|
Current Research Activities (Fiscal 2008 Research Themes)
|
|
 At the EWG35 meeting in March 2008 in Iquitos, Peru, three research themes
were endorsed to be carried out as a fiscal 2008 study in APERC. The background
of fiscal 2008 research themes is as follows:
|
| APEC PEER REVIEW ON ENERGY EFFICIENCY |
 |
APEC energy ministers agreed to implement peer review on energy efficiency
at the Darwin Meeting in 2007. In addition, APEC Leaders agreed to adopt
an aspirational goal of 25 percent energy intensity improvement target
by 2030. APERC will assist these efforts by member governments, through
sharing information on energy efficiency policies within the economies,
and review energy policy of an economy so they can meet a voluntarily set
energy efficiency improvement target.
|
| APEC ENERGY DEMAND AND SUPPLY OUTLOOK |
|
Because of the rising energy prices and energy import dependency with APEC
economies, concerns for energy security are becoming large.
By presenting a twenty-five year energy demand and supply outlook by economy,
we will try to draw policy implications for the enhancement of energy security
and sustainable development. APERC also tries to analyse potential for
energy efficiency improvement to consider what options we have to change
the course of robust energy demand growth.
| UNDERSTANDING ENERGY IN CHINA – PHASE II |
|
In the first phase study, we developed database, and analysed provincial energy demand and supply trends. Based on the first phase findings, we will make rigorous research to draw policy implications for energy security and environment.
|
|
|
Recent Research Activities (Fiscal 2007 Research Themes)
|
|
|
At the EWG33 meeting in March 2007 in New Zealand, four research themes were endorsed to be carried out as a fiscal 2007 study in APERC. The background of fiscal 2007 research themes is as follows
|
| ENERGY EFFICIENCY IN APEC ECONOMY |
|
Due to growing energy security and environmental concerns, most APEC economies
put energy efficiency at the top of their energy policy agenda for the
future. Energy efficiency policies and projects, however, have not been
fully successful for various reasons. On the demand side, difficulties
have come from implementing policies and projects relating to consumers'
almost limitless aspiration for convenience and comfort in their lives,
which naturally translates into higher energy requirements per person.
On the supply side, main problems include the mis-timed implementation
of energy efficiency policies resulting from the cyclical nature of energy
prices and the repetition of complacency and anxiety among energy policy
makers.
|
| ECONOMY REVIEW OF CHINA |
|
China has experienced rapid growth in energy demand over the last two decades
to support its burgeoning economy. China's expanding demand for oil and
gas is increasingly met by imports now and the trend will continue into
the future. Due to the sheer size of the economy, the effect of China's
increasing energy imports will be felt elsewhere in APEC. Therefore, understanding
China's historical trends in energy markets, its energy policy, and future
trajectory of energy demand and supply will be of paramount interest to
the policy makers in APEC.
| UNDERSTANDING INTERNATIONAL ENERGY INITIATIVES - PHASE II |
|
There are numerous International Energy Initiatives (IEI) established around
the world with good intentions and objectives, and in which APEC economies
are involved. However, the amount of information available within the public
domain is both vast and very technical. Efforts should therefore be made
to assess the progress and performance of these initiatives in a comprehensive
way. The complex nature of initiatives is exaggerated by their dynamic
nature; that is, their ability to transform and accommodate to the needs
of participants over time. Nevertheless, international energy initiatives
are effective instruments to foster cross-border cooperation for energy
security & environment conservation. This study gives an in-depth look
at their characteristics and progress in the hope that important implications
can be drawn from best practices-- or major blunders-- of the past.
| URBAN TRANSPORT ENERGY USE IN THE APEC REGION - PHASE II |
|
Urbanisation - with respect to both migration from rural to urban areas
and structural transformation of rural areas into urban ones - is one of
the key factors affecting energy demand growth. The higher personal incomes
and greater economic potential of urban areas transfer labour and other
inputs from agricultural regions to urban industrial and services sectors.
Driven by the growth in disposable income, urban dwellers spur the growth
of motorised transport as they switch away from non-motorised forms such
as bicycling and walking. Such a modal shift causes a strong upward pressure
on transport energy demand growth. This study will focus on developing
an analytical tool which enables us to probe into the root causes of burgeoning
urban transport energy demand and on the corresponding implications.
|
| MAJOR OUTCOME OF RECENT STUDY |
|
|
|
|
| APEC
ENERGY DEMAND AND SUPPLY OUTLOOK 2006 |
|
Since the publication of Outlook 2002, there have been notable market,
technological, and policy developments in the APEC energy scene. Such developments
include an oil price surge due partly to strong energy demand growth within
the region, fast growth of LNG market and trade, and growing political
attention to alternative energy sources. These latest developments resulted
in changes to the direction and speed of energy consumption growth. As
its flagship project, APERC embarked on the revision of the Outlook to
reflect these developments while addressing other relevant issues since
the beginning of the 2004-2005 fiscal years. The study was completed in
2006.
|
|
