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About Group of Experts on Cleaner Electricity Systems

Areas of work

The Group of Experts on Cleaner Electricity Systems carries out concrete, result-oriented activities that contribute to transformation of energy systems and promote reduction of greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions from fossil fuel-fired electricity generation. These activities are developed and implemented with the active participation of the UNECE member States, energy companies, the financial sector, civil society, academia and independent experts.

The areas of work of the Group of Experts are regulatory and policy dialogue on modernization and decarbonization of electric power systems: sharing best practices in the field of cleaner electricity systems in the UNECE region; effects of electrification of transport and commercial and buildings heating and cooling on current grid systems; interplay of technologies, including between flexible clean coal, natural gas and renewable energy; carbon capture, use and storage (CCUS); advanced fossil fuels technologies for power generation, including high-efficiency, low-emissions (HELE) technologies; nuclear power; hydrogen; financing clean energy projects; digitalization of electricity systems.

History

In November 2006 at its 15th Session, the UNECE’s Committee on Sustainable Energy recognized the importance of encouraging investment in the power sector while ensuring that it is done so in an environmentally sustainable manner. To carry out this work, the Committee created the Ad Hoc Group of Experts on Cleaner Electricity from Coal and Other Fossil Fuels. Specifically the Ad Hoc Group of Experts provides a forum for an intergovernmental dialogue on investment and regulation for the promotion of cleaner electricity production between governmentally appointed experts, complemented by the participation of representatives from the electric power industry and other related industries, as well as the international financial sector and relevant international organizations.

In creating this Group, the Committee on Sustainable Energy consolidated the efforts of two earlier working groups, the Ad Hoc Group of Experts on Coal in Sustainable Development which focused principally on coal production and coal industry restructuring, and the Ad Hoc Group of Experts on Electric Power which focused on investment in the electricity sector and facilitation of cross-border transfers. Consolidation recognizes first that many of the issues related to coal have shifted from production to utilization. In addition, it also acknowledges the strong interrelationship and interdependency between liberalizing electricity and natural gas markets, improving environmental performance, and successfully attracting investment to the power sector.Group of Experts on Cleaner Electricity Systems.