G8 ministers call for green energy tech platform

Publication date: 27 May 2009

G8 energy ministers meeting in Rome on Sunday and Monday have called for the creation of a global low-carbon energy technology platform to promote the deployment of such technologies worldwide.

A new international partnership to promote energy efficiency (IPEEC), which was formally endorsed by the energy ministers at the G8 meeting, is a "major step" towards the creation of this platform, according to a joint statement published on Monday.

The platform would help all countries to "identify low-carbon technology needs and priorities at the international and national level" and estimate deployment costs, especially in developing countries, the ministers said in the statement. The International Energy Agency should propose how to design and implement this platform, they added.

Energy ministers also agreed on a set of initial tasks for the IPEEC draft work plan, including the launch of a Sustainable Buildings Network to promote energy efficiency in the residential, commercial and industrial sectors. The G8 agreed to work on the creation of this network in Heiligendamm, Germany, in 2007.

The IPEEC will also put together a compilation of national energy efficiency action plans and a list of improved methods for measuring and verifying national energy efficiency goals, according to the US department of energy.

The ministers reiterated commitments on energy security and energy efficiency, and a pledge to launch 20 large-scale carbon capture and storage (CCS) demonstration projects by 2010. On Saturday Italy and the US signed a bilateral agreement to develop CCS technology in each country.

In a separate statement energy ministers from G8 countries and eight emerging economies such as India, China and Mexico endorsed a "comprehensive approach" to reducing emissions using a range of technologies including CCS, smart grid systems, cogeneration, renewables, nuclear energy and low-carbon vehicles.

Source: ENDS