The OECD has a major workstream involving energy related issues.  It has particular expertise in the field because it is home to the International Energy Agency (IEA) and the Nuclear Energy Agency (NEA).

International Energy Agency

The International Energy Agency (IEA) is an autonomous agency, which was set up in 1974 by the members of the Organisation for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD) in response to the oil crisis at that time.

The IEA has 27 member countries who are committed to taking joint measures to meet oil supply emergencies. They have also agreed to share energy information, to co-ordinate their energy policies and to co-operate in the development of rational energy programs.

The IEA's objectives are:

• to maintain and improve systems for coping with oil supply disruptions; 
• to promote rational energy policies in a global context through co-operative relations with non-member countries, industry and international organisations; 
• to operate a permanent information system on the international oil market; 
• to improve the world's energy supply and demand structure by developing alternative energy sources and increasing the efficiency of energy use; and 
• to assist in the integration of environmental and energy policies. 

The Agency's budget is around €24 million for 2008, with the UK's contribution set at roughly €1.55 million.  

Nuclear Energy Agency

The Nuclear Energy Agency (NEA) was established by OECD members to develop the scientific, technological and legal bases required for the safe, environmentally friendly and economical use of nuclear energy. To achieve this, the NEA works as: a forum for sharing information and experience and promoting international co-operation; a centre of excellence which helps Member countries to pool and maintain their technical expertise; a vehicle for facilitating policy analyses and developing consensus based on its technical work.

The NEA's current membership consists of 28 countries in Europe, North America and the Asia-Pacific region. Together they account for approximately 85% of the world's installed nuclear capacity. The NEA works closely with the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) in Vienna - a specialized agency of the United Nations - and with the European Commission in Brussels. The Agency's budget is around €10 million with the UK's contribution set at about €0.7 million.