APEC Regional Workshop on 

Measurement Challenges in Renewable 

Energy and Climate Science

29 October, 2015

Changping Campus, National 

Institute of Metrology, China
OBJECTIVES

• Identify technology and metrology areas where training and 

sharing of best practices will be most beneficial for APEC 

economies

• Explore ways to promote regional and international 

partnerships to share approaches and best practices for 

expanded utilisation of RE, measurement of air quality, GHGs 

and other pollutants, and efficient energy use and 

distribution systems

• Develop an action plan for APEC with priorities for possible 

workshops/activities to improve regional measurement and 

standards infrastructure for RE and CS

• To assist developing economies achieve international equivalence 

and recognition of these capabilities to support RE industries and 

carbon emissions trade
Panel discussion:

Panel to discuss each topic using all of their “hats” – global, regional and national. 

2-3 mins Q&A after each question.

1. What are the highest priority measurement challenges in RE and CS for your 

economy? What capabilities exist to address these? What is needed in metrology 

infrastructure and training? How is your NMI filling the gaps? (2-3 mins/panellist)

2. What policy or regulatory drivers are there? What are the gaps in the broader 

technical infrastructure in terms of regulation, standardisation and accreditation? 

(10 mins for panel)

3. What strategies and opportunities for collaboration can we, in the Asia Pacific, 

learn from, adapt or partner with? How are you partnering with the private 

sector?(10 mins for panel)

4. What lessons can you share with developing economies, e.g, in engaging with 

stakeholders and understanding their needs? (10 mins for panel)

5. How can we in the Asia Pacific fill the gaps with, e.g. training (incl. awarenessraising, education of metrologists and policy-makers), access to resources 

(expertise, funding), etc? (10 mins for panel)

25 mins plenary discussion: Next steps, and priorities for APEC for 

activities/workshops in the future
Panel discussion:

1. What are the highest priority measurement challenges in RE and CS for your 

economy? What capabilities exist to address these? What is needed in metrology 

infrastructure and training? How is your NMI filling the gaps? (2-3 mins/panelist)

 China: Two priorities for measurements in climate science 1) Identify better 

methodologies and procedures; 2) Build SI linkages to measurements

 Japan: Global Warming is an issue and Japan needs to understand deep sea 

temperature fluctuations. Japan has two satellites for GHA monitoring and it 

needs to improve the accuracy of measurements. How to work with the 

metrology community to bring trust in the use of Nuclear power and meet 

the requirements for stronger safety.
Panel discussion:

Cont. Question 1

US: 1)Issue is to make better atmospheric velocity measurements just below the 

boundary level for the purpose of validating different meteorological models. The 

performance of these methods are not at the level needed for test bed centers. 2) Gap 

between the meteorological and metrology community.

UK: 1) The biggest issue is how the metrology community help the climate 

community. 2) UK is concentrating on solving problems essential for climate models 

with highest uncertainty to provide biggest impact. 3) Organized workshop to teach 

policy makers and industry to understand measurements models and uncertainty.4) 

Issue of Quality Assurance – the UK is working with the EU to put together an 

accreditation process for the Climate Community 5) Created a multiple layer tool for 

graphical representation of measurement uncertainties. 

Chinese Tapei: 1)GHG measurement in chemisty: Need to develop standards for gas 

concentrations and specifically reference materials to provide to the industry. 

2)Airborne particulates measurement: need to harmonize the results of reference 

methodologies. 3) Improve air speed measurement methodologies for meteorology 

and environmental protection applications.
Panel discussion:

Cont. Question 1

Korea: Government in Korea wants to control carbon emission from the factories and 

KRIS is assisting with the reporting. 2)Korea setting of regulation for reduction of 

carbon emission is mandatory. 3) Reporting uncertainties are the biggest issue, and 

KRIS provides education to industry. 4) A big problem in APEC is language 

communication. And big difference among NMIs.

2. What policy or regulatory drivers are there? What are the gaps in the broader 

technical infrastructure in terms of regulation, standardisation and accreditation?

• A technical gap is understanding data from small sensors to well-calibrated 

sensors. Better methodologies to evaluate the performance of cheaper sensors, 

will be a challenge for each country. Improve inconsistency in measurement 

methodologies

• Engaging both meteorological and metrology communities Ex. NIST and NOAA 

collaboration
Panel discussion:

3. What strategies and opportunities for collaboration can we, in the Asia Pacific, learn 

from, adapt or partner with? How are you partnering with the private sector?

 NIM and NIST had frequent joint meetings and personnel exchanges that helped 

to improve the low carbon lab in NIM. NIM also has guest researchers exchanges 

with NPL. Sharing technical personnel can improve inconsistency and 

uncertainties.

 KRISS assisted Indonesia to establish gas laboratory. They trained two gas 

metrologists for two years.

 Examples: NIST works with a private company for GHG measurements, but most 

climate activities are dominated by government agencies.

 Try to do research that is complementary not duplicative.
Panel discussion:

4. What lessons can you share with developing economies, e.g, in engaging with 

stakeholders and understanding their needs? 

5. How can we in the Asia Pacific fill the gaps with, e.g. training (incl. awarenessraising, education of metrologists and policy-makers), access to resources 

(expertise, funding), etc?

 Thailand: Big gap in regulating industry 2)Lack of funding and need of technology 

transfer.

 Chinese Tapei: Care more about modeling than uncertainty and the need to 

understand their needs to assist government to set regulation feasible and 

implementable.

 Need to educate policy makers/politicians on Climate Change related technology 

requirements.