTI Industry Joint Seminar Successful Cases of Technology Transfer in Asian Countries, Ha Noi (Vietnam), 8-9 March 2006.

. Workshop Greenhouse Gas Credits Trade Versus Biomass Trade – Weighing the Benefits, Trondheim (Norway), 5-6 April, 2006.

. European Seminar Offshore Wind and Other Marine Renewable Energy in Mediterranean and European Seas, Civitavecchia, Rome (Italy), 20-22 April 2006.

. Workshop Coal for Sustainable Energy: Clean Development & Climate Change, New Delhi (India),16-17 May, 2006.

. Workshop Fuel Flexibility in Biomass Combustion - The Key to Low Bio-Energy Costs?, Jönköping (Sweden), 30 May - 1 June, 2006.

. Thermal Storage Here and Now - Tenth Triennial IEA Energy Conservation Through Energy Storage Conference on Thermal Energy Storage, Richard Stockton College of New Jersey (United States), 31 May-2 June 2006.

. 8th International Conference on Greenhouse Gas Control Technologies (GHGT-8), Trondheim (Norway), 19-22 June 2006.

. 4th International Conference on Energy Efficiency in Domestic Appliances and Lighting, London (United Kingdom), 21-23 June 2006.

. Workshop Biofuels and Bioenergy: Challenges and Opportunities, Vancouver (Canada), 28 August - 1 September, 2006.

. 6th European Conference on Coal Research and its Applications, Canterbury (United Kingdom), 5-7 September 2006.

. Sixth Annual Workshop on Greenhouse Gas Emission Trading, Paris (France), 26-27 September 2006.

. World Forum on Energy Regulation III, Washington, DC (United States), 8-11 October, 2006.

. 2nd IEA Workshop on Legal Aspects of Storing CO2, Paris (France), 17 October 2006.

1. Priorities for 2006 - an interview with IEA Executive Director Claude Mandil. If the first weeks of this year are any guide, energy issues seem set to remain very much in the news during 2006. More than ever, the focus is likely to be on energy technology’s role in addressing the serious supply and climate challenges facing the energy sector. Where do the priorities lie for 2006? Claude Mandil, IEA’s Executive Director, shares his perspective with OPEN Bulletin readers. He discusses the role of the IEA, and that of governments, in the quest for energy-sector sustainability. Click to download the interview with Claude Mandil.

2. New IEA energy technology collaborations - heat pumps, solar PV, hybrid & electric vehicles. New projects are created regularly within the IEA's 40 international energy technology Implementing Agreement programmes. These are some recent new additions.

• The IEA Heat Pump programme has launched two new projects. Annex 31 deals with advanced modelling and tools for analysis of energy use in supermarket systems. Its objective is to provide new knowledge, methods and tools for enhanced energy efficiency. (Kick-off workshop - Annex 31 contact). Annex 32 is evaluating systems for both heating and cooling economically in low-energy houses. Its main objective is to assess different system solutions for buildings' needs (heating, domestic hot water and cooling) in order to minimise overall energy use and costs. Guidelines for design/control will be developed. (Annex 32 contact). For more information on these projects, visit the Heat Pump Centre's website and click on "Projects".

• The new Task 11 within the IEA Photovoltaic Power Systems Programme (IEA PVPS) focuses on "PV Hybrid Systems within Mini-grids". Its aim is to promote the role of PV technology as a technically relevant and competitive source in PV hybrid mini-grids. These mini-grids typically involve interconnection of small, modular generation sources into low-voltage AC distribution systems. Drawing on a combination of PV, wind, micro-hydro, fossil fuel gensets and other sources, they supply multiple users and may be linked to the local electric utility's distribution grid. A kick-off Task Meeting is planned for 9-10 May 2006 in Aix-en-Provence (France). Visit the IEA PVPS website. Contact the Operating Agent.

• Under the IEA Hybrid and Electric Vehicle Implementing Agreement, a planned new Annex XI will work on the role of electric two-wheelers such as electric motorcycles and bicycles. Energy-efficient, climate-friendly electrically powered two-wheelers can ease demand for combustion-engine transport. Effective pathways will be identified for market introduction. Participants will also work on technology and infrastructure issues and on facilitating the crucial exchange of information and best practice. Also in this programme's pipeline are proposed new annexes on heavy-duty hybrid vehicles and market deployment of hybrid and electric vehicles. New participants are welcome to join these efforts and to contribute to shaping their final work plans. Consult the recently re-designed website, which has a regularly updated box on "New Annexes Proposed" and provides extensive information on all this programme's activities.

3. Energy technology & climate change - working internationally. IEA’s technology agreements provide one framework for international energy technology collaboration. But many different structures enable governments, industry, academia and other stakeholders to collaborate internationally. The recently issued OECD/IEA paper International Energy Technology Collaboration and Climate Change Mitigation – Synthesis Report brings together findings of existing studies on drivers for technology change and summarises relevant case studies. Drawing on experience with various approaches, the paper explores the role of such international efforts and considers the rationale for governments to work internationally. Design features for R&D collaboration are discussed. To learn more about IEA's technology agreements: FAQ brochure, overview publication. E-mail: impag@iea.org or Carrie.Pottinger@iea.org.

4. Lessons from electricity market reform - two new IEA studies. Power blackouts, faltering markets, energy company failure and power-plant investment bubbles: so many ills regularly attributed to market reform. But should liberalisation be blamed? These two new IEA studies point to cases where liberalisation has successfully met the objectives of boosting efficiency and competitiveness, albeit during long processes very dependent on strong hands-on government commitment.
Lessons from Liberalised Electricity Markets draws wisdom from the success stories. It asks three questions: Has electricity market liberalisation been practicable? Has it delivered real economic benefits? If so, what are the key issues for success? The answers carry important policy messages.
Learning from the Blackouts examines case studies to measure how management of system security has fared in keeping pace with growing international electricity trading and more dynamic operating environments. It describes the comprehensive integrated policy response that is needed to keep the lights on.
For more about these and other IEA publications, visit the Online Bookshop.

. The European Refinery Industry Under the EU Emissions Trading Scheme - Competitiveness, Trade Flows and Investment Implications. The Kyoto Protocol establishes emission constraints for a number of IEA member countries, and all EU member states. This free downloadable IEA Information Paper analyses the issue in the specific case of the EU oil refinery sector. It assesses short- to medium-term impact on competitiveness and profitability, looking at a range of representative refinery configurations in three European regions.

. IEA books downloadable free - It is IEA's practice to offer free pdf downloads of IEA publications two calendar years after issue. A new batch has just been added to the free publications list.

. Technology newsletters published by IEA collaborative R&D programmes:
- IEA Bioenergy Implementing Agreement, IEA Bioenergy News
- IEA Greenhouse Gas R&D Programme, Greenhouse Issues

. Report from IEA Coal Industry Advisory Board (CIAB) workshop Meeting Our Energy Needs - Driving forward coal's role in a clean, clever and competitive energy future, IEA Headquarters, Paris (France), 9 November 2005. Visit CIAB's website (Publications and Papers).

. Energy Policies of IEA Countries - 2005 Review. This volume presents a broad analysis of recent development in energy policies and markets in the 26 member countries of the IEA. Visit the IEA's Online Bookshop.

. IEA Activities at the Eleventh Conference of the Parties to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (COP 11), Montreal (Canada), 28 November - 9 December, 2005. IEA's website provides a retrospective on the Agency's contributions to this conference and associated events.

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• Oil and Gas Innovation in the Fossil Fuel Future, European Seminar and Dialogue, Brussels (Belgium), 22-23 February 2006. The relevance of peak oil will be one of the issues addressed at this event, organised by the IEA Advisory Group on Oil and Gas Technology. The seminar will build on findings of the recent IEA study Resources to Reserves, Oil and Gas Technologies for the Energy Markets of the Future. It will engage industry and policy makers in a dialogue on overall exploration and production technology and on policy perspectives. Day Two will focus on using CO2 for enhanced oil recovery. Click for the announcement and registration form (registrations requested by 10 February).

• CTI Industry Joint Seminar Successful Cases of Technology Transfer in Asian Countries, Ha Noi (Vietnam), 8-9 March 2006. Organised by the IEA Climate Technology Initiative (CTI) in co-operation with the Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment of Vietnam, this seminar will deal with energy efficient technologies and renewable energy technologies, building around case studies of best practice. It will also address project financing, market potential for environmentally friendly energy projects and barriers and constraints for project implementation. Click for seminar outline and registration form. Contact: yamaguchi@icett.or.jp.

• Workshop Greenhouse Gas Credits Trade Versus Biomass Trade – Weighing the Benefits, Trondheim (Norway), 5-6 April, 2006. This event is organised jointly by the IEA Bioenergy Programme’s Task 38 and its Task 40. It is limited to 60 participants and invitations can be requested from Inga Marit Grimstad, ima@enova.no. Consult the workshop's programme.

. European Seminar Offshore Wind and Other Marine Renewable Energy in Mediterranean and European Seas, Civitavecchia, Rome (Italy), 20-22 April 2006. Co-sponsored by the IEA Wind Co-operative Agreement, this event will focus on the promising field of marine energy applications and the fast evolving technologies involved. The goal will be to make a specific and up-to-date review of ongoing activities and programmes and so foster information exchange and promote co-operation.

. Workshop Coal for Sustainable Energy: Clean Development & Climate Change, New Delhi (India), 16-17 May, 2006. Co-hosted by the IEA and the World Coal Institute, this workshop will focus on the challenges facing the coal industry in developing countries. Government and industrial stakeholders from India, CEOs from the international coal industry, national coal association representatives, NGOs and other delegates will consider the best approaches for developing countries and how international co-operation might speed progress towards the desired outcome of a sustainable energy future. Visit IEA’s website.

. Workshop Fuel Flexibility in Biomass Combustion - The Key to Low Bio-Energy Costs?, Jönköping (Sweden), 30 May - 1 June, 2006. This workshop will provide participants with insight into considerations determining selection of fuel specification and design of combustion systems. It is organised by task 32 of the IEA Bioenergy Progamme in conjunction with the World Bioenergy 2006 Conference and Exhibition on Biomass for Energy. Click to learn more.

• Thermal Storage Here and Now - Tenth Triennial IEA Energy Conservation Through Energy Storage Conference on Thermal Energy Storage, Richard Stockton College of New Jersey (United States), 31 May - 2 June 2006. Topics will include seasonal, diurnal and short-term storage technologies at this event, organised by IEA's Implementing Agreement on Energy Conservation through Energy Storage and the United States Department of Energy. Abstracts are due by 15 October 2005. Click for more information.

• 8th International Conference on Greenhouse Gas Control Technologies (GHGT-8), Trondheim (Norway), 19-22 June 2006. This latest event in the series organised by the IEA Greenhouse Gas R&D Programme will update on recent advances in greenhouse gas control technologies, particularly in industry, and notably on CO2 capture and storage. Visit the programme's website.

• 4th International Conference on Energy Efficiency in Domestic Appliances and Lighting, London (United Kingdom), 21-23 June 2006. This three-day event, organised by the European Commission in collaboration with other bodies including IEA, will deal with the latest developments in energy and environmental impact of residential appliances and lighting, policies and programmes, also technical and commercial advances in dissemination and market penetration. Click to learn more.

. Workshop Biofuels and Bioenergy: Challenges and Opportunities, Vancouver (Canada), 28 August - 1 September, 2006. Organised jointly by Tasks 29, 31 and 39 of the IEA Bioenergy programme, this workshop will be co-hosted also by the University of British Columbia's Faculty of Forestry. See preliminary announcement and call for papers, also the Task 39 Web pages.

. 6th European Conference on Coal Research and its Applications, Canterbury (United Kingdom), 5-7 September 2006. The IEA Clean Coal Centre is playing a programme co-ordination role in this event, which will enable researchers and stakeholders from academia and industry to update on coal technology applications to improve efficiency and reduce emissions. See Conference Announcement and Call for Papers.

. Sixth Annual Workshop on Greenhouse Gas Emission Trading, Paris (France), 26-27 September 2006. This event is organised jointly by the IEA, the International Emissions Trading Association and the Electric Power Research Institute. Visit IEA's website.

. World Forum on Energy Regulation III, Washington, DC (United States), 8-11 October, 2006. Co-promoted by the IEA, this event will facilitate the exchange of information and best practices while building a truly global energy and regulatory network. Visit the Official Site.

. 2nd IEA Workshop on Legal Aspects of Storing CO2, Paris (France), 17 October 2006. This workshop will address: intellectual property; legal and regulatory frameworks; international environmental protection instruments; level playing fields for carbon capture and storage projects; and public awareness. Visit IEA's website.