The global energy system is moving closer to a historic transformation. This year's edition of the International Energy Agency (IEA)'s comprehensive publication on energy technology focuses on the opportunities and challenges of scaling and accelerating the deployment of clean energy technologies. This includes looking at more ambitious scenarios than the IEA has produced before. Improvements in technology continue to modify the outlook for the energy sector, driving changes in business models, energy demand and supply patterns as well as regulatory approaches. Energy security, air quality, climate change and economic competitiveness are increasingly being factored in by decision makers. Energy Technology Perspectives 2017 (ETP 2017) details these trends as well as the technological advances that will shape energy security and environmental sustainability for decades to come.
The Status of Power System Transformation 2017 report provides an overview of current trends that are ongoing across the globe, with a focus on the integration of renewables and local grid development. The report examines a broad set of recent concrete power system interventions. A framework for assessing the status of power system transformation is also introduced, and is applied to selected countries: Indonesia, South Africa, Mexico and Australia. This report can inform stakeholders of the dynamic changes that are occurring in power systems around the world and provide insight into measures that can help to overcome new challenges.
The IEA’s annual Tracking Clean Energy Progress (TCEP) report highlights the overall status and recent progress in developing and deploying key clean-energy technologies. The report brings together broad IEA expertise, integrating the analysis from the Energy Technology Perspectives as well as the Market Report Series. Each year, TCEP assesses the latest progress in technology and market developments, tracks overall progress, and recommends further actions. TCEP this year shows that only 3 of 26 identified clean energy technologies are on track to meet a sustainable energy transition (one more than last year). 15 technologies showed only some progress, and 8 are significantly off-track and in need of renewed action. TCEP 2017 also includes a special section on Tracking Clean Energy Innovation Progress, containing unique information on public and private investment in research, development, and demonstration. The special section highlights that total innovation investment needs to pick up to fulfill its important role of achieving secure and sustainable energy systems and delivering economic growth and reducing air pollution.
