About the TCPs

The Technology Collaboration Programme (TCP) is a multilateral mechanism established by the International Energy Agency in order to provide a platform for countries to work together to advance research, development, and commercialisation of energy technologies. Today there are 39 TCPs working across many energy technology areas, including buildings, transport, industry, electricity, renewable energy, hydrogen, fossil fuels and nuclear fusion. The TCPs are a critical, member-driven part of the IEA family, but they are functionally and legally autonomous from the IEA.

Collectively, the TCPs are made up of thousands of experts across government, academia and industry, representing almost 300 public and private institutions in 55 countries. Known as “Implementing Agreements” prior to 2016, the TCP mechanism was initially established in 1975, the same year as the IEA. Some 81 TCPs have been created in the past four decades spanning virtually every facet of energy technology. Many of the original TCPs still exist today but have over time adapted their programme of work to address emerging technologies specific to their energy topic or sector.

Depending on the TCP, activities may include:

• Basic and applied research, development and demonstration (RD&D)
• Technology assessment, feasibility studies, environmental impact studies, market analysis, policy implications
• Information exchange of research results and programmes
• Exchanges of personnel
• Databases, modelling and systems analysis

There are three possible categories of membership in TCPs. In general, governments and other public institutions join as Contracting Parties, while private organisations typically join as Sponsors. The Limited Sponsor is a new participant type created in 2020 that is open to private organisations on a limited basis and under certain conditions. Additionally, there are a variety of mechanisms available for external organisations to work together with a TCP on joint projects without formally joining a TCP. This may include establishing a joint partnership or other collaborative arrangement.

A step-by-step guide explaining the membership process for each of these participation categories is available on the Membership page of this guide.

TCPs are not formally part of the IEA and are functionally and legally autonomous. The IEA does not provide direct financial support to TCPs and is not generally involved in their day-to-day operations.

Nevertheless, the TCPs are governed according to the overarching Framework for the Technology Collaboration Programme, which was established by the IEA's Governing Board.

The IEA's Committee on Energy Research and Technology (CERT) and its four Working Parties on fossil energy, renewable energy, energy end-use technologies, and fusion power provide additional oversight. Under the TCP legal framework, the TCP ExCo is empowered to make most decisions regarding the TCP’s activities, but the CERT retains a role in certain decision-making processes, such as the approval of term extensions and new Sponsors, and also provides strategic guidance across the TCP network.

In addition, the IEA Secretariat closely follows the work of each TCP and provides guidance, advice and support by acting as conduit between TCPs and policy makers, strengthening interlinkages with other multilateral mechanisms such as Mission Innovation and the Clean Energy Ministerial, and by promoting TCP outcomes where possible. The Clean Energy Technology Guide, which is a living resource published as part of Energy Technology Perspectives 2020, is a concrete outcome of IEA-TCP collaboration. The “Today in the Lab – Tomorrow in Energy?” initiative highlights research projects in which TCPs are involved. The IEA Office of Legal Counsel also provides legal advice in relation to processes, procedures and the legal structure of TCPs.

Each TCP is self-financed by the participants, either through financial and/or in-kind contributions. There are two main funding structures used across the TCP network: cost-sharing and task-sharing. In TCPs funded through a cost-sharing approach, each participant contributes to a common fund which can then be used to finance activities under the TCP’s programme of work. In TCPs funded through a task-sharing approach, each participant contributes resources in-kind (for example personnel or materials). The participants themselves decide whether cost-sharing, task-sharing or a combination of both is most appropriate.

The activities of each TCP are overseen by an Executive Committee (ExCo) made up of representatives designated by each participant. The ExCo makes decisions on the day-to-day operations of the TCP, including on management, participation and implementation. The ExCo also decides on the specific work programme of the TCP, which is executed through a series of specific projects or undertakings – usually known as “Tasks”.  The ExCo is also responsible for overseeing all financial aspects of the TCP, including managing the budget and any financial accounts.

The IEA's Governing Board, Committee on Energy Research and Technology (CERT) and Working Parties provide oversight over the TCPs. This includes approving the creation of new TCPs, approving any extensions of the term of TCPs (generally every five years), and providing strategic advice and guidance on the work programme.

The TCPs are collaborative platforms for their members to work together on specific topics. Each TCP is underpinned by a legally binding agreement between the Participants, known as an Implementing Agreement. The Implementing Agreement lays out the terms and conditions that govern the contractual relationship between the Participants, including the main objectives, procedural requirements and financing arrangements. 

The TCP does not have a formal legal existence independent of the Participants, and the term "TCP" does not refer to any legal entity. Therefore, TCPs do not have the capacity to perform legal acts. This means that the TCP itself cannot enter into contracts, take on legal obligations, or own property (including money and rights to intellectual property).

Below is a list of all currently active TCPs, including their abbreviation or acronym. For further information about the TCPs, please visit the TCP page on the IEA website, which has additional information on each TCP and a link to each TCP's website.

• Advanced Fuel Cells – AFC TCP
• Advanced Materials for Transportation – AMT TCP
• Advanced Motor Fuels – AMF TCP
• Bioenergy TCP
• Buildings and Communities – EBC TCP
• Clean and Efficient Combustion – Combustion TCP
• Clean Energy Education and Empowerment – C3E TCP
• Concentrated Solar Power – SolarPACES TCP
• Decarbonization of Cities and Communities – (Cities TCP)
• District Heating and Cooling – DHC TCP
• Energy Efficient End-use Equipment – 4E TCP
• Energy Storage TCP
• Energy Technology Systems Analysis – ETSAP TCP
• Enhanced Oil Recovery – EOR TCP
• Environmental, Safety, Economic Aspects of Fusion Power – ESEFP TCP
• Fluidised Bed Conversion – FBC TCP
• Fusion Materials – FM TCP
• Gas and Oil Technologies – GOTCP
• Geothermal Energy – Geothermal TCP
• Greenhouse Gas R&D – GHG TCP
• Heat Pumping Technologies – HPT TCP
• High-Temperature Superconductivity – HTS TCP
• Hybrid and Electric Vehicles – HEV TCP
• Hydrogen TCP
• Hydropower TCP
• Industrial Energy-related Technologies and Systems – IETS TCP
• International Centre for Sustainable Carbon – ICSC TCP
• Nuclear Technology Fusion Reactors – NTFR TCP
• Ocean Energy Systems – OES TCP
• Photovoltaic Power Systems – PVPS TCP
• Plasma Wall Interaction – PWI TCP
• Reversed Field Pinches – RFP TCP
• Smart Grids – ISGAN TCP
• Solar Heating and Cooling – SHC TCP
• Spherical Tori – ST TCP
• Stellarators and Heliotrons – SH TCP
• Tokamak Programmes – CTP TCP
• User-Centred Energy Systems – Users TCP
• Wind Energy – Wind TCP