ECE Energy Series
Removing Barriers to the Use of Natural Gas as Maritime Transportation Fuel
Liquefied natural gas (LNG) has been used as fuel for ships for decades but quality standards are still under development. The UNECE Group of Experts on Gas created in 2015 a task force on removing barriers to the use of natural gas as a transportation fuel. This report summarises the findings to date on the main barriers to the use of gas in maritime transportation. It considered not only gas-fuelled ships but the supply chain as well. The report demonstrates that in order to allow the use of LNG as marine fuel to grow six key enablers need to be in place: 1) easy access to LNG 2) reliable and safe logistics 3) legal certainty 4) favourable investment climate 5) competence knowledge and skills and 6) public acceptance.
Global Tracking Framework
UNECE Progress in Sustainable Energy
The United Nations Economic Commission for Europe (UNECE) regional Global Tracking Framework report is part of a series of multi-agency assessments that monitor progress towards the three Sustainable Development Goal 7 (SDG 7) objectives. This first edition of the report builds upon the 2017 Global Tracking Framework report by tracking the indicators of each SDG 7 objective within the UNECE sub-regions. The report then goes further to identify the current status of sustainable energy across a broader set of energy indicators identifies key issues along the energy value chain and highlights UNECE country responses to initiate change. The report further argues that this broader set of energy indicators is required to comprehensively track energy for sustainable development.
Coordinated Operations of Flexible Coal and Renewable Energy Power Plants
Challenges and Opportunities
The electricity sector is rapidly changing. Faced with the challenge of climate change coal consumption is declining. Policy designs focus on raising the penetration of renewable energy. However there are still drawbacks that prevent renewable energy from being adopted at industrial scale. It is therefore increasingly important for the policy makers to identify ways to leverage the benefits of renewable energy and at the same time preserve the availability affordability and reliability of electricity. Several studies have explored the possibility of coordinating fossil fuel fired power plants with renewable energy. This report presents several options for the northern hemisphere.
Best Practice Policy Guidance for Liquefied Natural Gas (LNG)
Small Scale LNG - Truck Loading
Natural gas including liquefied natural gas (LNG) has clear environmental benefits over other more carbon-intensive fossil fuels. Substituting other fossil fuels by natural gas can substantially reduce emissions of carbon dioxide and of other pollutants (particulate matter and oxides of nitrogen and sulfur) and contribute to the decarbonisation policy objectives. Regasification terminals can play a key role in ensuring security of supply diversification of supply as well as enabling the integration of renewable energy. This publication looks into a case study in truck loading.
Overcoming Barriers to Investing in Energy Efficiency
Energy efficiency is widely viewed as one of the most effective ways to achieve multiple economic social and environmental benefits and is at a core of making significant progress towards Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) and the Paris Climate Agreement. This publication presents the outcome of a survey among the energy efficiency practitioners on the challenges and solutions for overcoming barriers to energy efficiency investments. The primary geographic focus is the UNECE region comprising 56 member States from Western Europe (members and non-members of the European Union) North America (Canada and the United States) South-East Europe Eastern Europe the Caucasus Central Asia Israel Turkey and the Russian Federation. This is a joint effort by the UNECE and the Copenhagen Centre on Energy Efficiency. The analysis of the survey and its conclusions and recommendations will serve as a useful tool for energy efficiency community. Policy makers can apply the results to the situation in their countries and find approaches to improve investment climate for energy efficiency.
Guidelines for Application of the United Nations Framework Classification for Resources (UNFC) to Uranium and Thorium Resources
The purpose of the document is to provide non-mandatory guidance for the application of the United Nations Framework Classification for Resources 2009 (UNFC) to uranium and thorium resources. These Guidelines are intended to assist all those responsible for finding classifying quantifying financing permitting mining and processing these minerals such that they are fit to enter the nuclear fuel cycle. The Guidelines help to align the various resource classification systems currently in use for uranium and thorium resource management and reporting such as the Organisation for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD) Nuclear Energy Agency (NEA)/International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) ‘Red Book’ resource reporting scheme and various national systems in a coherent and consistent manner.
Best Policy Practices for Promoting Energy Efficiency
A Structured Framework of Best Practices in Policies to Promote Energy Efficiency for Climate Change Mitigation and Sustainable Development
This is the second edition of the Best Policy Practices for Promoting Energy Efficiency publication prepared in the framework of the United Nations Development Account project “Promoting Energy Efficiency Investments for Climate Change Mitigation and Sustainable Development”. It provides additional exemplars of the best policy practices for promoting energy efficiency in UNECE region and beyond. The objective of the publication is to present a structured framework of policies and measures to promote energy efficiency investments for climate change mitigation and sustainable development as well as to develop a menu of energy efficiency policies and measures.
Application of the United Nations Framework Classification for Resources (UNFC) to Geothermal Energy Resources
Selected Case Studies
This publication includes a set of 14 case studies on the application of the United Nations Framework Classification for Resources (UNFC) to geothermal energy from Australia Germany Hungary Iceland Italy the Netherlands New Zealand the Philippines and Russian Federation. The case studies presented here illustrate the application of the geothermal energy specifications for the uniform use of UNFC in different contexts. These application examples from different countries provide a range of scenarios in the classification of geothermal resources in a manner consistent with the classification of other energy resources.
European Gas Market Developments
Assessment of Market Trends in Liquefied Natural Gas
This report provides insights and guidance on developments and needs in the natural gas market. The report drafted by the Columbia University’s School of International and Public Affairs for the UNECE Group of Experts on Gas and in collaboration with a broad range of natural gas stakeholders from the UNECE region highlights demand and supply trends for natural gas and Liquefied Natural Gas (LNG) and suggests areas where policy makers can support the development of LNG infrastructure and markets that can contribute to sustainable development.
Best Practice Guidance for Effective Methane Drainage and Use in Coal Mines (Second Edition)
Today coal supplies around 30 per cent of global primary energy and 40 per cent of global electricity. Coal extraction has become increasingly challenging as shallow reserves are exhausted and deeper seams with significant content of methane are mined. Societies are demanding and expecting safer mine working conditions and greater environmental stewardship from the coal industry. The global coal industry national governments trade unions and worker safety advocates are concerned that the frequency and severity of methane explosions especially in emerging economies are unacceptably high. Coal mine methane (CMM) only becomes flammable and creates an explosion hazard when allowed to mix with air. Methane-rich gases generally containing 80 per cent to 95 per cent methane at underground mining depths occur naturally in coal seams and are released as CMM when coal seams are disturbed by mining activities. Methane is an explosive gas in the range of 5 per cent to 15 per cent methane in air. The application of best practices for methane drainage and use is critical to reduce methane-related accidents and explosions that all too often accompany coal mining while also contributing to environmental protection through reduction of greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions. Good mining practices need to be transferred to all countries to ensure that risks are managed professionally and effectively. No mine even in the most developed countries is free from safety risks. Regardless of location or mining conditions it is possible to significantly reduce the risk of methane related incidents and explosions. Good safety practice in coal mines is to reduce explosion risk by preventing the occurrence of explosive mixtures and where practical by monitoring and rapidly diluting explosive mixtures to safe concentrations.
Development of Energy Service Companies Market and Policies
Mitigating Climate Change Through Investments in Fossil Fuel Technologies
A Synthesis Report Based on National Case Studies from Afghanistan, China, India, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Mongolia, Tajikistan, Ukraine, and Uzbekistan
Application of the United Nations Framework Classification for Fossil Energy and Mineral Reserves and Resources 2009 to Nuclear Fuel Resources - Selected Case Studies
Pathways to Sustainable Energy
Exploring Alternative Outcomes
Best Policy Practices for Promoting Energy Efficiency
A Structured Framework of Best Practices in Policies to Promote Energy Efficiency for Climate Change Mitigation and Sustainable Development
Analysis of National Case Studies on Policy Reforms to Promote Energy Efficiency Investments
Synthesis Report Based on Case Studies from Armenia, Azerbaijan, Belarus, Brazil, China, Croatia, Egypt, Georgia, Kuwait, Montenegro, Morocco, South Africa, Tajikistan, Thailand, Tunisia, Uruguay, Zambia
United Nations Framework Classification for Fossil Energy and Mineral Reserves and Resources 2009 Incorporating Specifications for its Application
This publication contains the text of the United Nations Framework Classification for Fossil Energy and Mineral Reserves and Resources 2009 (UNFC-2009) and the Specifications (basic rules) for its Application. UNFC-2009 is a universally acceptable and internationally applicable scheme for the classification and reporting of fossil energy and mineral reserves and resources and is currently the only classification in the world to do so. As with extractive activities UNFC-2009 reflects conditions in the economic and social domain including markets and government framework conditions technological and industrial maturity and the ever present uncertainties. It provides a single framework on which to build international energy and mineral studies analyze government resource management policies plan industrial processes and allocate capital efficiently. The Specifications make UNFC-2009 operational. They set out the basic rules that are considered necessary to ensure an appropriate level of consistency in application. They provide additional instructions on how UNFC-2009 should be applied in specific circumstances. By covering all extractive activities UNFC-2009 captures the common principles and provides a tool for consistent reporting for these activities regardless of the commodity. It is a strong code that paves the way for improved global communications which will aid stability and security of supplies governed by fewer and more widely understood rules and guidelines. The efficiencies to be gained through the global use of UNFC-2009 and its Specifications are substantial.
Investor Interest and Capacity Building Needs
This Report has been prepared in the framework of the Financing Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy Investments for Climate Change Mitigation project. The Financing Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy Investments for Climate Change Mitigation project assists the countries of South-Eastern Europe Eastern Europe and Central Asia to enhance their energy efficiency diminish fuel poverty and reduce air pollution such as greenhouse gas emissions in order to meet international environmental treaty obligations under the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) and the United Nations Economic Commission for Europe (UNECE). It aims to provide a pipeline of new and existing projects dedicated to public-private partnership investment funds. It will establish an expanded and enhanced network of selected municipalities and energy managers and will provide case study investment projects in renewable energy technologies electric power and clean coal technologies.
United Nations Framework Classification for Fossil Energy and Mineral Reserves and Resources 2009
Best Practice Guidance for Effective Methane Drainage and Use in Coal Mines
Coal mines are not only a safety management challenge but also a major source of greenhouse gas emissions. Methane release during coal mining creates unsafe working conditions in underground coal mines around the world. This Guidance is intended to provide a genuine contribution to improve mine safety practices at active underground coal mines by supporting safer mining practices to reduce fatalities injuries and property losses while encouraging the use of coal mine methane (CMM) to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and utilize otherwise –wasted energy resources.