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What is IEA Bioenergy?
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Response to a need |
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IEA Bioenergy is an organisation set up in 1978 by the International Energy
Agency (IEA) with the aim of improving cooperation and information exchange
between countries that have national programmes in bioenergy research,
development and deployment.
The International Energy Agency
was founded in 1974 as an autonomous body within the OECD to implement an
international energy programme in response to the oil shocks. Membership
consists of 25 of the 29 OECD member countries. Activities are directed towards
the IEA member countries' collective energy policy objectives of energy
security, economic and social development, and environmental protection. One
important activity undertaken in pursuit of these goals is a programme to
facilitate co-operation to develop new and improved energy technologies.
Activities are set up under Implementing Agreements.
These are independent bodies operating in a framework provided by the IEA.
There are 40 currently active Implementing Agreements, one of which is IEA
Bioenergy.
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A sustainable solution
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Bioenergy resources such as forestry and agriculture crops, biomass residues
and wastes already provide about 14% of the world's primary energy supplies.
Bioenergy offers cost-effective and sustainable opportunities with the potential
to meet 50% of world energy demands during the next century and at the same
time meet the requirement of reducing carbon emissions from fossil fuels.
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Working together gets results
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Progress in energy technology is critical to achieving the objectives of energy
security, environmental protection and economic and social development.
International collaboration is needed to prepare any practical response to
global environmental issues. Energy technology innovation is occurring in an
inter-connected world in which national efforts to adapt to change no longer
suffice. National energy R&D and demonstration programmes gain impact when
incorporated into the larger context of international interdependence.
IEA Bioenergy offers opportunities to coordinate the work of national programmes
across the wide range of bioenergy technologies. 
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Benefits of IEA Bioenergy
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IEA Bioenergy provides an umbrella organisation and structure for a collective
effort where national experts from research, government and industry work
together with experts from other member countries. Resources are provided in
two main ways:
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Cost Sharing - participants contribute to a common fund for conducting research
projects and information exchange.
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Task Sharing - participants devote specified resources and personnel to conduct
an agreed work programme.
The collaboration offers many benefits at both the policy and technical level
including the ability to:
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Strengthen national R&D capabilities.
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Share research costs.
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Pool technical resources.
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Avoid duplication and unproductive research paths.
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Network researchers.
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Standardise methodologies.
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Harmonise technical standards.
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Enhance the quality of R&D outputs.
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Disseminate information on technology capabilities.
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Accelerate the deployment of new technologies.
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Build a common understanding of the technical basis for issues.
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Investigate barriers to implementation.
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Contribute to energy policy development.
Researchers, policy-makers and industry can all capitalise on these benefits.
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Collaborative opportunities
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IEA Bioenergy provides opportunities for:
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Researchers - to exchange information on recent developments in R&D through
networking, meetings and/or workshops; to provide opportunities for
collaborative R&D.
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Industry - to be informed of new projects; to work together to develop
handbooks or models; to offer early participation of industrial partners in
RD&D work.
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Policy-makers and decision-makers - to gain an international perspective on
progress in bioenergy; to compile guidelines and standards; to gain new
perspectives on deployment opportunities and issues.
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IEA Bioenergy Members
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Twentyone
countries plus the European Commission participate in IEA Bioenergy.
The government of each member country designates a contracting party to the
Implementing Agreement. 
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