IEA's R&D priorities for each renewable resource:
Biomass
-
improved conversion technologies in combustion
systems, gasification, liquid fuels, co-firing
of biomass wastes in coal-fired generating plants,
process modeling, biotechnology
Wind Turbines
- to drive the cost down there is a need for: better
aerodynamic models, new intelligent structures and
materials, improved understanding of mechanical
loads, more efficient generators and converters,
reliable small machines for remote locations and
large sea-based machines.
- to minimize environmental impacts there is a need
for: combined land use, visual integration, reduced
noise from machines and increased knowledge of effects
on flora and fauna.
- to enable large-scale use there is a need for:
improved forecasting of power output, better power
quality and hybrid systems, including hybrids with
natural gas.
Geothermal
- improved generators, transmissions and control
systems, synergy between hydro and other renewables,
quantification of negative externalities
Solar heating and cooling
- product development, heat storage, integration
with energy efficiency and building technologies
Solar concentrating collectors
- build confidence in technologies through: demonstrations
showing reliability, automated operation
- improve efficiency through: higher design temperatures,
hybrid systems with fossil
- reduce costs through: improved designs, materials
and components, extend applications
Solar PV
- for the short term there is a need to: improve
technologies related to current applications such
as autonomous systems, building-integrated PV, in-line
process controls, balance of systems and crystalline
silicon cell and wafer production technologies
- for the medium term there is need for: improved
hybrid systems, distributed generation, thin film
and polycrystalline solar cells.
- for the longer term the main priorities are: technology
improvements for large-scale systems, storage in
and interaction with grids, higher efficiency and
contacting mechanisms and cells, cells made of plastic
and other materials, monolithic compounds in PV,
and organic cells.
Hydrogen
- modeling tools for design, storage, safety, integrated
systems for: production/storage/transport and use,
production from sunlight and renewables, fuel cells,
hybrid systems.
Resources:
:Needs
for Renewables, IEA |
