International Activities
Canada is a founding member of IEA Bioenergy, an Energy Technology Implementing Agreement set up in 1978 by the International Energy Agency (IEA). The aim of this agreement is to improve the cooperation and information exchange between countries that have national programmes in bioenergy research, development and deployment. IEA Bioenergy offers opportunities to coordinate the work of these programmes across the wide range of bioenergy technologies.
Demonstrating its commitment to the goals of the IEA, Canada currently participates in 8 of the IEA Bioenergy Implementing Agreement Tasks. Energy technology innovation is occurring in an inter-connected world and national energy Research & Development (R&D) and demonstration programmes gain impact when incorporated into the larger context of international interdependence.
IEA Bioenergy provides an umbrella organisation and structure for a collective effort where national experts from research, government and industry work collectively with experts from other member countries. Resources are provided via cost and work sharing and the collaboration offers many benefits at both the policy and technical level, including the ability to;
- Strengthen national research and development capabilities,
- Share research costs,
- Pool technical resources,
- Avoid duplication and unproductive research paths,
- Network researchers,
- Standardise methodologies,
- Harmonise technical standards,
- Enhance the quality of research and development outputs,
- Disseminate information on technology capabilities,
- Accelerate the deployment of new technologies,
- Build a common understanding of the technical basis for issues,
- Investigate barriers to implementation,
- Contribute to energy policy development.