The Durban Workshop—held in October 2005 as a satellite event to the World Conference on Physics and Sustainable Development—focused on energy challenges and controversies on the African continent. It had thematic emphases on the use of renewable energy sources (biomass, solar and wind energy); on distributed, decentralized energy supply; as well as, on leapfrogging potential. The Workshop was chaired by Study Panel Co-Chair José Goldemberg.
The Beijing Workshop—hosted by the Chinese Academy of Sciences in November 2005—was dedicated to aspects of the energy situation in China and thematically focused on energy efficiency (especially in building construction) and the application of clean technologies to the use of fossil energy sources (clean coal technology, enhanced oil recovery and carbon capture, use of gas hydrates). The Workshop was chaired by Study Panel Co-Chair Steven Chu.
The Berkeley Workshop—hosted by the Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory in January 2006—was thematically dedicated to energy-related, cutting-edge science and technology. Topics included sustainable energy technologies and energy efficiency, potential hybridizing technologies, new plant and microbial approaches, energy transformation for transport and storage, and third and fourth generation fission nuclear energy. The participation of U.S. scientists brought attention to the U.S. energy situation. The Workshop identified new productive avenues of research that could have a strong impact on future local and global energy use. The Workshop was chaired by Study Panel Co-Chair Steven Chu.
The Rio de Janeiro Workshop—hosted by the Brazilian Academy of Sciences in March 2006—focused on the use of biomass and biofuels as sources of energy in Latin America, on the energy-related problems of large cities – such as transportation and air pollution (both in general and Latin America-specific), and on the quality of electrical power delivered to rural and urban areas. The Workshop was chaired by Study Panel Co-Chair José Goldemberg.
The New Delhi Workshop—hosted by the Indian National Science Academy in May 2006—paid in-depth attention to the complex energy situation (now and in the future) in the Indian subcontinent. Particular topics addressed were the conversion of biomass into liquid fuels for urban transport, the deployment of decentralized energy systems (including biomass-based ones), clean coal technology and carbon capture & sequestration, and the future use of nuclear power--costs, single vs. multiple fuel cycles, safety, and non-proliferation issues. The Workshop was chaired by Study Panel Member Robert Socolow.
The Paris Workshop—hosted by the French Academy of Sciences in June 2006—focused on the energy situation in Europe. Particular topics addressed were the potential of biomass as a source of energy in Europe, European perspectives on wind and solar power, energy demand management and end-use efficiency, nuclear energy (reactors, fuel cycles, waste-storage, safety and security), and energy security in Europe. The workshop was chaired by Study Panel Co-Chairs José Goldemberg and Steven Chu.
The Tokyo Workshop—hosted by the Science Council of Japan in December 2006—focused on the energy situation in Japan. Particular topics addressed were energy conversion and storage; energy demand management and efficiency; and global warming and energy. The workshop was chaired by Study Panel Co-Chair Steven Chu.