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Contains a major international compilation of energy prices of all market levels: import prices, industry prices and consumer prices. The statistics cover main petroleum products, gas, coal, and electricity, giving for imported products on average price both for importing country and country of origin. Every issue includes full notes on sources and methods and a description of price mechanisms in each country.

How long will conventional fossil fuels remain the predominant source of energy? Does nuclear power have a future? What new energy technologies are emerging on the horizon? What are the implications of the growing role played by developing countries as producers and users of energy? What can be done to avoid international energy crises in the future? How will the information society affect the production and use of energy? And what will be the long-term implications of international environmental agreements for a sustainable energy future? Endeavours to set world energy on a sustainable footing are entering a critical phase. By 2050 the energy landscape could be completely transformed. A highly diversified mix of conventional and new fuels will be in use; unprecedented levels of energy efficiency in transport systems, housing and other infrastructures will likely have been attained; and people could at last be reaping the rewards of environmentally responsible lifestyles. But such a shift towards sustainable use of energy will take decades to achieve. This book reviews the options likely to shape the energy picture over the next half-century, and assesses some of the key issues -- economic, social, technological, environmental -- that decision-makers in government and corporations will need to address in the very near future.

Contains a major international compilation of energy prices of all market levels: import prices, industry prices and consumer prices. The statistics cover main petroleum products, gas, coal, and electricity, giving for imported products on average price both for importing country and country of origin. Every issue includes full notes on sources and methods and a description of price mechanisms in each country.

Contains a major international compilation of energy prices of all market levels: import prices, industry prices and consumer prices. The statistics cover main petroleum products, gas, coal, and electricity, giving for imported products on average price both for importing country and country of origin. Every issue includes full notes on sources and methods and a description of price mechanisms in each country. The feature article is titled Looking at Energy Subsidies: Getting the Prices Right.

The International Energy Agency's 1999 review of Hungary's energy policies and programmes. Hungary joined the International Energy Agency on 3 June 1997 as part of its transition toward a market economy and integration into the West that began after 1990. It also envisages accession to the European Union (EU) within the next three years. This will require further changes to the country’s energy sector that underwent considerable change during the transition years. Previously operated by the state-held body MVM, Hungary’s electricity supply industry was restructured and privatised, with generation, transmission and distribution now separate functions. But as the country’s wholesale company, MVM still dominates the industry. New legislation provides for regulated third party access and progressive market opening, starting with 10% by 2001. MOL is the sole domestic producer of oil and gas, but the oil retail market is now fully competitive. MOL and the gas distribution and supply companies have been privatised, and new legislation introducing competition into the gas market is to be completed by 2002. Hungary signed the Climate Convention in 1994 and is committed to reduce its carbon dioxide emissions. The country’s total primary energy supply collapsed after 1989 and is not expected to recover to previous levels before 2010, so Hungary is certain to fulfil its obligations. But scope exists for major energy efficiency improvements.

This IEA report provides a comprehensive, in-depth assessment of the energy policies of Finland, including recommendations on future policy developments. Over the past years, Finnish energy markets have undergone reform and restructuring. Competition was introduced into the electricity market in 1995, and has since been strengthened significantly. Competition in the natural gas market is imminent. Finland is not yet connected to the EU natural gas network, but the rules on competition cover cross-border competition from the outset to prepare for the future. Attention still needs to be given to market power. Finland and the wider Nordic market are still relatively concentrated. The recent merger of Finland's largest electricity company with the country's dominant oil and gas conglomerate did nothing to alleviate this situation. Price regulation and anti-trust oversight may have to be strengthened. Nevertheless, the Finnish power market is a successful example and worthwhile for other countries to study. Finland was the first country in the world to introduce a carbon tax and has an excellent record in energy efficiency policy. But carbon emissions continue to rise. Increased use of natural gas and Finland's interconnection to the EU gas grid may be the best approach to reducing CO2 emissions.

This booklet gives an introduction to the issues raised by regulatory reform of the electricity sector. The sector is undergoing change worldwide. A key objective of reform is to improve efficiency in order to reduce prices for electricity consumers. More competitive power markets are required to achieve this objective, but security of supply must also be sustained in the new conditions, and environmental objectives are of growing importance. Ultimately, choices must be made by end-users themselves and not by others on their behalf. Hence, the structure of the industry needs to change to promote end-user choice, as do the regulatory institutions and rules that set the framework. The contents of this volume were first published as part of an OECD book on regulatory reform in a variety of sectors. This updated version of the study is one in a series of short publications by the IEA on energy market reforms.

The International Energy Agency's 1999 review of Ireland's energy policies and programmes. It finds that strong growth in the Irish economy poses considerable challenges for Ireland’s energy policy, but growth also provides resources for the Government to address energy policy issues in a manner consistent with economic and social objectives. This IEA report reviews all aspects of Irish energy policy. The sector is at present dominated by four state-owned bodies. In the electricity industry, the Electricity Supply Board may continue to dominate the market and impede the development of competition. In the gas industry, there is a need to develop new sources of supply to match growth in demand. Growth in demand for gas has given rise to concerns about the diversity of the fuel supply and security of supply. Peat will become the only domestic energy resource in a matter of years, unless new gas development occurs to replace the Ballycotton and Kinsale gas fields. There is no electricity interconnector other than to Northern Ireland, and the single gas interconnector is close to full capacity. Policies on peat have had social objectives. These objectives may not be compatible with economic efficiency and environmental objectives and could have implications for the future of the energy sector. The report also draws attention to the need to develop a comprehensive data base on greenhouse gas emissions. A new programme of energy efficiency measures is needed urgently to replace the present programme of the Irish Energy Centre. This report forms part of a series of periodic in-depth reviews conducted by the IEA on a four-year cycle. Short reviews of energy developments in all 24 IEA countries (including summaries of the year’s in-depth reviews) are published annually in Energy Policies of IEA Countries.

Contains a major international compilation of energy prices of all market levels: import prices, industry prices and consumer prices.
The statistics cover main petroleum products, gas, coal, and electricity, giving for imported products on average price both for importing country and country of origin. Every issue includes full notes on sources and methods and a description of price mechanisms in each country.

This IEA report provides a comprehensive in-depth assessment of the energy policies of Switzerland, including recommendations for policy developments. Although the federal government has been increasingly involved in Swiss energy policy, the cantons retain extensive authority. There is a discussion of the 'Energy 2000 Action Plan' - the core of Swiss energy policy. The plan aims to stabilise electricity consumption, reduce the use of fossil fuels, increase the supply of renewable energies, upgrade the capacity of existing nuclear power plants and stabilise carbon dioxide emissions. The report analyses the reasons for Switzerland's slowdown in fossil fuel use - a trend which has constrained CO2 emissions. To help meet its national commitment to reduce greenhouse gas emissions under the 1997 Kyoto Protocol, Switzerland is seriously considering several forms of energy taxes including a 'carbon tax'. There remains some room for improvement in the area of energy efficiency and the energy tax structure could be more focussed on climate change issues and energy efficiency. The report recommends enhanced co-operation between and among federal and local governments. Regulatory reform in the electricity and natural gas sectors is a priority issue. These sectors are characterised by a large number of companies and significant involvement of local governments in their ownership, regulation and price setting. The report proposes to introduce competition in these industries.

This IEA report provides a comprehensive in-depth assessment of the energy policies of Japan, including recommendations for policy development. Since the last in-depth review in 1994, the two major themes in Japan's energy policy have been reform of the regulatory framework and measures to respond to climate change. Energy sector reform in the energy sector is an important component of overall policy on economic recovery. Increasingly, the market will be relied on to achieve a satisfactory outcome. Independent Power Producers have entered the electricity market since 1995. The report analyses anticipated further reforms to liberalise the market for extra-high-voltage consumers (28% of all supply) and to introduce accounting separation of the activities of the existing utilities. Approximately 90% of carbon dioxide produced in Japan is energy-related. Policy to reduce emissions from the energy sector is focused on drastic energy efficiency measures and on the promotion of nuclear power and "new energies". The review discusses the cost-effectiveness of present energy efficiency measures, but considers that the current nuclear energy production target is achievable.

This IEA report provides a comprehensive, in-depth assessment of the energy policies of Italy, including recommendations on future policy developments. The Italian government is undertaking major reforms in the energy sector. It has started to decentralise energy policy, giving more responsibilities to regions and local authorities. Thus, co-ordination across regions and with the national government is becoming an important issue. In February 1999, competition was introduced in the electricity sector. The Government is also preparing a Legislative Decree to implement the EU Directive on natural gas. In enforcing competition, attention needs to be given to the dominant position of national companies in the electricity, natural gas and oil sectors. Italy has high taxes on energy in comparison with other IEA countries. This has encouraged the country’s low energy intensity. In addition, in December 1998, the Government introduced a CO2 tax. Tax policy needs a long-term strategy which would better reflect the external cost of using energy and make the tax structure consistent across the different sectors and fuels. The report also recommends that the Government take further measures to reduce greenhouse gas emissions in order to meet the Kyoto target.

The International Energy Agency's 2000 review of Portugal's energy policies and programmes. It finds that Portugal produces little energy, all of it from renewable sources. But Portugal’s energy consumption is growing apace, and the country is increasingly dependent on imported energy. Portugal’s energy companies have been restructured and the government has begun the process of privatising them. In April 1999, the government set up a holding company called “Petróleos e Gás de Portugal, SGPS, S.A.” (GALP) combining Gás de Portugal and Petrogal, the national oil and gas companies. The aim is to create an enterprise large enough to compete in the Iberian market, then gradually to privatise it. The electricity law of 1995 divided the electricity market into two segments: one competitive, the other centralised and non-competitive. By 1999, the competitive segment was still not functioning adequately. This report recommends measures to achieve effective competition. The addition of natural gas to the Portuguese energy mix in 1997 has helped diversify Portugal’s energy sources and contributes to the mitigation of environmental problems. Security of gas supply remains an important issue, since Portugal depends on only one single source. Because the gas market is so new, the European Directive permits Lisbon to delay making it a competitive market until 2008. The report recommends a clear schedule for the implementation of competition. Portugal is working to reduce the sharp growth in energy use and CO2 emissions. But both continue to increase rapidly. If Portugal is to limit the increase in greenhouse gas emissions to 27% above 1990, as it has undertaken to do under the Kyoto Protocol, it will need to take further measures.

The International Energy Agency's 2000 review of Canada's energy policies and programmes. It finds that successful regulatory reform of the gas market has contributed to rapid growth in exports of gas to the US. Encouraged by potential trade benefits flowing from regulatory reform of the electricity market, and benefits flowing to Canadian consumers, some provinces have also undertaken major regulatory reform of the electricity industries in their jurisdictions. Development of Canada’s huge resources of oil sands and heavy oil have supplemented continuing development of conventional oil. These developments combined with rapid economic and population growth have posed policy challenges for Canadian governments in several areas. This report discusses the issues arising for policy makers, including the process currently underway in Canada to develop a national implementation strategy to meet the national target for greenhouse gas emissions, and progress in improving the efficient use of energy. Federal-provincial co-operation is essential for successful energy policy development and implementation in Canada. The report makes recommendations in several policy areas where co-operative action appears necessary, notably to encourage the development of regional energy markets which would bring together existing provincial reform policies and widen their scope to other provinces where market reforms have made less progress. The report looks comprehensively at the Canadian energy sector and also includes description and analysis of nuclear power, renewable energy sources and energy resource industries such as uranium and coal as well as oil and gas.

The fact that market experience improves performance and reduces prices is well known and widely exploited in technology-intensive industries, but sparsely used in analysis for energy technology policy. Knowledge of the “experience effect” can help in the design of efficient programmes for deploying of environment-friendly technologies. The effect must be taken into account when estimating the future costs of achieving targets, including targets for carbon dioxide reduction. This book discusses issues raised by the “experience effect”, such as price-cost cycles, competition for learning opportunities in the market, risk of “technology lockout” and the effects of research, development and deployment policies on technology learning. Case studies illustrate how experience curves can be used to set policy targets and to design policy measures that will encourage both investment in and use of environment-friendly energy technologies. Low-cost paths to stabilising CO2 emissions are explored.

Contains a major international compilation of energy prices of all market levels: import prices, industry prices and consumer prices. The statistics cover main petroleum products, gas, coal, and electricity, giving for imported products on average price both for importing country and country of origin. Every issue includes full notes on sources and methods and a description of price mechanisms in each country.

This volume contains data on the supply and consumption of coal, oil, gas, electricity, heat, combustible renewables and waste in energy balances. The figures are expressed in million tonnes of oil equivalent. Historical tables summarise key energy and economic indicators as well as production, trade and final consumption data. The book includes definitions of products and flows. There are explanatory notes on the individual country data and conversion factors from original units to tonnes of oil equivalent. Key indicators have been provided since 1960. More detailed data in original units are published in Energy Statistics of OECD Countries 1997-1998, the sister volume of this publication.

How will the introduction of electricity market competition affect power generation and transmission technology? Which technologies are most likely to receive a push from competitive markets? These are the questions examined in this review, which considers a wide range of options in both generation and transmission. Competition strengthens the search for the most cost-effective technologies. All electricity generation technologies are affected: those for existing and new plants as well as those for improving capital and operating efficiency. In existing plants, reliability, life extension, operating flexibility and demand-side technology are some of the major factors of change. In new plants, gas turbines are set to continue their growth, but there is still a place for conventional steam and other power plants. New government policies for technology support and environmental protection also have a role in evolving technological choices when competition is introduced.

This volume contains data on energy supply and consumption in original units for coal, oil, gas, electricity, heat, combustible renewables and waste. Historical tables summarise data on production, trade and final consumption of hard coal, brown coal, oil, natural gas and electricity. The book includes definitions of products and flows and explanatory notes on the individual country data.