Category Archives: Renewable Energy

USA: Destined to collide: The intersection of solar, DR and smart grid

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from; pwbmspac
to; jaluo@jaluo.com

The Solar Electric Power Association (SEPA) and Association for Demand Response and Smart Grid (ADS) are joining forces, becoming one organization under the SEPA banner.

The announcement follows SEPA’s recent move to expand its mission from a focus on utility integration of only large-scale and distributed solar to a broader view, including a suite of distributed energy resources — from demand response and storage to microgrids, electric vehicles and other smart-grid technologies.

“It became apparent to the boards of both organizations earlier this year that by working more closely, as a single organization, we could better serve the needs of all our members,” said Steve Malnight, senior vice president for Regulatory Affairs at Pacific Gas and Electric, and SEPA board chair. “By leveraging the considerable strengths of both groups, we will be able to participate in the evolution of the electricity business in even more meaningful ways.”

[to read article, visit]
http://www.smartgridnews.com/story/destined-collide-intersection-solar-dr-and-smart-grid/2015-11-11

KENYA: HOMA-BAY MPS INVOLVED IN LIGHTING PROGRAMME FOR TOWNS AND MARKETPLACES AND PUBLIC INSTITUTIONS.

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Reports Leo Odera Omolo in Homa-Bay Town

Recently an ambitious power development project, in Homa-Bay County, estimated to cost Kshs 80 million, which was launched by governor Cyprian Otieno Awiti. Members of parliament representing all the eight constituencies have resolve to supplement the effort of the County government by ensuring that urban centers, market places and public institutions, including schools are connected to power either by the installation of solar light or through the main KPLC lines.

The county has five major towns, which are all by now connected to the main power lines. These urban centers included Oyugis, Kendu-Bay, Ndhiwa Mbit and Homa-Bay town which is the County’s administrative headquarters.

The region has close to ten major market places, which the eight MPS have vowed to ensure that they would receive lights. To supplement the county government’s concerted effort to ensure the trading centers and market paces received lights, the MPS are reportedly working round the clock by making use of the CDF revolving funds for the purpose of installations of solar light in all public institutions, health centers and dispensaries.

The late Joshua Orwa Ojode, formerly of Ndhiwa, had set the ball rolling when he pioneered in solar installation which is now lighting Gandhi market. The major market places included Ladonna, Riga, Moselle, Paley, Oriana’, Madel Krieger, Midi Company, Adora bondholder, Handiwork, Sin do, Haberman Awkward, Range,Indira and Ouch-Shenyang.

And while launching the ambitious power initiative programme GOV ERNOR awiti disclosed that the initiative is being undertaken by the KPLC. Once fully implemented by the governor, the project is expected to end the frequent power shortage in the region. The project is dubbed as “Boresha Umeme Homa-Bay. The project is expected to increase the electricity supply in the region six times over the current volumes. In attendance was the KPLC managing director Ben Chumo who told the gathering that the move was part of the countrywide exercise to upgrade the power supply system in the area.

The launching ceremony was held at Homa-Bay power station and the MD Chumo said that the work involved conducting master repair at existing service stations and upgrading power lines. Chumo said that in an initiative that is expected to create alternative source of power. The power utility has increased threshold is in high demand in the region by the traders who want to enhance their businesses.

Most market places located in Karachuonyo, Kasipul, Kabondo- Kasipul constituencies are on electricity connections.

The MPs representing the eight constituencies included JOHN mbadi [Gwassi}, Oyugi Magwang {Kasipul}, Augustine Netto {Ndhiwa}, Millie Odhiambo {Mbita},George Oner{Rangwe}, Opondo Kalum {Homa-BAY Town}. James Rege reg {Karachuonyo} and Silvance Oselle of Kabondo-kasipul.

ENDS

Africa – Mobile – Solar panels that charge mobile phones: Fast, Durable, and Portable Solar Phone Charger to Empower All Regions of COMESA

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From: News Release – African Press Organization (APO)
PRESS RELEASE

World Panel Zambia, Ltd. Celebrates Official Launch of Solar Chargers

Fast, Durable, and Portable Solar Phone Charger to Empower All Regions of COMESA

LUSAKA, Zambia, August 28, 2014/ — World Panel Zambia Ltd. (www.world-panel.com) launched the durable World Panel solar panels that charge mobile phones as fast as a wall plug. Held at Lusaka’s Taj Pamodzi Hotel, the launch was attended by senior Zambian government officials, COMESA free-trade group leaders, US embassy officers, African Development Bank officials and the CEOs of major Zambian mobile operators. The launch celebrated the first container of World Panels that arrived in World Panel Zambia’s Lusaka warehouse.

Logo: http://www.photos.apo-opa.com/plog-content/images/apo/logos/worldpanel.jpeg

Photo: http://www.photos.apo-opa.com/index.php?level=picture&id=1317 (World Panel Zambia CEO Jacob Sikazwe speaking about empowerment)

Photo: http://www.photos.apo-opa.com/index.php?level=picture&id=1318 (Only smiles when a World Panel charges a rural cell phone)

The CEO, Jacob Sikazwe, a well-known Zambian business leader who led the creation and then chaired Zambia’s Citizens Economic Empowerment Commission said, “I’ve worked for many years to empower people in rural Africa to improve their economic well-being and opportunities in life. This utility-grade personal solar charger finally delivers on my dream to aid and empower people living without regular access to electricity.”

The first shipment contained thousands of World Panel 500 combo-pack units with the patented solar panel technology plus a bundled 5000-milliamp Powerbank and bright ten-bulb LED light. The technology will be distributed in rural and urban COMESA regions. The company indicated that it plans to ship one million World Panel units to the COMESA region in 2015.

John Anderson, the inventor and CEO of US-based World Panel Inc., gave the keynote speech at the event.  An expert in micro-solar technology and business sustainability, Anderson said, “with only 8% of rural Zambia connected to an electrical grid, our distributed green energy solution can significantly increase that level in three years at a fraction of the cost of traditional energy solutions. We are honored to deliver our first containers into Zambia.”

World Panel Facebook page: https://www.facebook.com/theworldpanel

Photo: http://www.photos.apo-opa.com/index.php?level=picture&id=1319 (The Zambia management team with CEO Mr. Jacob Sikazwe (on left)

Photo: http://www.photos.apo-opa.com/index.php?level=picture&id=1320 (The motivated support staff at the Lusaka headquarters!)

In prepared remarks read on behalf of Zambia’s Minister of Energy Christopher Yaluma, the Ministry’s Director of Energy Andrew Simwaba said, “I am pleased that this solution being launched today will help mitigate this power shortage because our people will be able to charge their phones and other devices no matter where they are located.” Recognizing this powerful green electrical solution for energy poverty, the Zambia Revenue Authority notified World Panel Zambia Ltd. that its application for zero customs and VAT has been approved.

Distributed by APO (African Press Organization) on behalf of World Panel Inc.

Contact:
Mr. Larry Tanning
ltanning@world-panel.com

PHOTOS:

Photo: http://www.photos.apo-opa.com/index.php?level=picture&id=1321 (The well-attended launch event with the Ministry’s Director of Energy Andrew Simwaba (on right)

Photo: http://www.photos.apo-opa.com/index.php?level=picture&id=1322 (Zambia CEO Jacob Sikazwe and USA CEO John Anderson with thousands of World Panels)

Photo: http://www.photos.apo-opa.com/index.php?level=picture&id=1323 (Personal solar for all.  World Panel is a mobile electricity solution that provides consumers with the security of having power for their phones and batteries on the go or at home)

Photo: http://www.photos.apo-opa.com/index.php?level=picture&id=1324 (Ms. Sandra Uwera speaking on behalf of COMESA with a personal endorsement of the technology)

Photo: http://www.photos.apo-opa.com/index.php?level=picture&id=1325 (Mobile electricity for distributed energy solutions to the rural areas, powers phones onsite without the need to travel to the phone charging station)

Photo: http://www.photos.apo-opa.com/index.php?level=picture&id=1326 (Plug into the sun!  Founder John Anderson charging a local consumers phone with the technology. Put sun into your phone, it’s easy and free)

About World Panel Inc.:

Boulder, Colorado, USA-based World Panel Inc. (www.world-panel.com) is a triple-bottom line company (people, planet, profit) founded by micro-solar and sustainability expert John Anderson. On a trip to Sub-Saharan Africa, it became apparent that mobile electricity was in demand, and cell phone charging was of particular interest.  Equipped with requests from citizens there that a charger be powerful, durable, affordable and portable, Anderson developed the patented World Panel to charge 2G, 3G, and 4G LTE handsets and tablets, and all USB devices.  A suite of chargers, based on the patented direct-from-the-sun technology are now being distributed into the COMESA and SADC countries of Sub-Saharan Africa.

SOURCE
World Panel Inc.

CESA: Combining solar with energy storage is the future of clean energy

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From: FierceSmartGrid
August 13, 2014

Green Mountain Power (GMP) has begun construction on a “solar + storage microgrid” project in Rutland, Vt., — a project managed by Clean Energy States Alliance and Sandia National Laboratories. Microgrids like these can keep critical facilities, such as emergency shelters, firehouses and fueling stations, operating during power outages. Article

http://links.mkt1985.com/ctt?kn=59&ms=MTA2OTg1MTAS1&r=ODI3OTk2MzM0NTUS1&b=0&j=MzIzNjY0MTA0S0&mt=1&rt=0

sbj; CESA: Combining solar with energy storage is the future of clean energy
From: FierceSmartGrid

http://www.fierceenergy.com/story/cesa-combining-solar-energy-storage-future-clean-energy/2014-08-13

Topics: Electricity Generation
CESA: Combining solar with energy storage the future of clean energy
August 13, 2014 | By Barbara Vergetis Lundin

Green Mountain Power (GMP) has begun construction on a “solar + storage microgrid” project in Rutland, Vt., which is being partially funded a federal-state-NGO partnership involving the State of Vermont; the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE), Office of Electricity; and the Energy Storage Technology Advancement Partnership (ESTAP) — a project managed by Clean Energy States Alliance and Sandia National Laboratories. Microgrids like these can keep critical facilities, such as emergency shelters, firehouses and fueling stations, operating during power outages.

http://assets.fiercemarkets.com/public/sites/energy/greenmountainpower1.jpg
The site of Stafford Hills Solar Farm. Credit: Green Mountain Power

According to the DOE, the Stafford Hill Solar Farm is the first project to establish a micro-grid powered solely by solar and battery back-up, with no other fuel source. Further, Stafford Hill is the first to provide full back-up to an emergency shelter on the distribution network, as well as the first “solar + storage microgrid” to be developed on a brownfield site, contributing to brownfield redevelopment efforts in Vermont. The solar farm is sited at the closed Rutland City landfill, and is the first known solar storage project in the country to repurpose brownfield land once used to bury waste for the siting of renewable energy.

The 2.5 MW project incorporates 7,722 solar panels, helping GMP to reach its goal of making Rutland the Solar Capital of New England and Vermont to reach its renewable energy goals. It also incorporates 4 MW of battery storage, both lithium ion and lead acid, to integrate the solar generation into the local grid, and to provide resilient power in case of an outage.

The microgrid will provide resilient power to a Rutland school that serves as a public emergency shelter, as well as providing clean, distributed generation and resilient power to an urban community that is targeted for revitalization and suffers frequent storm-related power outages. Additional critical facilities may be supported in the future.

Stafford Hills is part of GMP’s larger vision of transforming Rutland into “The Energy City of the Future.”

“This project is a national model for the future of clean energy — combining solar with energy storage,” said Lewis Milford, president of Clean Energy Group, which manages the Clean Energy States Alliance. “Solar power and battery storage will provide clean reliable power to a school that serves as an emergency shelter, helping a community cope with loss of power in a future disaster. This new form of resilient power is what all communities need to protect themselves from power outages in severe weather events.”

The $10 million project is anticipated to be complete in mid-December.

For more:
– see this article

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SEPA names utilities of the year

20 July 2014, 45th yearly Moon Day

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From: pwbmspac

Greetings:

Happy Moon Day. It is once again time to take note of the annual memorial for Apollo 11 lunar landing. Now it has been all of 45 years since that Sunday. I, my brother, parents, and many million others around watched that “creaky old stile black & white movie” type of scratchy video as Neal Armstrong, then Buzz Aldrin descended ladder of their lunar lander on to the lunar surface, while Michael Collins tended the command & service Apollo modules in lunar orbit.

That is 45 years past, but still significant. (Interestingly, numerically, 1969 and 2014 share the same dates / days of week calender layout.)

In mid 1970-s about 7 years afterward, a Princeton Physicist, Gerard K. O’Neil brought to public attention an interesting vision – – Space Development. That is mining, industrial manufacturing, settlements of standard terrestrial human kind beginning to establish ourselves in that valuable real estate out across the solar system That view is still worthy of grasping so as to once again set course toward helping most people to thrive economically, and look forward with hope again, not just exist in great fear that they are just a short period from being rendered destitute, while the rulers have never had it better.

In the mean time, you may still hear a few interesting bits of news. One of the coastal Emirate neighbors of Saudi Arabia have committed to sending a space probe of their own to Mars. The CEO of the Tesla electric car company and of Space X has had a successfully cargo delivery flight by his Falcon launch vehicle and Dragon reusable space craft reach the international space station. Its price tag was lower than its prior competitors. The Mars Society solicited for volunteers willing to become Mars Settlers in a few years. Many people filed applications seeking to be selected. A researcher has been publishing tech papers asserting that his theoretical studies might in a few decades culminate in Star Trek style Warp Drives becoming possible. He is on staff at a NASA center, and is hoping that the small effort may endure for a bit.

These are a few small positive notes. But surely, many folks will agree that affordable, wide open to all, access to space, for regular folk to do there what they now routinely do hear for gaining livelihoods, is taking far too long.

Sincerely,
Power Beam Spacer
North America
Sol III A (Terra)

Shifting global power

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From: Emmanuel Dennis

https://ci6.googleusercontent.com/proxy/rqrfn4jlj8QKBSETasL1ytRHyAL1RYtOU6ek2-mlnzx93nYRL7bCbyJUUqB-Fk1I53VMHg7IqOsXmRavmtSUdFJty8B4FptNuwWN3LZmE9o=s0-d-e1-ft#https://s3.amazonaws.com/s3.350.org/images/gps_info_en.jpg
http://act.350.org/go/5070?t=1&akid=4472.850573.Gj_Tjd

Global Power Shift is scaling up the climate movement in an unprecedented way — it is sparking climate action all over the world.

After our massive gathering in Istanbul last year to train young leaders in grassroots and climate activism, thousands of youth have joined regional events, organised mobilisations and launched campaigns to fight the climate crisis in country after country — Australia, Ukraine, Canada, Vietnam, France, Kenya, Philippines, Brazil, Egypt, China and India are just some of them. And we’re not done yet — more Power Shifts are planned for the coming months! Check this awesome timeline to see what the teams are up to.
http://act.350.org/go/3713?t=5&akid=4472.850573.Gj_Tjd

From national summits to months of action, these teams are building innovative, bold climate activism in their regions. They are exposing fossil fuel corporations and pressuring their leaders to take serious action. They are promoting and implementing clean, renewable energy, reaching and engaging frontline communities, and highlighting climate impacts. They’re working with well established partners and articulating effective, coordinated campaigns to tackle climate change. But most of all — they’re taking climate leadership and shifting the power!

There’s still a lot to do and we’re certainly going to see many powerful, inspiring campaigns sparking across the planet. But we are so excited about how Global Power Shift is moving so far that we wanted to share the news with you. Can you share the infographic with your friends too?
http://act.350.org/go/5069?t=6&akid=4472.850573.Gj_Tjd

Onwards,

350.org is building a global movement to solve the climate crisis. Connect with us on Facebook and Twitter, and sign up for email alerts. You can help power our work by making a donation To change your email address or update your contact info, click here.

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Kenya – Lake Turkana Wind Power: US $870m Financing Agreements Get Signed as Biggest Clean Power Energy Project in Africa

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From: News Release – African Press Organization (APO)
PRESS RELEASE

US $870m Financing Agreements Get Signed as Biggest Clean Power Energy Project in Africa

Lake Turkana Wind Power – Africa’s biggest Wind Power Project reaches key milestone

JOHANNESBURG, South-Africa, March 24, 2014/ — The Lake Turkana Wind Power Project (http://ltwp.co.ke) meant to add an existing 300MW of reliable, low cost wind energy to the national grid of Kenya reached a critical milestone following the signing of the financial agreements in Nairobi, Kenya.

Logo: http://www.photos.apo-opa.com/plog-content/images/apo/logos/harith-1.png

Photo: http://www.photos.apo-opa.com/index.php?level=picture&id=735 (Tshepo Mahloele, CEO of Harith General Partners)

The signing of the over US $870m financing agreements represents a major breakthrough to actualizing the biggest clean power energy project in Africa, spanning years of negotiations and fundraising, says Tshepo Mahloele, CEO of Harith General Partners (http://www.harith.co.za).

The project will be financed with a mixture of equity, mezzanine debt and senior debt.

The Lake Turkana Wind Power project is the first of its kind in East Africa and will be the largest wind project on the continent to date, says Mahloele. The Project will benefit Kenya, and specifically the Turkana area where unemployment is high, with jobs, economic development and, most importantly, electricity which is a vital element in any economy.

LTWP has signed a 20 year Power Purchase Agreement with the government of Kenya through its electricity entity, Kenya Power.

The parties at the signing ceremony were represented by lead developer and independent power producer, Aldwych, which is majority owned by the Pan African Infrastructure Development Fund (PAIDF). LTWP is primarily responsible for the financing, construction and operation of the wind farm and comprise a grouping of investors and lenders with extensive financial and technical capabilities and experience on the African continent. They include FMO, Vestas, Finnfund, IFU and a strong local sponsor KP&P on the equity side. The syndicate of banks is led by the African Development Bank and comprises Standard Bank, Nedbank, EIB, DEG and Proparco.

The project will be located on one of the best sites for a wind farm in the world. Not only are the wind speeds exceptionally high but the wind is only from one direction, is not seasonal, and is low in turbulence. The project site is situated on the southeast border of Lake Turkana between two high ranging mountains in the Turkana Corridor where a low level jet stream originating in the Indian Ocean creates favourable wind conditions.

Mahloele says the LTWP will essentially assist diversify Kenya’s energy mix and reduce the country’s reliance on power production from oil and diesel power generators. The Kenya government will save millions per year on importing fuel. The LTWP tax contribution to Kenya alone will be approximately $27m annually and $548m over the life of the investment.

Mahloele says the combination of international financial and technical expertise has ensured that the project is structured in a bankable and sustainable form in accordance with international standards.

This project also forms part of Harith’s commitment to the United States backed Power Plan announced last year by the US President Barack Obama to bring more than 10 000 MW of electricity to sub Saharan Africa. Through Power Africa, Harith has committed $70m for wind energy in Kenya and $500m across the African power sector through a new fund.

Mahloele says the investment is the result of the forward thinking and planning on the part of the Kenyan leadership who had undertaken comprehensive power sector reforms over the past decade.

In Kenya, electricity is mainly generated from hydro, thermal and geothermal sources. Wind generation accounts for less than six megawatts of the installed capacity. Currently, hydro power comprises over 52 percent of the installed capacity in Kenya and is sourced from various stations managed by the Kenya Electricity Generating Company (KenGen).

It is our assertion that the Lake Turkana Wind Project will greatly reduce Kenya’s over reliance on hydropower which is playing a critical role in ensuring security of electricity supply but is however vulnerable to periodic draught seasons, says Mahloele.

Distributed by APO (African Press Organization) on behalf of Harith General Partners (Pty) Ltd.

For more information contact: Pule Molebeledi Investor Relations and Communications Executive, Harith General Partners +27 11 384 4002 or Pule.Molebeledi@harith.co.za

About Harith General Partners

Harith General Partners (http://www.harith.co.za) is the leading Pan-African fund manager for infrastructure development across the continent. Based in South Africa, Harith manages Africa’s first and only 15-year infrastructure fund, the Pan African Infrastructure Development Fund (PAIDF) and also owns London based asset manager Frontier Markets Fund Manager Limited (FMFML). FMFML has USD1.1bn asset under management and manages two funds: The Emerging Africa Infrastructure Fund (EAIF); and GuarantCo. The PAIDF US $630m fund is invested in a number of major projects in diversified sectors such as energy, transport and information, communication and telecommunications. http://www.harith.co.za

SOURCE
Harith General Partners (Pty) Ltd

Sustainable Energy for All in Africa: AfDB gathers partners in Tunis to advance Sustainable Energy for All in Africa

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From: News Release – African Press Organization (APO)
PRESS RELEASE

AfDB gathers partners in Tunis to advance Sustainable Energy for All in Africa

Since its launch, more than 80 Governments from around the world have formally engaged with the initiative, with 42 African countries “opted-in”

TUNIS, Tunisia, December 18, 2013/ — The African Development Bank (http://www.afdb.org) as host of the Sustainable Energy for All (SE4ALL) Africa Hub organized a two-day workshop in Tunis with representatives of partner institutions. The workshop was organized in collaboration with the Global Facilitation Team headed by Kandeh Yumkella, the Special Representative of the UN Secretary General on SE4ALL. Since its launch, more than 80 Governments from around the world have formally engaged with the initiative, with 42 African countries “opted-in”.

Logo: http://www.photos.apo-opa.com/plog-content/images/apo/logos/african-development-bank-2.png

The workshop was attended by the SE4All Africa Hub partners: the African Union Commission (AUC), the NEPAD Planning and Coordination Agency, and the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP), as well as by representatives of the European Commission, World Bank, European Investment Bank (EIB), United Nations Environment Program (UNEP), UN Foundation, Kreditanstalt fuer Wiederaufbau (KfW), the UK’s Department for International Development (DFID), Eskom, the ECOWAS Center for Renewable Energy and Energy Efficiency (ECREEE), the Ghana Energy Commission, amongst others. The workshop was successful in agreeing on a common framework and methodology to move SE4ALL forward at country-level, notably the development of SE4ALL Action Agendas and Investment Prospectuses that will provide a tool for mobilizing public and, in particular, private sector investments in the energy sector. The workshop participants also agreed on a tentative list of around 10 African countries on which efforts will focus in 2014.

During the workshop, Kandeh Yumkella met with AfDB President Donald Kaberuka, who is also an SE4ALL Advisory Board Member, and praised the work of the Bank as host of the SE4All Africa Hub. Donald Kaberuka said that the Bank considers it critical for the success of SE4ALL to be able to relatively quickly demonstrate concrete progress at the country level. The Bank will support a number of African countries with developing SE4ALL Action Agendas. In addition, the Bank stands ready to mobilize its full range of financing instruments to advance the SE4ALL agenda and to leverage additional investments notably from the private sector.

This workshop followed the 2nd Advisory Board meeting of the Sustainable Energy for All (SE4ALL) Initiative held in New York on November 26-27, 2013. It demonstrated both the momentum of the initiative and the opportunities that the initiative presents for Africa.

About SE4All Africa Hub: The UN Secretary General’s Sustainable Energy for All (SE4ALL) initiative was launched in September 2011 with the aim of achieving three main goals by 2030: (i) ensuring universal access to modern energy services; (ii) doubling the global rate of improvement in energy efficiency; and (iii) doubling the share of renewable energy in the global energy mix. The African Development Bank is at the forefront of the implementation of the SE4ALL Initiative and hosts the SE4ALL Africa Hub since May 2013 in partnership with the African Union Commission and the NEPAD Planning and Coordination Agency and with the support of UNDP. The mission of the SE4ALL Africa Hub is to coordinate and facilitate the implementation of the SE4ALL initiative on the African continent. The Hub will promote African ownership, inclusiveness and a comprehensive approach to the initiative’s implementation.

Distributed by APO (African Press Organization) on behalf of the African Development Bank (AfDB).

Contacts:

Media: Penelope Pontet de Fouquieres, Knowledge Management and Communications, T. +216 71 10 19 96 / C. +216 24 66 36 96 / p.pontetdefouquieres@afdb.org

Technical contact: Daniel-Alexander Schroth, SE4All Africa Hub coordinator, d.schroth@afdb.org

SOURCE
African Development Bank (AfDB)

USA: Creating Jobs by Investing in Ohio’s Clean Energy Economy

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From: Senator Sherrod Brown

We are a nation of builders and innovators. Harnessing that creative energy, manufacturing created a middle class that strengthened our communities and provided opportunity for countless Americans. Manufacturing helped make the middle class. In fact, manufacturing jobs have a larger multiplier effect than any other industry. For every $1.00 spent in manufacturing, another $1.48 is added to the economy.

Across Ohio, I meet with manufacturers who understand the opportunities that are being created in Ohio’s clean energy economy. Ohio has the fifth-highest number of clean energy jobs in the nation, with more than 29,000 of them in manufacturing.

Ohio’s clean energy economy is also adding jobs at a much faster rate than the state’s overall economy: the Ohio’s clean energy economy increased by 8.5 percent from 2007 to 2010, while Ohio’s economy as a whole lost nearly 350,000 jobs over the same period, a decrease of roughly 6.1 percent.

A recent report revealed that we can create jobs and revitalize our manufacturing base by investing in the clean energy economy and strengthening valuable energy programs, such as renewable energy standards and federal tax credits for wind and solar power. Energy we produce, or save, is energy that we do not have to buy from foreign sources. And our global competitors understand this.

That’s why other nations – including China – are taking big steps in advanced and renewable energy. In fact, China now has the world’s largest renewable energy capacity. Yet with this increased capacity, we are witnessing Chinese efforts to play by their own rules and give their businesses an unfair advantage. We all know that trade with China poses big challenges and opportunities for U.S. producers.

I’ve worked on a bipartisan basis to urge the Obama Administration to take stronger trade enforcement measures, to respond to the challenges of Chinese subsidies. But trade enforcement alone is not enough.

That’s why Senator Blunt and I introduced the bipartisan Revitalize American Manufacturing and Innovation Act of 2013. It would create a Network for Manufacturing Innovation – to position the U.S. as the world’s leader in advanced manufacturing.

We do better when we work together – and a Network for Manufacturing Innovation would establish a public-private partnership giving small businesses, industry leaders, and research institutions the tools they need to compete on a global scale.

These regional, industry-led hubs will leverage local expertise and will hopefully create thousands of high-paying, high-tech manufacturing jobs for next-generation workers.

In August, the first-ever National Additive Manufacturing Innovation Institute (NAMII), now called America Makes, opened in Youngstown, Ohio. This hub is becoming a national model for tying together manufacturing supply chains with product development – something that will benefit all manufacturing sectors.

Our workers have the drive, the creative thinking, and the determination to out-innovate the rest of the world. We just need to make sure they have the tools and resources to do so – and investing in clean energy manufacturing is a step in the right direction.

Sincerely,

Signature

Sherrod Brown
U.S. Senator

Washington, D.C.
713 Hart Senate Building
Washington, DC 20510
p (202) 224-2315
f (202) 228-6321

Columbus
200 N High St.
Room 614
Columbus, OH 43215
p (614) 469-2083
f (614) 469-2171
Toll Free
1-888-896-OHIO (6446)

Kenya: Africa’s biggest wind power project

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From: News Release – African Press Organization (APO)
PRESS RELEASE

First ADF partial risk guarantee approved in Kenya for largest African wind power project

Africa’s biggest wind power project, it involves the development of a 300 MW wind farm comprising 365 wind turbines of 850kW capacity each and a 33kV electrical network

TUNIS, Tunisia, October 3, 2013/ — The Board of the African Development Bank (AfDB) (http://www.afdb.org) approved the Lake Turkana Transmission Line Delay Partial Risk Guarantee for €20 million, the first of the African Development Fund’s Partial Risk Guarantees (ADF PRG). The ADF PRG is a risk mitigation instrument that covers private lenders and investors against the risk of a possible government failure to meet contractual obligations to a project.

Logo: http://www.photos.apo-opa.com/plog-content/images/apo/logos/african-development-bank-2.png

This flagship ADF PRG will support the Lake Turkana Wind Power Project in Kenya. Africa’s biggest wind power project, it involves the development of a 300 MW wind farm comprising 365 wind turbines of 850kW capacity each and a 33kV electrical network. The average electricity production of the project is estimated at 1,440 GWh per year, equivalent to the annual generation capacity of Namibia in 2010, and will be sold to the grid at a price of .0752 €/Kwh.

Under the wind project, the Lake Turkana Transmission Line Delay PRG will be used to alleviate the risk for the construction of a 428-kilometre publicly owned transmission line between Loyangalani and Suswa and associated substations needed to connect the project to the national grid. The PRG will support the Kenyan Government’s on-time delivery of the transmission line and will reduce the risk of it being unable to meet payment obligations. More specifically, the ADF PRG will provide partial risk mitigation to Lake Turkana Wind Power Limited and the providers of debt financing to the project for risks associated with construction delays.

The objective of the Lake Turkana Wind Power Project is to provide clean, reliable, low-cost power and to strengthen Kenya’s national grid by increasing national installed power by approximately 17%. The transmission line will also include a fibre-optic cable that will carry communications data. Over the long term, the project will help decrease the cost of energy to end-users, increase access to energy in rural areas, increase the national electrification rate, reduce CO2 emissions, and decrease fossil fuel dependence.

There is growing demand for electricity in Kenya. In the context of the importance of low-cost generation capacity additions and regional power interconnections for supply security, particularly during periods of severe drought, the Government of Kenya has traditionally relied upon providers of emergency generation capacity, which has the advantage of a rapid installation time, but is very expensive and load shedding frequently occurs.

The AfDB Group provided a €115-million loan to the Lake Turkana project and has led its development since 2009. Speaking after the Board meeting, Kurt Lonsway, Acting Director of the AfDB’s Energy, Environment and Climate Change Department, said, “This ADF PRG will promote foreign direct investment in Kenya and crowd in private financing for power generation. Also, by reducing the risk profile for the sponsors of and lenders to the Lake Turkana project, the PRG will accelerate financial closure and reduce the overall cost of capital to the project.”

Since 2004, the AfDB has made PRGs available to catalyze private investment in middle-income countries. With the introduction of the ADF PRG in 2011, the instrument was made available to ADF low-income countries.

The AfDB’s Energy, Environment and Climate Change Department established in 2012a multi-skilled task force comprising of the Treasury, Legal and Energy, Environment and Climate Change (ONEC) departments to deploy the PRG product and is leading the Bank’s work on the use of PRGs in terms of originating projects and reaching out to co-guarantors. The power sectors of various East African countries, as well as Southern and West African countries, will also benefit from PRGs in the near future.

Distributed by the African Press Organization on behalf of the African Development Bank (AfDB).

Contacts:

Media: Penelope Pontet de Fouquieres, Knowledge Management and Communications, T. +216 71 10 19 96 / C. +216 24 66 36 96 / p.pontetdefouquieres@afdb.org

Technical contact: Emeka Oragunye, Principal Energy Specialist, T. +216 71 10 26 87 / g.oragunye@afdb.org

About the African Development Bank Group

The African Development Bank Group (AfDB) (http://www.afdb.org) is Africa’s premier development finance institution. It comprises three distinct entities: the African Development Bank (AfDB), the African Development Fund (ADF) and the Nigeria Trust Fund (NTF). On the ground in 34 African countries with an external office in Japan, the AfDB contributes to the economic development and the social progress of its 54 regional member states.

For more information: j.mp/AFDB_Media

SOURCE

African Development Bank (AfDB)

Kenya: Convert Waste to Energy

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From: Maurice Oduor

I made this proposal to Nairobi and the Ministry of Energy in 1996. But back then, no one cared to follow up on this because there was no money to coming from anywhere for them to steal !!!!

In fact my plan also included using the Sewage to make Natural Gas for cooking and for Power Generation.

http://www.standardmedia.co.ke/?articleID=2000094359&story_title=nairobi-in-sh28b-plan-to-convert-waste-to-energy

http://www.standardmedia.co.ke/?searchtext=Nairobi&searchbutton=SEARCH

Nairobi in Sh28b plan to convert waste to energy
Updated Thursday, September 26th 2013 at 22:20 GMT +3

By RAWLINGS OTIENO

A Sh28 billion Waste to Energy solutions initiative will see Nairobi city residents have a cleaner environment.

The Waste to Energy solutions will generate at least 70 mega Watts per hour of electricity to the national grid and address the perennial black out menace in the city.

Sustainable Energy Management (SEM), a German company will turn solid waste, organic and inorganic, recyclable and non-recyclable material into energy and at the same time make the city clean.

Nairobi Governor Evans Kidero said that the modular plant by SEM is designed to take daily input of approximately 1,000 tons of waste of all kinds generated by Nairobi residents.

This project he said will make the city clean and get rid of the waste as well as create job opportunities for the youth.

“The project shall provide employment of 1,000 inhabitants in the first project and 250 employees directly on site in the second phase of the project. “We want to make sure that the city is clean and the Dandora dump site is cleaned,” said Kidero.

Memorandum of Understanding

Speaking during the signing of the Memorandum of Understanding between the County Government and the German business moguls yesterday, Kidero said the two waste collection and management projects are designed to interact closely together in order to streamline waste logistics and also ensure reliability of the feedback to the SEM plant.

Delegation of German Industry and Commerce in Kenya Country Director Ingo Badoreck on his part said the SEM plant would emit very minimal pollution into the environment and at the same time making the city clean of waste.

Badoreck noted that the German business community would continue investing in other areas apart from sustainable energy management.

“We are pleased to sign this Memorandum of Understanding and hope that after the final signing, we will be able to set up the plant within 24 months to make the city of Nairobi clean,” said Badoreck.

He disclosed that there are over 50 German companies in the country employing over 3,500 workers and hope the figure would increase significantly once the plant is set up.

The integrated project offers opportunities and benefits to Nairobi and shall ensure a clean environment, provide clean energy and create employment opportunities for unemployed youths.

Garbage management is a major challenge in urban centres with garbage collection and handling demanding extra resources as well as community contribution.

What are biofuels? What’s the problem with them?

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From: Yona Maro

Our limited resources – land and water – are being used to make biofuels for our petrol tanks when they should be used to grow much needed food in a world where one in eight people go to bed hungry every day. As wealthy countries demand ever more food for fuel, food prices soar and millions go hungry, while a global land rush means farmers are often forced off their fields in brutal land grabs to make way for more biofuels, destroying livelihoods and exacerbating poverty and hunger even further.

Oxfam is calling on governments to scrap the rules and laws that divert food from those who need it the most and put it in fuel tanks. The full impact of biofuels on both people and the planet, including food price increases, land grabs, and indirect land use change, must be accounted for. Far more climate friendly and cost effective strategies to reduce emissions from transport exist, such as setting higher efficiency standards for cars, and creating better transport systems.

Now in Europe, there is an excellent opportunity to make things right as our leaders will decide on reform of EU biofuels policy in the coming months. They must listen.

Link:
http://www.oxfam.org/en/grow/campaigns/what-are-biofuels

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Renewables 2013: Global Status Report

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From: Yona Maro

Access to modern energy enables people to live better lives- providing clean heat for cooking, lighting for streets and homes, cooling and refrigeration, water pumping, as well as basic processing and communications. Yet over 1 billion people still lack access to modern energy services.

As a result of the UN Secretary General’s Sustainable Energy for All Initiative and the upcoming Decade of Sustainable Energy for All, achieving universal energy access has risen to the top of the international agenda. However, given that the world recently passed 400 parts per million of atmospheric CO2- potentially enough to trigger a warming of 2 degrees Celsius compared with pre-industrial levels – meeting growing energy needs in a climate-constrained world requires a fundamental shift in how those energy services are delivered. Renewable energy, coupled with energy efficiency measures, is central to achieving this objective.

Renewables already play a major role in the energy mix in many countries around the world. In 2012, prices for renewable energy technologies, primarily wind and solar, continued to fall, making renewables increasingly mainstream and competitive with conventional energy sources. In the absence of a level playing field, however, high penetration of renewables is still dependent on a robust policy environment.

Global investment in renewable energy decreased in 2012, but investment expanded significantly in developing countries. Global investment decreased in response to economic and policy-related uncertainties in some traditional markets, as well as to falling technology costs, which had a positive effect on capacity installations. Renewable energy is spreading to new regions and countries and becoming increasingly affordable in developing and developed countries alike.

At the same time, falling prices, combined with declining policy support in established markets, the international financial crisis, and ongoing tensions in international trade, have challenged some renewable energy industries. Subsidies to fossil fuels, which are far higher than those for renewables, remain in place and need to be phased out as quickly as possible. The emergence of shale gas brings a new dynamic to the energy market, and it remains to be seen how it will affect renewable energy deployment globally.
Link:
http://www.ren21.net/Portals/0/documents/Resources/GSR/2013/http://www.ren21.net/Portals/0/documents/Resources/GSR/2013/GSR2013_lowres.pdf_lowres.pdf

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Making a Difference Through Geothermal Energy

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From: Yona Maro

In this International Year of Sustainable Energy for All, it is important to recognize that energy is a prime driver of economic development, and access to energy has direct positive impacts on the attainment of the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs). Inadequate access reduces societies’ opportunities for meeting the basic needs provided by energy services and opportunities for gainful employment.

Link: http://unu.edu/publications/articles/making-a-difference-through-geothermal-energy-2.html

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Alternatives to Biofuels

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From: Yona Maro

The UK could meet its 10% transport obligations under the EU Renewable Energy Directive (RED) without the use of current land?based biofuels, or indeed any land?based crops or trees. This is partly due to new proposals for the RED that would incentivise the use of sustainable advanced generation biofuels from wastes and residues, the use of other ‘genuine wastes’ that would otherwise be disposed of, and electric vehicles from renewable sources. As ActionAid will show below, the UK government could still fill the 10% without land?based biofuels and thereby avoid all the social and negative impacts associated with biofuels.

Link: http://www.actionaid.org.uk/doc_lib/alternatives_to_biofuels_-_7th_october.pdf

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‘Incinerators are junk and they kill’ – air pollution expert claims

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From: Maurice Oduor

OTO,

Modern incineration technology incorporates top-of-the-line scrubbers that take out all hazardous emmissions from the smokestream. The incinerators that this Dr Steen is talking about are probably using technology from the 60s.

Courage

– – – – – – – – – –

On 9/22/12, odhiambo okecth wrote:

EMISSIONS from waste incinerators are to blame for child deaths, birth defects, increased cancer rates and heart attacks, according to an air pollution expert who spoke at Hardwicke Village Hall on Wednesday, September 5.

Retired GP Dr Dick van Steenis, who has spent 17 years working in toxicology, urged residents to ‘rise up’ and oppose plans for a £500 million incinerator at Javelin Park, near Haresfield.

He said lax regulations in the UK meant populations living downwind of the facilities were being exposed to hazardous levels of PM1 and PM2.5 particles, which he claims are responsible for causing premature infant deaths as well as a host of other illnesses and diseases.

Dr van Steenis, who in the past has given evidence to a House of Commons select committee on air quality, said incinerator operators are putting ‘company profits before public health’ because they are burning waste at temperatures which are too low to fully break down refuse.

Alternative waste disposal technologies, like plasma arc gasification, treat waste at higher temperatures and are cheaper and cleaner, Dr van Steenis said.

“It is now up to the people to rise up and say enough is enough. We do not want any extra deaths. These incinerators are junk and they kill,” he said.

incinerator waste

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Dr van Steenis was invited to talk by parish councillors from Hardwicke and Quedgeley who are opposed to the incinerator.

Ian Butler, chairman of Hardwicke Parish Council, said he felt it was important that residents were given the opportunity to hear an alternative viewpoint on the issue.

The Health Protection Agency announced in January that it had commissioned a major new study to look at the potential threat incinerators posed to public health.

Preliminary results from that study are not due back until 2014 however – a year after building work is scheduled to start on the Javelin Park incinerator.

Cllr Stan Waddington, GCC cabinet champion for waste, said: “The Health Protection Agency’s position on energy from waste facilities is clear.

“Well run and regulated modern municipal waste incinerators are not a significant risk to public health. Energy from waste is a tried and tested technology and there are currently more than 350 operating throughout Europe.”

Javier Peiro, project director for Urbaser Balfour Beatty – the company hoping to build the plant – said: “We were disappointed that no representative was invited from UBB to provide a balanced discussion of the topics at the recent meeting.

“Dr van Steenis has raised his concerns at a number of public inquiries in the country where his evidence on health effects and alternative technologies has been considered but not accepted.

“All thermal treatment facilities, including energy from waste and gasification plants preferred by van Steenis, must comply with the same stringent emissions limits.

“Had we have been invited to Dr van Steenis’ presentation we would have been able to provide the alternative perspective on energy from waste, which is based on credible evidence rather than scare mongering.”

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Promoting Renewable Energies and Green Economies in Developing Countries

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From: Yona Maro

This report is intended as a resource for policy makers in developing countries to make informed policy decisions about the whether,when and how of Feed-in Tariffs (FIT) and to support nationally appropriate policy measures to scale up renewable energy. The report is also intended to improve the understanding of the potential benefits and challenges for developing countries to design FITs as well as the factors influencing their success, more in depth from the policy and legal foci, whilst also analyzing the funding and capacity implications. Throughout the report, FITs are construed as interacting with national energy and non-energy policies in a dynamic manner.
http://www.unep.org/pdf/UNEP_FIT_Report_2012F.pdf

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Renewable energy: coming of age

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From: Yona Maro

This second issue of ‘IEAenergy: The Journal of the International Energy Agency’ features articles on the need for the IEA to share its best practices with the climate change community and Denmark’s perspective on energu and climate policy. It also includes as article titled, ‘Fulfill the COP Accords, Turn to the Experts’ by Richard Baron, Head of the International Energy Agency’s (IEA) Climate Change Unit, and another titled, ‘Fossil Fuel Independence: Denmark’s Path’ which highlights Danish Prime Minister Helle Thorning-Schmidt’s reaffirmation of her country’s committment to “ensure” green research and green jobs. Finally, the journal contain articles on IEA’s new partnership with the International Renewable Energy Agency (IRENA), an outlook for Africa.

http://www.iea.org/IEAEnergy/IEAEnergy_Issue2.pdf

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Technology Transfer and Innovation

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From: Yona Maro

As the world gears up for the Rio+20 Conference, the vital role of innovation and technology transfer in addressing the most pressing sustainable development challenges of recent years must be widely recognized.

In that regard, this information note highlights the most salient proposals for action on technology transfer and innovation in country submissions to the Rio+20 process. Identifying key priority areas in proposals – namely mechanisms, innovation, enabling environments, capacity building, intellectual property and financing – could potentially contribute towards a tangible outcome at Rio.

http://ictsd.org/downloads/2012/04/technology-transfer-and-innovation-key-country-priorities-for-rio-20.pdf

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