Academic report, by a Commission or a Working Group

18 Oct Generating the Future: UK energy systems fit for 2050

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Royal Academy of Engineering (UK) (RAEng)
2010
This report, produced by a working group of Fellows of The Royal Academy of Engineering, considers possible energy scenarios that could meet the 2050 emissions reduction target. Four scenarios are explored. They describe the whole energy system in broad brush strokes and are illustrative rather than prescriptive, identifying the principal components of the system and contributing towards a better systems level understanding of the most salient issues.  The report concludes that turning the theoretical emissions reduction targets into reality will require the biggest peacetime programme of change ever seen in the UK.  While the market will be the vehicle for technological and business solutions, the combined challenges of climate change, security of supply and affordability call for a more directed approach from government.
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18 Oct Vectors of Energy

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National Academy of Technologies of France (NATF)
2011
This extensive study is the follow-up of the NATF October 2008 report “Prospective for the Energy in the 21st Century”. A vector of energy is a system of the primary energy distribution to the final consumer. A vector of energy stage is intercalated between primary sources (carbon, oil, natural gas, uranium, hydraulic, wind, solar, biomass, geothermal) and the stage of consumer needs (transportation, heating, air conditioning and multiples electricity uses…). The report does not propose the scenarios but is a sort of a guide for the most efficient use of various energy sources for a given application, from the economic and ecological point of view. Numerical application of the method allows taking into account and simulating present and future evolutions of various sources of energy costs and of the price attributed to CO2 emitted. An analysis of sensibility of these parameters is also included.
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18 Oct Industrial Biomass: Source of Chemicals, Materials, and Energy!

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Belgium Academies (ARB)
2011
Biomass seemed a very promising resource for substituting fossil hydrocarbons as a renewable source of energy and as a sustainable raw material for various industrial sectors. However, during the first decade of the 21st century, competition between the use of biomass for food and feed on the one hand, and for energy and industrial applications on the other hand, became a big issue. Dramatic food price rises in the first half of 2008 were blamed to the use of arable land for the production of first generation biofuels at the expense of food and feed. On purpose, the present report of the BACAS working group does not focus on the food and feed issue, but examines thoroughly the implications and limitations of the use of non- food (industrial ) biomass as a source of chemicals, materials and energy. For its analysis, the BACAS report started from the widely accepted “5 F-cascade”, a list of priorities regarding the use of biomass: 1.    Food and feed 2.    Fine and bulk chemicals and pharma 3.    Fibre and biomaterials 4.    Fuels and energy 5.    Fertilisers and soil conditioners The authors have covered the impact of an increasing use of industrial (or technical) biomass as a renewable resource for various industrial sectors and for power generation. The use of biomass as a renewable primary energy source will be of key importance for achieving the 20/20/20 targets of the European Union, i.e. use of at least 20% of renewables for energy production, 20% less greenhouse gas emissions and 20% more efficient energy use by the year 2020: biomass is expected to provide 2/3 of the renewable energy target by 2020. The report starts with an overview of state-of-the-art processes and technologies for converting industrial biomass. Next, it focuses on the 5 F-cascade of applications of biomass and on the legislation affecting the bio-based economy. Finally a number of recommendations are formulated meant for government, industry, research and development agencies. The EU’s common agricultural policy (CAP) should develop an integrated policy for the bio-based economy, including the removal of still existing trade barriers, a scientifically substantiated policy with regard to genetically modified crops and sustainability criteria. The public and private scientific communities are urged to set up public-private partnerships in order to support coordinated research programs, in particular with regard to feedstock yields and biomass optimization in view of maximizing the efficiency of processes converting biomass into energy or industrial products.
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18 Oct The Cost Effective Delivery of Essential Infrastructure

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Irish Academy of Engineering (IAE)
2011
This report follows on from the earlier joint report by the Academy and Engineers Ireland on “Infrastructure for an island population of 8 million people” published in February 2010.  The report is framed within the context of the current serious economic and social environment on the island of Ireland. Two serious problems confront Ireland and Northern Ireland concerning investment infrastructure: - Lack of available capital - Requirement for sustained investment in critical infrastructure to permit essential economic growth and the maintenance of international competitiveness The report recognises that the current reduction in construction prices presents an opportunity to secure significant reductions in the non-construction costs of projects.  By streamlining processes and procedures for land acquisition, planning, public procurement, institutional arrangements, training, skills, funding and financing mechanisms and through synergies between projects in Ireland and Northern Ireland, major cost reductions can be achieved.
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18 Oct Energy Policy and Economic Recovery; 2010 – 2015

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Irish Academy of Engineering (IAE)
2011
The unprecedented economic crisis in Ireland has created circumstances that require a rapid and fundamental change in energy policy in order to support economic recovery.  A short term (five year) policy perspective is urgently required.  For the next five years the overriding priority in the energy sector is to achieve a significant cost reduction in order to facilitate competitiveness in the productive, particularly the export, sectors of the economy. The report sets out an alternative strategy for the next five years, based on: - Reducing capital investment in the energy sector to a minimum necessary level, particularly with respect to wind power generation and associated grid extensions. - Switching investment to demand side measures, particularly to energy conservation measures. - Taking advantage of the subdued level of natural gas prices predicted for the next five to ten years. A switch, from a policy focussed on increased electricity production, to one focussed on reducing energy consumption would:- - Meet Ireland’s carbon abatement obligations at a lower cost than current production focussed policy - Provide a significant and welcome stimulus to the Irish construction industry
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18 Oct Critical Infrastructure – Adaptation for Climate Change

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Irish Academy of Engineering (IAE)
2009
This report addresses adaptation issues in three key infrastructural areas: water supply, flood alleviation, and energy infrastructure. It is based on inputs from leading specialists in these fields and the deliberations of a symposium, held in Dublin Castle on April 28th, 2009, and attended by the Minister for the Environment, Heritage and Local Government and an invited audience of researchers, engineers, scientists, policy experts and administrators from all parts of Ireland. The IAE make 18 key recommendations in this report. Significantly, most of these do not involve immediate capital expenditure, but deal with institutional steps that are necessary to ensure the problem is tackled effectively and economically
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17 Oct Heat: Degrees of Comfort

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Royal Academy of Engineering (UK) (RAEng)
2012
Report into the options for heating homes in a low carbon economy.  Among others, key findings included: • Even with the most modern gas boilers and state-of-the art insulation, we cannot continue to heat so many homes by natural gas and achieve an 80% cut in emissions. • It is impossible to entirely disassociate climate policy from the current economic climate. In difficult economic circumstances, it becomes even more essential for government policy to signal firm, long-standing commitments to emissions targets in order to encourage and promote investment in infrastructure and technology. • Storage, whether of natural gas, biomass, large scale thermal storage, an intermediate vector such as hydrogen, electricity or heat, will be essential.
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17 Oct Policy Advisory: Energy Policy and Economic Opportunity – The Potential of Large Scale Electricity Exports

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Irish Academy of Engineering (IAE)
2012
The opportunity to export electricity has arisen because of the difficulty the UK has in meeting its EU renewable energy targets; the commissioning of the East-West Interconnector in 2012 between Ireland and Great Britain; the opportunity to offload onshore wind in the Irish system which would otherwise have been curtailed off; and a surplus of conventional generation in Ireland. This report is the first in a new series of reports on Energy Policy and Economic Opportunity which will be produced by the Academy this year.  This series of reports will also address the role of Oil and Gas, Emerging Transport Technology and Conservation and Energy Efficiency.
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17 Oct Policy Advisory: The Future of Oil and Gas in Ireland

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Irish Academy of Engineering (IAE)
2013
Ireland’s renewable energy supply has grown steadily in recent years but oil and gas continue to provide over 80% of Ireland’s energy supply.  The country’s dependence on these fossil fuels will continue for several decades to come and policy decisions which are taken now will impact significantly on Ireland’s future economic competitiveness. Government policies should promote further development of the natural gas market in Ireland as well as investment in strategic gas infrastructure.  Ireland’s energy import costs can potentially be reduced by over €300 million each year by switching from oil to natural gas in the residential, commercial and industrial sectors. More needs to be done by Government also to attract oil companies with the technical and financial capacity to explore and develop Ireland’s offshore hydrocarbon resources.
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17 Oct Policy Advisory: Achieving Ireland’s Energy and CO2 Reduction Targets – An Alternative Approach

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Irish Academy of Engineering (IAE)
2013
This policy advisory calls for a strategic rebalancing of Government energy policy between now and 2020 and focuses on the Residential, Commercial, Non-ETS Industrial and Public Service Sectors. Through innovative analysis, it proposes several pragmatic measures which have good payback, make national economic sense with associated opportunities for private enterprise, which will stimulate much-needed national economic growth and construction-related employment.
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