21 March 2014: The International Energy Agency’s (IEA) Implementing Agreement for a Programme of Research, Development and Demonstration on Bioenergy (IEA Bioenergy) has released two reports on the group’s performance and major milestones over the past several years: the ‘IEA Bioenergy Annual Report 2013′ and ‘IEA Bioenergy Tasks’ Activities 2010-2012 Report.’

The ‘IEA Bioenergy Tasks’ Activities 2010-2012 Report’ presents an overview and evaluation of the organization’s tasks over its three-year work programme running from 2010-2012. The 11 tasks cover the full value chain from biomass feedstocks to final energy products. The report’s detailed description of each task outlines its background and objectives, activities and outputs. Noting a maturation of the scientific understanding of biomass technologies and an increased emphasis on deployment, the report finds that policy-oriented statements and publications have tended to replace an earlier focus on overviews and basic research papers. It also highlights a greater emphasis on collaboration among tasks and a more comprehensive approach towards bioenergy development and deployment.

‘IEA Bioenergy Tasks’ Activities 2010-2012 Report’ discusses a renewal of the implementing agreement from 2015-2020, contracting parties and new participants, task supervision and review, and the budgeting and administration of funds. In addition, the Executive Committee discusses the fourth Strategic Plan for 2010-2016, and strategic outputs, including reports on ‘Health and Safety Aspects of Solid Biomass Storage, Transportation and Feeding’, ‘Monitoring Sustainability Certification of Bioenergy’, and ‘Mobilising Sustainable Bioenergy Supply Chains’.

The second publication, the ‘IEA Bioenergy Annual Report 2013,’ presents additional information on the progress of each of the tasks, as well as an overall progress report by the Executive Committee.

A special feature also appears in the annual report on ‘Integration of Thermal Energy Recovery into Solid Waste Management.’ The feature, prepared by Task 36, examines the current global situation for energy from thermal waste (EfW), the drivers predicted to advance EfW, and anticipated challenges to the technology, such as the overcapacity of existing facilities in Europe and negative public perception globally.

IEA established IEA Bioenergy in 1978 as an organization aimed at improving cooperation and information exchange between countries with national research, development and deployment programmes for bioenergy. [Publication: IEA Bioenergy Annual Report 2013] [Publication: IEA Bioenergy Tasks’ Activities 2010-2012 Report] [IEA Bioenergy Tasks]