New Books: Energy Balances of Non-OECD Countries -- 2013 Edition by IEA (Aug 2013)

Energy Balances of Non-OECD Countries -- 2013 Edition
554 pages, ISBN 978-92-64-17466-5, paper €120, PDF €96, CD-ROM €550 (2013)

Type: Statistics Publication and CD-ROMs
Subject: Non-OECD Countries ; Statistics

Available now in PDF. The paper version and CD will be available end of August.

This volume contains data for 2010 and 2011 on the supply and consumption of coal, oil, natural gas, electricity, heat, renewables and waste presented as comprehensive energy balances. Data are expressed in thousand tonnes of oil equivalent, for over 100 non-OECD countries.

Historical tables summarise production, trade and final consumption data as well as key energy and economic indicators. These tables also include preliminary estimates of 2012 production (and trade when available) for natural gas, primary coal and oil. This book includes definitions of products and flows, explanatory notes on the individual country data and conversion factors from original units to energy units.

More detailed data in original units are published in the 2013 edition of Energy Statistics of Non-OECD Countries, the sister volume of this publication.


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In general the CD-ROM and on-line service contain detailed time-series back to 1971.

To order the on-line data service and find further information of coverage please consult http://data.iea.org

For more information: http://www.iea.org/W/bookshop/add.aspx?id=627

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Publications: Renewables the Fastest-growing Power Generation Sector, IEA Reports (26 Jun 2013)

Renewables the Fastest-growing Power Generation Sector, IEA Reports

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26 June 2013: The International Energy Agency (IEA) has released its second annual 'Medium-Term Renewable Energy Market Report 2013' (MTRMR), which finds that growth of renewables in the electricity sector is on track to meet the IEA's low-carbon energy scenarios through 2018. The report cautions, however, that policy uncertainty is the main risk facing continued growth in the sector.

According to IEA Executive Director, Maria van der Hoeven, “Many renewables no longer require high economic incentives. But they do still need long-term policies that provide a predictable and reliable market and regulatory framework compatible with societal goals."

Despite a fall in new global investment in 2012, the MTRMR predicts that investment opportunities are likely to grow over the medium term. The report anticipates strong growth in the renewable power sector, which is expected to see a 40% growth over the next five years, leading to an increase in the share of renewables in the global power mix from 20% in 2011 to 25% in 2018. The report also predicts that global renewable electricity generation will surpass that of gas and double that of nuclear by 2016.

The two main drivers of the positive outlook for renewable power generation identified in the report are: the acceleration of investment and deployment in emerging markets, where renewables help meet the rising electricity demand while contributing to climate change mitigation; and the increasing cost-competitivness of renewables in a wider set of circumstances.

Other sections featured in the report include national and regional summaries of OECD countries and Brazil, China, India, Morocco, South Africa and Thailand, as well as global outlooks on biofuels in the transportation sector and renewables for heating. [IEA Press Release] [Publication:Medium-Term Renewable Energy Market Report 2013] [Remarks by IEA Executive Director]

For more information: 

http://climate-l.iisd.org/news/renewables-the-fastest-growing-power-generation-sector-iea-reports/207793/

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Publications: EA Outlines Strategy to Cut 2020 Energy-Related Emissions by 8% by IEA (10 Jun 2013)

IEA Outlines Strategy to Cut 2020 Energy-Related Emissions by 8%

10 June 2013: The International Energy Agency (IEA) has released a World Energy Outlook Special Report, titled 'Redrawing the Energy-Climate Map,' which presents a strategy to reduce energy-related carbon emissions in 2020 at no net economic cost to levels needed to limit the average global temperature increase to two degrees Celsius.

Speaking at the launch of the report, IEA Executive Director Maria van der Hoeven cautioned that “if we continue with business as usual, that rise could be 5.3 degrees Celsius, with potentially disastrous implications in terms of extreme weather events, rising sea levels, and the huge economic and social costs that these can bring.”

“Redrawing the Energy-Climate Map” outlines a four-pronged approach for keeping on track to meet the two degree target by reducing emissions by 8%, or 3.1 gigatonnes carbon dioxide equivalent (Gt CO2e), relative to emission levels expected under the business as usual scenario.

The four policies outlined under the report's "4-for-2 °C Scenario" are: adoption of energy efficiency measures in buildings, industry and transport, for 49% of the reductions; limits on the construction and use of low-efficiency coal-fired power plants, for 21% of the reductions; halving methane emissions from upstream oil and gas operations, for 18% of the reductions; and a partial phase out of fossil fuel consumption subsidies, for 12% of the reductions.

The policies were selected on the basis of key criteria: ability to deliver significant reductions in the energy sector; reliance on existing technologies; proof and adoption in multiple countries; and lack of harm to any region or country.

The report underscores the urgency of immediate reductions, noting that energy-related carbon dioxide emissions reached a record high of 31.6 gigatonnes in 2012, an increase of 1.4% over 2011. The lead author of the report, IEA Chief Economist Fatih Birol, warned against the consequences of delayed action, noting that “rapid and widespread adoption could act as a bridge to further action, buying precious time while international climate negotiations continue.”

The report further identifies short- and long-term vulnerabilities to the energy sector from extreme weather events, sea level rise, water scarcity and other climate change impacts. It also underlines that immediate measures will bring financial gains, highlighting that US$1.5 trillion in delayed investments in low-carbon technologies before 2020 will require US$5 trillion in investments after 2020 to get back on track to meeting the two degree target. [IEA Press Release] [European Bank for Reconstruction and Development Press Release] [Publication: Redrawing the Energy-Climate Map] [Publication: Executive Summary of Redrawing the Energy-Climate Map] [Report Website] [Remarks by IEA Executive Director] [UN Press Release] [UNFCCC Executive Secretary Statement on the IEA Report]

For more information: 

http://climate-l.iisd.org/news/iea-outlines-strategy-to-cut-2020-energy-related-emissions-by-8/205539/

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Publication: Energy Policies of IEA Countries - The Republic of Korea -- 2012 Review by IEA

Energy Policies of IEA Countries - The Republic of Korea -- 2012 Review, 

140 pages, ISBN 978-92-64-17150-3, paper €75, PDF €60 (2012)

Type: Country Reviews 

Subject: Climate Change ; Energy Market Reform ;Technology ; Energy Security

Korea, the world’s thirteenth-largest economy and the seventh-largest exporter, is an energy-intensive nation. In 2008, the country adopted a long-term “green growth” strategy to foster economic development by means of low-carbon technologies and clean energy; since then, the government has implemented many policies to support these goals.

In 2012, Korea announced an emissions-trading scheme -- the first of its kind in Asia -- which will be implemented in 2015. This represents a major step towards achieving its target of a 30% reduction in greenhouse gas emissions by 2020. Strong energy efficiency policies have been developed to complement the emissions-reduction target. Korea has made efforts to enhance energy security by taking measures to diversify energy sources, reduce the use of fossil fuels and foster the development of renewable energy alongside the expansion of its nuclear energy programme. Government expenditure on energy-related RD&D is among the highest in the OECD.

Progress in some sectors has been slower, and the lack of a clear, long-term vision for its electricity and natural gas markets is one of the greatest energy-policy challenges facing the Korean government. Energy markets are dominated by incumbents and have been slow to open up to competition.
This review analyses the energy-policy challenges facing Korea and provides sector-based assessments and recommendations for further policy improvements. It is intended to help guide the country towards a more secure and sustainable energy future.

Illustrations:
Total primary energy supply, 1973-2010
Electricity generation by source, 1973-2010
Renewable energy as a percentage of total primary energy supply in IEA member countries, 2010
Government energy-related RD&D budgets in IEA member countries, 2010

FREE DOWNLOAD: Executive Summary in Korean

Book Summary: http://www.iea.org/Textbase/npsum/Korea2012SUM.pdf
Online bookshop: http://www.iea.org/W/bookshop/add.aspx?id=442

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