World Energy Inside
February 2017
Insights from Davos from David Kim, Chair of the World Energy Council
Insights from Davos from David Kim, Chair of the World Energy Council
Younghoon David Kim, Chairman from the World Energy Council attended the 47th World Economic Forum Annual Meeting held in Davos-Klosters, Geneva, on 17-20 January 2017 under the theme “Responsive and Responsible Leadership”. The event aimed to foster world leaders’ collective responses and credible actions in the context of “an emerging multipolar world” similar to those trends set out in the World Energy Council’s recently published World Energy Scenarios entitled, ‘The Grand Transition’. In his 14th year of attending the annual leaders’ meeting, David Kim shares with the network some of his key takeaways from this year’s Davos meeting.
Driving clean energy technologies through trade policy
Driving clean energy technologies through trade policy
The majority of governments have set ambitious targets for increasing the share of renewable energy, reducing GHG emissions, or spurring energy efficiency, but several still have to address tariff and non-tariff barriers on imported energy and environmental goods. Trade policy is one tool that can enable greater efficiency in global value chains for clean energy technologies. However, a wide range of trade-related obstacles currently hamper the potential of cost-optimisation in the value-chain. The World Energy Council held a joint one-day dialogue with the International Centre for Trade and Sustainable Development (ICTSD) at the World Trade Organisation, to explore a better understanding of clean energy and its interface with trade policy to inform future trade policy making conducive to a scale up of clean energy.
South Korea gathers to enhance cooperation amid emerging uncertainties
South Korea gathers to enhance cooperation amid emerging uncertainties
In 2016, South Korea’s government unveiled a plan to invest approximately 42 trillion won ($36.6 billion USD) in developing renewable energy industries, such as solar and wind power and eco-friendly power plants, by 2020. Under the plan, new renewable power stations will be built to produce 13 million kilowatts of electricity annually, which is equivalent to that of 26 coal plants in the country — according to the Ministry of Trade, Industry and Energy. At the beginning of 2017, Korean energy leaders gathered at the World Energy Council’s Korean member committee’s ‘Energy Industry New Year Meeting’, to enhance their cooperation for overcoming emerging uncertainties impacting business by increasing investment.
Investment in energy the key to unlocking Africa’s potential
Investment in energy the key to unlocking Africa’s potential
Leading figures within the African energy scene convened at the 9th Annual Africa Energy Indaba, the World Energy Council’s annual African regional meeting, to discuss how best to unlock investment to develop an energy infrastructure road map for Africa. The World Energy Council held a number of high-level ministerial meetings as part of the Indaba in Johannesburg between 20 and 22 February. Other discussions centred on highlighting the scaling up of renewables through innovative business models as well as the role of mobile banking solutions.
World Energy Council presents to Italian Parliament to celebrate Triple A Trilemma ranking
Council presents to Italian Parliament to celebrate Triple A ranking
With increasing geopolitical and regulatory changes impacting on the way stakeholders within the energy sector have operated in recent decades, it is evident that an energy transition is well under way. Marco Margheri, President of the Italian member committee of the World Energy Council, recently announced an engagement strategy which aims at facilitating the debate with high level Italian institutions on policies and macro-trends emerging within a time of “Grand transition” within the energy sector. In this context, Dr Christoph Frei, Secretary General of the World Energy Council, gave a presentation to the Italian parliament on the Council’s 2016 World Energy Trilemma Index.
Ethiopia shares best practice on loss reduction and revenue protection
Ethiopia shares best practice on loss reduction and revenue protection
Those utilities that have made the greatest improvements in electricity reliability and energy efficiency in Ethiopia have learned the importance of loss reduction, customer engagement, and revenue protection. Executives from the Ethiopian Electric Utility (EEU) participated in a USAID and Power Africa-funded workshop, organised by the World Energy Council’s US member committee, the United States Energy Association, that focused on improving utility performance and solvency. Participants met with their peers from utilities, and meter and software manufacturers to learn about technologies and techniques for improving distribution utility performance.
Young energy professional lands dream job after completing FEL-100
Young energy professional lands dream job after completing FEL-100
The World Energy Council’s French Future Energy Leaders’ programme (FELS) provided Bianka Shoai-Tehrani the opportunity to land her dream job, as a researcher at the Research Institute of Innovative Technology for the Earth in Kyoto, Japan. Thanks to connections made through the FEL programme, Bianka’s successful interview during the 2013 World Energy Congress in Daegu, resuled in a job offer to join the Institute’s team working on the economics of energy and climate change. Her work mainly focuses on two issues: integration of low carbon technologies in the energy mix and analysis of climate and energy policy articulation.
Latin America convenes to explore resilience to cyber and extreme weather risks
Latin America convenes to explore resilience to cyber and extreme weather risks
Over the past few years, energy leaders in Latin America and the Caribbean have faced a number of difficulties such as oil price volatility and extreme weather events, with the energy-water-food nexus considered a critical uncertainty issue for many countries in the region. Latin America is currently behind its European and North American counterparts when it comes to resilience to cyber threats, the issue being ranked as a low priority for energy leaders in the region according to the 2016 World Energy Issues Monitor. Through a series of events, member committees in LAC convened to increase the region’s resilience to these risks.
UAE signs 24th World Energy Congress project management contract
UAE signs 24th World Energy Congress project management contract
His Excellency Eng Suhail Al Mazrouei, United Arab Emirates Minister of Energy and Chair of the Council’s UAE national committee, recently signed the project management office (PMO) contract with Energy Events Experts, to support the work of the committee and ensure the smooth delivery of the 24th World Energy Congress to be held in Abu Dhabi in 2019. The 2019 World Energy Congress will take place between 7 and 14 September following a successful international bid that Abu Dhabi won in 2014, following a vote by the World Energy Council’s member countries in a meeting held as part of the Council’s annual Executive Assembly in Cartagena, Colombia.
Invitation from Special Representative of the UN Secretary General for Council’s members to attend the 2017 Sustainable Energy for All Forum
Members of the World Energy Council will find here a letter from Rachel Kyte, Special Representative of the UN Secretary General and Chief Executive of Sustainable Energy for All, inviting Council members to attend the 2017 Sustainable Energy for All Forum to be held in New York City, USA on 3-5 April 2017.
Our Chair and Secretary General will be formally representing the Council at the Forum and we will be holding a working session to discuss our World Energy Trilemma report, showcasing the 2017 World Energy Issues Monitor and supporting the launch of the 3rd edition of the Global Tracking Framework, which has been produced with the support of World Energy Council. The Forum promises to be an interesting gathering for those members involved in delivering sustainable energy solutions and interested in the UN’s Sustainable Development Goals.
Bid to host the World Energy Congress 2022
Applications to host the World Energy Council’s Congress in 2022 are now open! Running since 1924, the triennial World Energy Congress is the World Energy Council’s global flagship event and offers a unique platform for global energy leaders to share insights and explore new strategies. The World Energy Congress represents an unmissable gathering of the global energy community across all parts of the energy system, including the annual Executive Assembly and the Future Energy Leaders Congress. It brings together industry, government, experts, practitioners, from all sectors to exchange ideas about the opportunities and challenges facing the energy sector in support of our mission of sustainable energy for all. It is also a unique opportunity to showcase the leadership of the host country in the global energy agenda. Member committees interested to bid are welcome to contact the Secretariat’s Member Services team for more information. Deadline to submit the bid is Thursday, 4th May 2017.
Review the best moments of the 23rd World Energy Congress in Istanbul on videos and articles.
