Research
IDEE/FB carries out studies and research into topics of governmental, institutional and company interest related to economics, planning, energy and the environment from a comprehensive perspective. The long experience in Energy Planning amassed along almost four decades may now be applied to the solution of specific problems which demand a detailed and deep knowledge of the several interrelations within the energy sector, and between this and the economic, social and environmental systems.
Since 1981 and for almost fifteen years, IDEE/FB was part of an international training and research network devoted to energy issues, the "Cooperative Programme on Energy and Development" (COPED). This was financially supported by the European Union (EU) and was made up of eleven centers in Africa, Latin America, Asia and Europe. It was also a member of CINTREP (Cooperative International Network for Training and Research in Energy Planning), sponsored by UNESCO. One of its researchers was a member of the Energy Research Group (ERG), a group of eleven scientists from developing countries whose objective was to analyze energy research priorities. The Group was supported by the UNU and the International Development Research Centre (IDRC) from Canada, which published the report titled "Energy Research. Direction and Issues for Developing Countries", IDRC/UNU.
Its researchers were also members of the team that implemented the Project promoted by OLADE/ECLAC/GTZ on Energy and Sustainable Development in Latin America and the Caribbean, developed between 1994 and 2000. Among the publications resulting from this project are “Energía y Desarrollo Sustentable en América Latina y el Caribe: Enfoques para la Política Energética” (Quito, Ecuador, May 1997), and “Energía y Desarrollo Sustentable en América Latina y el Caribe. Guía para la formulación de políticas energéticas” (ECLAC, Santiago de Chile, 2003).
IDEE/FB is currently a member of several international research and training networks, such as GNESD (Global Network on Energy for Sustainable Development, <http://www.gnesd.org/>), the international development called COMMEND (Community for Energy, Environment and Development, <http://www.energycommunity.org/>), REN21 (Renewable Energy Policy Network) and the REEEP Network (Renewable Energy and Energy Efficiency Partnership).
The following are some of the main research topics currently being covered:
Energy Policy
- energy access, supply security
- poverty and energy
- prices and tariffs
- institutional structure of the energy sector
- regional integration
- regulation
- rational use of energy
- institutional and company strategies
- technological developments
Energy and Environment
- emissions
- emissions mitigation
- vulnerability and adaptation to climate change
- impact of fuels
- impacts generated at each stage of the energy chain
- sustainable development of energy systems
Development of methodologies and models to study the following aspects:
- requirements and demand
- demand and supply
- project financing
- energy plans
- introduction of new fuels
- introduction of new actors
Methodological development to carry out comprehensive energy studies (at the national, regional and/or provincial level)
- comprehensive energy balances
- energy diagnosis
- requirements, supply and demand prospective
- institutional analysis
- economic analysis
- regulatory analysis
- environmental impact
Methodological development to carry out economic, technical and environmental studies on the following areas:
- petroleum
- natural gas
- electricity
- coal
- new and renewable fuels
- biofuels
Methodological development to carry out sectoral energy studies
- industry
- transport
- services
- agricultural and livestock
- residential
For further information on the latest work in this field, go to News Bulletin – Tasks.
Ever since its creation, IDEE/FB has received support from and cooperated with several national, regional and international bodies such as:
- Inter American Development Bank (IBD)
- Economic Commission for Latin America and the Caribbean (ECLAC)
- Regional Commission for Electricity Integration (CIER)
- Deutsche Gesellschaft für Technische Zusammenarbeit (GTZ) GmbH
- Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO)
- World Environment Fund (WEF)
- Institute for Latin American and Caribbean Integration (INTAL)
- International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA)
- International Development Research Center (IDRC), Canada
- Organization of American States (OEA)
- Latin American Energy Organization (OLADE)
- United Nations Development Programme (UNDP)
- United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP)
- UNEP Collaborating Center on Energy and Environment, RISO National Laboratory (UCC/RISO)
- European Union (DGXVII and DGI)
- United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO)
- United Nations University (UNU)
- World Resources Institute (WRI)
- Battelle – Pew Centre
|
