Renewable Energy RD&D Priorities

Research, development and demonstration (RD&D) investment in renewable energy technologies has declined over the past 18 years. At the same time, market deployment funding has increased, but the market share of renewables has decreased. Energy supply from technologies that were close to being competitive in the early 70s, such as hydropower, biomass combustion and geothermal, has not subsequently grown at the same rate as the total primary energy supply.  Wind power, several forms of advanced bioenergy and to a certain extent photovoltaics, have made it through the RD&D pipeline to market entry in some countries, but they have not yet grown broadly enough to ensure a higher penetration of renewables. In this context, the International Energy Agency, at the International Conference for Renewable Energies in Bonn in June 2004, proposed to better target renewables RD&D funding. It is believed that this will make renewable energy technologies more market ready. 'Renewable Energy RD&D Priorities' is intended to provide guidance for the mid- and long-term development of renewable energy technologies. Due to the diversity of these technologies, their degree of maturity and market share, there is no universal pattern. Intelligent definition of RD&D priorities by each country needs to respond to local policy objectives, resource endowment and industrial capacity. Since a range of various technologies is needed to become commercially available over time, continued RD&D will play a crucial role in the process of making them ready for the market through technological advancement and cost reduction. The publication is based on substantial input from the IEA Renewable Energy Technology Programmes, in particular the Implementing Agreements on renewable energy technologies.