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18 Working group session summariesSummary reportTechnology pushFull commercialization of new low-carbon technologies will becrucial to sustained emission reductions.Major transitions in energy infrastructure take time,as evidenced by the move from wood to coal and thenfrom coal to oil. The move towards low-carbon economywill face similar inertia, particularly during periods ofeconomic recession when investment levels fall dramatically.Participants in the working group on Technology push,chaired by BP Group Chief Executive Tony Hayward,agreed that different technologies face different challenges– challenges which may also vary from region toregion. Clearly, no single technology is likely to solve theclimate problem.“Carbon markets are very good atdriving existing technologies intobusiness processes, but not reallygood at all at driving pre-commercialor breakthrough technologies. Carbonmarkets don’t have the time horizonfor that .”Samuel A. DiPiazza, Jr., Chief ExecutiveOfficer, PricewaterhouseCoopers InternationalHowever, there are extensive opportunities in emergingeconomies to meet growing energy demand throughrenewable energy rather than traditional fossil fuels.Small scale energy technology and decentralized ordistributed energy markets also have potential to growlocally.“There’s a lot of technology availabletoday to make a dramatic impact onenergy efficiency and also to begin toprovide a significant quantity of lowcarbonenergy.”Tony Hayward, Group Chief Executive, BPCoal provides a significant share of global power generation.About 30% of units globally have a low (24-26%)thermal efficiency compared to the potential efficiencyof about 45%. This represents a significant opportunityfor cost-effective emissions reductions.Commercializing and deploying low-carbon powergeneration technologies, such as solar power, is provingchallenging. Supporting economic deployment, includingstrengthening of the supply chain (domestically aswell as internationally) and the creation of appropriatefinancial structures and regulatory incentives wouldhelp investors build confidence. For other types of technologies,such as carbon capture and storage (CCS), publicacceptance and support are crucial, as is commercialcollaboration between power generators, pipeline operatorsand oil and gas companies. Major coal-dependentdeveloped countries are more likely to be effectivedrivers to scale up the deployment of CCS and couldbenefit from collaboration and knowledge sharing.In the transport sector, technological improvement inthe production of biofuel and the electrification of personaltransport is critical. Building the infrastructureand the capacity for mass production and deploymentis also vital to the success of new transport technology,especially electric vehicles. However, in the short tomedium-term, improvements in vehicle efficiency andengine technologies provide the biggest opportunity forcarbon reductions.Urban planning and the built environment also presentopportunities for technology to reduce emissions. In theconstruction sector, for example, the lack of regulatoryincentives in a conservative industry limits activemeasures from the private sector to lower its carbonfootprint.This working group was developed and organized byCombat Climate Change. For more information, pleasego to www.combatclimatechange.org or contact JesseFahnestock at jesse.fahnestock@vattenfall.com.