While progress is being made on renewable energy, most clean energy
technologies are not being deployed quickly enough, the International Energy Agency(IEA) said today in an
annual progress report presented to ministers and representatives of nations
that together account for four-fifths of global energy demand.
The report, Tracking
Clean Energy Progress, highlighted the rapid progress made in some
renewable technologies, notably the solar panels easily installed by households
and businesses (solar PV) and in onshore wind technologies. In fact, onshore
wind has seen 27% average annual growth over the past decade, and solar PV has
grown at 42%, albeit from a small base. Even more impressive is the 75%
reduction in system costs for solar PV in as little as three years in some
countries. This serves as evidence that rapid technology change is possible.
Unfortunately, however, the report concludes that most clean energy technologies
are not on track to make their required contribution to reducing carbon dioxide
(CO2) emissions and thereby provide a more secure energy system.
“We have a responsibility and a golden opportunity to act,” said IEA Deputy
Executive Director Ambassador Richard H Jones. “Energy-related CO2 emissions are
at historic highs; under current policies, we estimate that energy use and CO2
emissions would increase by a third by 2020, and almost double by 2050. This
would likely send global temperatures at least 6°C higher. Such an outcome would
confront future generations with significant economic, environmental and energy
security hardships – a legacy that I know none of us wishes to leave
behind.”
The report, which Ambassador Jones presented at the third Clean Energy
Ministerial (CEM) in London, urges aggressive policy action to take full
advantage of the benefits offered by clean energy technologies. In sounding the
alarm over the report’s findings, Ambassador Jones stressed the positive role
the CEM can play in improving the situation.
“The ministers meeting this week in London have an incredible opportunity
before them,” he said. “It is my hope that they heed our warning of insufficient
progress, and act to seize the security, economic and environmental benefits
that a clean-energy transition can bring.”
The report notes that many technologies with great potential for energy and
emissions savings are making halting progress at best. Carbon capture and
storage (CCS) is not seeing the necessary rates of investment to develop
full-scale demonstration projects, and nearly half of new coal-fired power
plants are still being built with inefficient technology. Vehicle
fuel-efficiency improvement is slow, and significant untapped energy-efficiency
potential remains in the building and industry sectors.
In addition, while government targets for electric vehicles (20 million by
2020) are ambitious, as are continued nuclear expansion plans in many countries,
translating plans into reality is easier said than done. Manufacturers’
production targets for electric vehicles after 2014 are highly uncertain; and
increasing public opposition to nuclear power is proving challenging to address.
The report offers three over-arching policy recommendations for changing
this status quo and moving clean-energy technologies to the mainstream
market:
- First, level the playing field for clean energy technologies. This means
ensuring that energy prices reflect the “true cost” of energy – accounting for
the positive and negative impacts of energy production and consumption;
- Second, unlock the potential of energy efficiency, the “hidden fuel” of the
future. Making sure that energy is not wasted and that it is used in the best
possible way is the most cost-effective action and must be the first step of any
policy aimed at building a sustainable energy mix’
- Finally, accelerate energy innovation and public support for research,
development and demonstration. This will help lay the groundwork for private
sector innovation, and speed technologies to market.