The International Energy Agency (IEA)’s Technology Collaboration Programme (TCP) hosted its Biennial Universal Meeting where global experts convened to discuss the future of energy technology collaboration. A few important aspects surfaced during this meeting:
- The meeting, the first in-person gathering in four years, witnessed participation from around 30 Technology Collaboration Programmes (TCPs).
- The discussions focused on developing energy technologies and exploring how collaborative efforts can aid governments in accomplishing net-zero ambitions.
- The year 2023 will mark the 50th Anniversary of the IEA and the first IEA Energy Innovation Forum.
- A central point of the meeting was the pivotal role the TCP network plays as an ‘extremely important source of information and inspiration,’ according to IEA Executive Director, Fatih Birol.
- Ways to bolster cooperation with governments’ priorities towards reaching net-zero emissions in the energy sector by 2050 were examined by IEA’s Chief Technology Officer, Timur Gül.
The TCP was founded simultaneously with the IEA, and the collaboration has significantly bolstered international energy technology dialogue over the past five decades. Almost 80 TCPs involving 6,000 experts from more than 300 public and private entities from 55 countries, bear testament to the longevity and impact of this collaboration.
According to the IEA’s Energy Technology Perspectives 2020 report and the 2021 Net Zero Emissions by 2050 (NZE) roadmap, it was estimated that nearly 50% of emissions reductions required to achieve net zero by 2050 would come from technologies not commercially obtainable at the time. However, the recent IEA analysis revealed that this share fell to 35%, emphasizing the value of international collaboration in research and innovation for such transformation.
The meeting laid out the groundwork for future collaborative strategies via Co-ordination Groups discussions and sessions aimed at enhancing internal and external communication efforts. Furthermore, steps to refine the network’s operational efficiency are also in play to realign the IEA’s energy technology network (including CERT, WPs, and TCPs) more seamlessly with government priorities.
The continuous success of these collaborations underscores the importance of international alliances in driving the research, development, and commercialisation of energy technologies, thus inspiring and informing global policy makers.