18 November 2014: In conjunction with its Sustainable Energy Week, the UN Economic Commission for Europe (UNECE) organized a workshop on ‘Development of a Classification for Renewable Energies.’ The workshop considered ways to develop a common assessment methodology for renewable energy projects using the UN Framework Classification for Fossil Energy and Mineral Reserves and Resources 2009 (UNFC-2009).

The workshop, which was held on 17-18 November 2014, in Geneva, Switzerland, started with an overview of UNFC-2009. Speaking on behalf of the Expert Group on Resource Classification (EGRC) and the Task Force on Application of UNFC-2009 to Renewable Energy, Norbert Dolle, Shell, explained that UNFC-2009 is a generic, principles-based system of classification based on three criteria: economic and social viability; field project status and feasibility; and geological knowledge.

Dolle also presented on how the classification system could be applied to renewable energy, noting that renewable energy projects exhibit many of the same characteristics as fossil energy or mineral projects. Dolle went into further detail for wind, solar and hydro projects, engaging the plenary in discussion on how a specific case of a solar project in Wisconsin, US, might be classified and compared to wind and hydro. Participants also heard about wind energy classification from Elbia Melo, Brazilian Wind Energy Association, who gave an update on installations in Brazil, the potential of the resource in the country and challenges stakeholders face to classification.

On applying UNFC-2009 to geothermal energy, Gioia Falcone, speaking on behalf of the EGRC and the Task Force, stated that classification is not a new problem to the geothermal community and listed several examples of existing geothermal classification schemes. Falcone also described the September 2014 Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) signed by the International Geothermal Association (IGA) and UNECE to “develop a globally applicable harmonized standard for reporting geothermal resources.”

James Primrose, also a member of the Task Force, presented on the application of UNFC-2009 to bioenergy. Using a hypothetical case study of a sugarcane ethanol plant in Brazil, Primrose took participants through the process of classification, pointing out that it can be subjective at times and identifying specific bioenergy issues that will need to be addressed. [UNECE Workshop Flyer] [UNECE Workshop Webpage and Presentations] [Committee on Sustainable Energy Webpage]