Energy efficiency

A new five-year international co-operation and collaboration programme, supported by the

(IEA), has been launched to help countries develop more energy-efficient electricity transmission and distribution networks.

The new IEA Implementing Agreement, dubbed ENARD (Electricity Networks Analysis, Research and Development), is focusing on developing and sharing new technologies and best practice, to help tackle challenges including climate change, the growth of renewable power generation, replacing the ageing network asset base and rapid shifts in global patterns of energy supply and demand.

Eight IEA member countries have already signed up to the agreement with more countries considering joining, including non IEA member nations.

John Baker of EA Technology, which has been appointed the ENARD Annex I Operating Agent, explained: ‘The ENARD mission is to create a high level international forum for exchanging information, research and analysis, and undertaking collaborative R&D on a wide range of transmission and distribution (T&D) network issues.

‘Our vision is to help operators and governments across the world improve the performance of their T&D networks, with new technologies, architectures, methodologies and operating procedures.