What is IEA Bioenergy?

Response to a need

IEA Bioenergy is an organisation set up in 1978 by the = International=20 Energy Agency (IEA) with the aim of improving cooperation and = information=20 exchange between countries that have national programmes in = bioenergy=20 research, development and deployment.

The International Energy=20 Agency was founded in 1974 as an autonomous body within the = OECD to=20 implement an international energy programme in response to the oil = shocks.=20 Membership consists of 25 of the 29 OECD member countries. = Activities are=20 directed towards the IEA member countries' collective energy = policy=20 objectives of energy security, economic and social development, = and=20 environmental protection. One important activity undertaken in = pursuit of=20 these goals is a programme to facilitate co-operation to develop = new and=20 improved energy technologies.

Activities are set up under Implementing=20 Agreements. These are independent bodies operating in a = framework=20 provided by the IEA. There are 40 currently active Implementing=20 Agreements, one of which is IEA Bioenergy.=20

A sustainable solution

Bioenergy resources such as forestry and agriculture crops, = biomass=20 residues and wastes already provide about 14% of the world's = primary=20 energy supplies.

Bioenergy offers cost-effective and sustainable opportunities = with the=20 potential to meet 50% of world energy demands during the next = century and=20 at the same time meet the requirement of reducing carbon emissions = from=20 fossil fuels.

Working together gets results

Progress in energy technology is critical to achieving the = objectives=20 of energy security, environmental protection and economic and = social=20 development. International collaboration is needed to prepare any=20 practical response to global environmental issues. Energy = technology=20 innovation is occurring in an inter-connected world in which = national=20 efforts to adapt to change no longer suffice. National energy = R&D and=20 demonstration programmes gain impact when incorporated into the = larger=20 context of international interdependence.

IEA Bioenergy offers opportunities to coordinate the work of = national=20 programmes across the wide range of bioenergy technologies.

Benefits of IEA Bioenergy

IEA Bioenergy provides an umbrella organisation and structure = for a=20 collective effort where national experts from research, government = and=20 industry work together with experts from other member countries. = Resources=20 are provided in two main ways:

Cost Sharing - participants contribute to a common fund for=20 conducting research projects and information exchange.=20
Task Sharing - participants devote specified resources and = personnel=20 to conduct an agreed work programme.

The collaboration offers many benefits at both the policy and = technical=20 level including the ability to:

Strengthen national R&D capabilities.=20
Share research costs.=20
Pool technical resources.=20
Avoid duplication and unproductive research paths.=20
Network researchers.=20
Standardise methodologies.=20
Harmonise technical standards.=20
Enhance the quality of R&D outputs.=20
Disseminate information on technology capabilities.=20
Accelerate the deployment of new technologies.=20
Build a common understanding of the technical basis for = issues.=20
Investigate barriers to implementation.=20
Contribute to energy policy development.

Researchers, policy-makers and industry can all capitalise on = these=20 benefits.

Collaborative opportunities

IEA Bioenergy provides opportunities for:

Researchers - to exchange information on recent developments = in=20 R&D through networking, meetings and/or workshops; to = provide=20 opportunities for collaborative R&D.=20
Industry - to be informed of new projects; to work together = to=20 develop handbooks or models; to offer early participation of = industrial=20 partners in RD&D work.=20
Policy-makers and decision-makers - to gain an international = perspective on progress in bioenergy; to compile guidelines and=20 standards; to gain new perspectives on deployment opportunities = and=20 issues.

IEA Bioenergy Members

Twentyone countries plus the European Commission = participate in=20 IEA Bioenergy.

Australia=
Austria
= Belgium
= Brazil
Canada
Croatia
= Denmark
= Euro= pean=20 Commission
Finland
= France
Germany
=

Ireland
= Italy
Japan
Netherlands=
New=20 Zealand
Norway
South=20 Africa
Sweden
Switzerland=
United=20 Kingdom
USA

The=20 government of each member country designates a contracting party = to the=20 Implementing Agreement.