The International Energy Agency (IEA) has launched the Clean Energy Transitions Programme with the backing of 13 countries to support clean energy transitions around the world.
The Programme, announced on November 7, 2017, will leverage IEA members’ clean energy commitment and the IEA’s energy expertise to better support and help accelerate global clean energy transitions, particularly in major emerging economies, IEA said.
It will provide cutting-edge technical support to governments whose energy policies will significantly impact the speed of a global transition toward more sustainable energy production and use, including reductions in greenhouse gas emissions and greater access to energy.
The Programme will involve deep and sustained partnerships with governments and will include collaborative analytical work, technical co-operation, training and capacity building, strategic dialogues, secondments and implementation of joint work programmes, IEA informed.
Work will focus on five thematic areas, covering data and statistics; energy efficiency; renewables, including system integration; policy guidance and modelling; and technology development and innovation.
Key countries of interest include Brazil, China, India, Indonesia, Mexico, and South Africa, as well as other IEA association and partner countries and regions where the programme can have high impact, according to IEA.
Miguel Arias Cañete , EU Commissioner for Climate Action and Energy, said: “I am very pleased to offer the European Commission´s full support for this important new programme, including in financial terms. The EU is currently in the process of adopting new legislation to ensure its continued leadership on the energy transition and is delighted to team up with the IEA and key IEA Members in the global efforts needed.”
Fatih Birol , IEA’s Executive Director, said: “The IEA Clean Energy Transitions Programme is an exciting opportunity for the IEA Family to support the deployment of clean technologies. We look forward to building on the existing work and expertise of the IEA, providing data, analysis and real-world expertise across all fuels and technologies to help accelerate the clean energy transitions.”
The Programme includes contributions from Canada (CAD 1 million), Denmark (DKK 25 million), the European Commission (EUR 3.5 million), Germany (EUR 6 million), Sweden (EUR 5.2 million), Switzerland (CHF 1 million), and the United Kingdom (GBP 8 million).
Other IEA member countries also joining together to launch the Programme include Australia, Finland, Italy, Japan, New Zealand, and the Netherlands.
The announcement was made before the start of the IEA’s 2017 Ministerial Meeting, a high-level event that brings together energy leaders from around the world every two years.