Renewable Energy Rd&d Priorities Insights from Iea Technology Programme

This comprehensive survey of renewable energy RDandD is intended to provide guidance for the mid- and long-term development of renewable energy technologies. RDandD 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. This book reviews the current status of the portfolio of renewable technologies and provides guidance on their development. It explores the options for the RDandD to achieve breakthroughs that will lead to large-scale markets and identifies what activities should take priority. It also looks at the benefits of increased RDandD funding in terms of technological advancement and cost improvement. Country reports provide information on national renewable RDandD budgets and programme trends.IEA Staff is the author of 'Renewable Energy Rd&d Priorities Insights from Iea Technology Programme', published 2006 under ISBN 9789264109551 and ISBN 9264109552.