The unprecedented health emergency and economic crisis triggered by the Covid-19 pandemic risks to be a setback for clean energy innovation efforts at a time in which faster progress is needed.
This report proposes five key innovation principles for delivering net-zero emissions. It highlights issues requiring immediate attention, such as the importance of governments maintaining research and development funding at planned levels through 2025 and considering raising it in strategic areas.
The report comes with a new ETP Clean Energy Technology Guide that encompasses around 400 component technologies and identifies their stage of readiness for the market.
The report describes the steps involved in clean energy technology innovation and the role that government and other actors play throughout the innovation process, building on historical experience. It explains why strong and cohesive innovation systems are vital for clean energy transitions and looks at the risks and opportunities that may arise from the Covid-19 crisis.
It also provides an overview of the status of clean energy technology innovation. It reviews the different resources that support innovation, from government and public sector funding for research and development (R&D) through to venture capital investment and also patents. It then assesses the potential impacts of the Covid-19 crisis on these different resources.
It looks at long-term clean energy technology innovation needs through the lens of the IEA Sustainable Development Scenario, which maps out a way to meet the key energy-related goals of the United Nations Sustainable Development Agenda, including by mitigating climate change in line with the Paris Agreement.
Opportunities and challenges arising from the Covid-19 crisis for clean energy technology innovation are discussed, concluding with recommendations for policy makers to boost clean energy technology innovation.
To acess and download the full report consult IEA website:
https://www.iea.org/reports/clean-energy-innovation
