GineersNow Engineering News Magazine Issue 4.0
GineersNow Engineering Magazine June 2016 Issue No. 004 Man on a Mission featuring Elon Musk: The Real Iron Man of Renewable Energy. Exclusive interviews: CEBC, EESI, EKOenergy, Euro Solar, First Solar, GWEC, ISES, MESIA, mocroSolar, REN21, Renewables 100, SVEBIO, Women's Engineering Society, World Bioenergy Association, WWEA. Special feature stories: Renewables, solar, wind energy, tidal energy, electrical, green energy, mechanical, environmental, clean energy, recycling, circular economy, upclycling, power generation, utilities and social good. Country Focus: United States, United Arab Emirates, Saudi Arabia, Kuwait, Qatar, Bahrain, Oman, India, Philippines, Australia, Malaysia, Singapore, China, Hong Kong, Thailand, Indonesia. https://www.gineersnow.com/topics/magazines
GineersNow Engineering Magazine June 2016 Issue No. 004
Man on a Mission featuring Elon Musk: The Real Iron Man of Renewable Energy.
Exclusive interviews: CEBC, EESI, EKOenergy, Euro Solar, First Solar, GWEC, ISES, MESIA, mocroSolar, REN21, Renewables 100, SVEBIO, Women's Engineering Society, World Bioenergy Association, WWEA.
Special feature stories: Renewables, solar, wind energy, tidal energy, electrical, green energy, mechanical, environmental, clean energy, recycling, circular economy, upclycling, power generation, utilities and social good.
Country Focus: United States, United Arab Emirates, Saudi Arabia, Kuwait, Qatar, Bahrain, Oman, India, Philippines, Australia, Malaysia, Singapore, China, Hong Kong, Thailand, Indonesia.
https://www.gineersnow.com/topics/magazines
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1<br />
WORLD’S FIRST ENGINEERING NEWS<br />
FOR YOUNG BADASS ENGINEERS<br />
JUNE 2016 ISSUE NO. 004<br />
MAN ON<br />
A MISSION<br />
ELON MUSK:<br />
THE REAL IRON MAN OF<br />
RENEWABLE ENERGY<br />
CEBC<br />
EESI<br />
EKOenergy<br />
Euro Solar<br />
First Solar<br />
EXCLUSIVE INTERVIEWS<br />
GWEC<br />
ISES<br />
MESIA<br />
microSolar<br />
REN21<br />
Renewables 100<br />
SVEBIO<br />
Women’s <strong>Engineering</strong> Society<br />
World Bioenergy Association<br />
WWEA<br />
ISSUE NO.004 RENEWABLE ENERGY
2 ISSUE NO.004 RENEWABLE ENERGY
3<br />
John Vauden<br />
Senior Editor<br />
Asia-Pacific<br />
Hina Sapra<br />
Senior Editor<br />
South Asia<br />
Therese Matheren<br />
Senior Editor<br />
North America<br />
GINEERSNOW TEAM<br />
Ems Bagatsing<br />
Sales & Marketing Director<br />
Ems@LincolnMartin.com<br />
Robert Bagatsing<br />
Editor-In-Chief<br />
editor@<strong>GineersNow</strong>.com<br />
Engr. Alice Hernandez<br />
Senior Editor-At-Large<br />
Charity Bagatsing<br />
Senior Editor<br />
North America<br />
Engr. Dion Greg Reyes<br />
Junior Editor<br />
Creative & Layout<br />
Engr. Cielo Panda<br />
Junior Editor<br />
Raymond Gerard del Valle<br />
Junior Editor<br />
Abhishek Tarafder<br />
Matrix Media<br />
Information Technology<br />
Jaycee Urriquia<br />
Video Editor<br />
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ISSUE NO.004 RENEWABLE ENERGY
4 ISSUE NO.004 RENEWABLE ENERGY<br />
Editor's<br />
Note<br />
We are on a mission. Time is running<br />
out and the earth is in danger.<br />
Who do we call to save the day? Of<br />
course, the everyday heroes we love<br />
to call “the engineers”! With climate<br />
change and pol-lution posing as<br />
dangerous threats to our existence,<br />
it is our role as engineers to make<br />
a change!<br />
Coal and fossil fuels power our<br />
homes and our offices. However,<br />
both resources play a crucial role<br />
in contributing to global warming.<br />
But recent innovations and developments<br />
from engineers have changed<br />
the game in the energy sector. What<br />
was once impossible for most of us<br />
is now becoming a part of society’s<br />
reality. I’m talking about sustainable<br />
clean energy, which includes solar,<br />
wind, rain, waves and geothermal<br />
heat. This recent advantageous development<br />
is good for us since it not<br />
only provides us a cheaper alternative<br />
to non-renewable energy, it also<br />
helps us save the planet from imminent<br />
destruction.<br />
In the fourth issue of <strong>GineersNow</strong>,<br />
we offer you a variety of stories and<br />
interviews that focus on renewable<br />
energy. We want every engineer<br />
who comes across this special issue<br />
to feel inspired and take action in<br />
making a difference in our society.<br />
We’ve conducted interviews from<br />
different organizations all over the<br />
world, with each organization leaving<br />
a message on how you can be<br />
part of the “clean energy” movement.<br />
Find out what engineers are<br />
doing to support renewable energy<br />
in Europe, Asia and North America.<br />
All the featured stories will leave<br />
you hopeful for a future where renewable<br />
energy can power all of our<br />
homes, industries and offices.<br />
Through engineering, each company<br />
should aspire for a positive environmental<br />
impact. Every de-cision<br />
to produce, to develop and to innovate<br />
must be based on how we can<br />
improve humanity without sacrificing<br />
nature. Let us urge governments<br />
and industries to aim for a circular<br />
economy. Every country must adjust<br />
to a way of life that involves no<br />
waste at all. We are inviting young<br />
engi-neers to join this growing<br />
movement. If you don’t have a clue<br />
how to start, be inspired by the various<br />
orgs featured in this month’s<br />
issue. Who knows, you might be a<br />
part of them one day.<br />
The <strong>GineersNow</strong> team believes that<br />
each engineer can create, develop<br />
and innovate things that support renewable<br />
energy. Let’s show the rest<br />
of the world that a world powered<br />
only by sustainable clean energy is<br />
affordable and definitely possible.<br />
It’s within our reach. We are on a<br />
mission to save the planet. Join us.<br />
Let’s be part of the “clean energy”<br />
movement. Change is coming.<br />
Engr. Alice Hernandez<br />
Senior Editor-at-Large
5<br />
CONTENTS<br />
PAGE<br />
TITLE<br />
PAGE<br />
TITLE<br />
08<br />
2016 NEW ENERGY<br />
PIONEERS<br />
86<br />
ISES: STRIVING FOR<br />
TRANSFORMATION TO A<br />
100% RENEWABLE ENERGY<br />
FUTURE<br />
10<br />
NATIONS LEADING THE SHIFT<br />
TO RENEWABLE ENERGY<br />
90<br />
GOING SOLAR:<br />
MIDDLE EAST NATIONS’<br />
RENEWABLE ENERGY<br />
TRANSITION WITH MESIA<br />
26<br />
IN SEARCH OF AN<br />
ENERGY MIRACLE<br />
94<br />
MICROSOLAR: BRINGING<br />
RENEWABLE ENERGY TO<br />
DEVELOPING COUNTRIES<br />
40<br />
RENEWABLE ENERGY TO<br />
BOOST GLOBAL GDP UP TO<br />
$1.3 TRILLION<br />
100<br />
REN21: DRIVING THE<br />
ENERGY TRANSITION WITH<br />
RENEWABLES<br />
46<br />
COVER STORY<br />
ELON MUSK:<br />
THE REAL IRON MAN OF<br />
RENEWABLE ENERGY<br />
104<br />
RENEWABLES 100:<br />
HELPING THE WORLD TO<br />
TRANSITION TO 100%<br />
RENEWABLE ENERGY<br />
58<br />
CLEAN ENERGY<br />
BUSINESS COUNCIL:<br />
TOWARDS A<br />
GREENER WORLD<br />
110<br />
SWEDISH BIOENERGY<br />
ASSOCIATION: SAVING<br />
HUMANITY THROUGH<br />
SUSTAINABLE BIOENERGY<br />
64<br />
EESI: PROMOTING<br />
CLEAN POWER<br />
THROUGH EDUCATION<br />
114<br />
WBA: MOVING FORWARD IN<br />
PROMOTING SUSTAINABLE<br />
BIOMASS FOR ENERGY<br />
68<br />
EKOENERGY:<br />
REVOLUTIONIZING<br />
SUSTAINABLE<br />
RENEWABLE ENERGY<br />
120<br />
WWEA: AIMING TO ACHIEVE<br />
100% RENEWABLE ENERGY<br />
SUPPLY<br />
72<br />
EUROSOLAR’S QUEST<br />
FOR “ENERGIEWENDE”<br />
136<br />
TOP 10 WIND ENERGY<br />
COMPANIES<br />
76<br />
FIRST SOLAR:<br />
OFFERING PV ENERGY<br />
SOLUTIONS EVERYWHERE<br />
147<br />
CAN ONE TOWER REPLACE A<br />
POWER PLANT?<br />
ENGINEERS SAY YES!<br />
80<br />
CHANGING RENEWABLE<br />
ENERGY PERSPECTIVES<br />
WITH THE GLOBAL<br />
WIND ENERGY COUNCIL<br />
150<br />
JUNE 23 IS<br />
NATIONAL WOMEN IN<br />
ENGINEERING DAY<br />
ISSUE NO.004 RENEWABLE ENERGY
6 ISSUE NO.004 RENEWABLE ENERGY<br />
ENGINEERS<br />
UNITE FOR A<br />
RENEWABLE<br />
ENERGY<br />
REVOLUTION<br />
IT HAS BEEN A MAJOR FACTOR<br />
concerning us for quite some years now as it has<br />
a great impact on our lives, including the way we<br />
live, and how our future might come to be. We<br />
need to take imperative steps to prevent such disastrous<br />
climate change.<br />
The goal might sound simple, but it actually is a<br />
big task that needs to be accomplished soon. Climate<br />
change is not a pollution issue that can be<br />
improved by simply setting random rules. There<br />
needs to be a defined set of laws to govern the<br />
emissions of carbon dioxide (CO2) to date. We<br />
also need transformation in the entire global energy<br />
system, as there is no benefit attached with<br />
the release of greenhouse gases. Developed and<br />
developing nations alike will benefit in numerous<br />
ways from the transition to an energy-efficient<br />
and renewable world.<br />
The renewable energy technologies should be<br />
used to replace the thermal processes (such as<br />
fuel combustion or nuclear power), which in turn<br />
would result in a major reduction in the amount<br />
of primary energy required. There are numerous<br />
renewable technologies that are well-suited for<br />
distributed uses, generating fuel, electricity, and<br />
generating heat. Thereby, reducing the transmis-<br />
sion and transportation losses so that less primary<br />
energy is required to provide the same energy<br />
services.<br />
Through major improvements in energy efficiency,<br />
combined with a rapid scale-up in renewable<br />
energy that rely primarily on technologies<br />
that are already commercially available today,<br />
we could be halfway to an all-renewable world<br />
within the next two decades. Güssing in Austria,<br />
Rizhao in China, the Danish island of Samsø, and<br />
several other communities are already undergoing<br />
revolution to achieve energy transformation,<br />
using combinations of various innovations.<br />
The world can easily undergo the solar energy<br />
transformation since technologies involving the<br />
use of solar energy are now available at reasonable<br />
prices. Yes! These are possible, with the price<br />
of solar photovoltaic panels declining over 99<br />
percent over the last four decades, and the wind<br />
energy generation capacity has grown for more<br />
than 20 percent over the past decade.<br />
Thanks to the increasing prices of the fossil fuels<br />
and rapidly growing safety concerns, the day is<br />
not too far when the world will be a globally renewable<br />
energy user!
7<br />
Photo by Getty Images<br />
HOW TO MAKE THE WORLD<br />
SHIFT TO CLEAN ENERGY<br />
Who wants clean energy for everyone? We all do!<br />
Who in their right minds wouldn’t want renewable<br />
energy that’s good for the environment and<br />
cheaper for our consumption?<br />
With climate change taking over our lives, governments<br />
and private companies have invested<br />
billions of dollars in order to shift from fossil<br />
fuels into clean renewable sources of energy.<br />
According to Bloomberg New Energy Finance,<br />
everybody invested a whopping $329 billion last<br />
year. Unfortunately, that amount is not enough<br />
for total clean energy consumption. Ceres, a sustainability<br />
advocacy group, says that the world<br />
needs $1 trillion in new investments every year!<br />
Where in the world can we get $1 trillion? Don’t<br />
forget that’s $1 trillion for new investments. We<br />
also need money to sustain the amount we pay<br />
for shifting our energy from non-renewable to<br />
renewable sources of energy!<br />
One way to get that money is to have institutions<br />
like the World Bank to invest on renewable energy.<br />
While renewable clean energy is supposed to<br />
be cheap, what makes it expensive is the infrastructure<br />
spending. Solar panels and wind mills<br />
are expensive to install but once it’s there, life<br />
should be a breeze (so to speak).<br />
That’s where institutions like the World Bank,<br />
Asian Development Bank and European Bank<br />
for Reconstruction and Development, play a crucial<br />
role in our energy shift. According to representatives<br />
from New Climate Economy:<br />
“Development banks can take on the risks that<br />
no other actors are willing to take. ... For every<br />
$1 [development banks] invest, they can leverage<br />
up to $20 in private finance… The markets are<br />
working. The cost of renewables are dropping.<br />
People are seeing the promise to energy efficiency.”<br />
If governments and major key players in renewable<br />
energy start focusing on implementing<br />
clean energy in our daily lives, it will give us a<br />
huge relief when we see our bills and we get to<br />
save the planet, too!<br />
ISSUE NO.004 RENEWABLE ENERGY
8 ISSUE NO.004 RENEWABLE ENERGY<br />
2016<br />
NEW ENERGY<br />
PIONEERS<br />
Bloomberg<br />
New Energy<br />
Finance gives<br />
new list of 10<br />
companies<br />
who have been<br />
significant in<br />
forwarding the<br />
energy sector.<br />
Being the potential frontrunners<br />
in revolutionized<br />
the energy sector, 10<br />
companies were selected<br />
by the Bloomberg New<br />
Energy Finance (BNEF)<br />
to be part of this year’s<br />
New Energy Pioneers.<br />
They were recognized at<br />
the ninth annual BNEF<br />
Summit in New York<br />
City.<br />
The listed 10 out of the<br />
many applicants from<br />
around the world were<br />
assessed based on their<br />
potential scale, innovation<br />
and momentum by<br />
an independent panel of<br />
industry experts with the<br />
help of BNEF’s analysts<br />
and technology experts.<br />
“This year, we were impressed<br />
by the very strong<br />
set of candidates we received<br />
for the New Energy<br />
Pioneers program,<br />
and the range of activities<br />
that they cover – includ-<br />
ing solar, wind, storage,<br />
transport, bioenergy, energy<br />
smart technologies<br />
and machine learning,”<br />
said Michael Wilshire, the<br />
selection committee chair<br />
and head of analysis and<br />
transformation at BNEF.<br />
He followed, “We were<br />
delighted to see the<br />
breadth of innovation<br />
that is happening in the<br />
industry and struck by<br />
the impact that those organizations<br />
could have on<br />
the energy system of the<br />
future. We are as always<br />
very grateful to our group<br />
of external judges on the<br />
selection committee who<br />
had the challenging task<br />
of narrowing the field of<br />
entries to a final set of 10<br />
winners.”<br />
Here are the 2016 New<br />
Energy Pioneers, as described<br />
by Renewable Energy<br />
Focus.<br />
Newlight Technologies<br />
(USA) uses<br />
carbon capture<br />
technology to convert<br />
greenhouse gas<br />
emissions into Air-<br />
Carbon, a high-performance<br />
material<br />
that replaces a wide<br />
range of oil-based<br />
plastics by out-competing<br />
on price and<br />
performance.<br />
SolarKiosk (Germany)<br />
offers modular<br />
off-grid solar<br />
powered business<br />
centers, enabling<br />
last-mile distribution<br />
of products and<br />
services to untapped<br />
markets in<br />
remote rural areas<br />
worldwide.
9<br />
Sentient Science<br />
(USA) predicts<br />
failures in wind<br />
components before<br />
they happen, using<br />
materials science<br />
and high performance<br />
computing<br />
to determine the<br />
earliest point in<br />
time when cracks<br />
initiate and grow<br />
within rotating metal<br />
components.<br />
Mobisol (Germany),<br />
since 2012, has<br />
equipped more than<br />
40,000 rural homes<br />
and businesses with<br />
solar home systems<br />
in Tanzania and<br />
Rwanda – making<br />
it one of Africa’s<br />
largest and fastest<br />
growing providers<br />
of off-grid solar systems<br />
to homes and<br />
businesses.<br />
24M (USA) addresses<br />
the world’s<br />
need for affordable<br />
energy storage with<br />
a new, more cost-effective<br />
approach<br />
– semi-solid lithium-ion<br />
technology.<br />
Verdezyne (USA) is<br />
a bio-based chemicals<br />
company, with<br />
a synthetic biology<br />
platform that<br />
produces a variety<br />
of chemicals from<br />
renewable, nonfood<br />
sources.<br />
Vigilent (USA) is pioneering<br />
the use of<br />
internet-of-things,<br />
machine learning,<br />
and predictive<br />
analytics to deliver<br />
dynamic cooling<br />
management in<br />
mission critical<br />
environments such<br />
as data centres.<br />
FirstFuel (USA)<br />
offers advanced data<br />
analytics and insights<br />
that help improve<br />
and optimize<br />
energy consumption<br />
in buildings.<br />
Emergya Wind<br />
Technologies (The<br />
Netherlands) is revolutionising<br />
wind<br />
energy by providing<br />
localised, distributed<br />
energy, at below<br />
grid power pricing,<br />
to a wide variety of<br />
customer segments.<br />
AutoGrid Systems<br />
(USA) is a leading<br />
provider of intelligent<br />
and scalable<br />
software-as-a-service<br />
solutions that<br />
optimize supply and<br />
demand flexibility<br />
across a diverse<br />
portfolio of distributed<br />
energy resources.<br />
The listed 10<br />
out of the many<br />
applicants from<br />
around the<br />
world were<br />
assessed based<br />
on their<br />
potential scale,<br />
innovation and<br />
momentum by<br />
an independent<br />
panel of<br />
industry<br />
experts with the<br />
help of BNEF’s<br />
analysts and<br />
technology<br />
experts.<br />
ISSUE NO.004 RENEWABLE ENERGY
10 ISSUE NO.004 RENEWABLE ENERGY<br />
NATIONS<br />
LEADING<br />
THE SHIFT TO<br />
RENEWABLE<br />
ENERGY<br />
Among the many countries<br />
forwarding the use of renewable<br />
energy, eleven lead the world<br />
when it comes to wind, solar, and<br />
geothermal power generation<br />
and consumption. These eleven<br />
nations are included in the almost<br />
200 countries which signed the<br />
Paris Agreement on December,<br />
committing their country to decrease<br />
greenhouse gas emissions.<br />
Perhaps there may be more innovations<br />
when it comes to alternative<br />
energy, but existing devices<br />
and systems like solar panels and<br />
wind turbines are sufficient to be<br />
used – it only takes initiative from<br />
the countries to use and apply<br />
them for their own good. The best<br />
way to do that is to follow the<br />
leaders: the said eleven nations<br />
who have already made significant<br />
shift to renewable energy.<br />
If there’s anything common<br />
between these eleven countries<br />
when it comes to renewable<br />
energy, it would be investments<br />
coming in from different sectors.<br />
Growth comes fast when there is<br />
enough support from the government,<br />
no matter which renewable<br />
energy source the nation uses.<br />
But one thing is for sure though:<br />
renewable energy is the future;<br />
and the time to make the shift to<br />
renewables and follow the leaders<br />
is now.
11<br />
SWEDEN<br />
There is no stopping Sweden to commit to<br />
the ambitious goal of going 100% fossil fuel-free,<br />
because in 2015, they have already<br />
pushed investments on solar, wind, energy<br />
storage, smart grids and clean transport;<br />
and even finding the competition to<br />
do just the same.<br />
Photo by Inhabitat<br />
NICARAGUA<br />
It was in 2007 that Nicaragua, through<br />
their then-president, pushed renewable<br />
energy through investments. In 2012,<br />
they already achieved the fifth-highest<br />
percentage worldwide of its GDP in developing<br />
renewable energy. Until June 2015,<br />
Nicaragua already produced 54% of their<br />
electricity through renewables. The goal<br />
in 2020 is to become 90% dependent on<br />
renewable energy.<br />
Photo by Getty<br />
SCOTLAND<br />
Wind turbines works best in Scotland, as<br />
wind power already produced an equivalent<br />
of 97% of Scotland’s household electricity<br />
needs in 2015.<br />
Photo by PV <strong>Magazine</strong><br />
ISSUE NO.004 RENEWABLE ENERGY
12 ISSUE NO.004 RENEWABLE ENERGY<br />
COSTA RICA<br />
While other countries are yet to maximize<br />
their renewable energy, Costa Rica already<br />
has 99% of their electricity in 2015<br />
coming from renewables alone. Their<br />
unique geography is to thank for, that they<br />
have committed the whole country to use<br />
hydroelectric, geothermal, solar, wind,<br />
and other low-carbon sources. This small<br />
country also has an aim to be carbon-neutral<br />
by 2021.<br />
Photo by Renew Economy<br />
GERMANY<br />
There was a time when Germany had even<br />
to pay people to use electricity for several<br />
hours because they have too much energy<br />
from renewables. But apart from that<br />
feat, Germany, through their solar power,<br />
has been able to meet up to 78% of a day’s<br />
electricity demand.<br />
Photo by Rex Features
13<br />
URUGUAY<br />
It took less than 10 years for Uruguay to<br />
be 95% dependent with renewable energy.<br />
Their investments in wind and solar<br />
is highly remarkable, considering there is<br />
zero subsidies or increases in consumer<br />
costs. Their government is also committed<br />
to it with their supportive regulatory<br />
environment and strong partnership with<br />
the private sector.<br />
Photo by Reuters<br />
CHINA<br />
Despite being the world’s largest carbon<br />
emitter, China was able to commit in installing<br />
wind energy in 2014, the most in<br />
the world. In the same year, they also had<br />
the second highest installed solar PV capacity.<br />
China is slowly phasing out their<br />
coal.<br />
Photo by Business Insider<br />
ISSUE NO.004 RENEWABLE ENERGY
14 ISSUE NO.004 RENEWABLE ENERGY<br />
MOROCCO<br />
When Morocco realized that there is so<br />
much potential in solar energy, they just<br />
went for it and have gone big – they have<br />
the largest concentrated solar plant in the<br />
world which first phase opened this year.<br />
This is in support with the existing win<br />
and hydro plants, which will propel them<br />
to 50% reliance to renewables by 2020.<br />
Photo by Ecomena<br />
DENMARK<br />
Considered to be a global leader in wind<br />
energy generation, Denmark depended<br />
42% of its electricity in 2015 – even with<br />
two wind farms offline. That enabled them<br />
to hold the world record for the highest<br />
percent of wind power ever achieved. But<br />
it doesn’t stop there, as Denmark has a<br />
2050 vision of being 100% free from fossil<br />
fuels.<br />
Photo by Ministry of<br />
Foreign Affairs Denmark
15<br />
KENYA<br />
Kenya has ramped up their geothermal<br />
energy dependence from 13% of Kenya’s<br />
total electricity use in 2010, to 51% in<br />
2015. Kenya also holds a bright future on<br />
wind energy by putting up Africa’s largest<br />
wind farm, set to provide 310 MW of<br />
power which comprises another 20% of<br />
the country’s installed electricity capacity.<br />
Photo by PV <strong>Magazine</strong><br />
UNITED<br />
STATES OF<br />
AMERICA<br />
Quite a feat in solar power is that of the<br />
United States of America: in 2014, a new<br />
solar energy system is installed every two<br />
minutes and 30 seconds, which earned<br />
them the fifth place on the installed solar<br />
PV capacity worldwide. Not only does the<br />
US specialize in solar, but also wind: they<br />
have the second highest installed wind<br />
energy capacity in the world. But there is<br />
some imbalance between electricity generation<br />
and demand, with only 13 percent<br />
of the country’s electricity in 2014 coming<br />
from renewables.<br />
Photo by Recharge <strong>News</strong><br />
ISSUE NO.004 RENEWABLE ENERGY
16 ISSUE NO.004 RENEWABLE ENERGY<br />
PORTABLE<br />
SOLAR<br />
MOBILE<br />
CHARGERS<br />
Mobile phones low in charge can die instantly.<br />
And definitely, the worst situations<br />
could be anywhere that has no power<br />
source to plug our chargers. To avoid such<br />
situations, you ensure that your phone is<br />
completely charged before leaving from<br />
any premises so that you don’t have to<br />
spend even a second without them. Even<br />
then, it is tricky to keep the battery going<br />
with all those complimentary apps in your<br />
mobile phone. Your apps are constantly<br />
working and updating themselves, sucking<br />
up your data and battery’s life. But<br />
what would you do when your phone gets<br />
discharged halfway and you don’t have an<br />
electric charging point? You feel helpless,<br />
but not anymore! XD Design has come up<br />
with a powerful solution.<br />
Solar-powered phone chargers have been<br />
launched in the market to make your life<br />
simple and easy. Small and compact in<br />
size, these chargers are aesthetically appealing.<br />
They are simple and easy to keep<br />
in your purse or glove compartment and<br />
are also quite convenient with their handy<br />
suction cup.<br />
It can be used anywhere either you’re at<br />
home, on travel, in the car or train. The<br />
Window solar charger has a 1.400 mAH<br />
built in battery which can charge your<br />
smartphone up to 60%. It is very simple to<br />
use as you can easily stick it to your window<br />
and start capturing the sun energy.<br />
Available with a USB output, the charger<br />
can easily be connected with any phone<br />
cable.<br />
The complete charging time takes up to<br />
13 hours. Charging by this solar powered<br />
mini USB cable reduces the time-taken to<br />
approximately 3 hours. A red light indicates<br />
that it is still charging. Once the battery<br />
is full, a green light pops up on your<br />
phone.<br />
The technology is advancing and so does<br />
the need to revolutionize our energy resources.<br />
It’s time that you start choosing<br />
solar over the conventional forms of energy!<br />
Photo by XD Design<br />
MEXICAN<br />
RESEARCHER<br />
CREATES<br />
CEMENT<br />
THAT EMITS<br />
LIGHT<br />
Streetlights are the usual lighting system<br />
used to light up roads, streets, highways,<br />
and bicycle lanes. However, there is new<br />
a way to light them up without using electricity.<br />
Ph.D José Carlos Rubio from Michoacan’s<br />
University of San Nicolas Hidalgo,<br />
UMSNH in Spanish, was able to create<br />
a light-emitting cement that can last up to<br />
100 years.<br />
According to Dr. Rubio, “Nine years ago,<br />
when I started the project, I realized there<br />
was nothing similar worldwide, and so I<br />
started to work on it. The main issue was<br />
EXTREMELY<br />
LIGHTWEIGHT<br />
SOLAR CELLS<br />
THAT DON’T POP<br />
A BUBBLE<br />
As renewables and the Internet of Things<br />
have become the mainstream, the renewable<br />
energy revolution is on its way according<br />
to a new study at Massachusetts<br />
Institute of Technology.<br />
It seems like a move to entirely renewable<br />
energy within 20 years is really possible.<br />
According to the study of Professor Vladimir<br />
Bulovic Wang and doctoral student<br />
Joel Jean published at the Organic Electronics,<br />
scientist can build light weight yet<br />
efficient solar cells. It has been said to be<br />
of a great magnitude thinner and lighter<br />
as described by Max Shtein of University<br />
of Michigan. It has tremendous implications<br />
for maximizing power-to-weight.<br />
Bulovic told the publication that the key<br />
to this new concept is making three in<br />
once process which includes the cell, the<br />
substrate and the protective coating. The<br />
substrate should not be cleaned or be removed<br />
from vacuum during fabrication<br />
process to minimize dust exposure that<br />
can degrade over all solar cell performance.<br />
Materials were also meticulously chosen<br />
and tested for production process especially<br />
in the in-line substrate, they also<br />
that cement is an opaque body that doesn’t<br />
allow the pass of light to its interior.”<br />
He said that common cement is a dust<br />
that dissolves when added to water. After<br />
which, it will start to become a gel. At the<br />
same time, some crystal flakes are formed,<br />
these are the unwanted sub-products in<br />
hardened cement. Because of this, the<br />
researcher focuses on modifying the micro-structure<br />
of the cement to eliminate<br />
these crystals and make it pure gel, so it<br />
will be able to absorb solar energy and return<br />
it to the environment as light.<br />
considered thin-fil substrate like perovskites,<br />
quantum dots and other organic<br />
layers. And to demonstrate the lightweight<br />
solar cells, they draped a working<br />
cell on top a soap bubble, without actually<br />
popping it. Wow!<br />
This is definitely revolutionary. Imagine<br />
the convenience and advancement it<br />
could make to all our gadgets and tools if<br />
this is mass produced? We’ll see.<br />
Stay tuned for more renewable tech updates!<br />
Photo by MIT<br />
Photo by Phys.org
17<br />
PURIFYING WATER<br />
THROUGH LEDS<br />
Purifying water has traditionally been<br />
through chemicals. Chemical treatments<br />
dissolve pathogen cells entirely, but certain<br />
downsides like toxicity to aquatic<br />
life and creation of harmful by-products<br />
have been identified. Other solutions were<br />
discovered, and new treatment evolved,<br />
a better option, which is the ultraviolet<br />
(UV) treatment.<br />
But UV treatment also has its issues: conventional<br />
UV lamps usually have 20-200<br />
milligrams of mercury, in liquid form<br />
or in an amalgam, and can break during<br />
transportation, handling, and operation,<br />
which are then prone to risk of exposure.<br />
Now, the concept of using LEDs for water<br />
purification emerged. LEDs are almost<br />
omnipresent in our devices, and are allowing<br />
for longer lives, fast on/off times,<br />
and low power consumption. LEDs have<br />
been revolutionized to reach what we call<br />
as UV-C LEDs, which will help in purifying<br />
our waters.<br />
UV-C LEDs do not use mercury so the<br />
risk of exposure is impossible. UV-C<br />
LEDs also have a start time of a few nanoseconds<br />
and have no on/off limitations,<br />
which allows for instantaneous disinfection<br />
and flexible running times, in comparison<br />
with conventional laps which<br />
takes 5-10 minutes to warm up to peak<br />
disinfection temperatures. Replacement<br />
intervals are also beneficial with LED<br />
lamps as they can last to over 10 years.<br />
The low energy consumption is also another<br />
plus for UV-C LEDs as it only requires<br />
low voltage DC. Even a small solar<br />
panel or battery can perform the disinfection.<br />
Applications of this water purification<br />
technology will help remote communities<br />
to purify water with solar power options.<br />
The effect of UV-C LEDs reaches those<br />
who have a problem with clean water.<br />
This technology is already on the works<br />
through the BIOWYSE Project, who is<br />
currently working on a device that will<br />
use this technology in water disinfection<br />
in the International Space Station.<br />
Photo by Hospitality Net<br />
FUEL CELLS<br />
CAN NOW BE<br />
POWERED BY<br />
WASTEWATER<br />
According to two Virginia Tech researchers,<br />
they have found a way to<br />
maximize the amount of electricity<br />
that could be generated from wastewater.<br />
According to two Virginia Tech researchers,<br />
they have found a way to<br />
maximize the amount of electricity<br />
that could be generated from wastewater.<br />
In an article that was published<br />
in Scientific Reports, Xueyang Feng<br />
and Jason He traced bacteria that let<br />
them to discover that the two specific<br />
substrates could produce more energy<br />
than either of them did separately.<br />
The researchers said that this could<br />
help in the development of a new<br />
treatment system called a microbial<br />
fuel cell.<br />
Mr. Feng, an assistant professor of<br />
biological systems engineering said<br />
“Tracing the bacteria gave us a major<br />
piece of the puzzle to start generating<br />
electricity in a sustainable way. This<br />
is a step toward the growing trend to<br />
make wastewater treatment centers<br />
self-sustaining in the energy they use.”<br />
The researchers found out that when<br />
lactate and formate—the two substrates—combine,<br />
the energy output<br />
is far greater that when they work individually.<br />
They work in tandem with<br />
receptors in fuel cells.<br />
E-WAYS:<br />
CHARGING<br />
LANES FOR<br />
ELECTRIC<br />
CARS<br />
If you have an electric car, you probably<br />
know how much of a hassle it is to stop<br />
and recharge every hundred miles or so.<br />
That wouldn’t be so much of a problem<br />
anymore once e-ways, or charging lanes<br />
for electric cars, will be implemented<br />
around the world.<br />
All you have to do is to move into the recharging<br />
lane when the electric car runs<br />
low on power. When you are done, you<br />
can move back into the regular highway<br />
lane. That’s how simple this new recharging<br />
system is. You can achieve those long<br />
trips with no stops anymore unless you<br />
are going to take a leak.<br />
E-ways are already operating in a few of<br />
the states in the US like California and<br />
Utah. Pilot applications of E-way projects<br />
are also used for bus or trams routs in<br />
South Korea, Germany, Italy, Netherlands<br />
United States, and England.<br />
Several European countries see how convenient<br />
this technology is which have<br />
been supported through millions of investment<br />
to advance e-ways.<br />
Photo by Stuff NZ<br />
ISSUE NO.004 RENEWABLE ENERGY
18 ISSUE NO.004 RENEWABLE ENERGY<br />
THE BID FOR<br />
SOLAR POWER<br />
PROJECTS IS NOW<br />
AS LOW AS<br />
2.99 CENTS A<br />
KILOWATT-HOUR.<br />
CHEAPEST PRICE BID FOR SOLAR POWER - NOW IN DUBAI<br />
Would you believe that the bid for solar<br />
power projects is now as low as 2.99 cents<br />
a kilowatt-hour? This is happening in the<br />
United Arab Emirates and is considered to<br />
be the lowest price so far. The price is even<br />
lower compared to that of a coal-fired generator.<br />
In a bid to develop 800 megawatts of solar-power<br />
projects for Dubai Electricity<br />
and Water Authority, the 2.99-cents mark<br />
shows that bidders are willing to take a<br />
risk in providing the cheapest solar power.<br />
According to Jenny Chase, head of solar<br />
analysis of Bloomberg New Energy Finance,<br />
“Nobody knows how it’s meant to<br />
work.”<br />
People question whether there is money<br />
in this projects considering the bankruptcy<br />
of SunEdison, Inc, the biggest developer.<br />
Banks are said to doubt whether these<br />
projects can become good investments.<br />
So far, the company offering the lowest<br />
bid for the Dubai Electricity and Water<br />
Authority wasn’t named. However, groups<br />
including Masdar Abu Dhabi Future Energy<br />
Co., Spain’s Fotowatio Renewable<br />
Ventures BV and Saudi Arabia’s Abdul Latif<br />
Jameel were believed to be some of the<br />
bidders for the project.<br />
Mexico was the previous record holder for<br />
the cheapest price for solar power. Now,<br />
the 2.99-cent price is 15 percent lower<br />
than the previous record.<br />
GRID-LINKED<br />
SOLAR<br />
GENERATION<br />
CAPACITY<br />
IN INDIA<br />
EXCEEDS<br />
5,000 MW<br />
MARK<br />
As of January 15, the total grid-connected<br />
solar power generation capacity in India<br />
has grossed to 5,129.81 MW, as reported<br />
by the Ministry of New and Renewable<br />
Energy.<br />
The following are the leading grid-connected<br />
capacity according to state:<br />
Rajasthan – 1,264.35 MW<br />
Gujarat – 1,024.15 MW<br />
Madhya Pradesh – 678.58 MW<br />
Tamil Nadu – 418.94 MW<br />
Maharashtra – 378.7 MW<br />
Andhra Pradesg – 357.34 MW<br />
Telangana – 342.39 MW<br />
Punjab – 200.32 MW<br />
Uttar Pradesg – 140 MW<br />
However, there are states that need to step<br />
up their capacity:<br />
West Bengal – 7.21 MW<br />
Uttarakhand – 5 MW<br />
Haryana – 12.8 MW<br />
Indian government aims to have 175,000<br />
MW of power generation capacity from<br />
renewable sources, including 100,000<br />
MW from solar and 60,000 from wind, by<br />
2022. There is still a long way to go, but<br />
given the circumstances there is a silver<br />
lining.<br />
Under the National Solar Mission, the<br />
government increased the solar power<br />
generation capacity addition target by five<br />
times to 100 GW last year.<br />
Photo by Economic Times
19<br />
SOLAR<br />
ENERGY<br />
FOR LESS<br />
In a world full of blossoming technology,<br />
astonishingly over 1.6 billion people still<br />
lack access to electricity. A new company,<br />
Simpa Networks, has come up with a concept<br />
to address the concern of the Indian<br />
people. Their market of choice is the 400<br />
million homes in India with no access or<br />
limited access to electricity. The technology<br />
is very simple, a 40-watt solar panel<br />
linked to a 26aH battery that can power<br />
2-3 LED lights or charge a mobile phone.<br />
The innovation comes in the form of how<br />
this is marketed to the consumer.<br />
Developing a concept used first by mobile<br />
phone companies called satchel marketing,<br />
Simpa Networks charge the consumer<br />
a small initial fee to acquire and install<br />
their solar kit. The consumer prepays<br />
in 5,10 and 50 rupee increments bought<br />
through their mobile phone. Power is accessed<br />
by code inputted through keypad<br />
on the system. The consumer enters the<br />
code unlocking the system and off they<br />
go. Wait, there’s more! Over a 2 to 3 year<br />
period a portion of each prepayment goes<br />
toward the full cost of the unit. Once this<br />
is paid the unit unlocks permanently and<br />
consumer has free electricity until the unit<br />
lasts (said to be about 10 years).<br />
This brilliant billing system tackles the<br />
huge problem of affordability by pulling<br />
the cost of acquisition and operation of<br />
energy within the cost band of traditional<br />
kerosene lighting or diesel power generation.<br />
Though Simpa is a relatively new<br />
player, I think many will be following the<br />
company as the concept could well be<br />
applied to first world markets too. Possibly<br />
ending the need for a grid in the first<br />
place? Think of the huge advances made<br />
in battery technology and the advances<br />
made not only in solar but mini wind generation<br />
tech. Soon enough, you may well<br />
be dealing with a company like Simpa too.<br />
Photos by Simpa Networks<br />
ISSUE NO.004 RENEWABLE ENERGY
20 ISSUE NO.004 RENEWABLE ENERGY<br />
SOLAR ENERGY<br />
GENERATED<br />
FROM STREETS<br />
CO2 CAN NOW<br />
BE TURNED INTO<br />
SUSTAINABLE<br />
CONCRETE<br />
NEW<br />
DESALINATION<br />
TECHNOLOGY<br />
IN THE WORKS<br />
IN QATAR<br />
SolaRoad, a Dutch technology that allows<br />
solar pannels to be used in roadway<br />
projects made Caltrans Director Malcolm<br />
Dougherty interested and has announced<br />
a plan to coordinate with Netherlands<br />
Vice President Elisabeth Post. Dougherty<br />
wanted to develop more sustainable options<br />
for harnessing the application power<br />
of solar energy in transportation infrastructure.<br />
Having implemented already in Krommenie,<br />
North Holland last November 2014,<br />
solar cells with a translucent top layer of<br />
tempered glass are constructed on the<br />
roads in this SolaRoad project. The concrete<br />
panels allow for the sunlight hitting<br />
the streets to be converted into electricity<br />
for street lights, electric vehicles, traffic<br />
systems and even in households.<br />
Both California and The Netherlands<br />
have exerted efforts to push zero-emission<br />
transportation and energy development<br />
in terms of sales. In addition, both parties<br />
have performed programs that will limit<br />
the effects of climate change through reduction<br />
of green house gases and generation<br />
of renewable energy.<br />
Photos by Symposiet<br />
Researchers at the University of California,<br />
Los Angeles (UCLA) have found<br />
a new method of making concrete cement—by<br />
making use of limestone and<br />
CO2.<br />
Concrete production accounts for 5% of<br />
CO2 emissions produced globally. So, the<br />
research team wanted to take the opportunity<br />
to make a cement substitute from<br />
captured carbon from power plants. The<br />
team’s method uses CO2 given off during<br />
the calcination process, wherein it is captured<br />
and combined with calcium hydroxide<br />
to be able to recreate limestone.<br />
They were able to construct 5cm cones of<br />
cement substitute, CO2NCRETE, which<br />
were shaped using 3D printing.<br />
According to associate professor in civil<br />
and environmental engineering at UCLA<br />
Gaurav Sant, while cement production results<br />
in CO2, if it is possible to reutilize it<br />
to make a building material which could<br />
be a new kind of cement, then it’s an opportunity.<br />
“The big challenge we foresee with this is<br />
we’re not just trying to develop a building<br />
material. We’re trying to develop a process<br />
solution, an integrated technology which<br />
goes right from CO2 to a finished product.”<br />
Sant said.<br />
Photos by UCLA<br />
Membrane distillation is an emerging desalination<br />
technology, and Qatar University<br />
College of <strong>Engineering</strong> (QU-CENG)<br />
is up for the challenge to forward this field.<br />
The research project led by QU-CENG<br />
chemical engineering professor Dr. Farid<br />
Benyahia, with the funding from ConocoPhillips<br />
pioneered a process called<br />
membrane distillation desalination. The<br />
project has discovered that a hydrophobic<br />
membrane disallows salty water to pass<br />
through and allows fresh water vapour to<br />
permeate and condense. Requirements of<br />
this process are minimal to a low temperature<br />
feed of salty water, often not exceeding<br />
80 ºC, and low usage of atmospheric<br />
pressure.<br />
The process has been tested in two pilot<br />
plants at the Ras Bou Fantas power and<br />
desalination plant and got promising results.<br />
The tests showed that membrane<br />
properties need to be improved for longterm<br />
usage and to combine thermal integration<br />
with existing chemical processes<br />
in Qatar. This will exploit low-grade heat<br />
being dissipated into the environment,<br />
which in turn, will reduce energy consumption<br />
for fresh water production, thus<br />
cheaper water.<br />
Photos by The World Folio
21<br />
NEXT ENERGY<br />
TECHNOLOGIES<br />
DEVELOP<br />
“SMART”<br />
WINDOWS<br />
POWER YOUR<br />
SMARTPHONES<br />
WITH PEE<br />
Soon, buildings and windows will be helping<br />
out in energy conservation.<br />
This is the goal of one Goleta startup—<br />
the Next Energy Technologies. They aim<br />
to channel solar power through specially-engineered<br />
windows as a source of renewable<br />
energy.<br />
According to the company’s design so<br />
far, Next Energy Technologies windows<br />
can produce 20 percent of a commercial<br />
building’s power needs on average.<br />
After winning UC Santa Barbara’s Technology<br />
Management Program New Venture<br />
Competition in 2010, they are finally<br />
moving from research phase to commercial<br />
production—this is their goal for<br />
2018.<br />
According to CEO and cofounder Daniel<br />
Emmet, “They’re smart buildings. Windows<br />
are going from being a passive part<br />
of buildings to active. It’s an exciting time<br />
for buildings.”<br />
Most commercial buildings will be able to<br />
earn back their investment within a year<br />
of installation, he noted.<br />
According to Emmet, Next Energy Technologies<br />
is continuing to raise its series B<br />
round of funding, they are already halfway<br />
towards their $7 Million goal thanks<br />
to the help of local investors and family<br />
offices.<br />
Photos by Noozhawk<br />
The next time you pee in the toilet, you<br />
may want to remember that your pee<br />
could power your smartphones.<br />
Yes, you heard that right. No, you don’t<br />
necessarily pee on it.<br />
Researchers have pondered whether pee<br />
can be used as an energy source. Now,<br />
there’s a study in the Bristol Robotics Laboratory<br />
(a collaboration of University of<br />
Bristol and University of the West of England)<br />
that proved that they can generate<br />
power using a urine-powered cell. Think<br />
of how much your electric bill would<br />
lessen if you use your pee to charge your<br />
phones. Awesome, right?<br />
Ioannis Ieropoulos led his BioEnergy<br />
team in creating this urine-powered cell<br />
to convert someone’s pee into electrical<br />
energy. They even have a term coined for<br />
it – “urine-tricity.” With an annual production<br />
of 6.4 trillion liters of urine, these<br />
researchers want to convert it into useful<br />
energy by processing it with its microbial<br />
fuel cells (MFCs). These cells contain live<br />
microbes where it consumes the urine and<br />
eventually, frees electrons. These electrons<br />
are collected by the electrodes in the cell<br />
and generate electricity by connecting it<br />
to an external circuit.<br />
Aside from electricity, urine is also converted<br />
to clean water after it is processed<br />
with microbes, protons and oxygen.<br />
Don’t expect too much from it yet. The<br />
amount of electricity produced by the cells<br />
is just in the microwatts level. In order to<br />
produce more energy (to make it useful),<br />
the research team ran a total of eight<br />
MFCs in a certain manner that produced<br />
around 642 mV, 206 µW and 312 µA. According<br />
to them, this output is enough to<br />
“charge a Samsung mobile phone.”<br />
According to Dr. Ieropoulos, urine is effective<br />
in creating energy because of the<br />
amount of organic matter it has. With<br />
its organic level, electrical conductivity<br />
and acidity, urine is able to power smartphones.<br />
However, if more power is needed<br />
to be produced in this fuel cells, the pee<br />
must contain higher amounts of protein<br />
content. Increasing the protein content<br />
may lead to kidney damage.<br />
Photos grabbed from YouTube<br />
ISSUE NO.004 RENEWABLE ENERGY
22 ISSUE NO.004 RENEWABLE ENERGY<br />
PAVING THE<br />
ROADS OF<br />
FRANCE WITH<br />
1,000 KM<br />
SOLAR PANELS<br />
In France’s efforts to turn into renewable<br />
energy, the country allots 1,000 km (621<br />
miles) of their road to be paved with durable<br />
photovoltaic panels to supply renewable<br />
energy to 5 million people, about 8<br />
percent of the country’s population.<br />
It is a product of collaborative research<br />
from Colas, a French road construction<br />
company, and the National Institute of Solar<br />
Energy. This will hit the history books<br />
as the first time that solar panels will be<br />
installed in public roads, to be applied on<br />
top of existing roads without having to alter<br />
such roads.<br />
The patented panel design is called the<br />
Wattway, overall 7 mm thick. It is made<br />
of a thin film of polycrystalline silicon,<br />
coated in a resin substrate to make them<br />
stronger. This enables them to grip more<br />
than other solar road panels and reduces<br />
risk of accidents. The panels are also<br />
weatherproof.<br />
The company estimates that a 20-square<br />
meter of Wattway panels can power a single<br />
French home, excluding heating.<br />
SHOES THAT PRODUCE<br />
ELECTRICITY CREATED<br />
BY ENGINEERING<br />
STUDENTS IN VIETNAM<br />
I am guilty of complaining everyday about<br />
traffic jams and unruly motorist. I cannot<br />
tolerate getting stuck on the road, and<br />
wasting my time travelling from my office<br />
to home. I hate staring blankly at the taillights<br />
of the car before me, wishing my car<br />
just flew.<br />
Sitting in front of my computer now,<br />
counting the hours till it’s time to go<br />
home, I am again bracing myself for the<br />
arduous journey home. I am imagining<br />
my route, thinking about how I can outwit<br />
the other motorist in the race to an early<br />
dinner and a longer TV time. Then, I<br />
stumbled upon a video, which first frame<br />
was a boy walking towards somewhere,<br />
which I reckon was home.<br />
“Like millions of others around the<br />
world,” opened the video, “in Vietnam<br />
many children have to walk long distances<br />
to and from school every day.” ‘Okay’, I<br />
told myself, thinking that it would actually<br />
be better for me to walk home, or maybe<br />
jog, and maybe reach at the same time<br />
as when I drove. It would be healthier for<br />
my body, and I would not have to spend<br />
an additional hour at the gym since my<br />
workout would have been done.<br />
“Often where they live there is no power,<br />
so by the time they get home it’s nearly<br />
dark,” continued the video. ‘Uh-oh’, I<br />
told myself, ‘no TV?’ Then, I realized that<br />
maybe TV should be the least of that boy’s<br />
worries when he reaches home. What<br />
about light? What about cooking food?<br />
What about studying his lessons under a<br />
decent lamp? What about driving away<br />
disease carrying insects?<br />
<strong>Engineering</strong> students from the Ho Chi<br />
Minh City University of Technology, with<br />
the support of socially responsible companies,<br />
have developed a way to convert the<br />
kinetic energy spent by the Vietnamese<br />
students in walking to usable electricity.<br />
They invented the Green Cross Kinetic<br />
Energy Shoes that charges integrated<br />
batteries while the children walk home.<br />
Upon reaching home, the children can<br />
pull the batteries out of the shoes and use<br />
them to power battery-operated lanterns.<br />
With light, the children can study their<br />
lessons or help in household chores. The<br />
family members will be able to at least see<br />
each other’s faces and spend some quality<br />
time together over dinner or before going<br />
to bed.<br />
My takeaway is that sometimes, we waste<br />
much of our energy whining about things<br />
that we can’t change, like the everyday<br />
traffic. Sure, we all have the right to get<br />
pissed off about spending hours on the<br />
road, but shall we not find comfort in the<br />
thought of reaching a decent home? For<br />
the Vietnamese children living in rural<br />
areas, just having light at home is already<br />
a luxury. And they don’t complain about<br />
how long their journey is – no minute of<br />
walking is considered wasted – because<br />
every step they make brings them closer<br />
to a bright future.<br />
Top photo by Colas<br />
Bottom photo by Science Alert
23<br />
There are a thousand and one ways to<br />
describe music. Immersive. Riveting.<br />
Awe-inspiring. Hell, music could really be<br />
indescribable at all. Music is what it is to<br />
its listener, so even if two people are listening<br />
to the same musical piece, the emotions<br />
it may excite may be different.<br />
Did you, know, however, that there is a<br />
percussion instrument that literally gives<br />
of “electrifying” music? Aptly called<br />
SPARK, this instrument can harness electricity<br />
as it is played, so it can be used to<br />
power small electric devices, like a plug-in<br />
light or a mobile phone, at a later time. As<br />
SPARK is played, a magnet moves backwards<br />
and forwards through the centre of<br />
a solenoid, a coil of copper wire. A current<br />
is induced in the loops of wire and each<br />
time the magnet slides through, it charges<br />
up a rechargeable battery. With its current<br />
generation, 12 minutes of shaking SPARK<br />
gives an hour worth of electricity.<br />
Project Leader Sudha Kheterpal, a band<br />
percussionist featured on records and<br />
tours of global musical artists the likes of<br />
the Spice Girls and Dido, said that a prototype<br />
of SPARK had been tested in various<br />
communities in Kenya. “In places like<br />
Kenya, where 75% of the population live<br />
without access to electricity,” said Kheterpal,<br />
“having the ability to read at night or<br />
charge up a mobile phone gives people the<br />
Photo by Fast Company<br />
MUSICAL<br />
INSTRUMENT<br />
THAT GENERATES<br />
ELECTRICITY<br />
chance of a better education and also access<br />
to services like the revolutionary mobile<br />
phone banking system, M-PESA.” She<br />
said that based on the tests, SPARK had<br />
proven to be useful to the communities,<br />
and that the villagers had all embraced the<br />
technology.<br />
“During the testing phase,” she said, “the<br />
people who have tried SPARK said that<br />
it was useful because they had light in<br />
the evenings, which they used for doing<br />
homework, household chores and<br />
for lighting their way home in the dark.”<br />
Kheterpal said that SPARK would enable<br />
children and their families to eliminate<br />
the need for dangerous kerosene light, and<br />
provide light for women and girls in areas<br />
where sexual abuse is a huge problem.<br />
Because it can also charge mobile phones,<br />
SPARK can also facilitate the connection<br />
of families living in rural Kenya to medical<br />
help or banking services.<br />
“The concept of SPARK is based on the<br />
heart,” said Kheterpal, “the seat of power<br />
for the human body, a symbol of strength<br />
and courage and what connects us all as<br />
a global community.” SPARK takes cues<br />
from a flint stone, which she said was a<br />
symbol of a new beginning; the birth of a<br />
powerful new source of energy.<br />
Photo by Inhbitat<br />
ISSUE NO.004 RENEWABLE ENERGY
24 ISSUE NO.004 RENEWABLE ENERGY<br />
HOME BATTERIES<br />
SUPPLY ELECTRICITY<br />
TO THE GRID<br />
Ambri has made great progress by producing<br />
grid energy storage that can provide<br />
long-lasting power. The storage of energy,<br />
like wind and solar power - with the<br />
help of the battery technologies that are<br />
available today, are very expensive. Nevertheless,<br />
new technologies that are being<br />
invented today are coming at low prices<br />
and they are making sure that there is an<br />
extensive use of renewable energy.<br />
Ambri’s effort changes the dimension of<br />
technology and makes it amazingly cool.<br />
They make use of liquid metals like electrodes.<br />
It also uses a salt electrode to make<br />
products that are economic. Ambri manifests<br />
that the project developers of renewable<br />
energy are gaining confidence and are<br />
ready to develop new technologies for the<br />
storage of energy.<br />
Ambri is one of the companies that have<br />
taken a vow of establishing a technical<br />
breakthrough that would cut down the<br />
cost of storing energy on grids. There are<br />
various start-ups that have come up with<br />
batteries that are low-priced because they<br />
have built materials that are available in<br />
huge quantities.<br />
Another factor that has to be considered<br />
in truncating the cost of compelling battery<br />
technologies is the reduction of the<br />
cost of production. The manufacturing<br />
process of Ambri is very simple. Ambri<br />
places the metal plucks as well as the salt<br />
electrodes in a stainless steel cell. The dimension<br />
of each cell is four square inches.<br />
The Chief Technological Officer of the<br />
company mentions the production process<br />
can be made automatic.<br />
The executives of Ambri have mentioned<br />
that they are aiming to bring down the<br />
cost of battery below $500 per kilowatt-hour.<br />
In such a case surplus wind<br />
energy will be stored in the night and then<br />
will be sold off during the day or can help<br />
meet demands of the peak hours. The demand<br />
for these types of batteries is very<br />
high in California and New York.<br />
Photo by Technology Review<br />
THIS NEW BATTERY<br />
STORES RENEWABLE<br />
ENERGY FOR<br />
LONGER USE<br />
Sorrel Technology has created the Sorrel<br />
Heat Battery, a Battery that replicates the<br />
way the earth’s core stores heat in order to<br />
store large amounts of energy for almost<br />
anything from a few days to few months.<br />
The way energy is stored nowadays is what<br />
hinders us to adopt to renewable energy.<br />
Renewable energy sources—primarily<br />
sun and wind are intermitted sources.<br />
Nowadays, consumers have to use their<br />
energy as they are generated, since there<br />
is no way to store the energy at scale to be<br />
used later.<br />
Sorrel Technology believed that their<br />
new technology solves this problem. The<br />
battery stored energy in its purest form—<br />
heat. The device’s metal core is heated up<br />
to 1750 degrees Celsius, and remains hot<br />
for many months. This heat can be used to<br />
create power whenever it is needed. It is a<br />
clean, safe and very cost-effective according<br />
to the company.<br />
By heating up a combination of everyday<br />
metals surrounded by a state of the art<br />
ceramic casing, which keeps the metals<br />
hot, the battery is able to store energy. The<br />
whole device is covered by a protective<br />
safety covering. They use innovative soldstate<br />
heat transfer to release the stored<br />
heat either to create steam, or heat up gases<br />
which will turn drive turbines, and be<br />
able to generate electricity.<br />
“This is the first time ever it has been possible<br />
to store large amounts of energy in<br />
a readily reusable form,” said John Seneschall,<br />
a spokesperson for Sorrel Technology.<br />
“We know this makes energy derived<br />
from solar and wind the energy of the future.<br />
It’s now a case of no sun, no wind,<br />
no problem. The Sorrel Heat Battery can<br />
store energy for months. At the flick of a<br />
switch it can be producing electricity as<br />
and when it’s needed, in the most environmentally<br />
sound way imaginable.”<br />
The Sorrel heat battery have different sizes:<br />
small units (for mobile uses); medium-sized<br />
units for domestic applications;<br />
and large units to power whole communities.
25<br />
CLEAN ENERGY FROM<br />
BACTERIA-POWERED<br />
SOLAR PANELS<br />
LET<br />
LEFTOVERS<br />
POWER<br />
YOUR<br />
HOUSE<br />
Photo by Science Daily<br />
Clean energy can now be generated from<br />
bacteria! For the first time ever, researchers<br />
connected nine biological solar cells,<br />
also known as bio-solar cells into a bio-solar<br />
panel. They then produced electricity<br />
from the panel and were able to generate<br />
5.50 microwatts. This amount of energy<br />
is greater than any existing small-scale<br />
bio-solar cells.<br />
This research uses cyanobacteria, a kind of<br />
bacteria that can easily be found in every<br />
terrestrial and aquatic habitat on the planet.<br />
This bacteria can be used as a source of<br />
clean and sustainable energy.<br />
The researchers interconnected nine<br />
identical bio-solar cells in a 3x3 pattern<br />
to make a scalable as well as stackable<br />
bio-solar panel. This panel continuously<br />
generated electricity from photosynthesis<br />
and respiratory activities of the bacteria in<br />
12-hour day and night cycles in 60 total<br />
hours.<br />
However, a traditional 60-cell solar panel<br />
on a roof of a residential house can generate<br />
200 watts of electrical power. The cells<br />
from this study can only generate around<br />
0.00003726 watts. So as of now it isn’t that<br />
efficient yet. But this breakthrough can<br />
open doors to future research and improvements<br />
that can lead to success in this<br />
kind of energy generation.<br />
One of the single biggest landfills in the<br />
U.S. is just for food waste. Americans<br />
throw 40% of their food as leftover and<br />
that is about $640 per household annually.<br />
Worse, they don’t care how it affects the<br />
environment according to a survey from<br />
American Chemistry Council.<br />
The government plans to address the issue<br />
by testing out new ways to convert leftover<br />
and other organic materials into biogas.<br />
Food decomposition produces methane,<br />
a greenhouse gas contributing to global<br />
warming but can be used as fuel. It can be<br />
a renewable energy to produce electricity.<br />
Just this January, Philadelphia mandated<br />
constructing in-sink disposal to pulverize<br />
food waste from household drains.<br />
They will run through the city pipes and<br />
to a facility that will process the fertilizer<br />
products into biogas. This will save a few<br />
landfill truck trips for about $3 million<br />
trucking costs.<br />
Philadelphia was said to invest $50 million<br />
on its anaerobic digesters where biogas is<br />
produced. Washington D.C. was also said<br />
to spend $400 million in installing its new<br />
digester for wastewater treatment facility<br />
in 2014.<br />
It is indeed a good source of renewable<br />
energy as you constantly have a feed stock<br />
according to Amanda Bilek, government<br />
affairs and communications director at<br />
the Great Plains Institute, a green energy<br />
firm.<br />
ISSUE NO.004 RENEWABLE ENERGY
26 ISSUE NO.004 RENEWABLE ENERGY<br />
In Search of an<br />
Energy Miracle<br />
Bill Gates shares his insights on the<br />
energy challenges facing the world today,<br />
and sounds his ideas on what can be<br />
done to resolve them.
27<br />
If you are reading this article on your mobile, tablet or<br />
laptop, then consider yourself lucky. And not only for<br />
having the opportunity to imbibe the nuggets of wisdom<br />
enlaced in it, but also, and primarily, for the chance of<br />
reading it on an electric-powered device.<br />
For most of us, it shall be easy to take for granted the<br />
presence of electricity in our lives. Some of us are just<br />
used to watching TV or listening to the radio, dozing off<br />
while reading under the light of a bedside lamp, surfing<br />
the Internet to connect with friends or research for an<br />
assignment, or plugging mobile phones and seeing them<br />
fully charged in the morning. For most of us, electricity<br />
is ubiquitous, unobtrusive, that we forget that it’s even<br />
there…until it’s gone.<br />
Imagine for a moment that your computer, mobile or<br />
tablet shuts off at this point. Perhaps the power went<br />
out, or your mobile gadgets ran out of juice. What would<br />
you do? I am guessing scramble (read panic) to find the<br />
fault and make your device work again. Long-press<br />
the power button? Check the plug if it’s still engaged?<br />
Connect your gadget to a charger? For sure.<br />
Now, your device works again. Am I hearing a sigh of<br />
relief? Yes. Good for you. Now, go on reading.<br />
If in that short span of (imaginary) time, you felt helpless<br />
and unsettled with the thought of not having electricity<br />
to power your gadget, imagine what 1.3 billion people<br />
who do not have access to electricity feel?<br />
Millions of the world’s poorest<br />
families derive their living from<br />
farming, and the changes in<br />
weather patterns spurred by<br />
climate change affect the growth<br />
of their crops, hence their income<br />
and the food on their table..<br />
“<br />
”<br />
Some of them have electricity for a few hours a day, some<br />
have never experienced what it is like to have power.<br />
Imagine, these people don’t have electricity to cook their<br />
food, so they burn wood inside their houses; families do<br />
not have refrigerators, so they eat spoiled food (if they<br />
are lucky to have food); children do not have light under<br />
where they can read, so they study beside a candle or<br />
not study at all; fathers and mothers go home from work<br />
traversing dark roads or pathways, putting themselves<br />
in real danger.<br />
This is what life is for 18% of the world’s population,<br />
and I am afraid it is not imaginary.<br />
Providing Them<br />
Electricity is Important<br />
Many of the world’s un-connected come from rural areas<br />
in Africa and Asia. Unfortunately, as emerging regions,<br />
Africa and Asia are facing other challenges, such as<br />
insufficient food security, inadequate health services,<br />
and public infrastructure underdevelopment, aside<br />
from limited access to electricity. These aforementioned<br />
items often command the attention of the government<br />
and key stakeholders, so that access to electricity<br />
frequently takes a backseat.<br />
However, the importance of having reliable electricity<br />
can never be overstated. With electricity, farmers can<br />
grow more food, hospitals and clinics can operate more<br />
efficiently, and roads and bridges can be built more<br />
quickly. Though not absolutely, a reliable electricity<br />
can help solve many of the challenges confronting the<br />
world’s emerging economies, and it’s high time access to<br />
electricity gets its share of the spotlight.<br />
With Clean Electricity,<br />
Life Will Get Better<br />
for the World’s Poor<br />
One of the staunchest advocates of providing sustainable<br />
electricity to the poor is Microsoft founder, billionaire<br />
Bill Gates. Through his 2016 Annual Letter, published<br />
on www.gatesnotes.com last February, Gates said that if<br />
one wanted to help the world’s poorest families (as it is<br />
usually the poor that is adversely affected by the absence<br />
of reliable electricity), one had to find a way to provide<br />
them with clean electricity that they could afford. He<br />
underlined “clean”, so that the electricity provided to the<br />
poor would not further contribute to climate change.<br />
And what does climate change have to do with poor<br />
people, you ask? Much, and its effects are direct. Poor<br />
people, despite being the least responsible for emitting<br />
harmful gases that lead to climate change, are often<br />
the most severely affected by it. Millions of the world’s<br />
poorest families derive their living from farming, and<br />
the changes in weather patterns spurred by climate<br />
change affect the growth of their crops, hence their<br />
income and the food on their table. Thus, climate<br />
change, on top of a limited access to electricity, sinks<br />
them deeper into poverty.<br />
In order to avoid long-term adverse changes to the<br />
world’s climate, scientists say that we have to cut<br />
our GHG emissions by as much as 80% by 2050, and<br />
completely eliminate them by the end of the century.<br />
This may be a herculean order, in light of the fact that in<br />
2015 alone, the world emitted 36 billion tons of carbon<br />
dioxide to produce energy. How is it even remotely<br />
possible that we can reduce 36 billion tons (and expected<br />
to grow year on year) to zero, nil, nada, niente?<br />
Gates has a simple yet masterful illustration of how the<br />
world might get its CO 2<br />
emissions down to zero.<br />
He explained that CO2 is a product of four factors:<br />
P (population), S (services used by each person), E<br />
(energy needed to provide each of those services) and<br />
C (carbon dioxide, which is produced by E). Gates said<br />
that in order to reduce CO2 to zero, one of the factors<br />
should be zero. Simple multiplication, isn’t it?<br />
ISSUE NO.004 RENEWABLE ENERGY
28 ISSUE NO.004 RENEWABLE ENERGY<br />
He explained that CO 2<br />
is a<br />
product of four factors:<br />
P (population), S (services used<br />
by each person), E (energy<br />
needed to provide each of those<br />
services) and C (carbon dioxide,<br />
which is produced by E). Gates<br />
said that in order to reduce CO 2<br />
to zero, one of the factors should<br />
be zero. Simple multiplication,<br />
isn’t it?<br />
But, reducing one of the factors to zero may be easier<br />
said than done. P cannot be zero, as it would mean we’d<br />
all be dead. But seriously, population is expected to<br />
increase in the coming years, so there will be no way<br />
that it can be brought down to zero (unless a catastrophe<br />
happens, and we’d all be wiped out like what happened<br />
to the dinosaurs).<br />
In order to avoid long-term<br />
adverse changes to the world’s<br />
climate, scientists say that we<br />
have to cut our GHG emissions<br />
by as much as 80% by 2050, and<br />
completely eliminate them by the<br />
end of the century.<br />
“<br />
”<br />
S cannot be zero, because it actually has to go up to<br />
improve the living conditions of the poor. So, S as zero<br />
is out of the question.<br />
Efficient use of E has made inroads in recent years, but<br />
industry experts still predict that energy use will go up<br />
by 50% in 2050. So, it cannot come to naught.<br />
And we’re down to C, the amount of carbon emitted<br />
per unit of energy. Gates said that with the advent of<br />
environmentally friendly technologies, carbon-free<br />
energy was already possible. Green technologies are<br />
truly gaining traction and are becoming cheaper as<br />
more people embrace them, but there is still wriggle<br />
room for innovation.<br />
Green energy sources like solar and wind are<br />
intermittent, and technologies running on them should<br />
still be optimized to become a reliable prime source of<br />
electrical power. Provisions for storing solar or wind<br />
power will greatly help the cause, but available energy<br />
storage technologies remain prohibitive.<br />
Therefore, even as green energy technologies are<br />
fast developing, Gates called on his readers to feed in<br />
thousands more of new ideas, “even ones that might<br />
sound a little crazy”. He called to mind Thomas Edison,<br />
who “successfully found 10,000 ways that would not<br />
work”. He said that in order to find thousands of ideas<br />
that would not work, people have to try thousands of<br />
ideas, and in his opinion, this was not happening at<br />
present.<br />
He also called upon governments to spark new advances,<br />
much like what they had done for other scientific<br />
research, like cancer treatment, outer space travel and<br />
the Internet.<br />
Gates recognized that energy research and transition<br />
to new energy sources takes decades, so he urged<br />
stakeholders to roll up their sleeves now.
29<br />
Let Us Be the “Miracle”<br />
There’s no denying the enormous magnitude of the<br />
energy problem that our world currently faces. But, as<br />
big as the gap is the opportunity that comes with it. If the<br />
world successfully finds a viable solution to the energy<br />
challenges and to the other issues that branch out of<br />
them, it would change the lives of millions of the world’s<br />
poorest people.<br />
To close his letter, Gates sounded his optimism, as<br />
he said that he remained positive for he had seen<br />
“miracles” happen before. He said “miracles” did not<br />
happen by chance; they were products of research and<br />
development, and the human capacity to innovate. “I’m<br />
so optimistic about the world’s ability to make a miracle<br />
happen that I’m willing to make a prediction,” he said.<br />
“Within the next 15 years—and especially if young<br />
people get involved—I expect the world will discover a<br />
clean energy breakthrough that will save our planet and<br />
power our world.”<br />
Like Gates, we have all witnessed “miracles” at some<br />
point in our lives. Who would have thought that we can<br />
watch people and events through a box with a screen?<br />
That we can put a computer inside our pockets? That<br />
we can speak to our loved ones thousands of miles away<br />
in real time? That people will get cured of previously<br />
incurable diseases? Without prejudice to religion, I say<br />
that we humans can make “miracles” happen. There’s no<br />
better time than now. And if it’s not much to ask, can we<br />
be the “miracle”?<br />
“<br />
Within the next 15 years—and especially<br />
if young people get involved—I expect<br />
the world will discover a clean energy<br />
breakthrough that will save our planet and<br />
power our world.<br />
”<br />
ISSUE NO.004 RENEWABLE ENERGY
30 ISSUE NO.004 RENEWABLE ENERGY<br />
CAN NUCLEAR<br />
HELP THE<br />
INTEGRATION OF<br />
RENEWABLES?<br />
Craig Morris, author and editor of Renewables<br />
International, released data<br />
analysis to determine if nuclear helps<br />
in the integration of renewable energy.<br />
‘“French nuclear exports help Germany,<br />
the UK, Italy and Spain accelerate<br />
their renewable uptake,” writes shale<br />
gas proponent Nick Grealy. What do<br />
the data show?’ Morris quoted Grealy<br />
on the website.<br />
According to his data analysis, French<br />
nuclear does not facilitate the integration<br />
of wind and solar in neighboring<br />
countries, “it clogs up the grid and reduces<br />
flexibility.”<br />
In contrast to this, the production of<br />
solar power from 9am to 3pm in conventional<br />
power plants in Germany are<br />
at a modest level—conventional generation<br />
is usually around 50GW from<br />
7AM to 40GW at 2PM. Without the 9<br />
GW of exports, the German conventional<br />
power would be pushed down to<br />
30 GW, which is the reason for the big<br />
exports.<br />
Also, France prefers to sell electricity<br />
at low prices at times of low demand<br />
instead of ramping down their nuclear<br />
power plants.<br />
Photo by Extreme Tech
31<br />
CYCLING YOUR WAY<br />
INTO A FULL BATTERY<br />
CHARGE FOR YOUR<br />
SMARTPHONE<br />
The Levitation is a futuristic<br />
bicycle concept designed by<br />
Dezien that converts the bike’s<br />
motion into electrical energy for<br />
charging devices.<br />
Photos by Dezien<br />
Think that your bike is the coolest one<br />
in the block? Think again after you<br />
have laid your eyes on the Levitation.<br />
It looks exactly what it is supposed to<br />
be and that is a futuristic bike concept.<br />
Designed by Dezien, this bike is<br />
the pipe dream of a cyclist or a tech<br />
enthusiast.<br />
The list of features that Levitation<br />
possesses is as extensive as it is impressive.<br />
It features a Wi-Fi hotspot, a<br />
battery that is charged by the motion<br />
of the bike, a USB port for charging<br />
devices and a LED screen for starters.<br />
Have we missed anything? Oh! It can<br />
levitate as well.<br />
Wait. What? Yes. You got that right.<br />
This bike is capable of levitating which<br />
is also the reason why it has been<br />
named Levitation. The name should<br />
have given it away though. The ability<br />
to levitate has been made possible<br />
by the implementation of magnetic<br />
levitation technologies. This does not<br />
mean that you will be soaring in the<br />
skies above us mere mortals though.<br />
The maglev tech is powered by the kinetic<br />
energy of the bike. The tech simply<br />
lifts up the bike so as to decrease<br />
wind resistance. This allows you to<br />
move faster. Additionally, it will also<br />
reduce the shocks from bumps and<br />
debris on the roads.<br />
Another cool feature is certainly the<br />
energy feature. As you cycle, the energy<br />
of the motion is captured and<br />
stored in batteries. You can use that<br />
electrical energy of the batteries to<br />
power up your devices such as your<br />
smartphones and any other device<br />
that supports the USB standard.<br />
Dezien also claims that the batteries<br />
will be capable of charging an electric<br />
car. However, so far, no electric<br />
car supports the USB standard. That<br />
would be a cool sight to see nonetheless.<br />
Imagine charging your car with a<br />
cycle! That would be interesting!<br />
ISSUE NO.004 RENEWABLE ENERGY
32 ISSUE NO.004 RENEWABLE ENERGY<br />
ENGINEERING STUDENTS<br />
CREATE PROTOTYPE FOR<br />
SOLAR THERMAL<br />
ADSORPTION REFRIGERATOR<br />
<strong>Engineering</strong> students from the University<br />
of Dayton won three awards at the<br />
USA Science and <strong>Engineering</strong> Festival<br />
in Washington, D.C., for creating a device<br />
that will soon operate without using<br />
electricity and provide eco-friendly<br />
refrigeration in areas that lack electricity.<br />
They created a prototype of a Solar<br />
Thermal Adsorption Refrigerator.<br />
This team was supported by a U.S.<br />
Environmental Protection Agency<br />
People, Prosperity and the Planet (P3)<br />
grant. The team won the American<br />
Society of Civil <strong>Engineering</strong>’s Sustainability<br />
Development Award, the<br />
Mid-Atlantic Solar Energy Society’s<br />
Sustainability Energy Award and architecture<br />
and consulting firm organicARCHITECT’s<br />
Vituvius.<br />
According to the group’s advisor and<br />
assistant professor of mechanical engineering,<br />
Jun-Ki Choi “The group’s<br />
prototype model showed one successful<br />
replacement of a conventional<br />
fridge with this technology can achieve<br />
up to 22 tons of lifetime carbon dioxide<br />
emission reduction. That’s equal<br />
to emissions from three typical U.S.<br />
households in a year. Even a small percentage<br />
of the proposed technology<br />
being adopted can significantly reduce<br />
environmental impacts worldwide.”<br />
Photo by Twitter
33<br />
UNDERGROUND<br />
BATTERIES WHICH<br />
WILL HELP SAVE<br />
THE ENVIRONMENT<br />
Photo by Lawrence<br />
Livermore National<br />
Laboratory<br />
Climate change is a big problem<br />
that the world steadily faces and<br />
one of the main factors that affect<br />
this is the enormous amount of<br />
CO2 in our environment. There<br />
have been numerous projects<br />
that hope to lessen the amount of<br />
CO2 in our system but none had<br />
an idea like this team of scientists<br />
who proposed not only a way to<br />
reduce CO2 but a way to harness<br />
energy from it as well.<br />
A group of scientists from the<br />
Lawrence Livermore National<br />
Laboratory (LLNL), the University<br />
of Minnesota, tech firm TerraCOH,<br />
and Ohio State University<br />
have come together with a possible<br />
solution to store CO2 into<br />
batteries underground for future<br />
consumption with their paper<br />
entitled “Earth Battery.” Thomas<br />
Buscheck, author of the paper and<br />
leader of the LLNL Geochemical,<br />
Hydrological and Environmental<br />
Sciences Group described the<br />
project as “a cost-effective way to<br />
store the energy long enough so it<br />
can be used later.”<br />
ISSUE NO.004 RENEWABLE ENERGY
34 ISSUE NO.004 RENEWABLE ENERGY<br />
New York Horizon<br />
Photo by Evolo<br />
7<br />
FUTURISTIC<br />
SKYSCRAPERS<br />
THAT BATTLE<br />
GLOBAL<br />
WARMING<br />
In the technological world we live in today, global<br />
warming is known as the number one environmental<br />
enemy. This is why many researchers and<br />
engineers have come up with different high tech<br />
innovations to help improve our world’s environmental<br />
situation. It started with solar powered<br />
gadgets, then came electric cars, and now architects<br />
are bringing their ideas to a larger scale. This<br />
year, architects from around the world are to design<br />
skyscrapers that can help the environment at<br />
the eVolo skyscraper design competition.<br />
Valley of the Giants<br />
Photo by Engadget<br />
Bio-Pyramid<br />
Photo by Engadget
35<br />
Global Cooling Skyscraper<br />
Photo by Paolo Venturella Architecture<br />
Data Tower<br />
Photo by Evolo<br />
Urban Earth Worm<br />
Photo by Face Pla<br />
Hydra Tower<br />
Photo by Inhabitat<br />
ISSUE NO.004 RENEWABLE ENERGY
36 ISSUE NO.004 RENEWABLE ENERGY<br />
PROS AND<br />
CONS OF<br />
GEOTHERMAL<br />
ENERGY<br />
Photo by Pixabay<br />
PROS<br />
Geothermal energy’s advantages are mainly because it is generated<br />
cleanly and renewably. Electricity that is generated by geothermal<br />
plants don’t produce carbon emissions unlike burning coal, gas and<br />
oil, they produce air pollution.<br />
A country can reduce costs of importing fuel by using geothermal energy<br />
since this results in the generation of clean, domestic electricity.<br />
Therefore, there is no need for importing foreign resources.
37<br />
CONS<br />
Geothermal energy has its disadvantages as well. Geothermal energy<br />
production can release chemical gases like hydrogen sulfide, which<br />
smells like rotten eggs. This gas turns into SO2 or sulfur dioxide, a<br />
gas that can contribute to heart and lung issues if inhaled. This is true<br />
only for open-loop geothermal systems. Closed loop geothermal systems<br />
don’t release hydrogen sulfide. Open system also releases other<br />
gases such as ammonia, CO2, methane, and boron.<br />
However, the amount of hydrogen sulfide released from open system<br />
geothermal facilities is still far less than those produced by coal<br />
plants.<br />
Some geothermal plants also generate mercury, which has to be disposed<br />
of properly.<br />
ISSUE NO.004 RENEWABLE ENERGY
38 ISSUE NO.004 RENEWABLE ENERGY<br />
India Builds<br />
the Largest<br />
Floating Solar<br />
Power Plant<br />
Photo by Headway Solar<br />
World’s<br />
First Plant<br />
to Convert<br />
Desalination<br />
Wastewater into<br />
Freshwater<br />
Photo by Veolia North America<br />
World’s<br />
Largest<br />
Solar Plant<br />
at Risk for a<br />
Shut Down<br />
Photo by The Atlantic
39<br />
Indian economy is all set to lead the world<br />
with the world’s largest floating solar power<br />
station ready to be installed at Loktak<br />
Lake, the largest fresh water lake in North<br />
East India, in Manipur. A 10-Megawatt<br />
(MW) plant was installed in December<br />
2014 at a waterbody in Rajarhat New<br />
Town by the city-based Arka Ignou Community<br />
College of Renewable Energy. It<br />
generates about 10 KWP solar power each<br />
day. The new plant at Loktak Lake in Manipur<br />
is a 100-kilowatt (KW) facility and<br />
is already yielding encouraging results.<br />
The floating solar power plant at Loktak<br />
Lake in Manipur is all set to become the<br />
country’s largest and only second floating<br />
solar panel installation. It is installed<br />
at the lake near the Sendra tourist resort<br />
of Loktak Lake and will be implemented<br />
under the program for off-grid and decentralized<br />
solar applications of the Ministry<br />
of New and Renewable Energy.<br />
Aside from helping the Manipur Renewable<br />
Energy Development Agency (MAN-<br />
IREDA) in the finalization of work orders,<br />
the college will be providing the requisite<br />
technical assistance such as fixing the<br />
detail design parameters, drawings and<br />
specifications for the project.<br />
With only two other countries, Japan and<br />
Australia, having floating solar plants,<br />
these are a rarity across the globe. India is<br />
now all set to be in the league!<br />
A certain commercial water plant in Texas<br />
plans to convert wastewater from the<br />
desalination process into fresh drinking<br />
water, extract contaminants and converting<br />
them into reusable mineral products,<br />
as well as boost the drinking water supply<br />
of El Paso.<br />
Global water and waste giant Veolia and<br />
Enviro Water Minerals (EWM), a company<br />
which commercializes technology to<br />
recover minerals discharged in wastewater<br />
from desalination plants, have created a<br />
partnership to make this wastewater project<br />
possible.<br />
According to these two companies, this<br />
new water treatment plant is the first of its<br />
kind, globally.<br />
EWM awarded Veolia a 10-year operations<br />
and maintenance agreement for<br />
them to manage EWM’s commercial water<br />
plant in El Paso.<br />
According to EWM CEO Hubble Hausman<br />
“Waste brine disposal has long been<br />
the Achilles’ heel of inland desalination<br />
facilities. Our El Paso project will demonstrate<br />
that it is possible to produce multiple<br />
marketable chemical and mineral<br />
products from the waste brine while increasing<br />
the recovery of potable water and<br />
eliminating waste.”<br />
The EWM plant is scheduled to begin operations<br />
in early 2017<br />
A $2.2 billion solar power project in California,<br />
the largest in the world, is recently<br />
on shaky ground for being unable to meet<br />
its expected power output to deliver to<br />
Pacific Gas & Electric and Southern California<br />
Edison. This has put Ivanpah power<br />
plant in a position at risk for a shutdown if<br />
they don’t redeem themselves in the oneyear<br />
allowance given to them.<br />
The Ivanpah Solar Electric Generating<br />
System generates electricity through its<br />
170,000 mirrors planted on the ground<br />
which reflects sunlight to 450-foot high<br />
towers with boilers that is heated up to<br />
create steam. Their unconventional system<br />
was put into hot water by environmentalists<br />
for burning thousands of birds<br />
to death; and now much to the delight of<br />
their critics, the plant is near shut down<br />
for failing to produce the required power.<br />
Another issue that this power plant has<br />
faced is its much more expensive electricity<br />
compared to the conventional power<br />
plants that acquire solar energy from photovoltaic<br />
cells. They have a year to turn<br />
this all around if Ivanpah doesn’t want to<br />
be forced to go into dark.<br />
ISSUE NO.004 RENEWABLE ENERGY
40 ISSUE NO.004 RENEWABLE ENERGY<br />
RENEWABLE ENERGY<br />
TO BOOST GLOBAL GDP<br />
UP TO $1.3 TRILLION<br />
Dramatically scaling up renewables in the<br />
global energy mix by 2030 would increase GDP,<br />
social welfare and employment worldwide.<br />
Illustration by IRENA<br />
Achieving a 36 per cent share of<br />
renewable energy in the global<br />
energy mix by 2030 would increase<br />
global gross domestic product<br />
(GDP) by up to 1.1 per cent,<br />
roughly USD 1.3 trillion, according<br />
to new analysis by IRENA.<br />
Renewable Energy Benefits: Measuring<br />
the Economics, released<br />
today at IRENA’s sixth Assembly,<br />
provides the first global estimate<br />
of the macroeconomic impacts<br />
of renewable energy deployment.<br />
Specifically, it outlines the benefits<br />
that would be achieved under<br />
the scenario of doubling the global<br />
share of renewable energy by 2030<br />
from 2010 levels.<br />
“The recent Paris Agreement sent<br />
a strong signal for countries to<br />
move from negotiation to action<br />
and rapidly decarbonise the energy<br />
sector,” said Adnan Z. Amin,<br />
IRENA Director-General. “This<br />
analysis provides compelling evidence<br />
that achieving the needed<br />
energy transition would not only<br />
mitigate climate change, but also<br />
stimulate the economy, improve<br />
human welfare and boost employment<br />
worldwide.”<br />
Beyond finding that global GDP in<br />
2030 would increase by up to USD<br />
1.3 trillion – more than the combined<br />
economies of Chile, South<br />
Africa and Switzerland as of today<br />
– the report also analyses country-specific<br />
impact. Japan would<br />
see the largest positive GDP impact<br />
(2.3 per cent) but Australia,<br />
Brazil, Germany, Mexico, South<br />
Africa and South Korea would<br />
also see growth of more than 1 per<br />
cent each.<br />
According to the report, improvements<br />
in human welfare would go<br />
well beyond gains in GDP thanks<br />
to a range of social and environmental<br />
benefits. The impact of<br />
renewable energy deployment on<br />
welfare is estimated to be three to<br />
four times larger than its impact<br />
on GDP, with global welfare increasing<br />
as much as 3.7 per cent.<br />
Employment in the renewable<br />
energy sector would also increase<br />
from 9.2 million global jobs today,<br />
to more than 24 million by 2030.<br />
A transition towards greater shares<br />
of renewables in the global energy<br />
mix would also cause a shift in<br />
trade patterns, as it would more
41<br />
than halve global imports of coal<br />
and reduce oil and gas imports,<br />
benefiting large importers like Japan,<br />
India, Korea and the European<br />
Union. Fossil fuel exporting<br />
countries would also benefit from<br />
a diversified economy.<br />
“Mitigating climate change<br />
through the deployment of renewable<br />
energy and achieving<br />
other socio-economic targets is<br />
no longer an either or equation,”<br />
said Amin. “Thanks to the growing<br />
business case for renewable<br />
energy, an investment in one is<br />
an investment in both. That is the<br />
definition of a win-win scenario.”<br />
Renewable Energy Benefits: Measuring<br />
the Economics, builds on<br />
previous IRENA analysis on the<br />
socio-economic benefits of renewable<br />
energy and on REmap<br />
2030, a renewable energy roadmap<br />
to doubling the global share<br />
of renewable energy by 2030. The<br />
study provides a first glimpse of<br />
the full range of benefits offered<br />
by a renewable energy transition.<br />
GLOBAL INVESTMENTS<br />
ON RENEWABLES AND<br />
CLEAN ENERGY TOTALED<br />
TO $329 BILLION IN 2015<br />
According to Bloomberg New<br />
Energy Finance (BNEF), the total<br />
investment on clean energy hit<br />
$329 billion in 2015 accounting<br />
50 percent of investment from the<br />
Asia-Pacific Region.<br />
BNEF Chairman of Advisory<br />
Board Michael Liebreich said that<br />
the figures are a stunning riposte<br />
to all those who expected clean energy<br />
investment to stall on failing<br />
oil and gas prices. He even added<br />
that they highlight the improving<br />
cost-competitiveness of solar and<br />
wind power, driven in part by the<br />
move by many countries to reverse-auction<br />
new capacity rather<br />
than providing advantageous tariffs,<br />
a shift that has put producers<br />
under continuing price pressure.<br />
China was said to remain the largest<br />
clean energy investor amounting<br />
to $111 billion with solar energy<br />
as its largest funding. China is<br />
likely to propel towards less pollution<br />
actions and less coal powered<br />
energy sources as a part of its 13th<br />
five year plan (2016-2020) to be<br />
implemented in March 2016. It’s<br />
National Carbon Emission Trading<br />
Program, the world’s largest<br />
carbon emission control project,<br />
will cover 10,000 companies emitting<br />
3-4 billion tons of CO2.<br />
Also, Solar and Wind tariffs for<br />
new plants were reduced starting<br />
on January 1, 2016, according to<br />
BNEF.<br />
Iran was also noted to develop<br />
high-growth in the renewables as<br />
it has already a feed-in tariff programme<br />
and line-up of projects on<br />
solar, wind and non-hyrdo renewables.<br />
The European Investment Bank<br />
also allowed lending all over €100<br />
billion for climate action for the<br />
next five years.<br />
China National Building Materials<br />
recently signed a €1.6 billion<br />
agreement with Hong Kong-based<br />
Welink Global in the United Kingdom<br />
for solar power projects and<br />
energy saving housing in the United<br />
Kingdom.<br />
Meanwhile in South Korea, LG<br />
Electronics plans to invest $435<br />
million in building solar manufacturing<br />
plants.<br />
Yingli Green Energy was also said<br />
to build its first overseas factory in<br />
Thailand aside from its clean projects<br />
in China.<br />
With continuous growth of<br />
awareness in environmental conservation<br />
and sustainability, it is<br />
expected that these investments<br />
would yield positive results in addressing<br />
global issues on pollution<br />
and energy sources.<br />
From a well invested 2015, may<br />
2016 be a better year for all nations.<br />
The European Bank for Reconstruction<br />
and Development and<br />
the Clean Technology Fund<br />
formed a programme to lend $125<br />
million in developing geothermal<br />
in Turkey. The plan consists<br />
of constructing five geothermal<br />
power plants.<br />
In Japan, the Development Bank<br />
of Japan and Japan Wind Development<br />
implemented the creation<br />
of the country’s first wind power<br />
funding at $423 million.<br />
ISSUE NO.004 RENEWABLE ENERGY
42 ISSUE NO.004 RENEWABLE ENERGY<br />
China’s Wind Power<br />
Capacity to Significantly<br />
Increase by 2030<br />
With China’s growing demand<br />
for energy, the country’s government<br />
must provide alternative and<br />
cleaner sources of energy. Having<br />
one of the largest populations in<br />
the world, people have been supportive<br />
of its programs to generate<br />
more of its wind power resources.<br />
According to GlobalData, a research<br />
and consulting firm, China<br />
produces the highest wind power -<br />
providing a third of the total wind<br />
energy capacity in the world.<br />
“China’s quick adoption of wind<br />
power can be attributed to a wider<br />
global trend driven by depleting<br />
fossil fuel reserves, the declining<br />
cost of wind power generation<br />
and a growing sensitivity towards<br />
environmental issues.” says Aswani<br />
Srivatsaya, power analyst for<br />
GlobalData.<br />
By 2030, the wind power capacity<br />
of China will triple from 149 GW<br />
to 495 GW. That would certainly<br />
help power millions of households<br />
and establishments without compromising<br />
the environment again!<br />
China’s government has provided<br />
supportive policies including Law<br />
on Renewable Energy, Wind Power<br />
Technology Special Planning<br />
and the Notice on Integrating and<br />
Accommodating Wind Power.<br />
Srivatsaya added, “Recent government<br />
efforts have helped to<br />
expand and upgrade the grid and<br />
China now plans to address concerns<br />
that may potentially impede<br />
the initial stage of wind power development.”<br />
Photo by Efergy<br />
Jordan Mosques<br />
Adopts Renewable<br />
Energy<br />
Solar panels will be installed in about 2000<br />
mosques in Jordan and are expected to be fully<br />
powered by renewable energy in just two years.<br />
After Minister of Awqaf and Islamic Affairs Hayel<br />
Daoud signed a JD4 million agreement with the<br />
Jordan Renewable Energy and Energy Efficiency<br />
Fund (JREEEF), fundings for the renewable<br />
energy project in the mosques will change from<br />
the 20% allocated budget to 50% (the remaining<br />
half to be collected from charities and philanthropists).<br />
Although there are about 6300 mosques in Jordan,<br />
only some 2000 are in need of the project<br />
since their electricity bills are too high and adding<br />
solar panels could significantly reduce their energy<br />
consumption by 90%. The solar panels are said<br />
to have a generating power of 4megawatts.<br />
Photo by WPID
43<br />
Australia Needs to<br />
Accelerate Renewables<br />
to Meet 2020 Target<br />
The<br />
needed<br />
power this<br />
year is<br />
equivalent<br />
to about<br />
20 large<br />
windfarms.<br />
Photo by<br />
ZME Science<br />
If Australia still wants to meet<br />
the 2020 target of 33,000 gigawatt<br />
hours, they need to accelerate on<br />
its efforts in forwarding renewable<br />
able. This is according to the Renewable<br />
Energy Target 2015 administrative<br />
report.<br />
The report indicated that in 2015,<br />
only about 409 megawatts of renewable<br />
energy was committed,<br />
which requires this year to produce<br />
3,000 megawatts to stay on<br />
track with the 2020 target – a more<br />
than sevenfold increase from last<br />
year. The needed power this year is<br />
equivalent to about 20 large windfarms.<br />
The figures that were committed<br />
mean to projects that are considered<br />
virtually certain to be built,<br />
and have been backed by financing<br />
and power purchase agreements<br />
to proceed.<br />
The 2016 commitments, according<br />
to the chair of the Clean Energy<br />
Regulator Chloe Munro, reach<br />
to about 400 megawatts only, far<br />
from the 3,000 megawatts necessary<br />
power for 2016.<br />
There a silver lining though: the<br />
same report indicates that 9,000<br />
megawatts of large-scale renewable<br />
projects have been approved<br />
for development, but still uncertain<br />
whether such projects will be<br />
financed.<br />
“A regrouping is taking place and<br />
we will see innovations in the way<br />
that investments are made in the<br />
future,” Munro said. “We said it<br />
was adequate under the circumstances<br />
and I think the requirement<br />
to pick up the pace was quite<br />
important and we are looking forward<br />
to seeing that.”<br />
Andrew Bray, the national coordinator<br />
for the Australian Wind Alliance,<br />
reiterates the need of retailers<br />
to commit in buying energy for<br />
new renewable projects. He thinks<br />
that energy retailers should already<br />
commit before getting fined.<br />
He also shares his insight about<br />
the government making clear the<br />
benefits of the 2020 vision, which<br />
markets are unable to hold a grasp<br />
on.<br />
ISSUE NO.004 RENEWABLE ENERGY
44 ISSUE NO.004 RENEWABLE ENERGY<br />
UAE HOLDS A<br />
$1 MILLION<br />
CHALLENGE<br />
TO END<br />
WATER<br />
SCARCITY<br />
Water scarcity is a serious crisis, especially<br />
for desert countries like UAE.<br />
That’s why the UAE Water Aid Foundation<br />
(Suqia) had announced the<br />
start of registrations for the Mohammed<br />
bin Rashid Al Maktoum Global<br />
Water Award.<br />
This aims to bring about sustainable<br />
ideas that would help against water<br />
scarcity.<br />
There are three main categories to the<br />
competition: The Innovative Projects<br />
Award worth USD 500,000.00, The<br />
Innovative Research and Development<br />
Award consisting of National<br />
and International Institutions worth<br />
USD 200,000.00 each, and the Inno-<br />
vative Youth Award amounting to<br />
USD 100,000.00<br />
“This award supports the efforts of<br />
Dubai and the UAE to help alleviate<br />
the suffering of the needy around the<br />
world.” Saeed Mohammed Al Tayer,<br />
Chairman of the foundation.<br />
“The foundation is working to provide<br />
water to the disadvantaged and<br />
distressed.” He added.<br />
This might be a good way to further<br />
the studies directed towards water<br />
shortage around the world and it<br />
might be the source of a new and renewable<br />
system.<br />
Photo by Microgrid Projects
45<br />
UAE TO BUILD<br />
MAN-MADE<br />
MOUNTAIN<br />
TO IMPROVE<br />
RAINFALL<br />
Photo by Drew Custer<br />
The inherent problem of rainfall in the<br />
UAE has led them to the revolutionary<br />
idea of developing a man-made mountain<br />
to create more rainfall.<br />
US-based University Corporation for Atmospheric<br />
Research (UCAR) manages<br />
the National Center for Atmospheric Research<br />
(NCAR) which is now in ‘detailed<br />
modelling study,’ according to NCAR<br />
scientist and lead researcher Roelof Bruintjes.<br />
Bruintjes told Arabian Business, “What<br />
we are looking at is basically evaluating<br />
the effects on weather through the type<br />
of mountain, how high it should be and<br />
how the slopes should be. We will have a<br />
report of the first phase this summer as an<br />
initial step.”<br />
UCAR, in a collab with National Center<br />
of Meteorology & Seismology (NCMS),<br />
was given a funding of $400,000 in February<br />
last year to evaluate the effects of<br />
building a mountain on the weather.<br />
The said mountain will help in forcing the<br />
air to rise which will create clouds that can<br />
be seeded. Cloud seeding has been the<br />
solution of UAE through NCMS’s meteorological<br />
department, however it just isn’t<br />
enough. The department revealed that<br />
$558,000 was spent on their cloud seeding<br />
activity last year.<br />
“If [the project] is too expensive for [the<br />
government], logically the project won’t<br />
go through, but this gives them an idea of<br />
what kind of alternatives there are for the<br />
long-term future,” Bruintjes said. “If it goes<br />
through, the second phase would be to go<br />
to an engineering company and decide<br />
whether it is possible or not.”<br />
ISSUE NO.004 RENEWABLE ENERGY
46 ISSUE NO.004 RENEWABLE ENERGY<br />
MAN ON A MISSION<br />
ELON MUSK: THE REAL IRON MAN<br />
OF RENEWABLE ENERGY<br />
Hailed as “a Renaissance man this era that needs them”<br />
by Iron Man himself, Robert Downey Jr.,<br />
Elon Musk lived out the comic-book<br />
engineering prodigy behind Iron Man.<br />
Photo by WIRED
47<br />
“WE'RE RUNNING THE MOST<br />
dangerous experiment in history right<br />
now, which is to see how much carbon<br />
dioxide the atmosphere can handle before<br />
there is an environmental catastrophe,”<br />
says one of the world’s famous tech<br />
entrepreneur,<br />
Just like that, Elon Musk had us at his<br />
concern for the environment.<br />
If you don’t know who this engineer is,<br />
then you must have been living under a<br />
rock. Any engineer dedicated to his/her<br />
field knows that Elon Musk has made a<br />
reputation in business and engineering.<br />
Hailed as “a Renaissance man this era<br />
that needs them” by Iron Man himself,<br />
Robert Downey Jr., Elon Musk is the<br />
closest person we can compare to the<br />
famous Marvel character. If you think<br />
about it, Musk lived out the comic-book<br />
engineering prodigy behind Iron Man.<br />
Some really do consider him as the real<br />
life Iron Man. Well, that could be possible.<br />
Born in South Africa, this Canadian-American<br />
inventor graduated with a<br />
physics and business degree in the University<br />
of Pennsylvania, went to Stanford<br />
for a PhD in physics but dropped<br />
out to hustle with the tech business.<br />
He is known as the “It boy of the Silicon<br />
Valley”, a risk taker, and many more<br />
amazing calls. To back these up, he is<br />
called as such because of achieving unbelievable<br />
heights. He is a rare genius<br />
with futuristic ambitions. He pioneered<br />
the following companies and projects<br />
aligned with his aspirations in the areas<br />
of internet, energy, and outer space.<br />
Musk is currently the CEO and CTO of<br />
SpaceX, a company that focuses on designing,<br />
manufacturing and launching<br />
advanced rockets and spacecraft. He<br />
is also the CEO and product architect<br />
of Tesla Motors, providing the world<br />
premium electric vehicles. As if being<br />
CEO of two big companies isn’t enough,<br />
he’s also the co-chairman of OpenAI,<br />
a non-profit artificial intelligence research<br />
company.<br />
He has made it his mission to change<br />
the world and save humanity. How exactly<br />
will he be able to do these things?<br />
He plans to lead us in the transition to<br />
sustainable clean energy. Being labeled as<br />
the 68th wealthiest man in the US (with<br />
$12.3 billion in his pocket), he is set to<br />
make this happen. This is one of his motivations<br />
on why he started SolarCity,<br />
which is focused on providing the growing<br />
solar energy demands of the United<br />
States. How very noble for someone who<br />
has all the money in the world.<br />
ON HIS ACHIEVEMENTS<br />
For all of his innovations and groundbreaking<br />
projects, Musk has received numerous<br />
recognitions.<br />
Some of which are as follows: In 2010,<br />
he was listed as one of Time <strong>Magazine</strong>’s<br />
100 people who most affected the world.<br />
On the same year he was awarded by the<br />
Fédération Aéronautique Internationale<br />
with the highest award in air and space,<br />
the FAI Gold Space Medal, for designing<br />
the first privately developed rocket<br />
to reach orbit. Musk was also named by<br />
Esquire magazine as one of the 75 most<br />
influential people of the 21st century.<br />
Forbes listed him as one of “America’s 20<br />
Most Powerful CEOs 40 and under”.<br />
He is recognized as a Living Legend<br />
in Aviation in 2010 by the Kitty Hawk<br />
Foundation for creating the Falcon 9<br />
rocket and Dragon spacecraft—the successor<br />
to the Space Shuttle. In 2010, he<br />
was the Automotive Executive of the<br />
Year (worldwide) for showing technology<br />
leadership and innovation via Tesla<br />
Motors. In 2012, he was awarded with<br />
the Royal aeronautical’s Society’s highest<br />
award, a Gold Medal.<br />
WHY HE’S DIFFERENT<br />
FROM OTHER INNOVATORS<br />
Because of his great contributions, Musk<br />
is regarded as the most relevant personality<br />
among space nuts, business freaks,<br />
clean tech lovers, electric car enthusiasts,<br />
and coding nerds, among others.<br />
But there’s more to Elon Musk than his<br />
wide variety of innovation fields that he<br />
is admired for – he appears at the front<br />
of the pack of innovation masterminds<br />
because of who he is as a person.<br />
It doesn’t take so much of psychology<br />
and personality assessment to realize<br />
the main reason why he is well-loved<br />
by people. Musk shows us he is a human<br />
being just like us – unlike others<br />
who feel superior in a crowd, Elon Musk<br />
speaking in front of an audience feels<br />
like he is just talking with a friend, even<br />
when he is already delivering a speech<br />
full of tech jargons. The way he answers<br />
questions is so real, that his level of engagement<br />
is unparalleled.<br />
The moment he is thrown with a question,<br />
he speaks with dignity not only<br />
with his mouth but also with his inquisitive<br />
and searching eyes. Elon may be<br />
interrupting himself at times but only to<br />
make his piece a more understandable<br />
context to the audience. Ultimately, his<br />
greatest asset is to make big dreams be a<br />
believable reality to his audience.<br />
In their company, Solar City, Musk<br />
along with his cousins Peter and Lyndon<br />
Rive aim to power homes using solar<br />
energy. They plan to make clean energy<br />
available to homeowners, businesses,<br />
schools, non-profits and government<br />
organizations at costs that are lower<br />
than if they were to use energy generated<br />
by non-renewable energy sources.<br />
Solar City has completed installations in<br />
27 states with more than 90 operation<br />
centers. The company makes switching<br />
to clean energy easier by analyzing their<br />
customer’s energy usage and identifying<br />
the different opportunities for improvements.<br />
According to their website they<br />
are the only company “that offers integrated<br />
sales, financing, design, installation,<br />
monitoring and efficiency services<br />
from a single source, without requiring<br />
the services of multiple third-parties.”<br />
Another reason why we admire Musk<br />
is his crazy ideas that could ultimately<br />
become true in the near future. A fun<br />
fact you might have missed about Elon<br />
Musk: He wants to make human life on<br />
Mars to be possible. As he phrases it, he<br />
is “making life multiplanetary.”<br />
ISSUE NO.004 RENEWABLE ENERGY
48 ISSUE NO.004 RENEWABLE ENERGY<br />
“It’s not as though we can keep burning coal in<br />
our power plants. Coal is a finite resource, too.<br />
We must find alternatives, and it’s a better idea<br />
to find alternatives sooner then wait until we<br />
run out of coal...”<br />
ON CARBON PRICING<br />
AND ENERGY<br />
EDUCATION<br />
At the World Energy Innovation Forum<br />
held at the Tesla Headquarters last<br />
May 4th, Musk challenged the masses<br />
to be educated in order to spark a “sort<br />
of revolt” to end the “unrelenting and<br />
enormous” promises set by the fossil<br />
fuel industry.<br />
Musk also announced his support for<br />
carbon pricing as a means to lessen the<br />
amount of subsidies that the creation<br />
and use of fossil fuels present. Though<br />
subsidies are provided to electric vehicles,<br />
it still does not equal the subsidies<br />
that the gasoline powered vehicles get.<br />
Musk proclaimed that this “weakens<br />
the economic forcing function to transition<br />
to sustainable transport and energy.”<br />
As Musk showed his stand on the<br />
effects of climate change in the country,<br />
other people present in the forum have<br />
different takes on this “new direction”<br />
of the electricity magnate.<br />
Photo by Electrek<br />
In one of his speeches, he expresses his<br />
take on coal and and carbon pricing:<br />
“It’s not as though we can keep burning<br />
coal in our power plants. Coal is a<br />
finite resource, too. We must find alternatives,<br />
and it's a better idea to find<br />
alternatives sooner then wait until we<br />
run out of coal, and in the meantime,<br />
put God knows how many trillions of<br />
tons of CO2 that used to be buried underground<br />
into the atmosphere.”<br />
“The reality is gas prices should be<br />
much more expensive then they are because<br />
we're not incorporating the true<br />
damage to the environment and the<br />
hidden costs of mining oil and transporting<br />
it to the U.S. Whenever you<br />
have an unpriced externality, you have<br />
a bit of a market failure, to the degree<br />
that eternality remains unpriced.”<br />
HOW HE INSPIRES<br />
ENGINEERS AND<br />
INNOVATORS<br />
More than a guy having a public speaking<br />
command is a guy who cares a lot<br />
about humanity. His dedication and<br />
commitment towards helping society<br />
proves so, through Tesla Motors which<br />
produces environmentally friendly<br />
electric cars; through SpaceX which<br />
will provide sooner or later an unprecedented<br />
transportation system that<br />
will benefit generations; and through<br />
SolarCity which gives clean, abundant,<br />
and socioeconomically decentralized<br />
source of electricity generation.<br />
All these and more are enough reasons<br />
to admire our real-life Iron Man. With<br />
the magazine covers he is in, the media<br />
companies parading his name, his<br />
special television appearances, his fans<br />
are deeply reminded of how great Elon<br />
Musk is. There is no shame to be called<br />
an Elon fan boy or a fan girl, because<br />
Elon Musk’s accomplishments and<br />
himself are indeed worth celebrating.
49<br />
Subsidies in<br />
Wrong Places<br />
Affect<br />
Renewable<br />
Energy<br />
IS GREEN CREDIT<br />
STILL VALUABLE?<br />
Renewable energy has been increasing<br />
incredibly. Wind power<br />
and solar power share of the total<br />
U.S power generation has increased<br />
from 0.5% in 2005 to 5%<br />
in 2015. This growth shows both<br />
the innovation that has been lowering<br />
the costs and different subsidies<br />
which include accelerated depreciation,<br />
tax credits and grants,<br />
loan guarantees, and state renewable<br />
power mandates.<br />
Renewable energy’s value is usually<br />
lower because investments do<br />
not always target the highest quality<br />
resource—solar power goes to<br />
where subsidies are, not where the<br />
sun shines.<br />
Innovation has brought lower<br />
costs for wind, solar and their<br />
competitors. This has lowered the<br />
cost of U.S natural gas, wherein<br />
the price of natural gas delivered<br />
to the power sector in 2015<br />
is equal to one-third of the price<br />
than it was in 2008.<br />
As the cost of power production<br />
has fallen, it is the same for the<br />
demand for electricity. Electricity<br />
consumption in the U.S. has fallen<br />
by 1 percent because of subsidies<br />
and standards targeting energy efficiency.<br />
In other parts of the U.S.,<br />
the costs of wind and solar may be<br />
competitive with new coal or natural<br />
gas facilities, but new renewable<br />
investment competes with<br />
existing, lower-cost power plants.<br />
These findings result in utilities<br />
relying more on the use of natural<br />
gas than renewables. This is<br />
due to the fact that natural gas is<br />
still more efficient in following the<br />
changes in energy demand.<br />
Going green is the latest trend. Every big corporate is<br />
claiming to have gone 100 percent green these days.<br />
But some say that it is just a feel-good scam.<br />
When we say 100 percent green, we imply<br />
that the company is getting all of its power<br />
from wind, solar, geothermal, or biofuels<br />
plants. Companies might be claiming to<br />
do so for the environment, but their actual<br />
purpose is also attaining a Renewable<br />
Energy Certificate (REC).<br />
The RECs certifies that a company is obtaining<br />
all its power supply from renewable<br />
sources of energy. According to a<br />
study shared by the National Renewable<br />
Energy Lab of the U.S. Department of<br />
Energy, around 13,000 customers bought<br />
10.5 billion certificates in 2007. Nobody<br />
knows exactly what these cost, but the<br />
lab’s best estimates a range from $100 million<br />
to $500 million.<br />
The practice of purchasing the certificates<br />
has also been supported by the Federal<br />
agencies. Annual awards are handed over<br />
by the EPA to the companies who purchase<br />
green power through REC suppliers.<br />
This, in turn, encourages competition<br />
between universities and other organizations<br />
vying to be the greenest among them<br />
all.<br />
If this is not enough, then we also have the<br />
World Resources Institute and the World<br />
Wildlife Fund that published a guide<br />
book, the Renewable Energy Buyers’ Principles,<br />
on helping companies formulate<br />
strategies to go 100 percent clean. The<br />
simplest avenue available is to purchase<br />
renewable-energy certificates (RECs), or<br />
credits, that enable companies to claim<br />
100 percent renewable sources without<br />
getting their power directly from solar<br />
panels or wind turbines.<br />
The government has not issued any defined<br />
set of rules to verify that the companies<br />
are actually using the renewable<br />
energy sources. While some countries<br />
claim that they have laws that mandate<br />
third-party audits, many do not. Getting<br />
there still involves a complicated set of<br />
decisions, compromises, tough conversations<br />
with utilities, and financial maneuvering.<br />
What drives this trend of going<br />
green are the reducing prices for renewable<br />
energy certificates, strict government<br />
policies, public and shareholder pressure,<br />
and a growing body of evidence that is<br />
provided by opting for renewables over<br />
fossil fuels. Hundreds of companies like<br />
Intel, Cisco and IBM had already purchased<br />
RECs but continued to buy power<br />
from conventional utilities generating<br />
electricity for fossil fuel. It has now just<br />
become a big business for green credit.<br />
However, the I-REC Standard issued a<br />
stand about issuing certificates and generators<br />
stating that they provide energy<br />
attribute tracking systems that are easily<br />
implemented to consumers in all regions<br />
as for compliance. They believe that consumers<br />
are given a choice to where they<br />
consume electricity and get resources<br />
within their region. They added that attributes<br />
and uses of renewable electricity<br />
purchased is also disclosed by end-users.<br />
ISSUE NO.004 RENEWABLE ENERGY
50 ISSUE NO.004 RENEWABLE ENERGY<br />
GERMANY<br />
HAD TO PAY<br />
PEOPLE TO<br />
USE POWER<br />
DUE TO<br />
RENEWABLE<br />
ENERGY<br />
SURPLUS<br />
If there’s one country that is way ahead of<br />
us when it comes to renewable energy, it<br />
would be Germany. Why? Because they<br />
are already paying people to use electricity!<br />
The overwhelming heat and powerful<br />
winds enabled this in Germany to happen.<br />
The country’s solar, wind, hydro and<br />
biomass plants provided 55 GW of the<br />
consumed 63 GW, which is about 87 per<br />
cent.<br />
The power prices getting below zero for<br />
several hours on May 8, Sunday, indicated<br />
that the commercial customers were being<br />
paid to consume electricity.<br />
Christoph Podewils of Agora Energiewende,<br />
a think tank and policy laboratory<br />
in Germany funded by the European<br />
Climate Foundation and the Stiftung<br />
Mercator, said, “We have a greater share of<br />
renewable energy every year. The power<br />
system adapted to this quite nicely. This<br />
day shows again that a system with large<br />
amounts of renewable energy works fine.”<br />
This feat in renewable energy by Germany<br />
is good news especially that they plan<br />
to hit 100% renewable energy by 2050 –<br />
but ultimately a bad news for the gas power,<br />
nuclear and coal plants, as they have to<br />
be shut down.<br />
SOLAR MICROGRID<br />
REDUCES CARBON<br />
EMISSIONS BY 50%<br />
Stone Edge Farm Estate Vineyards first<br />
installed their solar microgrid and other<br />
renewable technologies some time ago,<br />
and their aim was to cut carbon emission<br />
by 50 percent.<br />
The vineyard was able to reach this goal<br />
within a year. Now, they are aiming to attain<br />
below-zero carbon emissions by using<br />
renewable energy and storage.<br />
They are located on a 16-acre organic<br />
winery and farm from Sonoma, California.<br />
The microgrid includes batteries<br />
from Aquion Energy and power conversion<br />
technologies from Ideal Power.<br />
According to Matt Maroon, the vice president<br />
and product management for Aquion,<br />
the project is one of a number of microgrids<br />
that now uses Aquion Energy’s<br />
batteries. This particular on includes 14<br />
Aquion M-Line Battery Modules which<br />
are 25 kWh each, and provides about 350<br />
kEh of energy storage capacity in total.<br />
These will be connected to a 32-kW solar<br />
array.<br />
Photo by Clean Technica
51<br />
SOLAR ENERGY FOR<br />
FREE HOT SHOWERS<br />
NOW A THING<br />
Instead of letting excess solar power from your panels go<br />
back to the national grid, you can now use it to heat the<br />
water in your house instead of spending money on electric or<br />
gas-powered heaters.<br />
Yup, it’s that time of the month again<br />
when you have to whip out your wallet<br />
and pay your bills. I’m willing to<br />
bet that one of the biggest leeches in<br />
your finances is your electricity bill;<br />
it’s just so hard to cut down!<br />
We’ve all heard of solar technology,<br />
where energy from the sun is harvested<br />
using solar panels on your roof or<br />
yard and turned into usable electricity.<br />
The main drawback of this, however,<br />
is that when the sun’s up and your<br />
house is basically overflowing with<br />
power, you’re out in the world doing<br />
adult stuff! And when you come<br />
home at night, unless you have a decent<br />
(and expensive) energy storage<br />
system, you’ll be back to using regular<br />
ol’ technology.<br />
Well, worry no more because new<br />
technologies are available to help<br />
you out. Power Diverter, for example,<br />
promises to store all the energy it can<br />
from your solar panel array. And what<br />
it can’t save, it will divert to your water<br />
tank instead of routing it back to<br />
the national grid. Not only will this<br />
heat your water for those long, hot<br />
showers spent pondering life’s biggest<br />
questions, Power Diverter can use the<br />
hot water to create thermal energy for<br />
more electricity!<br />
It’s basically having two batteries –<br />
one an actual battery, and the other<br />
your water tank – but you get free hot<br />
water on the side!<br />
Photo by Home Advisor Homesource<br />
ISSUE NO.004 RENEWABLE ENERGY
52 ISSUE NO.004 RENEWABLE ENERGY<br />
EUROPE AND US CELEBRATE<br />
SOLAR MILESTONES IN 2016<br />
Campaigns to celebrate milestones<br />
in solar power systems installations<br />
were launched by solar<br />
industry associations in the United<br />
States and Europe.<br />
In Europe, SolarPower Europe,<br />
which was formerly known as the<br />
European Photovoltaic Industry<br />
Association, said that according<br />
to the HIS Inc. data, Europe was<br />
able to complete the installation of<br />
100 GW of solar PV. The association<br />
plans to celebrate the event in<br />
September.<br />
“In the current post-feed-in tariff<br />
climate, we must make sure we<br />
have the right electricity market<br />
design and the right long-term investment<br />
signals for solar to flourish.<br />
We hope that the European<br />
Commission’s forthcoming market<br />
design reform and Renewable<br />
Energy Directive will pave the way<br />
for the 200 GW benchmark.” Said<br />
James Watson, CEO of SolarPower<br />
Europe.<br />
US President Barack Obama<br />
joined in on the Solar Energy<br />
Industries Association in their<br />
#MillionSolarStrong campaign,<br />
tweeting that the U.S. has recently<br />
achieved one million solar installations,<br />
which is enough to power<br />
5.5 million homes.<br />
SEIA launched the #MillionSolar-<br />
Strong campaign to celebrate this<br />
milestone. The association said<br />
that the campaign got support<br />
from more than 70 organizations<br />
signing an official declaration in<br />
favor of solar.<br />
“By signing this declaration, we are<br />
joining the #MillionSolarStrong,<br />
and counting, who support the<br />
local jobs, economic activity, and<br />
stronger, healthier communities<br />
that solar energy is generating for<br />
all Americans.” The declaration<br />
stated.<br />
Photo by Clean Technica
53<br />
Photo by Extreme Tech<br />
#EUsolar100GW<br />
Europe completed the<br />
installation of 100 GW<br />
of solar PV.<br />
#MillionSolarStrong<br />
The United States hit one<br />
million solar installations,<br />
enough to power 5.5<br />
million homes.<br />
ISSUE NO.004 RENEWABLE ENERGY
54 ISSUE NO.004 RENEWABLE ENERGY<br />
WILL THE GROWING<br />
SOLAR POWER OF USA<br />
REACH ITS LOW-INCOME<br />
COMMUNITIES?<br />
America, being one of the frontrunners in<br />
green technology, has gone to its millionth<br />
solar installation now collectively up to 27<br />
gigawatts of capacity spreading to the 50<br />
states. It comprises 1 per cent of U.S. electricity,<br />
but can grow even more.<br />
The increasing solar energy efforts of<br />
United States may reach to a million more<br />
but until then, will the solar power be felt<br />
among disadvantaged communities?<br />
Giving solar power to low-income communities<br />
will mean lower utility bills and<br />
well-paid career opportunities that will<br />
not require advanced training. When<br />
there are solar farms, jobs will be generated<br />
and will help in the welfare of the people.<br />
The alarming statistics of 22 million<br />
owner-occupied households in the US<br />
have incomes at or below 80 per cent of<br />
their area median income.<br />
But it will not come easy to them as significant<br />
barriers prevent them to flourish,<br />
despite the solar costs dropping 17 percent.<br />
There will be upfront costs, housing<br />
status, and the economic vulnerability of<br />
lower-income families.<br />
Africa already has the solar power initiative<br />
in small communities. Source: Policy<br />
Innovations<br />
There is some hope, though, considering<br />
that the US government in all levels already<br />
think about solar as a cost-effective<br />
means to provide energy, through developing<br />
policies like the Low Income Solar<br />
Act pushed by the Congress. Such policy<br />
will provide grants and loans for solar<br />
project in low-income communities.<br />
It will not be far that the disadvantaged<br />
communities will be reached by solar<br />
power. With the kind of growth US has<br />
with solar renewable energy, it be likely<br />
that even before the next millionth, people<br />
from low-income communities will<br />
already benefit from solar power.<br />
Photo by UPI
55<br />
RENEWABLES<br />
OVERTAKING<br />
FOSSIL FUELS<br />
IN UNITED<br />
STATES<br />
MEXICO’S PRICE OF<br />
RENEWABLES IS<br />
THE BEST MODEL<br />
FOR THE UNITED STATES<br />
Undeniably, America is one of the global<br />
leaders when comes to renewable energy,<br />
but its true price – free from subsidies and<br />
mandates – is yet to be known. Former<br />
Energy Secretary Steven Chu, who now<br />
teaches at Stanford University, suggested<br />
to look at Mexico for some comparison.<br />
Comisión Federal de Electricidad (CFE),<br />
which is Mexico’s state utility, has been<br />
removed last March from the state-owned<br />
monopoly which ran for 80 years. CFE<br />
was then left open for private companies<br />
to bid to supply for solar, wind, hydro, cogeneration,<br />
combined-cycle gas, and geothermal<br />
energy.<br />
He said that the cost per kilowatt-hour is<br />
only 4¢ to 4.5¢, bare from the mandates,<br />
in both solar and wind. This is because it<br />
has no production tax credit, no investment<br />
tax credit, and no renewable portfolio<br />
standard: in short, it’s just money with<br />
a little profit. The International Energy<br />
Agency or the U.S. Energy Information<br />
Administration predicted that solar may<br />
cost a minimum of 8.9¢ per kilowatt-hour<br />
in 2020. This is still cheaper than the adjusted<br />
average price GTM Research in<br />
Mexico released, which is 5¢ per kilowatt-hour<br />
in 2016 from 4¢ to 4.5¢.<br />
He said that the cost per kilowatt-hour is<br />
only 4¢ to 4.5¢, bare from the mandates,<br />
in both solar and wind. This is because it<br />
has no production tax credit, no investment<br />
tax credit, and no renewable portfolio<br />
standard: in short, it’s just money with<br />
a little profit. The International Energy<br />
Agency or the U.S. Energy Information<br />
Administration predicted that solar may<br />
cost a minimum of 8.9¢ per kilowatt-hour<br />
in 2020. This is still cheaper than the adjusted<br />
average price GTM Research in<br />
Mexico released, which is 5¢ per kilowatt-hour<br />
in 2016 from 4¢ to 4.5¢.<br />
“Clean energy is actually getting much<br />
cheaper than even I, as a perennial technical<br />
optimist, thought it was going to be,”<br />
Chu said. But it’s just in Mexico. If only<br />
America will realize the weight of imposing<br />
tax credits on their renewable energy,<br />
just like what Mexico already realized,<br />
renewable energy could bloom best in<br />
the nation where energy crises may soon<br />
arise.<br />
Photo by The Energy Collective<br />
According to reports,<br />
renewable energy<br />
has been the greatest<br />
source of new power<br />
to the electricity in<br />
the United States<br />
last year.<br />
According to reports, renewable energy<br />
has been the greatest source of new power<br />
to the electricity in the United States Last<br />
Year. Reports showed that developers installed<br />
16GW or 68% of clean energy in<br />
2015!<br />
In 2015, gas-powered power plants were<br />
accounted for 25% of the capacity added<br />
to the grids and a large number of coal<br />
plants were shut down. 11GW went offline<br />
by October and 3GW of the capacity<br />
was expected to close in November and<br />
December.<br />
According to the report: “The already<br />
rapid de-carbonization of the US power<br />
sector accelerated with record numbers of<br />
coal plant closures and solar photovoltaic<br />
system commissionings, while natural gas<br />
production and consumption hit an alltime<br />
high. Concurrently, the US continued<br />
to enjoy greater benefits from energy<br />
efficiency efforts as economic growth outpaced<br />
the growth in electricity consumption.”<br />
This year, the Energy Information Administration<br />
estimates the renewable generation<br />
will grow 9% in the US.<br />
ISSUE NO.004 RENEWABLE ENERGY
56 ISSUE NO.004 RENEWABLE ENERGY<br />
MIT CHEMICAL<br />
ENGINEERING<br />
TEAM CREATES<br />
BIOPROCESS<br />
TO CONVERT<br />
WASTE GASES<br />
TO BIOFUELS
57<br />
The effects of carbon emissions to our environment<br />
has been—and is still one of<br />
the most difficult to combat. Many have<br />
tried different methods to combat carbon<br />
emissions and one of the best ways to do<br />
this is to transform these harmful emissions<br />
into something useful.<br />
Gregory Stephanopoulos, the Willard<br />
Henry Dow Professor in Chemical <strong>Engineering</strong><br />
at MIT; postdoc Amit Kumar<br />
PhD ’10, from the Department of Chemical<br />
<strong>Engineering</strong>; and their team have<br />
released a research paper in the Proceedings<br />
of the National Academy of Sciences.<br />
Their study is about utilizing bacteria to<br />
turn waste gases into biofuels.<br />
To be able to convert wasted gases which<br />
contain carbon dioxide into biofuels, the<br />
process involves using bacteria to convert<br />
the waste gases into acetic acid, or vinegar,<br />
which is then converted into oil by an engineered<br />
yeast.<br />
Being able to utilize waste as a new resource<br />
is certainly a ground-breaking discovery<br />
in the fuel production industry.<br />
Q: Tell us a little bit about your research<br />
and why it’s significant.<br />
A: We developed a novel bioprocess for<br />
converting waste gases containing carbon<br />
dioxide and a reducing gas such as<br />
hydrogen or carbon monoxide into biofuels.<br />
Our process uses bacteria to convert<br />
waste gases into acetic acid — vinegar —<br />
which is subsequently converted to oil by<br />
an engineered yeast. It is a very interesting<br />
story of pairing distinct microbes to take<br />
advantage of their unique metabolisms in<br />
creating a gas-to-liquids process.<br />
In the United Sates, biodiesel — a primary<br />
alternative to petroleum-diesel — is the<br />
second-most abundant biologically derived<br />
transportation fuel. This bio-based<br />
diesel is currently produced from vegetable<br />
or seed oil (lipids) obtained from<br />
crops including canola, palm, or soybean,<br />
which are costly and limited in available<br />
supply. Similarly sugar-based biofuels are<br />
not favored due to high feedstock costs.<br />
Our bioprocess paves the way for use of<br />
potentially cheaper gaseous feedstocks,<br />
which can be obtained from gasification<br />
of methane or municipal solid waste, but<br />
can also be derived from the exhaust gases<br />
of steel manufacturing. As anyone can<br />
imagine, availability of these sources is<br />
huge.<br />
An important feature of our method is<br />
that it utilizes waste as a “resource” allowing<br />
a very low or even negative cost for<br />
the feedstock. In a broader sense, implementation<br />
of these concepts for fuel production<br />
may extend to a number of commercially<br />
important biological platforms<br />
depending on the potential sources of<br />
synthesis gas or its conversion products,<br />
namely, volatile fatty acids.<br />
Q: What changes did you need to make in<br />
your process to scale up from your pilot<br />
plant outside Shanghai to the much larger<br />
“semi-commercial” demonstration plant<br />
that’s set to begin construction?<br />
A: Scaling up involves many challenges.<br />
In a small bioreactor, microorganisms and<br />
media are easy to control and well distrib-<br />
uted in the system. However, spatial variations<br />
arise in a larger system requiring<br />
sophisticated models and lots of calculations<br />
to generate a design that works well.<br />
Another challenge is the logistics and parameters<br />
involved in running a bioreactor<br />
of several thousand liters, or even bigger,<br />
without mixing issues.<br />
An additional issue is the robustness of<br />
operation. In the lab, graduate students<br />
can adjust the operational parameters at<br />
will, as frequently as needed, to provide<br />
optimal fermentation conditions for days.<br />
In a pilot plant, there is limited capacity<br />
to make these adjustments and the continuous<br />
system must be kept stable for<br />
months. This imposes higher requirement<br />
for the robustness of the microbes and the<br />
overall process.<br />
Successful operation of a pilot plant for<br />
months indicates that the whole gas-toliquid<br />
fuel process is technologically feasible<br />
under semi-industrial conditions. But<br />
that is only the first step in the developmental<br />
process. Cost-effectiveness is another<br />
important requirement. Assessment<br />
of the economic feasibility of the process<br />
is the major goal of operating a pilot plant,<br />
and/or semi-commercial demonstration<br />
plant. The fixed assets required for pilot<br />
construction determine capital costs of<br />
a future commercial plant. Additionally,<br />
runs at pilot scale better define energy<br />
requirements, product quality, and other<br />
factors like substrate pre-treatment, heating,<br />
and cooling, and product recovery<br />
required by a production plant.<br />
Q: What will be some areas of future research<br />
for your group?<br />
A: We want to enhance our understanding<br />
of the basic physiology of the organisms<br />
involved in the process and develop<br />
better biological toolkits for their genetic<br />
modulation to allow production of various<br />
products by metabolic engineering.<br />
Additionally, we would like to better understand<br />
gasification and other potential<br />
supply routes of the gaseous feedstocks in<br />
order to maximize the cost effectiveness of<br />
the process.<br />
Photos by MIT<br />
ISSUE NO.004 RENEWABLE ENERGY
58 ISSUE NO.004 RENEWABLE ENERGY<br />
CLEAN ENERGY<br />
BUSINESS COUNCIL:<br />
TOWARDS A<br />
GREENER WORLD<br />
COMPOSED OF ORGANIZATIONS from<br />
private and public sectors, the Clean Energy Business<br />
Council (CEBC) is focused in the promotion of a greener<br />
world by advocating renewables, energy efficiency,<br />
smart grid, energy storage and clean energy technology<br />
and solutions. It is the stage of stakeholders to convene<br />
with ideas, technologies and projects and also the platform<br />
for dialogue between member sectors to develop<br />
policies that will forward the use of clean energy across<br />
the MENA region.<br />
THE PERSONS BEHIND<br />
Sharath Coorg is the Director of Acquisitions & Project<br />
Finance at ACWA Power, a leading project developer<br />
and one of CEBC’s Founding members. Sharath was<br />
born in India and specializes in emerging markets covering<br />
both conventional and renewable energy projects.<br />
His job includes traveling to many countries, working<br />
on power and water desalination projects in Saudi Arabia,<br />
UAE, Czech Republic, Germany, Mozambique, and<br />
Vietnam.<br />
Sarah Fitzgerald is GM at the Clean Energy Business<br />
Council. With a background in communications, she<br />
got involved in the not-for-profit sector doing fundraising<br />
for various charities. A New Zealander, she moved<br />
to Dubai with her husband and her young daughter five<br />
years ago beginning her career in renewable energy with<br />
the Middle East Solar Industry Association, before joining<br />
the Clean Energy Business Council in 2014.<br />
Sharath Coorg<br />
Director, Acquisitions and<br />
Project Finance at ACWA Power<br />
Sarah Fitzgerald<br />
General Manager, CEBC
59<br />
THE CLEAN ENERGY BUSINESS COUNCIL<br />
<strong>GineersNow</strong>: Are you an educational institution, social<br />
enterprise, non-profit or private company?<br />
CEBC: Clean Energy Business Council (CEBC) is a<br />
non-profit organization dedicated to promoting clean<br />
energy including renewables, energy efficiency, smart<br />
grid, energy storage and clean energy technology and<br />
solutions for the environmental sector. Established in<br />
2008 by a group of leading institutions, companies and<br />
individuals who recognized the potential for a clean<br />
energy revolution in the MENA region, CEBC creates<br />
a forum for stakeholders to come together to exchange<br />
ideas, share information and facilitate projects. CEBC<br />
provides a platform to further dialogue between the<br />
public and private sectors to develop much needed<br />
policy and regulation to help drive the implementation<br />
of clean energy across the MENA region.<br />
GN: How big is your company?<br />
CEBC: CEBC is a membership organization comprising<br />
almost 100 members from private and public sectors<br />
which include Masdar, Dubai Supreme Council<br />
of Energy, Dubai Carbon Centre of Excellence, Etihad<br />
ESCO, Oman Regulatory Authority, Schneider Electric,<br />
First Solar, Enel Green Power, Adenium Energy,<br />
Enerwhere, Ashurst, Itron, and Latham & Watkins,<br />
among others. CEBC is governed by a Board of Directors,<br />
under the helm of His Excellency Dr. Nasser<br />
Saidi, former Chief Economist for Dubai International<br />
Finance Centre (DIFC) and former Minister of Trade<br />
& Economy and Industry of the Lebanese Government.<br />
With offices based in Masdar City, CEBC’s mandate<br />
covers the Middle East and North Africa region and<br />
employs a staff of three, in addition to a voluntary Advisory<br />
Committee who provide guidance on technical<br />
matters and policy and regulatory recommendations.<br />
GN: Describe your mission, vision and values.<br />
CEBC: CEBC’s mission is to establish a leading forum<br />
for companies and government entities focused<br />
on the development and deployment of clean energy<br />
in the MENA region and to promote the clean energy<br />
industry beginning to flourish in the region, informing<br />
the wider community of the benefits of the sector.<br />
We support and assist governments, industries and<br />
communities in the region to meet low-carbon targets<br />
and sustainability goals; and through collaboration<br />
with government agencies and other stakeholders, we<br />
aim to drive policy development and regulation and<br />
financing of this rapidly developing and exciting sector.<br />
By developing strategic alliances with research<br />
institutions, international associations, media and intergovernmental<br />
organizations, we work together to<br />
drive the delivery of clean energy solutions for MENA<br />
and coordinate and disseminate data and information<br />
to ensure relevant benchmarking and transparency in<br />
the sectors’ development.<br />
GN: Where is this company headed? What’s your future<br />
expansion plans? Describe briefly your strategic goals.<br />
CEBC: CEBC is incredibly excited about the future of clean<br />
energy in the MENA region as we see a major shift towards<br />
the adoption of renewables and clean tech solutions along<br />
with the necessary regulatory frameworks. This transition<br />
to a low-carbon economy presents significant opportunities<br />
with potential benefits such as growth in economy,<br />
creation of jobs, new innovations and technical developments,<br />
productivity growth and entrepreneurship, and the<br />
development of clean and renewable energy financing such<br />
as Green Bonds and Sukuk will help attract new investors.<br />
CEBC has been working with the government sector to<br />
implement a Green Sukuk, and with the UAE’s open and<br />
developed international financial sector, we see potential<br />
for the UAE to become the global hub for renewable and<br />
clean energy financing.<br />
ADVOCATING CLEAN ENERGY<br />
GN: What is clean energy as defined by your company?<br />
CEBC: A common definition of Clean Energy is any generation<br />
that has a lower environmental footprint than conventional<br />
(fossil-fuel based) electricity generation technology,<br />
although some fossil fuels (natural gas) and fossil fuel<br />
technologies (super critical coal) are considered in some<br />
jurisdictions to be sources of Clean Energy. The CEBC’s<br />
definition of Clean Energy includes all renewables technology<br />
plus carbon capture and storage and energy efficiency.<br />
In relation to energy efficiency, we represent technologies<br />
that can help improve supply side efficiency and support<br />
demand side measures to improve the efficient use of electricity,<br />
such as smart grids and distributed generation.<br />
Applications of clean energy technologies are determined,<br />
to a large degree, by the availability of naturally occurring<br />
energy resources and how cost effective they are to harness.<br />
Obvious technologies relevant to the region include Solar,<br />
Wind, CCS, and Energy Efficiency. Technologies with more<br />
restricted applications include bio-energy and geothermal.<br />
GN: Why bother? What’s the importance of pursuing<br />
clean energy?<br />
CEBC: Renewable energy technologies are clean sources<br />
of energy that have a much lower environmental impact<br />
than conventional energy technologies and offer significant<br />
health benefits. Increasing the supply of renewable energy<br />
allows us to replace carbon-intensive energy sources and<br />
significantly reduce global warming emissions. With the<br />
cost of renewable energy decreasing, it is now an affordable<br />
and competitively-priced alternative to conventional<br />
electricity.<br />
Wind and solar technologies are less prone to large-scale<br />
failure because they are distributed and modular. Distributed<br />
systems are spread out over a large geographical area,<br />
so a severe weather event in one location will not cut off<br />
power to an entire region. Modular systems are composed<br />
of numerous individual wind turbines or solar arrays. Even<br />
if some of the equipment in the system are damaged, the<br />
rest can typically continue to operate.<br />
In addition, renewable energy will not run out, ever, while other<br />
sources of energy are finite and will someday be depleted.<br />
ISSUE NO.004 RENEWABLE ENERGY
60 ISSUE NO.004 RENEWABLE ENERGY<br />
THE MACRO LEVEL OF CLEAN ENERGY<br />
GN: Where are we today? What is the current situation<br />
of renewables?<br />
CEBC: While the MENA region has traditionally lagged<br />
behind much of the developed world in terms of uptake<br />
of renewable energy largely due to its abundant supply<br />
of oil and attractive subsides policies, the landscape has<br />
shifted. We have seen another global first for the UAE<br />
with Dubai Electricity & Water Authority receiving<br />
a world record-low bid of 2.99 cents/kWh for the 800<br />
MW third phase of its 5 GW Mohammed bin Rashid<br />
Al-Maktoum solar project. This comes hot on the heels<br />
of the announcement of the Dubai Clean Energy Strategy<br />
which aims to provide 7% of Dubai’s energy from<br />
clean energy sources by 2020, increasing this target to<br />
25% by 2030 and 75% by 2050. Plans also include the<br />
establishment of a Dh100 billion Green Fund.<br />
The Abu Dhabi Water and Electricity Authority also<br />
announced a tender for a 350MW Solar PV project to<br />
be built 120 kilometers east of the capital. The facility<br />
would produce enough electricity to power more than<br />
50,000 homes.<br />
Egypt, Jordan and Morocco have also made good progress<br />
in their solar bids. Morocco plans to derive more<br />
than half of its energy from renewable sources by 2030<br />
with the North African country raising its renewable energy<br />
target from 42% by 2020 to 52% by 2030. That 42<br />
per cent will consist of 2 gigawatts each of solar, wind<br />
and hydropower. Saudi Arabia’s new transformation<br />
plan includes 9.5 GW (9,500 megawatts) of renewable<br />
energy by 2030 and Qatar recently announced plans for<br />
a 1GW solar installation.<br />
GN: Where should we be 10 years from now? Are we<br />
on the right track? Are we delayed? Are we progressing?<br />
CEBC: Even as oil price plummeted from its peak in<br />
mid-2014, investment in clean energy has seen a surge.<br />
Global investment in clean energy increased from USD<br />
316 billion in 2014 to USD 329 billion in 2015, which is<br />
the highest ever beating the earlier record set in 2011.<br />
This has been achieved in a scenario where the cost of<br />
installing clean energy, especially solar PV, has drastically<br />
fallen implying much higher capacity installation<br />
for the same investment. As mentioned above, we are<br />
seeing record low tariffs in solar PV of 3 cents per kWh<br />
which is cheaper than any form of conventional power<br />
– and record low tariffs have been achieved in wind<br />
as well. All these trends point to increasing deployment<br />
of clean energy in developing markets which are highly<br />
price-sensitive. Global wind installations are forecast to<br />
double from current level of 500 GW, and solar capacity<br />
is forecast to increase four times from the level of 275<br />
GW over the next ten years. MENA region will contribute<br />
a significant chunk of this capacity addition as every<br />
country in the region is planning to deploy large capacities<br />
of solar (both photovoltaic and concentrated solar)<br />
and wind in the coming years.<br />
THE MICRO LEVEL OF CLEAN ENERGY<br />
GN: What are the initiatives / projects that you are<br />
doing (or have done) that will drive low or zero emission?<br />
What are the future innovations that your organization<br />
is pursuing?<br />
CEBC: Employment and human resources will play a<br />
key role in the successful deployment of clean energy,<br />
and it is our view that the industry needs access to a<br />
wider pool of talented individuals. In response to this,<br />
we launched CEBC’s Women in Clean Energy (WICE)<br />
program in 2015 to help address this gap and provide<br />
practical steps to encourage more women into jobs in<br />
the renewable and clean energy sectors. To date, WICE<br />
has established committees in the UAE, Egypt, Jordan,<br />
Bahrain, and Saudi Arabia.<br />
CEBC also runs an environmental awareness campaign<br />
in schools across the UAE to educate children and the<br />
wider community about energy efficiency and the role<br />
clean tech can play in creating a sustainable energy<br />
future. Key objectives of the program are to empower<br />
future leaders, inspire children to consider new technologies<br />
as well as stimulate kids to think about what sustainability<br />
means to their lives and encourage them to<br />
adopt long-term measures to protect the environment.<br />
We now have 30 schools registered in the program with<br />
a combined student population of 60,000 children.<br />
We also launched a Green Sukuk Working Group to<br />
promote the issuance of Sukuk for renewable energy<br />
projects. Set up by the Gulf Bond and Sukuk Association,<br />
the Clean Energy Business Council, and the Climate<br />
Bonds Initiative the group aims to channel market<br />
expertise to develop best practices and promote the issuance<br />
of sukuk for the financing of climate change investments<br />
projects, such as renewable energy projects.<br />
This initiative is the first of its kind taken to finance renewable<br />
energy projects in the MENA region.<br />
In September 2015, the Sustainable Development Goals<br />
(SDGs) was launched at the UN General Assembly<br />
defining the start of a new era of global development<br />
partnerships. SDG 7 provides for Sustainable Energy to<br />
ensure access to affordable, reliable, sustainable and<br />
modern energy for all. This holds special importance<br />
in the MENA region, with aspirations across the region<br />
to scale up the share of renewable energy and energy<br />
efficiency in the region’s energy mix. To help countries<br />
achieve this objective, the UNDP, Regional Center for<br />
Renewable Energy and Energy Efficiency (RCREEE)<br />
and CEBC have launched a new Arab Sustainable Energy<br />
Initiative comprising three pillars – Capacity Development,<br />
Sustainable Energy Finance, and Decentralized<br />
Energy Solutions.
ISSUE NO.004 RENEWABLE ENERGY<br />
61
62 ISSUE NO.004 RENEWABLE ENERGY<br />
THE CHALLENGES & THEIR SOLUTIONS<br />
GN: What are the stumbling blocks or bottlenecks in<br />
the renewable industry?<br />
CEBC: One of the challenges for clean energy is to<br />
compete with conventional energy sources that enjoy<br />
several explicit and hidden subsidies from the governments.<br />
Governments need to ensure a level playing field<br />
by taking into consideration the environmental cost of<br />
continued dependence on fossil fuels. Secondly, as the<br />
interest rate cycle reverses cost of capital will rise for<br />
new projects, this will imply tariffs in the case of capital<br />
intensive clean energy deployment will be higher. Also,<br />
low oil price will pose a challenge for deployment of<br />
clean energy by being a cheaper alternative where the<br />
two are pitted against one another.<br />
Technologically, the challenge of clean energy, especially<br />
wind and solar, has been its intermittent nature. As a<br />
result, these sources cannot replace conventional power<br />
as base-load source. The promise of cheap energy storage<br />
offers a solution, but the cost of battery storage has<br />
to come down significantly to be at par with conventional<br />
base load sources.<br />
GN: What do you think the government, private companies<br />
and NGO of each country should do to get rid<br />
of this?<br />
CEBC: As mentioned above, governments must take<br />
into account negative externalities of their dependence<br />
on fossil fuel when making decisions on energy policy.<br />
In many places, governments have structured carbon<br />
tax and incentives for clean energy. But more can be<br />
done to reduce dependence on fossil fuels for energy<br />
needs. Germany, for example, has unveiled a program<br />
to encourage people to shift to electric vehicles. Battery<br />
operated vehicles combined with rooftop solar PV installations<br />
at household level can be a game changer in<br />
many countries in the coming years. There is also an important<br />
aspect of educating people in the Government<br />
as well as consumers about energy choices and its impact<br />
on environment where the NGOs such as CEBC<br />
will continue to play an important role.<br />
GN: How do we provide cheap energy in poverty<br />
stricken areas? How do we ensure access to clean energy?<br />
CEBC: Free markets are doing a good job of bringing<br />
down the cost of clean energy. Off-grid solar PV installations<br />
are an attractive solution for remote regions that<br />
are not connected by electric grid. In poverty stricken<br />
areas, the key challenge is access to capital. Micro-finance<br />
organizations can bridge the gap by providing<br />
loans or lease options to consumers who cannot afford<br />
to invest in a solar PV installation on their own. Further<br />
off-grid battery solutions which ensure uninterrupted<br />
power supply need to improve in terms of efficiency and<br />
cost to make it economically viable for poor parts of the<br />
world.<br />
ADVICE TO THE YOUNG ENGINEERS<br />
GN: Please give advice and words of wisdom about renewables<br />
to our young global audience. What would<br />
you like to tell to the millennials? Any inspiring words<br />
that you can share?<br />
CEBC: The world is at the cusp of significant changes in<br />
relation to how we produce and consume energy. This<br />
will impact all aspects of our lives, the homes we live in,<br />
the way we travel from one place to another and how<br />
companies organize their operations. Companies that<br />
do not change as the energy markets evolve will be left<br />
behind, and smaller newer companies will take their<br />
place. This would apply to countries as well; the earlier<br />
they adopt clean energy as a strategic imperative, the<br />
stronger the clean energy eco-system will be and greater<br />
the job opportunities for its citizens. For young people<br />
who are still in college or have recently graduated, these<br />
changes offer opportunities to build a career that will<br />
not only be financially rewarding but also help contribute<br />
in making our planet a better place for all.
ISSUE NO.004 RENEWABLE ENERGY<br />
63
64 ISSUE NO.004 RENEWABLE ENERGY<br />
EESI<br />
PROMOTING CLEAN POWER<br />
THROUGH EDUCATION<br />
Laura Small,<br />
Policy Associate<br />
at EESI.<br />
Renewable energy is becoming a hot topic in the news<br />
today. Whether it’s on television or on the internet, you<br />
might have heard of numerous countries jumping in on<br />
the cause. But what is “renewable” energy? What can it<br />
do for us?<br />
The idea of green energy may already be familiar to you<br />
, but a huge number of the people around us are still<br />
in the dark when it comes to clean power. This lack of<br />
information and education is what led to the founding<br />
of EESI.<br />
<strong>GineersNow</strong> had an exclusive interview with Laura<br />
Small, Policy Associate at EESI.<br />
<strong>GineersNow</strong>: Introduce yourself. How many years have<br />
you been working in your industry?<br />
Laura Small: My name is Laura Small, and I run the energy<br />
and climate policy program at the Environmental<br />
and Energy Study Institute (EESI). I’m originally from<br />
Palo Alto, California, home to Stanford University and<br />
part of Silicon Valley. Growing up in the Bay Area, I had<br />
access to fantastic backpacking, rafting and climbing<br />
areas, and my outdoor experiences cultivated a lifelong<br />
love and respect for the environment in me. I’ve been<br />
honored to work on energy and climate policy at EESI<br />
for the last three years.<br />
EESI OVERVIEW<br />
GN: Are you an educational institution, social enterprise,<br />
non-profit or private company? Describe your<br />
company (structure, brief history, board or advisers)<br />
Laura: EESI is a nonprofit working to create an environmentally<br />
sustainable future. While we have a broad, national<br />
audience, we focus on providing Congress and the<br />
policymaker community with unbiased information on<br />
energy and environmental issues. EESI does not lobby,<br />
and is not partisan – instead we try to educate.<br />
EESI was founded over 30 years ago by a bipartisan Congressional<br />
Caucus, which saw a need for an independent<br />
organization to educate Congress on key energy and<br />
environmental issues. Currently, we have a staff of 11,<br />
including a team of seven policy staffers. Our offices are<br />
located in Washington, DC.<br />
EESI on CLEAN ENERGY<br />
GN: What is clean energy as defined by your organization?<br />
Laura: EESI defines clean energy as solar, wind, hydropower<br />
and other water power generation technologies,<br />
hydrogen fuel cells, biofuels and biomass, geothermal,<br />
as well as energy efficiency.<br />
Clean energy is important because our wellbeing depends<br />
on it. Burning fossil fuels releases carbon and<br />
methane in the atmosphere, which traps more heat,<br />
causing climate change. Climate change is already having<br />
devastating impacts throughout the world by increasing<br />
extreme weather (particularly droughts, forest fires, and<br />
powerful storms), and causing sea level rise and ocean<br />
acidification. Developing countries are most at risk from<br />
the adverse impacts of climate change, although we are<br />
seeing many impacts in the United States already.<br />
Fossil fuels also emit ozone (which forms smog), mercury,<br />
benzene, and other air toxics. These pollutants contribute<br />
to asthma, lung cancer, and other negative health<br />
impacts. Clean energy, meanwhile, releases minimal or<br />
zero emissions.<br />
Clean energy is locally produced, creating domestic jobs<br />
that can’t be outsourced as well as improving our national<br />
energy security. Moreover, bioenergy (renewable energy<br />
derived from organic wastes, purpose-grown crops,<br />
and algae) can replace fossil fuels to produce electricity,<br />
liquid fuels, heat and chemicals such as plastics.<br />
Finally, clean energy—with the exception of bioenergy—does<br />
not require the purchase of fuel or feedstock,<br />
protecting us from fuel price hikes. For example, during<br />
the 2014 “polar vortex” cold snap in the Northeast United<br />
States, natural gas and propane prices skyrocketed,<br />
while renewable prices remained constant.
65<br />
THE MACRO LEVEL<br />
OF CLEAN ENERGY<br />
GN: Where are we today? What is the current situation<br />
of renewables (locally or globally)?<br />
Laura: In 2015, 13 percent of U.S. electricity generation<br />
came from renewable energy (hydropower, wind,<br />
biomass, solar, and geothermal generation). The greatest<br />
amount of renewable energy generation came from<br />
hydropower, which generates almost half of all renewable<br />
energy in the United States, followed by wind, then<br />
wood biomass, then solar power. Globally, renewable<br />
energy represented 22 percent of power generation in<br />
2013, and that is expected to rise to 26 percent by 2020.<br />
GN: Where should we be 10 years from now? Are we<br />
on the right track? Are we delayed? Are we progressing?<br />
Laura: EESI doesn’t advocate for specific renewable<br />
energy targets, but we think the world should move to<br />
100 percent clean energy as soon as possible. President<br />
Obama has set a goal to generate 80 percent of U.S. electricity<br />
from clean energy resources by 2035. More than<br />
190 nations, including the United States, have signed<br />
the Paris climate agreement and committed to reducing<br />
their carbon emissions. This will require large investments<br />
in clean energy.<br />
We are on the right track, but there is still much to do!<br />
The fossil fuel industry is resisting moves to clean, renewable<br />
power, which is slowing the transition in the<br />
United States. Until now, progress had been slow because<br />
renewable energy was more expensive than fossil<br />
fuel energy. But that is changing fast, and renewables are<br />
now competitive in many parts of the world. This will<br />
accelerate the switch to renewable energy.<br />
THE MICRO LEVEL<br />
OF CLEAN ENERGY<br />
GN: What are the initiatives / projects that you are doing<br />
(or have done) that will drive low or zero emission?<br />
(If you are a manufacturer, what sort of efficiencies…<br />
if you’re an organization, what advocacies… if you’re a<br />
service, what projects are those… if you’re a government<br />
entity, what policies and enforcements)<br />
Laura: EESI works to support clean energy by increasing<br />
people’s understanding of its benefits. With a particular<br />
eye to helping policymakers better understand how<br />
clean energy can help the United States, EESI holds a<br />
number of events on Capitol Hill that discuss clean energy,<br />
the jobs being created, and how states and cities are<br />
taking action to move clean energy forward. Our events<br />
are open to the public, livecast online, and posted on<br />
YouTube afterwards.<br />
EESI also releases papers, articles, and weekly newsletters<br />
that show the potential of clean energy technologies<br />
and policies, as well as the need to mitigate climate<br />
change. Our free weekly newsletter, Climate Change<br />
<strong>News</strong>, is especially popular. We have subscribers in all<br />
50 states and more than 50 countries.<br />
GN: What are the future innovations that you or your<br />
company are pursuing?<br />
Laura: Coming up on July 12, EESI will help put on the<br />
19th Annual Renewable Energy and Energy Efficiency<br />
Expo and Policy Forum on Capitol Hill, which showcases<br />
clean energy businesses to Congress and facilitates a<br />
conversation about policies to support renewable energy<br />
and energy efficiency.<br />
GN: What impact have you delivered (social, economic<br />
and environmental)? Do you have metrics or statistics of<br />
your accomplishments?<br />
Laura: Measuring the impact of our advocacy work is<br />
challenging! National policy is the result of many different<br />
factors, often over long periods of time. Fortunately,<br />
we know we are making a difference because we<br />
receive lots of great feedback (you can see some of it on<br />
our GreatNonprofits page) and because we’ve surveyed<br />
our subscribers. EESI was instrumental in making sure<br />
America’s farm policy includes incentives for renewable<br />
energy. We also played a key role in pushing for the federal<br />
government to provide interest-free loans to rural<br />
households seeking to make their homes more energy<br />
efficient. To maximize our impact, we work with Congressional<br />
offices, government agencies, businesses,<br />
trade associations, and other nonprofits. Together, we<br />
are accelerating America’s transition to clean, renewable<br />
energy.<br />
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THE CHALLENGES &<br />
THEIR SOLUTIONS<br />
GN: What are the stumbling blocks or bottlenecks in the<br />
renewable industry?<br />
Laura: Renewable energy faces a number of challenges.<br />
One historic barrier for renewable energy is that many<br />
renewable technologies are relatively new, and have<br />
needed help to reach the market at competitive prices.<br />
There has been considerable progress on this front, with<br />
renewable energy costs diving in recent years. Another<br />
problem is that the playing field isn’t level. Fossil fuels<br />
have benefited from large government subsidies for<br />
about a century, and continue to receive considerable<br />
public support. Different type of renewables, meanwhile,<br />
receive vastly different subsidies and tax breaks,<br />
if any. This creates price distortions, and gives an unfair<br />
competitive edge to some technologies over others.<br />
Renewable energy also has benefits over conventional<br />
fossil fuels that are not properly valued by the market.<br />
Renewables emit less pollution, for instance, but since<br />
avoiding pollution does not have a monetary value, renewable<br />
energy does not get a competitive advantage for<br />
it. That is why governments should support clean energy,<br />
making it easier for people to make the socially-responsible<br />
choice.<br />
GN: What do you think the government, private companies<br />
and NGO of each country should do to get rid<br />
of this?<br />
Laura: Governments, private companies and nongovernmental<br />
organizations can all work together to get<br />
more renewable energy onto the grid and to make efficiency<br />
improvements in every economic sector. If governments<br />
put consistent policies in place, investors will<br />
have more confidence to make long-term investments<br />
in renewable energy. Policy support, good information<br />
about renewable energy options, and more purchasing<br />
of renewable energy by the business community will<br />
help scale up the manufacturing of renewable energy<br />
technology. This is critical to achieving the economies<br />
of scale that are needed to drive costs down.<br />
Smaller clean energy projects like rooftop and community<br />
solar, geothermal heating/cooling, and improved<br />
energy efficiency can be boons for communities, including<br />
low-income areas, provided low-cost financing is<br />
available. However, these are generally piecemeal solutions,<br />
which help some families but cannot reach everyone.<br />
We also need policy support for the installation of<br />
large-scale clean energy projects to ensure prices are as<br />
low as possible, and that everyone – no matter their income<br />
– can benefit from low-cost clean energy.<br />
ADVICE TO THE YOUNG ENGINEERS<br />
GN: Please give advice and words of wisdom about renewables<br />
to our young global audience. What would you<br />
like to tell to the millennials? Any inspiring words that<br />
you can share?<br />
Laura: Clean energy is a rapidly growing sector, with<br />
plenty of great opportunities. Working in clean energy<br />
will let you help mitigate climate change, lessen air pollution,<br />
improve public health, and improve our energy<br />
security. It’s a no brainer!<br />
Engineers like you will play a key role in making renewables<br />
ever cheaper and more reliable. And we’re<br />
also counting on you for the next major breakthroughs!<br />
There are so many exciting innovations in the works:<br />
cheaper energy storage, wave power, photovoltaic coatings,<br />
turbine-less wind power…<br />
Clean energy is a really exciting field where you can do<br />
great while doing good.
ISSUE NO.004 RENEWABLE ENERGY<br />
67
68 ISSUE NO.004 RENEWABLE ENERGY<br />
EKOenergy thrives on the enthusiasm of many.<br />
Katsiaryna and many other volunteers help spread<br />
the EKOenergy ecolabel to all corners of the world.<br />
EKOenergy<br />
REVOLUTIONIZING SUSTAINABLE<br />
RENEWABLE ENERGY<br />
EKOenergy believes that using renewable energy everywhere<br />
is possible. Though it might take years to convince<br />
governments of this idea, this non-profit organization<br />
is going the extra mile to raise awareness on using<br />
renewable energy.<br />
EKOenergy wants change in the energy sector. As an<br />
international network of organizations dedicated to the<br />
environment and renewable energy, it has continually<br />
encouraged people in different parts of the world to use<br />
sustainable energy instead of coal and fossil fuels. Mobilizing<br />
thousands of citizens across the globe to protect<br />
nature.<br />
Launched back in 2013, this organization is growing<br />
fast, with its members increasing and certifying around<br />
1 TWh of green electricity. There’s definitely no sign of<br />
resting for EKOenergy. In this exclusive interview, get<br />
the chance to know more about the people behind it and<br />
their plans to achieve their goals in providing sustainable<br />
energy. They even have an advice for all the young<br />
engineers out there.
69<br />
GN: Introduce Yourself.<br />
INTRODUCTION<br />
I’m Katsiaryna Viadziorchyk, a 22-year old international<br />
relations graduate. I’m from Minsk, Belarus. I like<br />
Mumford and Sons, historical movies and traveling. As<br />
a student, I organized several international youth events<br />
and I like to see things moving forward.<br />
GN: How many years have you been working in your<br />
industry?<br />
9 months ago, I joined EKOenergy as a volunteer of the<br />
European Erasmus+ program. This is my ‘sabbatical<br />
year’ in which I want to do something useful for society<br />
and for the environment whilst getting a lot of new interesting<br />
experiences and contacts.<br />
At EKOenergy, I focus mainly on stakeholders in Russia<br />
and Russian speaking countries. Our aim is to make<br />
Russian consumers enthusiastic about renewable energy.<br />
This is my first experience in the energy sector.<br />
Katsiaryna<br />
Viadziorchyk.<br />
THE COMPANY<br />
GN: Describe your company.<br />
EKOenergy is a not-for-profit organization that promotes<br />
renewable energy. Our most visible tool is our<br />
EKOenergy label for sustainable renewable electricity,<br />
which we launched in 2013. We started in Europe but<br />
are now also preparing for launch in other continents.<br />
Our members, over 40 environmental NGOs from over<br />
30 countries, decide about the global strategy and the<br />
budget. The daily management is in the hands of the<br />
Secretariat, which is based in Helsinki.<br />
GN: How big is EKOenergy?<br />
After only 3 years of activities, we now certify 1 TWh<br />
of green electricity and we have about 50 licensed sellers<br />
in 15 countries. Both our volumes and network are<br />
growing fast.<br />
GN: Describe your mission, vision and values.<br />
We promote sustainable renewable energy and encourage<br />
consumers to ‘vote with their wallets’. Our ecolabel<br />
helps consumers navigate the electricity market.<br />
GN: Where is this company headed?<br />
Our size doubles each year and we want to continue at<br />
the same speed in the coming years. Our dream is to develop<br />
activities in all countries, with thousands of sellers<br />
and millions of proud EKOenergy consumers.<br />
GN: What is clean energy?<br />
CLEAN ENERGY AND<br />
ITS IMPORTANCE<br />
All energy we promote comes from renewable sources:<br />
hydropower, wind, solar, biomass. What some people<br />
don’t realize is that the production of renewables can<br />
have an impact on the environment; hydropower can<br />
devastate river ecosystems and the production of biomass<br />
can result in deforestation. At EKOenergy, we take<br />
these aspects into account as well: we set strict sustainability<br />
criteria.<br />
GN: What’s the importance of pursuing clean energy?<br />
We all know that the fight against climate change is a<br />
race against the clock. Amidst a lot of scary news, there<br />
is at least one reason for hope: technically it is possible<br />
to replace all fossil fuels with renewable energy. Also<br />
financially it is possible, renewables have a reputation<br />
for being expensive when this is not the case. In many<br />
areas, renewable energy is already cheaper than fossil<br />
fuels, and the prices continue to fall.<br />
Where politicians and traditional companies don’t act<br />
(or don’t act fast enough), consumers can take an important<br />
role. Think of the RE100 (www.there100.org),<br />
a group of large multinationals, all striving for 100%<br />
renewable energy. Such actions aren’t only sound economic<br />
choices, they also accelerate the necessary, global<br />
growth of renewable energy.<br />
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70 ISSUE NO.004 RENEWABLE ENERGY<br />
Smaller consumers can have an impact too. Particularly<br />
if they all pull in the same direction. Here too, EKOenergy<br />
has a role to play. We already united 100,000 household<br />
consumers, all asking for sustainable renewable<br />
electricity.<br />
GN: What is the current situation of renewables?<br />
We are at the eve of a breakthrough. Prices for renewable<br />
energy are falling rapidly. Everyday, more people<br />
are realizing that we just cannot keep on burning fossil<br />
fuels.<br />
This is very clear on the electricity markets. More and<br />
more consumers produce their own electricity and/or<br />
are looking for ways to buy 100% renewable electricity.<br />
Until recently separate purchase of renewable electricity<br />
was mainly limited to liberalized energy markets. But as<br />
more and more international companies want to switch<br />
to 100% renewable systems, similar systems of green<br />
electricity contracts find their way to other continents<br />
as well.<br />
Right now I’m studying opportunities how to get these<br />
dynamics to Russia. We want to help Russian companies<br />
switch to 100% renewable.<br />
THE FUTURE OF CLEAN ENERGY<br />
GN: Where should we be 10 years from now?<br />
We will definitely get a 100% renewable energy world<br />
around the middle of this century. However, more and<br />
more scientists are convinced that this is not fast enough<br />
to avoid catastrophic climate change. Therefore, we need<br />
to speed up the energy transition: the effects of switching<br />
are exponential, so the sooner we start the better. Sea<br />
levels of 2100 probably depend more on our decisions<br />
today than on the inventions of 2050.<br />
GN: What are the initiatives / projects that you are doing<br />
(or have done) that will drive low or zero emission?<br />
Our main initiative is the EKOenergy-label for renewable<br />
electricity. This label helps consumers find the best<br />
electricity products and increase the positive impact of<br />
their purchase. Consumers can influence in many ways,<br />
but to be really efficient, it is important that we all pull<br />
in the same direction. EKOenergy sets sustainability criteria<br />
for power plants, e.g. with regard to fish migration<br />
in the case of hydropower. Also, each time EKOenergy is<br />
sold, the seller contributes minimum €0,10 per MWh to<br />
our Climate fund. We use this money to finance climate<br />
projects that would otherwise not have happened. Last<br />
year we financed solar panels on schools in Tanzania,<br />
Cameroon and Indonesia.<br />
EKOENERGY’S FUTURE<br />
AND ITS CHALLENGES<br />
GN: What are the future innovations that your company<br />
is pursuing?<br />
We want to bring our EKOenergy label to new markets.<br />
We made small steps forward in several Asian countries<br />
and also in Latin-America we have concrete plans. Recently<br />
we started looking for contacts in the Arab world<br />
and in Africa. By the way, we welcome all help!<br />
My own task is to map opportunities in Russia. We are<br />
in contact with several key stakeholders and discussing<br />
how to enable Russian consumers to play a role in the<br />
energy transition.<br />
Apart from that, we are now also working on the first<br />
international ecolabel for renewable gas and district<br />
heating.<br />
GN: What impact have you delivered?<br />
The best measures of impact are the projects we finance<br />
via our Climate Fund mentioned earlier. Apart from<br />
that, we also manage an Environmental Fund, whose<br />
money is used to finance river restoration projects. Last<br />
year we financed 4 of these river restoration projects.<br />
We can of course also measure the number of EKOenergy<br />
consumers, and that number is growing fast.<br />
But much more is happening. Via our positive communication<br />
we convinced more people that a world without<br />
fossil fuels is possible. It is not possible to specify how<br />
big our role is compared to the many other initiatives.<br />
We also think this is not that relevant. The energy transition<br />
is taking place thanks to millions of initiatives all<br />
over the world, and we are proud to contribute to that<br />
evolution.
71<br />
GN: What are the stumbling blocks or bottlenecks in<br />
the renewable industry?<br />
The main bottleneck is probably the prejudgments. A<br />
100% renewable world is technically and economically<br />
possible but many of us are still doubting. After 100<br />
years with coal and fossils, many seem to have difficulties<br />
to believe that it is possible to go on without. But<br />
as evidence accumulates, even the last doubters will be<br />
convinced.<br />
Apart from this, the lobbying networks of the oil and<br />
nuclear sectors are hindering the development of the renewable<br />
electricity. Just think of the many reports proving<br />
that oil and nuclear get much more state support<br />
than the renewable energy industry.<br />
GN: What do you think should the government, private<br />
companies and NGOs of each country do to get rid of<br />
these?<br />
We have to repeat and amplify the positive stories. Renewable<br />
energy is ‘contagious’. Very few people install<br />
solar because they have read on Bloomberg that renewable<br />
is cheaper. They do it because their neighbor tells<br />
them how much money he saved after installing solar<br />
panels.<br />
We of course also actively encourage small and large<br />
consumers alike to either invest in own renewable energy<br />
installations or buy 100% renewable energy. A combination<br />
of both is of course also possible.<br />
As more and more people invest in the production, electricity<br />
storage will also become increasingly popular.<br />
And as this is a technology too, the costs will decrease<br />
as the number of users increase.<br />
Apart from that, we think that emissions of CO2 should<br />
be taxed, reflecting the real costs they are causing.<br />
GN: How do we provide cheap energy in poverty-stricken<br />
areas?<br />
Renewable electricity is the cheapest way to produce energy.<br />
Therefore it is definitely the best solution to energy<br />
poverty. In some poor areas, solar is already spreading<br />
fast. And this trend will continue and get even stronger.<br />
GN: How do we ensure access to clean energy?<br />
Clean energy is much more accessible than nuclear and<br />
fossil fuel energy. It just seems to take some time for<br />
people to understand this. Think of what happened to<br />
mobile phones. These have spread in no time and without<br />
a clear plan to all corners of the world. The same is<br />
now happening with solar energy.<br />
THE ROLE OF YOUNG ENGINEERS IN<br />
THE CLEAN ENERGY REVOLUTION<br />
GN: What is your advice to all the young engineers<br />
about there?<br />
Renewables are spreading very fast. But still not fast<br />
enough to be sure to avoid catastrophic climate change.<br />
What happens in the coming 5 years is crucial for the<br />
future of our planet. Therefore each act promoting renewable<br />
energy is making a difference. Try to avoid<br />
spending money and time on fossils. Instead, focus on<br />
renewable energy. Buy renewable energy whenever<br />
you get the chance to do so, invest in renewable energy,<br />
study renewable energy, find traineeships and student<br />
jobs in the renewable energy industry. If you see opportunities<br />
for launching EKOenergy in your country,<br />
please let us know!<br />
Learn more about EKOenergy by going to their<br />
YouTube channel, or by simply clicking<br />
their featured videos above.<br />
ISSUE NO.004 RENEWABLE ENERGY
72 ISSUE NO.004 RENEWABLE ENERGY<br />
EUROSOLAR’S<br />
QUEST FOR<br />
“ENERGIEWENDE”<br />
Since 1988, EUROSOLAR has made it its mission to<br />
make renewables the main source of energy in Europe.<br />
The people behind this non-profit organization are dedicated<br />
in making a sociocultural and political movement<br />
in influencing political parties, institutions and<br />
other groups to switch to renewable energy.<br />
It has been around for 28 year and it has expanded its<br />
office in Germany to the rest of its European neighbors<br />
- Denmark, France, Italy, Luxembourg, Bulgaria, Russia,<br />
Spain, Austria, Ukraine, Hungary, Turkey and Czech<br />
Republic. With almost 3000 members, EUROSOLAR<br />
is promoting the use of solar energy through different<br />
fields such as the economy, science, politics and culture.<br />
With an exclusive interview with EUROSOLAR, get to<br />
know the company and its goal to make all European<br />
countries convert to fast, decentralized and affordable<br />
100% renewable energy.<br />
THE PEOPLE BEHIND THE COMPANY<br />
My name is Tobias and since January 2016 I am the<br />
Managing Director of EUROSOLAR. I was born and<br />
raised in Würzburg in Bavaria, Germany. For my studies<br />
in Sociology I moved to Bremen and worked for<br />
an environment and energy company on the side till I<br />
moved to Leipzig to work as a key account manager in<br />
the PV-sector. I developed a strong interest in renewable<br />
energy and became a member of the The European Association<br />
for Renewable Energy EUROSOLAR. When<br />
I read about the open position of a project manager, I<br />
applied. Two years in, the executive committee asked me<br />
to take up the open position of the Managing Director.<br />
EUROSOLAR was founded in 1988 as a non-profit association.<br />
Our head office is in Bonn but next to almost<br />
3000 members in Germany, EUROSOLAR has sections<br />
in Bulgaria, Denmark, France, Italy, Luxembourg,<br />
Austria, Russia, Spain, Czech Republic, Turkey, Ukraine<br />
and Hungary. The elected board consists of President Peter<br />
Droege and eight vice presidents from six countries.<br />
We advocate a quick replacement of nuclear and fossil<br />
energy in the sectors power, thermal energy and transport.<br />
True to the slogan “100% Renewables: fast, decentralized,<br />
affordable” we connect expertise from politics,<br />
economy, sciences and society to expedite the process.
73<br />
EUROSOLAR’S MISSION<br />
EUROSOLAR’s definition of clean energy is a worldwide<br />
energy supply with neither nuclear nor fossil energy<br />
sources. In our understanding the successful “Energiewende”<br />
can only be reached once all thermal energy<br />
sources and fuels are replaced with renewable energy,<br />
too.<br />
Pursuing clean energy has multiple goals that are all interconnected.<br />
The conversation of nature and the slowdown<br />
of climate change can only be reached by turning<br />
our back on extraditing coal and fossil fuels and by diminishing<br />
the use of nuclear power.<br />
Decentralized renewable energy sources guarantee the<br />
independence from large power companies and oil-rich<br />
states which have repeatedly been involved in political<br />
conflicts and war. Stabilizing the energy provision locally,<br />
supporting cooperation amongst regions across state<br />
boundaries, this energy transition does not only bring<br />
clean energy but also enhances cooperation and mutual<br />
assistance amongst people and states and is the precondition<br />
for healthier, economically sound and democratic<br />
societies.<br />
In addition, we deal with a steady rise of inhabitants in<br />
this world. We need a secure provision of energy for all<br />
and even the expected power demand will never overstrain<br />
the power of the sun and the wind.<br />
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74 ISSUE NO.004 RENEWABLE ENERGY<br />
THE FUTURE OF CLEAN ENERGY<br />
Germany has the potential to go fully renewable within<br />
the next one or two decades. We have the technology<br />
to go “all in”. Only a few weeks back, Germany reached<br />
an almost 100% power supply with RE on a sunny and<br />
windy weekend. Portugal even managed to supply the<br />
country with 100% RE for four consecutive days. Many<br />
countries and regions are ready to take the leap, but politics<br />
are holding back although there is certainly no time<br />
to loose.<br />
Political restrictions keep preventing a quicker transition<br />
to renewable energy. The big coal companies are<br />
very powerful in political processes. They do not want<br />
to lose their share of the cake and are currently working<br />
towards limiting the number of involved actors in<br />
the energy transition. In Germany, the success of the<br />
Energiewende is built on the large amount of small and<br />
mid-sized organizations and companies and millions of<br />
citizens who already started their private transition. If<br />
those players are marginalized due to new legislations,<br />
few large players will be able to dictate their interest in<br />
the future.<br />
Further, the goal to reduce C0², now manifested in the<br />
Paris Agreements, motivates some to bring nuclear energy<br />
back on the table. EUROSOLAR is strictly against<br />
a revival of nuclear energy. Implementing renewable energy<br />
is the cleanest, most sustainable and most peaceful<br />
power!
75<br />
RAISING AWARENESS<br />
ABOUT CLEAN ENERGY<br />
Since its foundation, EUROSOLAR has engaged in several<br />
projects to spread awareness about the energy transition<br />
and its advantages. Several conference series shed<br />
light on several important aspects regarding the energy<br />
transition. The International Renewable Energy Storage<br />
Conference (IRES) is organized annually. Researchers<br />
from all around the world present their newest findings<br />
on storage solutions for renewable energy and connect<br />
with companies and organizations to discuss market<br />
entry strategies. Other conferences focus on the role of<br />
public utilities in the Energiewende, practical aspects of<br />
the transition or political debates centered on framework<br />
conditions and legal parameters.<br />
In addition to informing people, EUROSOLAR awards<br />
the German and the European Solar Prize annually to<br />
honor those who put great effort into promoting renewable<br />
energy. The prize ceremonies are accompanied by<br />
keynote speeches by leading scientists and politicians.<br />
In various campaigns, EUROSOLAR has addressed politicians<br />
to reflect on their energy policies. Most recently<br />
the campaign, “Don’t stop the energy transition”, informed<br />
about the political agenda to outmaneuver previous<br />
advantageous legislation. The campaign was fully<br />
financed with the help of EUROSOLAR-members and<br />
published in nationwide newspapers.<br />
With conferences, award ceremonies and campaigns,<br />
EUROSOLAR offers a wide array of methods for raising<br />
awareness and keeping the public informed. As EURO-<br />
SOLAR works completely independent of politicians,<br />
companies and lobby groups, the work remains a 100%<br />
true to the associations’ mission and vision.<br />
THE POLITICS OF<br />
AFFORDABLE CLEAN ENERGY<br />
In political science we speak of a phenomenon called<br />
“path dependency”. It analyses how policies (and people)<br />
are not very open towards change and therefore tend to<br />
stick to whatever is already there. The change from conventional<br />
to renewable energy is a revolution that many<br />
are afraid to tackle. Currently, the biggest challenge is<br />
overcoming political restrictions. Instead of increasing<br />
renewable power plants, the German parliament wants<br />
to limit onshore power plants by introducing tenders.<br />
This would push small participants out of the game and<br />
end the decentralized energy transition.<br />
EUROSOLAR wants to contribute to a global change<br />
by making a local impact. We inform people about local<br />
policies and national political change and create an<br />
awareness of counterproductive political decisions. Being<br />
fully independent, we can make claims that others<br />
are not allowed to voice. That said, governments around<br />
the world should support renewable energy and take<br />
more effort to tax Co²-emissions and decrease pollution<br />
overall. Private companies need to think about the<br />
future. Instead of only striving for economic growth,<br />
they also need to think about a sustainable future for<br />
the planet. NGOs need to be more fearless and less dependent<br />
on funding from governments and companies.<br />
The political process needs to be stimulated locally and<br />
pushed further to have an impact on the global level.<br />
ADVICE TO YOUNG ENGINEERS<br />
It is absolutely necessary that people all around the<br />
world fight for the full replacement of conventional energy<br />
with renewables. People with different (academic)<br />
backgrounds need to work together to make this change<br />
happen. Engineers need to learn from political science<br />
students and geographers must understand how technical<br />
problems can be solved using the natural sciences.<br />
Only when working together and constantly learning<br />
from each other, we can make an impact and contribute<br />
to one of the largest social and economic changes of our<br />
century.<br />
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76 ISSUE NO.004 RENEWABLE ENERGY<br />
FIRST<br />
SOLAR:<br />
Offering<br />
PV Energy<br />
Solutions<br />
Everywhere<br />
The people behind First Solar believe<br />
that affordable solar energy must be<br />
available to everyone in all parts of the<br />
world. Offering different energy solutions,<br />
this company has installed over 10 GW<br />
around the globe. It aims to provide<br />
“reliable and affordable solar electricity”<br />
while minimizing the risks.<br />
First Solar was able to develop and operate<br />
some of the world’s largest grid-connected<br />
PV power plants and offers its services to<br />
different solar value chains. Using a welldeveloped<br />
PV energy services, it delivers<br />
“more reliable, dependable and costeffective<br />
solutions for our customers”.<br />
In this exclusive interview with First Solar,<br />
get the chance to find out more about this<br />
global leader in PV energy solutions.<br />
Find out what they plan to achieve in the<br />
near future and what they want young<br />
engineers to take part of.<br />
GETTING TO KNOW<br />
My name is Raed Bkayrat and I am the<br />
Vice President for Business Development<br />
at First Solar.<br />
I have over 15 years of experience and<br />
joined First Solar from the King Abdullah<br />
University of Science and Technology<br />
(KAUST), where I was responsible for<br />
creating the institution’s successful<br />
Industry Collaboration Program (KICP).<br />
During my time at KAUST, I also created<br />
a demonstration and testing program for<br />
solar and other clean energy technologies.<br />
Prior to this, I was part of the core team<br />
behind Direct Drive Systems, a US-based<br />
start-up that was acquired by an oil and<br />
gas major, and previously spent eight years<br />
in various roles at Siemens AG.<br />
I hold a Ph.D. and a Master of Science<br />
(MS) in Electrical <strong>Engineering</strong> from the<br />
Arizona State University and a Bachelor<br />
of Science from the University of Jordan.<br />
I have been a dedicated techie since I was a<br />
kid to the point that I had no intention to<br />
study anything else but engineering when<br />
I started college. I enjoy spending active<br />
time with my kids and educating them on<br />
the value and need for clean energy in our<br />
day and age. I think I am doing well in<br />
making them Pro Green!
77<br />
FIRST SOLAR<br />
GN: Are you an educational institution,<br />
social enterprise, non-profit or private<br />
company?<br />
With more than 13 gigawatts (GW)<br />
installed worldwide, we believe that clean<br />
affordable solar electricity is an essential<br />
part of the worldwide energy mix. Our<br />
proven energy solutions have diversified<br />
the energy portfolio and reduced the risk<br />
of fuel-price volatility, while delivering an<br />
LCOE that is cost competitive with fossil<br />
fuels.<br />
First Solar has developed, financed,<br />
engineered, constructed and currently<br />
operates many of the world’s largest gridconnected<br />
PV power plants in existence.<br />
By integrating technologies, services and<br />
expertise across the entire solar value<br />
chain, First Solar delivers bankable PV<br />
energy solutions that enable a world<br />
powered by reliable and affordable solar<br />
electricity.<br />
GN: How big is your company?<br />
First Solar currently has just over<br />
6,000 associates worldwide. We have<br />
commercial offices in all the major solar<br />
growth markets around the world. We<br />
operate manufacturing facilities in the<br />
United States and Malaysia.<br />
GN: Describe your mission, vision and<br />
values.<br />
Our mission is to create enduring value<br />
by enabling a world powered by clean,<br />
affordable solar electricity. This is reflected<br />
in the level of innovation that we’ve been<br />
able to deliver and also in our commitment<br />
to sustainable business practices.<br />
PURSUING CLEAN ENERGY<br />
GN: What is clean energy?<br />
First Solar’s photovoltaic (PV) module<br />
technology harness our most abundant<br />
energy resource, sunlight, to generate<br />
clean, affordable solar electricity.<br />
Additionally, we are able to offer the<br />
smallest carbon footprint of all solar<br />
technologies; the fastest energy payback<br />
time (less than 1 year); the lowest<br />
water use (on a lifecycle basis); 89–98%<br />
reduction of greenhouse gas emissions<br />
and other pollutants by displacing<br />
conventional generation; and access to<br />
operational, industry-leading module<br />
recycling services.<br />
With a commitment to sustainable<br />
product life-cycle management and<br />
corporate responsibility, First Solar<br />
is creating enduring value every<br />
day – environmentally, socially and<br />
economically.<br />
GN: What’s the importance of pursuing<br />
clean energy?<br />
Today, we are in the midst of an energy<br />
transition as the world looks to renewables<br />
to generate affordable electricity. The<br />
days of high cost, low efficiency solar<br />
technologies are over. We now see that<br />
solar energy is able to stand shoulder-toshoulder<br />
with conventional generation<br />
sources and that investments in solar are<br />
being driven by market factors.<br />
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78 ISSUE NO.004 RENEWABLE ENERGY<br />
THE SITUATION OF<br />
CLEAN ENERGY TODAY<br />
GN: Where are we today? What is the<br />
current situation of renewables?<br />
According to a recent report from the<br />
International Renewable Energy Agency<br />
(IRENA), we ended 2015 with 1,985<br />
gigawatts (GW) of renewable energy.<br />
TO put that into context, that’s roughly<br />
the equivalent of 1,985 nuclear power<br />
plants. Of all of the various renewable<br />
energy technologies available to us, solar<br />
is one of the fastest growing, with 47GW<br />
of additional capacity installed last year<br />
alone.<br />
GN: Where should we be 10 years from<br />
now?<br />
By all current indications it’s clear that<br />
the energy transition is well underway.<br />
Although driven by different factors –<br />
environmental, social and economic –<br />
adoption of renewable energy is growing<br />
at an unprecedented scale.<br />
FIRST SOLAR’S<br />
INITIATIVES IN<br />
MAKING CHANGES<br />
GN: What are the initiatives / projects<br />
that you are doing (or have done) that will<br />
drive low or zero emission?<br />
We remain focused on fulfilling our<br />
mission while delivering on the “triple<br />
bottom line” of people, planet and profit.<br />
We accomplish this by incorporating<br />
sustainable business practices throughout<br />
our organization to grow responsibly and<br />
remain financially stable. We are increasing<br />
our technology and manufacturing<br />
efficiencies to produce solar PV modules<br />
and projects with higher energy yields and<br />
lower environmental impacts. At the same<br />
time, we are driving down the cost of solar<br />
energy to provide an attractive alternative<br />
to fossil fuels in markets around the world.<br />
In January 2015, we celebrated a significant<br />
milestone – becoming the first thin film<br />
PV company to have 10GW of modules<br />
installed worldwide. This installed<br />
capacity produces enough clean electricity<br />
annually to power 5 million households,<br />
save over 18 billion liters of water, displace<br />
7 million metric tons of CO2 per year<br />
and reduce other air pollutants by 89-98<br />
percent, based on worldwide averages.<br />
We aren’t stopping there. Our corporate<br />
strategy over the next few years focuses<br />
on providing even more utility-scale PV<br />
generation to geographic markets with<br />
immediate electricity needs. Moving<br />
quickly into these markets to provide<br />
power at low cost requires us to reduce<br />
waste in our operations and responsibly<br />
use our own resources – including<br />
capital, time and talent – to sustain our<br />
growth. Because we are here for the long<br />
term, sustainability also means forming<br />
deep partnerships built on trust in the<br />
communities where we do business. That<br />
trust is also influenced by our stewardship<br />
of the environment.<br />
We strive to minimize impacts during<br />
the construction and operation of our<br />
projects. Our global, cost compelling PV<br />
module recycling program ensures that<br />
clean energy solutions don’t pose a waste<br />
burden for future generations. With the<br />
smallest carbon footprint, lowest life cycle<br />
water use and fastest energy payback<br />
time in the industry, First Solar produces<br />
the leading eco-efficient PV technology.<br />
Our modules generate more energy at<br />
a competitive cost and with the lowest<br />
environmental impact per kilowatt-hour.<br />
In addition to addressing energy security,<br />
climate change and water scarcity, First<br />
Solar energy solutions are sustainably<br />
delivering competitive, accessible and<br />
reliable solar electricity globally.
79<br />
ADVICE TO THE<br />
YOUNG ENGINEERS<br />
The only hope for our blue planet, which<br />
is now suffocating under high greenhouse<br />
gas emissions and rising temperature, is<br />
in the young generation taking the helm<br />
and adopting clean energy and energy<br />
conservation not as a job, a business or<br />
just a career, but simply as a choice and a<br />
way of life. Engineers have a pivotal role<br />
to play in developing the technologies<br />
and solutions needed to help create a<br />
sustainable living for all.<br />
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80 ISSUE NO.004 RENEWABLE ENERGY<br />
CHANGING RENEWABLE ENERGY<br />
PERSPECTIVES WITH THE<br />
GLOBAL WIND ENERGY COUNCIL<br />
WITH ITS MISSION TO ESTABLISH wind<br />
power supply in different countries, the Global Wind<br />
Energy Council (GWEC) is working with different international<br />
policy makers and companies to open new<br />
markets for wind energy. GWEC and its members represent<br />
1500 companies and organizations coming from<br />
80 countries and has worked with local partners to organize<br />
exhibitions all over the world.<br />
There’s no doubt that GWEC has played a crucial role<br />
in encouraging different organizations in switching to<br />
wind power. Now, wind power has attracted investments<br />
worth $100 billion and currently employs over 1 million<br />
people.<br />
In this exclusive interview with GWEC, learn more about<br />
its mission to promote wind energy across the globe, their<br />
latest achievements and the company’s goals and future<br />
plans. Find out the status of wind energy and the challenges<br />
it faces as countries shift from non-renewable energy<br />
to clean energy such as using wind power.<br />
INTRODUCTION<br />
My name is Steve Sawyer, I was born in Boston, grew<br />
up in rural New Hampshire, escaped and studied Philosophy<br />
at Haverford College, then joined Greenpeace<br />
in 1978. I met my (now) wife at Greenpeace in 1982<br />
and we have been living in Amsterdam since 1989. We<br />
have two grown up children (23 and 28 years), one doing<br />
mechanical engineering and the other focusing on<br />
the environment/development interface.<br />
At Greenpeace I mainly worked on climate, energy and<br />
nuclear weapons issues for most of the period from<br />
1978-2006, and have been at GWEC since early 2007.<br />
WHAT IS THEGLOBAL WIND<br />
ENERGY COUNCIL AND<br />
ITS GOALS?<br />
The Global Wind Energy Council (GWEC) is the global<br />
trade association representing the wind industry. The<br />
members of GWEC represent over 1,500 companies, organizations<br />
and institutions in more than 80 countries,<br />
including manufacturers, developers, component suppliers,<br />
research institutes, national wind and renewables<br />
associations, electricity providers, finance, insurance<br />
companies and law firms.<br />
GWEC works at the highest international political level<br />
to create a better policy environment for wind power.<br />
Our mission is to ensure that wind power establishes<br />
itself as the answer to today’s energy challenges, providing<br />
substantial environmental and economic benefits.<br />
GWEC works with national and international policy<br />
makers and industry associations to help open new markets<br />
for wind power. GWEC has a proven track record of<br />
success in helping to build the wind power industry in<br />
emerging markets around the world, including Argentina,<br />
Brazil, China, India, Mexico and South Africa. For<br />
more information: www.gwec.net.<br />
Steve Sawyer<br />
GWEC Secretary General<br />
©Buenos Aires Herald
81<br />
We have a small but dynamic eight-person team.<br />
GWEC’s headquarters are located at the Wind Power<br />
House in Brussels, Belgium and we have staff in India/<br />
US and an office in Beijing, China. We organize wind<br />
power exhibition & conferences together with our local<br />
partners across the globe including Brazil, China, India,<br />
Mexico and South Africa.<br />
WHAT IS THE IMPORTANCE OF<br />
USING CLEAN ENERGY?<br />
Clean energy is a non-polluting source of energy that<br />
displaces greenhouse gas emissions. Clean energy<br />
doesn’t emit pollutants and has a minimal water usage<br />
footprint. By 2020, GWEC projections suggest that wind<br />
power alone would save 1.2 billion tons of CO2 every<br />
year. Wind power does not emit any other air pollutants<br />
and within three to six months of operation, a wind<br />
turbine has offset all emissions from its construction, to<br />
run with virtually zero emissions for the remainder of<br />
its twenty-thirty year lifetime. While conventional fossil<br />
fuel and nuclear power plants, which make up 78%<br />
of global electricity production, use water for cooling<br />
and condensing the steam that drives the turbines, wind<br />
power generation requires practically no water.<br />
More than 150 nations gathered in New York on 22<br />
April, on Earth Day, to formally sign the landmark<br />
climate change deal which was agreed in Paris last December,<br />
an all too rare triumph for multilateralism in a<br />
world that desperately needed one.<br />
While there are many positive signs, Mother Nature is<br />
sending signals of another sort: weird weather, droughts,<br />
floods, unprecedented Arctic sea-ice retreat, record high<br />
winter temperatures and Greenland’s annual glacier<br />
melt season has start two months early. CO2 levels are<br />
rising at an alarming rate, and we are now in uncharted<br />
territory in terms of atmospheric concentrations of<br />
greenhouse gases, at least since Homo sapiens has been<br />
around.<br />
The global power sector is the largest single source of<br />
emissions, accounting for more than 40% of all carbon<br />
dioxide emissions from burning fossil fuels, and about<br />
25% of our total greenhouse gas emissions. If global<br />
emissions are to peak and decline in this decade, as the<br />
science shows is necessary in order to meet climate protection<br />
goals, one focus has to be the power sector. Wind<br />
power’s scalability and its speed of deployment makes it<br />
an ideal technology to bring about the early emissions<br />
reductions which are required if we are to keep the window<br />
open for keeping global mean temperature rise to<br />
2⁰ C or less above pre-industrial levels.<br />
Global emissions need to peak and begin to decline before<br />
2020, and a dramatic increase in renewable energy<br />
deployment is urgently required to help make this happen.<br />
In the short term the three key options available<br />
for mitigating greenhouse gas emissions include a rapid<br />
deployment of renewable energy, primarily wind power;<br />
escalation of efforts towards promoting energy efficiency<br />
and conservation; and fuel switching from coal to gas.<br />
By 2020, GWEC projections suggest that wind power<br />
alone would save 7.9 billion tons of CO2. On average,<br />
each kWh of wind power generated avoids 600 grams<br />
of CO2 by displacing the need for the generation of the<br />
same unit of electricity from conventional energy sources<br />
(coal, oil or gas).<br />
Wind energy installations totaled 432.9 GW globally by<br />
the end of 2015, and the industry is set to grow by another<br />
+60 GW in 2016.<br />
Horns Rev II ©Saylor<br />
ISSUE NO.004 RENEWABLE ENERGY
82 ISSUE NO.004 RENEWABLE ENERGY<br />
WHAT IS THE FUTURE<br />
OF CLEAN ENERGY?<br />
The global wind industry had another record-breaking<br />
year in 2015. After installations broke through the 50<br />
GW for the first time in a single year in 2014, we reached<br />
yet another milestone in 2015 as annual installations<br />
topped 63 GW, a 22% increase on the 2014 annual market;<br />
and not only did renewables surpass all other power<br />
sector investments, for the first time capital investments<br />
in renewables surpassed all capital investments in fossil<br />
fuels for the first time. By the end of last year, there<br />
were about 433 GW of wind power spinning around the<br />
globe, a 17% increase over the previous year; and wind<br />
power supplied more new power generation than any<br />
other technology, according to the IEA.<br />
Looking ahead, GWEC sees wind power installations<br />
will nearly double in the next five years…we’re moving<br />
rapidly towards a power system dominated by wind and<br />
solar, although we still have a lot more work to do on<br />
transport and heating.<br />
Wind power has become the least cost option when adding<br />
new capacity to the grid in an increasing number of<br />
markets, and prices continue to fall. Given the urgency<br />
to cut down CO2 emissions and continued reliance on<br />
imported fossil fuels, wind power’s pivotal role in the<br />
world’s future energy supply is assured.<br />
©GWEC
83<br />
Finland<br />
©Vastavalo,<br />
Raimo Rosholm<br />
WHAT HAS YOUR COMPANY<br />
ACHIEVED SO FAR?<br />
In addition to our international advocacy with the Climate<br />
Convention, IRENA, the IEA and other international<br />
institutions, we focus on opening new markets.<br />
Two top programmatic priorities at the moment are: 1)<br />
the FOWIND project, in collaboration with Indian and<br />
international partners and the Government of India,<br />
supported by the EU, developing a roadmap for offshore<br />
wind development in India; and 2) taking advantage of<br />
the changed political circumstances in Argentina to help<br />
drive wind power development in that country, which<br />
has some of the best wind resources in the world.<br />
In terms of the impact, we have been instrumental in<br />
establishing wind power markets in China, Brazil, South<br />
Africa and Mexico, as well as helping to establish wind<br />
power as a mainstream energy source in the national<br />
and international energy policy debate. The wind power<br />
industry now employs more than 1 million people<br />
worldwide, and in 2015 attracted about $100 billion in<br />
investment. Both of those numbers are expected to continue<br />
to grow at a substantial rate in the coming decade.<br />
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84 ISSUE NO.004 RENEWABLE ENERGY<br />
©GWEC<br />
WHAT WERE THE CHALLENGES<br />
DID THE ‘WIND ENERGY<br />
REVOLUTION’ FACE?<br />
The main stumbling block to the ‘energy revolution’ is<br />
the entrenched belief system of utility executives and<br />
engineers who just don’t believe that we can run our<br />
economy on renewable energy, because their understanding<br />
of the technology is 10, 20 or more years old.<br />
They should look at examples like Denmark where wind<br />
supplied more than 40% of all power in 2015, or Portugal,<br />
where renewables supplied 100% of all power needs<br />
for four days in May of 2016. There are many others.<br />
What citizens and NGOs can do is to continually pressure<br />
their elected officials and demand clean energy at<br />
national, regional and local levels. They need to educate<br />
themselves about the energy system to become effective<br />
advocates, and engage in the policy and regulatory debates<br />
at all levels.<br />
In terms of supplying energy to the (mostly rural) poor<br />
in the developing world, what is needed is an effective<br />
national programme which is really supported by the<br />
government, and they will discover that renewables are<br />
most often the cheapest and most effective way to do so.<br />
There are many successful examples of this, the biggest<br />
one being China.<br />
My experience is that when government officials are attending<br />
international conferences, supplying energy to<br />
the poor is a priority; but when they’re at home it falls<br />
off the radar. International institutions should insist on<br />
effective market policies and structures to deal with the<br />
problem as a condition of cooperation.
85<br />
WHAT IS YOUR ADVICE TO<br />
YOUNG ENGINEERS?<br />
We don’t need technological miracles to achieve our<br />
climate, energy and access goals(although they would<br />
certainly help!). We have proven that we have the affordable,<br />
reliable, competitive technology to reach our<br />
goals. Now we need political miracles in energy markets<br />
around the world. That may be a bit tougher, but you,<br />
as engineers, have to be insistent that it is possible, necessary,<br />
and economically desirable. You can be part of<br />
the revolution whose only victims will be large energy<br />
corporations who refuse to change; and the winners will<br />
be everyone else, our children and theirs.<br />
GWEC’s wind power mission<br />
to Argentina ©GWEC<br />
ISSUE NO.004 RENEWABLE ENERGY
86 ISSUE NO.004 RENEWABLE ENERGY<br />
ISES: Striving for Transformation<br />
to a 100% Renewable Energy Future<br />
THE INTERNATIONAL SOLAR<br />
Energy Society (ISES) is a non-profit,<br />
UN accredited membership organization.<br />
Founded in 1954, the Society has a long<br />
history of being a trusted global advisor<br />
on renewable energy and this remains its<br />
core value. The Society has thousands of<br />
members and reaches over 50,000 people<br />
around the world through its contacts,<br />
Sections and partners.<br />
ISES works to achieve 100% renewable<br />
energy for all, used efficiently and wisely,<br />
by providing the global renewable energy<br />
community with a collective, scientifically<br />
credible voice and up-to-date information<br />
gathered and synthesized by its talented<br />
members. The ISES headquarters is<br />
located in Freiburg, Germany.<br />
ABOUT ISES<br />
ISES is a leader in the transformation to<br />
a 100% renewable energy future through<br />
its events, webinars, publications and<br />
collaboration with global partners.<br />
The ISES Solar World Congresses, held<br />
biennially since the 1950’s, as well as<br />
regional events such as the EuroSun,<br />
embody the spirit of international<br />
renewable energy networking and<br />
exchange of ideas advanced by the Society.<br />
Its objective is to maintain communication<br />
between the research community,<br />
industrial and political players.<br />
ISES sees itself in this context as a focal<br />
point, providing a network within which<br />
different groups can exchange knowledge<br />
and obtain technical and scientific<br />
expertise. ISES Board Members are<br />
welcome speakers at renewable energy<br />
events all around the world.<br />
Dave Renné,<br />
ISES President.<br />
Jennifer McIntosh,<br />
ISES Executive<br />
Secretary.
87<br />
Our flagship publication, Solar Energy,<br />
is the official journal of ISES, devoted<br />
exclusively to the science and technology<br />
of solar energy applications. This<br />
publication is thriving, with an increase<br />
from 12 to 18 issues a year in 2016 and an<br />
impressive 1.1 million downloads in 2014.<br />
Since 2014, ISES has been holding free<br />
monthly webinars. The webinars focus<br />
on key renewable energy topics, drawing<br />
a large global audience each month.<br />
The Society also publishes monthly<br />
newsletters, and its members are active<br />
contributors to renewable energy<br />
campaigns on social media.<br />
THE MACRO LEVEL OF<br />
CLEAN ENERGY<br />
The dream of the ISES founders of a global<br />
solar energy industry is becoming a reality.<br />
According to the REN 21 Renewables 2016<br />
Global Status Report, 2015 was a record<br />
year for renewable energy. Global new<br />
investment in renewable power and fuels<br />
reached nearly USD 286 billion; the world<br />
now adds more renewable energy power<br />
capacity than it adds from all fossil fuels<br />
combined; and an estimated 8.1 million<br />
people worldwide are working directly or<br />
indirectly in the renewable energy sectors.<br />
The total installed capacity of solar PV<br />
reached 227 GW and solar power accounts<br />
for over 56% of total new investment in<br />
renewable power and fuels. The growing<br />
markets are the result of breakthroughs<br />
in research and development, which have<br />
led to major achievements in improving<br />
solar energy technologies, and thus drive<br />
down costs. Enabling policies, including<br />
the increasing number of communities<br />
and cities around the world committed<br />
to achieving 100% renewable energy,<br />
are important factors driving growth in<br />
renewables.<br />
Yet, the ISES goals to promote the<br />
development and application of solar<br />
energy technologies globally are more<br />
relevant than ever. The challenges<br />
Farrington Daniels, Henry Sargent and<br />
other solar energy pioneers recognized 60<br />
years ago are more urgent today and are<br />
expounded further by the growing risk of<br />
climate change. ISES is looking forward<br />
to lead the energy transformation to a<br />
100% renewable energy world during this<br />
century.<br />
Photo by Solarsiedlung GmbH<br />
ISSUE NO.004 RENEWABLE ENERGY
88 ISSUE NO.004 RENEWABLE ENERGY<br />
THE MICRO LEVEL<br />
OF CLEAN ENERGY<br />
An important strategic activity of the<br />
Society is engaging in key partnerships<br />
with like-minded organizations from<br />
around the world. Together with our<br />
members and Sections, these partners<br />
form a strong global alliance for advancing<br />
renewable energy. ISES provides key<br />
timely information on renewable<br />
energy technology and innovation<br />
breakthroughs, policy mechanisms<br />
and changes, investment strategies and<br />
deployment opportunities. The Society<br />
works closely with global partners such<br />
as the International Renewable Energy<br />
Alliance (REN Alliance), the Global<br />
100% Renewable Energy Campaign, the<br />
International Renewable Energy Agency<br />
(IRENA), the United Nations’ Practitioner<br />
Network and SE4ALL initiative, the<br />
International Energy Agency’s Solar<br />
Heating and Cooling Programme, the<br />
Global Solar Council and many more.<br />
As a UN accredited NGO, ISES<br />
participates in the UN Climate Change<br />
Conferences, including the COP21 in<br />
Paris last November. ISES held a sideevent<br />
with the REN Alliance partners<br />
representing wind, hydropower,<br />
geothermal and bioenergy to demonstrate<br />
how these technologies can work together<br />
to achieve a 100% renewable energy<br />
solution to climate change. The event<br />
provided case studies of communities,<br />
cities, countries and regions, where<br />
various high-penetration combinations<br />
of renewable energy technologies are<br />
working together. Technical solutions for<br />
100% renewable energy systems are in<br />
place today, along with the will to invest,<br />
and regional resource availability.<br />
Dr. David Renné, President of the<br />
International Solar Energy Society (ISES),<br />
said: “The solar energy resource potential<br />
is vast. Working with other renewable<br />
energy technologies, the solar resource<br />
provides an important component of<br />
100% renewable energy systems. There<br />
is plenty of financial capital and public<br />
engagement available to support the<br />
renewable energy transformation, and the<br />
COP21 agreement in Paris provides the<br />
political will by national governments to<br />
create an effective policy and regulatory<br />
environment to drive us towards a 100%<br />
renewable energy future.”<br />
THE CHALLENGES &<br />
THEIR SOLUTIONS<br />
From President’s Column in the ISES<br />
April 2016 <strong>News</strong>letter by ISES President<br />
Dr. David Renné:<br />
Mobilizing the financial capital to<br />
achieve the 100% renewable energy<br />
transformation is perhaps among the most<br />
important constraints to be addressed<br />
both by national governments providing<br />
public finance and by the private capital<br />
markets themselves. The public and<br />
private sectors need to work together to<br />
stimulate private capital flows required<br />
to finance the energy transformation.<br />
Programs such as the Green Climate Fund,<br />
a pool of public capital made available<br />
through recent climate agreements, if<br />
used properly, can stimulate flow of<br />
private capital by helping create enabling<br />
environments for renewable energy<br />
business growth, especially with small<br />
and medium enterprises. As Bloomberg<br />
New Energy Finance representatives<br />
pointed out during the IRENA General<br />
Assembly in Abu Dhabi this January,<br />
current investment in renewable energy<br />
must double by the year 2020 just to keep<br />
up with the climate mitigation goals that<br />
were established at the COP21 in Paris<br />
in December 2015. Paradoxically, the
89<br />
ADVICE TO THE<br />
YOUNG ENGINEERS<br />
The International Solar Energy Society<br />
encourages young people to continuously<br />
search for ways to achieve a better future<br />
for all people of the world. Modern and<br />
efficient technological solutions exist to<br />
provide a 100% renewable energy future,<br />
but more research and development are<br />
still needed for continuous innovation.<br />
ISES supports the development of a<br />
workforce that will drive innovation<br />
and implement measures for the 100%<br />
renewable energy goal. Opportunities for<br />
young engineers are growing constantly,<br />
and the future green energy economy<br />
will result in exciting, high-paying and<br />
satisfying careers for our future engineers.<br />
Young engineers can be at the forefront of<br />
the renewable energy transformation by<br />
choosing career paths in solar and other<br />
renewable energy technologies.<br />
actual investment levels at present are<br />
being challenged by the lowering cost of<br />
renewable technologies, the strength of<br />
the U.S. dollar combined with a weakened<br />
European economy, and lower oil and<br />
natural gas prices.<br />
The majority of the costs of the energy<br />
transformation will be covered by private<br />
capital. Governments, however, play a<br />
key role in supporting the high-risk R&D<br />
still required to further reduce costs and<br />
improve reliability of renewable energy<br />
systems, and to act on the policy signals<br />
that came out of the recent Paris climate<br />
accord. This accord includes commitments<br />
by signatory countries to reduce carbon<br />
emissions to specified targets, known as<br />
INDCs (Intended Nationally Determined<br />
Contributions). Based on current<br />
projections, if all INDCs were adopted<br />
as specified, global temperature warming<br />
would be limited to 2.7° to 3.0°C above<br />
pre-industrial levels (currently global<br />
warming is approximately 1 °C above<br />
preindustrial levels).<br />
An energy transformation to a lowcarbon<br />
economy is now underway, and<br />
the Paris accord is a signal for national<br />
governments to create policies to<br />
accelerate this transformation, but much<br />
work and many challenges still stand in<br />
the way of a realization towards a 100%<br />
renewable energy future. The political<br />
will is not always there, and governments<br />
do not always sustain the kind of critical<br />
R&D necessary to move innovation<br />
technology into the marketplace. The<br />
fossil fuel interests are mobilizing their<br />
base to thwart or at least delay the<br />
transformation, arguing (falsely) that the<br />
transformation is creating global financial<br />
chaos and disruption.<br />
ISES is playing a key role to ensure that<br />
the renewable energy transformation is<br />
not derailed by fossil fuel interests, or by<br />
reluctance of national governments to<br />
create favorable policies. This role is to<br />
continue to advocate for, and report on,<br />
ongoing and growing support in critical<br />
R&D to advance clean energy technologies<br />
from the laboratory to the marketplace,<br />
and to communicate the viability of a<br />
100% renewable energy future broadly in<br />
ways that stimulate favorable policies and<br />
attract low-cost private capital.<br />
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Imtiaz Mahtab, President. Opening<br />
speech for an event in partnership with<br />
DNVGL. (May 2016)<br />
GOING SOLAR:<br />
MIDDLE EAST NATIONS’<br />
RENEWABLE ENERGY<br />
TRANSITION WITH MESIA<br />
Countries in the Middle East have been<br />
known to leave some of the largest carbon<br />
footprints in the world. Middle East<br />
Solar Industry Association, a non-profit<br />
organization, plans to change the way<br />
these countries produce energy through<br />
the use of solar power. With an aim to<br />
encourage governments and industries<br />
to have a transition from oil to solar<br />
energy, MESIA became the largest solar<br />
associations in MENA and continues to<br />
keep on growing.<br />
In this exclusive interview with Imtiaz<br />
Mahtab, MESIA’s President, we were able<br />
to learn more about the company, its views<br />
on renewable energy, and the challenges<br />
the company faced as it became one of<br />
the most respected solar associations in<br />
MENA.<br />
Members getting together on Dubai rooftop. (December 2014)
91<br />
GETTING TO KNOW<br />
Imtiaz Mahtab, A US Citizen, lived and<br />
worked at eight different countries and<br />
in four major continents (America, Asia,<br />
Europe, Middle- East Africa) around the<br />
world. Imtiaz is the President of Middle<br />
East Solar Industry Association. He is<br />
currently SkyPower Global’s Managing<br />
Director for the Middle East, and Africa<br />
(MEA) region as well as Strategic Advisor<br />
to its board. Prior to this role, Imtiaz<br />
Mahtab has been the Regional Managing<br />
Director at Air Liquide.<br />
Imtiaz has over 21 years of leadership<br />
experiences in the management of<br />
businesses in Renewable Energy,<br />
Environment and High Technology<br />
sectors. He serves on the advisory board<br />
of various Renewable Energy and High<br />
Technology startups in the MENA region.<br />
Imtiaz is a graduate of Harvard Business<br />
School in General Management, has a<br />
bachelor degree in Chemical <strong>Engineering</strong><br />
from University of Texas, Austin in USA<br />
and has an MBA from Rutgers University<br />
-NJ in USA.<br />
ABOUT MESIA<br />
MESIA, a non-profit organization, was<br />
founded in 2009 by few solar enthusiasts in<br />
UAE together with the support of handful<br />
of companies to promote solar energy in<br />
the Middle East; a region where most of<br />
the economic activities are tied to oil and<br />
gas, and where countries have one of the<br />
largest carbon footprint in the world.<br />
Over the years, through the dedication<br />
and perseverance of its board members<br />
and employees, MESIA became the largest<br />
and most respected solar association in<br />
MENA with a strong membership base of<br />
over 150 solar related companies.<br />
MESIA’s vision is to enable solar energy<br />
deployment in MENA, and be the trusted<br />
partner to both public and private entities<br />
to that endeavor. Through its various<br />
regional initiatives (influencing policies,<br />
finance and technology deployment)<br />
MESIA aims to encourage the growth of<br />
solar industry so that solar energy can<br />
represent a larger portion of energy mix<br />
in the region. Its mission is to expand<br />
the use of solar energy, to strengthen the<br />
regional solar industry, and to facilitate<br />
business opportunities for its members.<br />
By 2030, MESIA aims that 30% of energy<br />
will be generated from renewable energy<br />
sources in the region (from less than<br />
1% today) reducing carbon footprint<br />
drastically while creating jobs for many.<br />
Shams Dubai Task Force with MESIA members to accompany Dubai government<br />
implementing the Solar Rooftop program. (September 2015)<br />
Event in partnership with Dupont and Jinkosolar. (April 2016)<br />
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Solar Energy Trade Mission in Egypt/Cairo. (April 2015)<br />
Recognition ceremony: Vahid Fotuhi, MESIA Founder<br />
being awarded by with Saeed Mohammed Al Tayer,<br />
Managing Director & CEO of Dubai Water & Electricity<br />
Authority (DEWA). (May 2015)<br />
INTRODUCTION<br />
Clean or renewable energy means<br />
generating energy from unlimited<br />
resources such as wind, solar, water,<br />
geothermal that produce little or no<br />
pollutions as opposed to burning limited<br />
natural or fossil fuel resources (i.e. coal,<br />
oil, gas) or through nuclear power.<br />
Burning natural resources has three<br />
adverse effects: first, it emits gases that<br />
pollutes air causing severe life threatening<br />
diseases. It also causes global warming<br />
that destabilizes the weather affecting<br />
lives and properties (i.e. very hot summer,<br />
very cold winter, flooding). Lastly, if<br />
we burn the precious natural resources,<br />
it cannot be used to make everyday<br />
products such as plastics, clothes, phones,<br />
cars and many others. If we consume<br />
this energy at current rate, not only will<br />
temperature of the world rise to 3.6 o C<br />
by 2040 but we will also run out of our<br />
natural energy resources by 2050. We<br />
need to find another similar planet to live<br />
on! It is wildly agreed that if temperature<br />
rises over 2 o C, catastrophic events will<br />
start to happen for which we already see<br />
some evidences globally.<br />
Today, the energy is consumed<br />
disproportionately around the world.<br />
There are 1.3 billion people on our planet<br />
without access to electricity, and majority<br />
of them reside in Africa and South Asia.<br />
Deployment of traditional fossil fuel or<br />
nuclear based electricity plants to light<br />
these areas will both be very expensive<br />
and time consuming; we need to install<br />
both large electricity plants centrally, and<br />
transmission lines across to transport the<br />
electricity to access hard to reach places.<br />
However, renewable energy solution<br />
such as solar photovoltaic panels can be<br />
installed at the place where electricity is<br />
consumed requiring much less money<br />
and time; similar to getting access to a<br />
mobile phone vs a land line.<br />
THE MACRO LEVEL OF<br />
CLEAN ENERGY<br />
Clean energy over the last decade had<br />
made significant progress driven both<br />
by technological innovation (i.e. solar<br />
photovoltaic), as well as smart decisions<br />
by the policy makers to encourage users<br />
through various schemes. Solar photovoltaic<br />
installation has grown 100 times over last<br />
ten years globally, and the cost of installation<br />
has fallen by 700%, making it now one of the<br />
most cost effective electricity generation<br />
systems in the world!<br />
And it’s not only the rich and developed<br />
countries installing the clean energy but also<br />
the poor countries driven both by simplicity<br />
in installation (small scale, decentralized),<br />
and cost competitiveness. In addition,<br />
significant innovations are happening in<br />
the storage/ battery technology as most of<br />
the clean energy are intermittent in nature<br />
(i.e. solar only shines mostly during day<br />
time, wind blows as it pleases), and would<br />
require storage in the future once we install<br />
a significant portion of energy with clean<br />
energy sources. As electrical cars become<br />
more available and affordable (with the likes<br />
of Tesla and others), the storage or battery<br />
technology will progress even further.<br />
In Dec 2015, 195 countries agreed in<br />
Paris, France (COP21) to keep the<br />
global temperature rise below 2 o C. Each<br />
individual country also proposed its<br />
target, and when combined, will reduce<br />
the temperature rise below 2.7 o C; still<br />
above 2 o C but well below 3.6 o C if we do<br />
nothing. Policy makers are becoming<br />
more confident than ever before to tackle<br />
global warming because of advancement<br />
in technology, and cost competitiveness of<br />
such technology. Countries such as China<br />
and India, accounting for one third of world<br />
population, are following through their very<br />
ambitious renewable energy objectives.<br />
THE MICRO LEVEL OF<br />
CLEAN ENERGY<br />
At MESIA, we work with both businesses<br />
and policy makers to ensure that deployment<br />
of solar energy is part of the national<br />
agenda, that right technology would be<br />
developed and deployed, and that there are<br />
investors both locally and globally available<br />
to fund these initiatives. For example,<br />
MESIA had organized trade missions in<br />
Egypt and Pakistan – where we worked<br />
alongside governments and businesses to<br />
initiate the dialogues as well as made policy<br />
recommendations to deploy renewable<br />
energy in these countries. These programs<br />
attracted over hundreds of companies<br />
enabling them to be integrated with the local<br />
projects, and formed partnership locally.<br />
Some of these companies also planned to<br />
set up local manufacturing plants to create<br />
knowledge base locally. When renewable<br />
energy projects are implemented in these<br />
two countries, they would have 15% -<br />
20% of energy coming from renewable<br />
resources while creating hundreds of<br />
thousands of jobs locally. Similarly, we work<br />
closely with stakeholders (Policy makers,<br />
Businesses and R&D centers) in UAE to<br />
ensure that a national goal of 100% clean<br />
energy dependence becomes a reality. Our<br />
ambition is to have MENA generate 30% of<br />
their energy through clean source by 2030.
93<br />
Last MESIA Solar Awards Ceremony: we are doing it every year. (December 2015)<br />
At the other extreme, the oil or natural gas<br />
resources rich regions, such as the Middle<br />
East, must not give away free or low price oilor<br />
natural gas-based energy or electricity to<br />
its people as the people won’t be responsible<br />
on how much they consume, and that they<br />
will always see renewable energy as an<br />
expensive form of energy. Governments of<br />
these countries should gradually adjust their<br />
pricing of energy to the actual cost to create<br />
a level playing field for renewable energy to<br />
prosper.<br />
Solar Energy Trade Mission in Pakistan/Islamabad. (October 2015)<br />
In addition, we work with local universities<br />
to place their students in clean energy<br />
related companies so that todays’ young<br />
generation can be the future clean energy<br />
leaders! Every year, our organization<br />
rewards 10 solar pioneers, young leaders<br />
below 40 years of age who progress the solar<br />
energy regionally, with recognition and<br />
mentorship. We plan to extend this widely<br />
in the region to ensure pipeline of local<br />
talents.<br />
We brought in both proven (solar heating)<br />
and emerging technologies (storage/<br />
batteries) in the region to ensure fast<br />
adoption and implementation by engaging<br />
consumers and businesses. We publish<br />
cutting edge research reports focused on<br />
both market development and technology<br />
deployment providing valuable insights to<br />
students, businesses, and policy makers to<br />
act on.<br />
Through various partnership we set up<br />
with global organizations such as IRENA,<br />
World Wildlife Fund, Global Solar Council,<br />
IFC – we have now the collective strength<br />
to support the development of solar energy<br />
in MENA.<br />
THE CHALLENGES &<br />
THEIR SOLUTIONS<br />
Today the biggest challenge in renewable<br />
energy deployment is access to ‘affordable’<br />
money, and deploy it where it requires.<br />
Besides addressing the environmental<br />
concern, we need to provide electricity to<br />
1.3 billion people in the world, and one of<br />
the fastest and effective way to provide this<br />
electricity is to deploy solar technology.<br />
However, these countries, where the<br />
unfortunate 1.3 billion people reside, are<br />
seen as high risk countries to do business<br />
with. As such cost of borrowing money<br />
to implement initiatives in such countries,<br />
such Sub Saharan Africa, South Asia, is<br />
very high and at times nonexistent. Some<br />
companies do find clever ways to reach the<br />
people directly by installing the solar panel<br />
at their roof, and charging them a monthly<br />
fee that is cheaper than what they would<br />
have spent on burning kerosene. However,<br />
the funds available to these companies and<br />
entrepreneurs are very small compare to<br />
the overall potentials. The rich nations and<br />
development banks, together with other<br />
financial institutions, must find a way to<br />
provide money with low interest rate to<br />
enable businesses in these countries.<br />
ADVICE TO THE<br />
YOUNG ENGINEERS<br />
The millennials can simply focus on two<br />
areas: consumption, and education &<br />
entrepreneurship.<br />
First, make lifestyle choices to reduce<br />
consumption of energy. The millennials are<br />
great adopters of shared and responsible<br />
economy. Instead of owning a car –<br />
share, drive electric vehicles, take public<br />
transportation, buy recycled products,<br />
recycle, plant trees and so on. Study shows that<br />
we can easily reduce the energy consumption<br />
by 25% by adopting just few lifestyle choices<br />
– enough to have a large impact on reducing<br />
the global warming.<br />
Second, millennials are also the best adopter<br />
of technology. Clean energy is essentially a<br />
technology sector that is growing the fastest,<br />
has the highest potential of growth, and can<br />
challenge the established fossil fuel burning<br />
businesses. It is very similar to internet<br />
or mobile technology where established<br />
companies were overtaken by newcomers<br />
(Think of Apple vs AT&T, Tesla vs GM). The<br />
clean energy sector already created 8 million<br />
jobs last year. Millennials should definitely<br />
focus on developing this sector further<br />
through education and entrepreneurship. I<br />
have no doubt among the millennials today,<br />
we will find the Bill Gates or Elon Musk of<br />
renewable energy tomorrow!<br />
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MICROSOLAR:<br />
BRINGING RENEWABLE<br />
ENERGY TO DEVELOPING<br />
COUNTRIES<br />
An inspirational interview with<br />
Green Energy for a Billion Poor Author,<br />
Nancy Wimmer<br />
RENEWABLE ENERGY IS NOW<br />
becoming more prominent thanks to the<br />
ever-growing need of clean power. Numerous<br />
countries have shown interest by<br />
ridding themselves of fossil fuel usage to<br />
create a better environment for our future<br />
generations.<br />
microSOLAR, a renewable energy research<br />
company, not only promotes the<br />
use of renewables but they also specialize<br />
in microfinance in developing countries.<br />
They also do researches for innovation<br />
for rural electrification, as stated in their<br />
website.<br />
<strong>GineersNow</strong> conducted an exclusive interview<br />
Nancy Wimmer, the managing<br />
director of microSOLAR
95<br />
ABOUT NANCY WIMMER<br />
<strong>GineersNow</strong>: Introduce yourself. How<br />
many years have you been working in<br />
your industry?<br />
Nancy Wimmer: I am an American, grew<br />
up and studied in the United States and<br />
came to Europe to study at the Universities<br />
of Hamburg and Munich; I hold a<br />
Masters in Philosophy from the Munich<br />
School of Philosophy. My professional<br />
work began with teaching at the University<br />
of the Military and serving German<br />
industry as a systems analyst.<br />
I now live with my family near Munich<br />
where I run the renewable energy research<br />
company, microSOLAR. Based on<br />
my 20 years of experience in developing<br />
countries, I recently authored the book,<br />
Green Energy for a Billion Poor describing<br />
the amazing growth of the solar market<br />
in rural Bangladesh.<br />
ABOUT MICROSOLAR<br />
GN: Are you an educational institution,<br />
social enterprise, non-profit or private<br />
company? Describe your company, how<br />
big it is and where is this company headed?<br />
Nancy Wimmer: MicroSOLAR is a private<br />
company which works closely with<br />
a network of renewable energy entrepreneurs<br />
and experts in Europe, Asia and<br />
Africa. This is essential. You can’t advise<br />
social investors – nor can you research<br />
and promote innovative business models<br />
for rural business from your desk. Rural<br />
business is still little understood and not<br />
simply ‘out there’ because millions of villagers<br />
in developing countries are in need<br />
of electricity. This I learned from my work<br />
with microfinance and rural businesses<br />
in Egypt, El Salvador, India, Honduras,<br />
Nepal and Peru. Green Energy for a Billion<br />
Poor is the outcome of my 15 years<br />
of travelling the villages with young engineers<br />
in Bangladesh.<br />
CLEAN ENERGY<br />
ACCORDING TO<br />
MICROSOLAR<br />
GN: What is clean energy as defined by<br />
your company?<br />
Nancy: Clean energy is energy from renewable<br />
energy sources. MicroSOLAR<br />
experience is with solar, wind, geothermal<br />
water in European communities and<br />
solar home systems in developing countries.<br />
My extensive experience in India<br />
and Bangladesh convinced me that solar<br />
home systems are presently the superior<br />
sources of electricity for off-grid villages.<br />
But only if they are affordable, good quality<br />
and regularly serviced, which brings us<br />
back to the importance of understanding<br />
rural business. Some 5 million solar home<br />
systems have been installed in Bangladesh<br />
alone, making a least developed country<br />
the largest off-grid solar market in the<br />
world.<br />
GN: Why bother? What’s the importance<br />
of pursuing clean energy?<br />
Nancy: Why bother? Clean energy is energy<br />
that doesn’t pollute the atmosphere.<br />
Respiratory diseases caused by inhaling<br />
smoke and kerosene fumes are rampant<br />
in developing countries. Children can’t<br />
study at night because the light from kerosene<br />
lamps is poor and the fumes toxic.<br />
Their parents can’t work after dusk, small<br />
businesses like saw mills shut down and<br />
poor people can’t earn. Moreover, kerosene<br />
is more expensive in rural areas and<br />
dangerous to transport. Bangladesh has<br />
no oil reserves. Kerosene is imported, solar<br />
energy is ‘made in Bangladesh’. When<br />
the solar lamp is switched on for the first<br />
time in a village household, people marvel<br />
at clean, white light without smoke.<br />
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96 ISSUE NO.004 RENEWABLE ENERGY<br />
THE MACRO LEVEL OF CLEAN ENERGY<br />
GN: Where are we today? What is the current situation<br />
of renewables (locally or globally)?<br />
Nancy: The ambitious goals of Germany – the green<br />
leader of Europe - have not yet been met. Progress is<br />
hampered primarily by legacy systems – atomic and coal<br />
power plants - and local government energy policy. But<br />
energy supply is undergoing fundamental change and<br />
there is hope that solar energy will be the prime source<br />
of electricity, eventually.<br />
Most Asian countries have ambitious plans for clean<br />
energy – for economic reasons. But advancement in<br />
new energy technologies involving new organizational<br />
solutions is difficult to achieve. Progress is hampered<br />
by deficiencies in administration, infrastructure and by<br />
corruption. Still, spectacular breakthroughs have been<br />
achieved locally, notably in Bangladesh.<br />
The Bangladesh Government has set a target to have<br />
3,168 MW of renewable energy capacity installed by<br />
2021 – its 50th anniversary of independence. The share<br />
of renewables is to hit 5% by the end of 2015 and then<br />
double in just six years. Solar power will account for the<br />
largest part and should reach 1,740 MW by 2021. As<br />
of 2015, Bangladesh sourced 176 MW from renewables,<br />
including 150 MW from solar home systems, 614 kW<br />
from solar mini-grids and 1, 6 MW from solar irrigation<br />
systems. Wind power stood at only 2 MW, while biogas<br />
and biomass were 5 MW, accordingly.
97<br />
THE MICRO LEVEL OF CLEAN ENERGY<br />
GN: What are the initiatives / projects that you are doing<br />
(or have done) that will drive low or zero emission?<br />
Nancy: We are promoting the solar home system approach,<br />
which is technically stable but an organizational<br />
challenge in rural communities. At present we are doing<br />
in depth research on how the world’s largest off-grid solar<br />
market with over 200 suppliers and rural companies<br />
developed with the help of a government-owned financial<br />
intermediary. The solar market in Bangladesh is still<br />
unequaled in the developing world and the subject of<br />
my next book.<br />
GN: What are the future innovations that you or your<br />
company pursuing?<br />
Nancy: In future we are primarily looking into minigrids,<br />
solar irrigation, biogas and smart phone based<br />
services, which will again require very different business<br />
models. We will study, for example, why none of these<br />
renewable energy technologies have to date successfully<br />
reached scale and focus on Bangladesh’s recent initiatives<br />
to promote them.<br />
GN: What impact have you delivered? Do you have metrics<br />
or statistics of your accomplishments?<br />
Nancy: MicroSOLAR’s impact can be measured by the<br />
universities, social investors, personal contacts in developing<br />
countries and the many entrepreneurs in Asia and<br />
Africa who seek its advice. Some of their comments are<br />
on the Green Energy for a Billion Poor amazon website.<br />
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THE CHALLENGES & THEIR SOLUTIONS<br />
GN: What are the stumbling blocks or bottlenecks in the<br />
renewable industry?<br />
Nancy: The questions is why 70 % of the rural population<br />
in developing countries still has no access to electricity<br />
in the 21st century - 300 million villagers in India<br />
alone.<br />
When Grameen Shakti – sister company to the Grameen<br />
Bank – pioneered solar services in 1996, half of Bangladesh’s<br />
population lived below the poverty line and the<br />
top half in rural areas was anything but affluent. But<br />
statistics told Shakti little about who these people really<br />
were. On the contrary, it had to find this out by sending<br />
its engineers to live and work in the villages. Moreover<br />
as a business, Shakti had to figure out how to serve rural<br />
customers’ energy needs and still break-even and scale.<br />
Solar business in the hinterland was uncharted territory.<br />
And it still is.<br />
There are too few rural energy entrepreneurs serving villagers<br />
in developing countries. They are either unwilling<br />
to take on the hardships or lack the know-how and<br />
financing. This was the main motivation for describing<br />
Grameen Shakti’s innovative business model in Green<br />
Energy for a Billion Poor: to teach; to show rural energy<br />
business is possible. This wouldn’t have been possible,<br />
however, without the firsthand experiences with the<br />
engineers – whose stories make the intangibles of rural<br />
business comprehensible.<br />
But Grameen Shakti is only one company. Far more difficult<br />
is the creation of a solar market with local producers,<br />
suppliers and rural service companies. Bangladesh<br />
achieved this through government policy support and<br />
reliable funding for solar companies and NGOs. Such<br />
support is lacking in developing countries which is the<br />
motivation for describing the process in my next book:<br />
to teach, to show it’s possible to create a solar market in a<br />
developing country. It’s a rocky road. But the only way<br />
to ‘provide cheap energy in poverty stricken areas’ is to<br />
create local renewable energy markets to serve the rural<br />
population.
99<br />
This man is Ismail<br />
Sekitoleko, a social<br />
development student<br />
and the treasurer<br />
of Energy Made in<br />
Uganda, the<br />
community-based<br />
organization that<br />
manages the<br />
Nsamizi technology<br />
center.<br />
ADVICE TO THE YOUNG ENGINEERS<br />
GN: Please give advice and words of wisdom about renewables<br />
to our young global audience. What would<br />
you like to tell to the millennials? Any inspiring words<br />
that you can share?<br />
Nancy: If you are interested in clean energy for developing<br />
countries, go there. Study the best business models<br />
you can find. You will learn that clean energy in developing<br />
countries may be light years away from your<br />
country. You will learn that rural business is vastly different<br />
from what you know. And you will learn that it is<br />
the many poor who need clean energy most.<br />
A young Shakti engineer put it this way: “No, I don’t<br />
think branch managers should have to stay on this island<br />
for more than a year. But I seriously believe they<br />
can learn for a lifetime while they are here.”<br />
ISSUE NO.004 RENEWABLE ENERGY
100 ISSUE NO.004 RENEWABLE ENERGY<br />
REN21:<br />
Driving the<br />
Energy Transition<br />
with Renewables<br />
The Renewable Energy Policy Network<br />
of the 21st Century (REN21) is a global<br />
renewable energy policy network which<br />
connects different key actors for the<br />
fast transition to renewable energy.<br />
REN21 was launched in June 2004. They<br />
bring together government and nongovernment<br />
organizations, research and<br />
academic institutions, and international<br />
organizations to work together and learn<br />
from each other to be able to promote and<br />
advance renewable energy.<br />
<strong>GineersNow</strong> conducted an exclusive<br />
interview with Ms. Christine Lins, the<br />
Executive Secretary of REN21.<br />
GETTING TO KNOW<br />
GN: Introduce yourself.<br />
Christine Lins: I was appointed as<br />
Executive Secretary of REN21, the<br />
Renewable Energy Policy Network of the<br />
21st Century, in July 2011. Between 2001<br />
and 2011, I served as Secretary General of<br />
the European Renewable Energy Council.<br />
Previously, I worked in a regional energy<br />
agency in Austria promoting energy<br />
efficiency and renewable energy sources.<br />
GN: How many years have you been<br />
working in your industry?<br />
Christine: I hold a Master’s degree in<br />
international economics and applied<br />
languages and have more than 20 years<br />
of working experience in the field of<br />
renewable energy.
101<br />
ABOUT REN21<br />
Christine: REN21 is a multi-stakeholder<br />
network that works to drive the energy<br />
transition with renewables. REN21 has its<br />
headquarters at UNEP, the United Nations<br />
Environment Programme in Paris/France.<br />
GN: Are you an educational institution,<br />
social enterprise, non-profit or private<br />
company? Describe your company.<br />
Christine: REN21 is a global public-private<br />
multi-stakeholder network on renewable<br />
energy regrouping international<br />
organizations, governments, industry<br />
associations, science and academia as well<br />
as NGOs working in the field of renewable<br />
energy. We are a registered NGO.<br />
GN: How big is your company?<br />
Christine: The secretariat is composed of<br />
eight people: six permanent staff and two<br />
interns who are with us on a six month<br />
basis. We work with an international<br />
network of 700 energy experts.<br />
GN: Describe your mission, vision and<br />
values.<br />
Christine: We work with those whose<br />
promote renewable energy. We do not<br />
discriminate by technology and we work<br />
across all sectors.<br />
GN: Where is this company headed?<br />
What’s your future expansion plans?<br />
Describe briefly your strategic goals<br />
Christine: Our mission is to drive the<br />
energy transition with renewables – the<br />
faster the better!<br />
STAND ON CLEAN ENERGY<br />
GN: What is clean energy (as defined by<br />
your organization/company)?<br />
Christine: Any energy that uses renewable<br />
energy resources (wind, sun, water,<br />
biomass, geothermal). It does not include<br />
nuclear.<br />
GN: Why bother? What’s the importance<br />
of pursuing clean energy?<br />
Christine: If we are to have a planet on<br />
which we can live, we need to change how<br />
we consume energy. The combustion<br />
of fossil fuels results in short-term<br />
pollutants which directly affect our health<br />
and the generation of GHGs (Green<br />
House Gases). If we are to limit warming<br />
to under 2 degrees, then fossil fuels need<br />
to stay in the ground. Renewables provide<br />
a viable option to fossil fuels. Countries<br />
are already powering themselves with<br />
renewables (Portugal recently had four<br />
consecutive days of 100% renewable<br />
electricity and Denmark does so<br />
frequently).<br />
THE MACRO LEVEL OF<br />
CLEAN ENERGY<br />
GN: Where are we today? What is the<br />
current situation of renewables?<br />
Christine: 2015 was a record year<br />
for renewable energy installations.<br />
Renewable power generating capacity saw<br />
its largest increase ever, with an estimated<br />
147 gigawatts (GW) added. Modern<br />
renewable heat capacity also continued to<br />
rise, and renewables use expanded in the<br />
transport sector. Distributed renewable<br />
energy is advancing rapidly to close the<br />
gap between the energy haves- and havenots.<br />
Investment in renewables in 2015<br />
reaching USD 286 billion worldwide in<br />
renewable power and fuels; if investment<br />
in large hydropower (>50 MW) and in<br />
heating and cooling is taken into account,<br />
the total is far higher. For the first time<br />
ever, investment in developing countries<br />
surpassed that of industrialized countries.<br />
GN: Where should we be 10 years from<br />
now? Are we on the right track? Are we<br />
delayed? Are we progressing?<br />
Christine: The UN Secretary-General’s<br />
initiative Sustainable Energy for All<br />
launched a call for global action to<br />
achieve universal access to modern<br />
energy services, double the global rate<br />
of improvement in energy efficiency and<br />
double the share of renewable energy in<br />
the global energy mix by 2030. To reach<br />
this objective we need to rapidly increase<br />
the uptake of renewables as well as<br />
implement energy efficiency throughout<br />
all energy systems. By the end of 2014,<br />
renewable energy provided an estimated<br />
19.2% of global final energy consumption.<br />
We therefore have our work cut out for us!<br />
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102 ISSUE NO.004 RENEWABLE ENERGY<br />
THE MICRO LEVEL OF<br />
CLEAN ENERGY<br />
GN: What are the initiatives / projects<br />
that you are doing (or have done) that will<br />
drive low or zero emission?<br />
Christine: REN21 provides high-quality<br />
information to assist decision-makers<br />
make the best decisions possible. We<br />
facilitate the collection of comprehensive<br />
and timely information on renewable<br />
energy. This information reflects diverse<br />
viewpoints from both private and public<br />
sector actors, serving to dispel myths<br />
about renewable energy and to catalyze<br />
policy change.<br />
GN: What are the future innovations that<br />
you or your company pursuing?<br />
Christine: In addition to tracking the<br />
current status of renewables globally, we<br />
are developing regional status reports to<br />
better track the growing development<br />
within key regions. REN21 is also<br />
developing a new Global Futures Report<br />
to illustrate the credible possibilities for a<br />
100% renewable energy future.<br />
GN: What impact have you delivered<br />
(social, economic and environmental)?<br />
Do you have metrics or statistics of your<br />
accomplishments?<br />
Christine: When REN21 first started its<br />
Renewable Global Status Report series,<br />
it was 30 pages. Today the report stands<br />
at over 180 pages, reflecting the growth<br />
of renewables and the need to diversify<br />
what and how the status of renewables<br />
is tracked. The Renewable Global Status<br />
Report is now the world’s most frequently<br />
referenced report on the global renewable<br />
energy market, industry and policy<br />
landscape.<br />
THE CHALLENGES &<br />
THEIR SOLUTIONS<br />
GN: What are the stumbling blocks or<br />
bottlenecks in the renewable industry?<br />
Christine: Long-term stable policy<br />
frameworks are key for the uptake of<br />
renewables. Investors are reluctant to<br />
invest in markets that are not underpinned<br />
by long-term policy action.<br />
GN: What do you think the government,<br />
private companies and NGO of each<br />
country should do to get rid of this?<br />
Christine: Citizens, business, investors all<br />
need to demand that long-term planning<br />
and policy action be put in place.<br />
GN: How do we provide cheap energy in<br />
poverty stricken areas?<br />
Christine: Distributed renewables provide<br />
clean, affordable energy services. The<br />
market opportunity for off-grid solutions<br />
is growing rapidly.
103<br />
Approximately 28 million households<br />
worldwide were using clean cook stoves<br />
by the end of 2015. Roughly 44 million<br />
off-grid pico-solar products had been sold<br />
globally by mid-2015, representing an<br />
annual market of USD 300 million. About<br />
70 countries worldwide either had some<br />
off-grid solar PV capacity installed or had<br />
programmes in place to support off-grid<br />
solar PV applications by the end of 2015.<br />
In addition, several thousand renewablesbased<br />
mini-grids were in operation.<br />
Innovative business models include use<br />
of mobile payment systems and scratch<br />
cards, the “Powerhive” business model,<br />
pay-as-you-go micro-payment schemes<br />
and integrated service providers with<br />
products that range from simple solar<br />
lamps with radios and mobile phones, to<br />
aspirational items like televisions.<br />
GN: How do we ensure access to clean<br />
energy?<br />
Christine: By supporting innovative<br />
business and financing models through<br />
policy support.<br />
ADVICE TO THE<br />
YOUNG ENGINEERS<br />
GN: Please give advice and words of<br />
wisdom about renewables to our young<br />
global audience. What would you like<br />
to tell to the millennials? Any inspiring<br />
words that you can share?<br />
Christine: Everyone has a role to play<br />
in making this planet a better place to<br />
live. As engineers you have a special<br />
responsibility as you will be the forefront<br />
of system design. Therefore whatever<br />
specialty you choose make sure to think<br />
systemically; think about how to provide<br />
clean, efficient energy services in a way<br />
that meets a population’s needs in a<br />
sustainable manner. If we don’t get it right<br />
in the 30 years we may not have another<br />
chance.<br />
There are currently over 8 million people<br />
employed in the renewable energy<br />
sector, tendency growing, so watch out<br />
for interesting job opportunities in the<br />
energy sector of the future! But one word<br />
of caution: working for renewables is<br />
contagious – once you start in this sector<br />
you won’t want to leave it!<br />
ISSUE NO.004 RENEWABLE ENERGY
104 ISSUE NO.004 RENEWABLE ENERGY<br />
RENEWABLES 100:<br />
HELPING THE WORLD<br />
TO TRANSITION TO<br />
100% RENEWABLE ENERGY<br />
Renewables 100 Policy<br />
Institute Founding<br />
Director Diane Moss.<br />
For centuries, we have been relying on<br />
non-renewable energy sources, and this<br />
has been causing multiple environmental<br />
problems. The best way to solve this<br />
problem is to shift from using environment-polluting<br />
energy sources to using<br />
clean and renewable energy sources.<br />
Energy is a very important aspect in our<br />
technological world today, and it is a fact<br />
that non-renewable energy sources won’t<br />
last forever. The Renewables 100 Policy<br />
Institute, a non-profit organization, has a<br />
mission “to study and accelerate the global<br />
transition to 100% renewable energy in<br />
ways that are most sustainable and economical<br />
for the most people.”<br />
<strong>GineersNow</strong> conducted an exclusive interview<br />
with Diane Moss, the founding<br />
director of Renewables 100 Policy Institute.<br />
<strong>GineersNow</strong>: How many years have you<br />
been working in your industry (energy,<br />
engineering, NGO)?<br />
Diane Moss: The Renewables 100 Policy<br />
Institute team has combined experience<br />
of more than 50 years in the clean energy<br />
field. Our background covers a broad<br />
range of expertise, including grassroots<br />
advocacy, power grid governing, utility<br />
management, renewable energy and other<br />
clean technology industry development,<br />
policymaking, media and communications.<br />
Our international core team grew<br />
up and has lived all over the world, including<br />
California and the East Coast of<br />
the US, Germany, France, Bulgaria, Switzerland<br />
and Italy in Europe, and Nigeria,<br />
Ghana and Tanzania in Africa.<br />
RENEWABLES 100<br />
GN: Are you an educational institution,<br />
social enterprise, non-profit or private<br />
company? Describe your company.<br />
Diane: Renewables 100 Policy Institute is<br />
a 501 (c)3 non-profit educational organization<br />
founded in 2007 with a mission to<br />
study and accelerate the global transition<br />
to 100% renewable energy in ways that are<br />
most sustainable and economical for most<br />
people. Our Board of Advisors includes<br />
several long-time leaders in the clean energy<br />
field, such as utility veteran S. David<br />
Freeman, former Congressman and lifelong<br />
environmental champion Richard<br />
Oettinger, and Dr. Harry Lehmann who<br />
is a General Director at the German Federal<br />
Environment Agency and one of the<br />
founding thought leaders of the 100%<br />
renewable energy movement. Our intellectual<br />
founding father was German Parliamentarian<br />
Hermann Scheer, principal<br />
architect of Germany’s renewable energy<br />
laws at the turn of this century, which led<br />
to Germany becoming a world leader in<br />
this field.<br />
GN: How big is your company?<br />
Diane: We are a lean organization, with<br />
a core team of three and many partners<br />
with whom we work on our various projects<br />
and who provide technical support.<br />
GN: Where is this company headed?<br />
What’s your future expansion plans? Describe<br />
briefly your strategic goals.<br />
Diane: Since our first days, our organization<br />
has asserted that transitioning to<br />
100% renewable energy is not a question<br />
of “if ” it will happen, but of how, when<br />
and who will lead and profit. In our first<br />
years, a good deal of effort had to go into<br />
raising the debate beyond that question<br />
of “if,” in order to overcome pervasive resistance,<br />
even among environmental progressive<br />
non-profits. In the past year or<br />
two, however, the idea that 100% renewable<br />
energy is the direction in which the<br />
world needs to head – indeed is heading<br />
– is becoming more widely accepted. We<br />
are finding happily that thanks in part to<br />
our efforts, we are no longer such a rare<br />
voice in advocating for 100% renewable<br />
energy. And there are ever more examples<br />
of it actually happening, which is the<br />
best way of all to dispel myths and break<br />
through fears.<br />
So looking ahead, while there is certainly<br />
still work to do on convincing people of<br />
the urgency and viability of 100% renewable<br />
energy as the necessary way forward,<br />
our organization will increasingly prioritize<br />
focusing in a more detailed way on the<br />
bigger, more complex questions of how<br />
we get there most intelligently, what milestones<br />
are best to pursue in what order,<br />
cultivating leadership, and how to create<br />
the most broadly and justly distributed<br />
opportunities to profit. These questions<br />
are all interconnected, and the answers<br />
need to be worked out region by region,<br />
community by community depending on<br />
their values, resources, politics, etc. Our<br />
job is to facilitate and accelerate that process,<br />
as well as to help identify and advocate<br />
for best practices.
105<br />
Pathways to 100% Renewable Energy Conference,<br />
April 2013 in San Francisco, USA<br />
Panel 2 – Overcoming Technical Barriers to 100% Renewable Energy<br />
in the Power Sector. From R-L: Keynote Speaker: Stephen Berberich,<br />
President/CEO of CAISO; David Olsen, Managing Director of the<br />
Western Grid Group andmember of the Board of Governors of CAISO;<br />
Dr. Harry Lehmann, German Federal Environment Agency (UBA)<br />
Climate & Energy Director; Angelina Galiteva, Founding Board Chair<br />
of the Renewables 100 Policy Institute; David Renne, President of the<br />
International Solar Energy Society (ISES)-Frank Lacey, Vice President<br />
of Comverge; Peter Asmus, Principal Research Analyst, Navigant; Dr.<br />
Alexa Lutzenberger, Prof. at Univ. of Leuphana; Janice Lin, Exec. Dir.<br />
of the California Energy Storage Alliance (CESA); Dr. Mark Jacobson,<br />
Professor of Civil and Environmental <strong>Engineering</strong> and Director, Atmosphere/Energy<br />
Program, Stanford University.<br />
From L-R: Edwin M. Lee, Mayor of San Francisco; Diane Moss, Renewables 100 Policy Institute;<br />
Melanie Nutter, Director of the City and County of San Francisco Department of the Environment; Bob<br />
Dixson, Mayor of Greensburg, Kansas; Danielle Murray, Renewable Energy Program Mgr, for the City of San<br />
Francisco Dept, of Environment.<br />
Talking about 100% Renewable Energy is Keynote Speaker,<br />
Edwin M. Lee, Mayor of San Francisco.<br />
Groundbreaking Climate and Energy Collaboration - Under2 MOU. Governor, State of California, U.S. Jerry<br />
Brown; Renewables 100 Policy Institute Founding Board Chair Angelina Galiteva, and Founding Director<br />
Diane Moss; Prof. Dr. Eicke Weber Director Fraunhofer Institute for Solar Energy Systems (ISE), Germany;<br />
and Dr. Harry Lehmann, German Federal Environment Agency (UBA) Climate & Energy Director.<br />
ISSUE NO.004 RENEWABLE ENERGY
106 ISSUE NO.004 RENEWABLE ENERGY<br />
Groundbreaking Climate and Energy Collaboration - Under2<br />
MOU. Renewables 100 Policy Institute, Founding Director Diane<br />
Moss; and Prof. Dr. Eicke Weber Director Fraunhofer Institute<br />
for Solar Energy Systems (ISE) (Zayed Future Energy Prize 2014<br />
awarded the Fraunhofer Institute for Solar Energy Systems ISE).<br />
From L-R: Renewables 100 Policy Institute Founding Director<br />
Diane Moss; Advisory Board Member Prof. Richard Ottinger;<br />
and Renewables 100 Policy Institute Founding Board Chair<br />
Angelina Galiteva.<br />
RENEWABLES 100’S<br />
“CLEAN ENERGY”<br />
GN: What is clean energy as defined by<br />
your organization?<br />
Diane: Clean energy is efficiently produced<br />
using renewable sources and does<br />
not increase greenhouse gas or other<br />
harmful emissions over its lifecycle. Renewable<br />
energy sources include sun,<br />
wind, some hydro, bioenergy from organic<br />
waste, tides, waves, and geothermal<br />
energy. Renewable energy systems cover<br />
all energy sectors, including electricity,<br />
heating and cooling, transportation, and<br />
cooking. Clean energy systems include<br />
many technologies that support renewable<br />
energy, such as building efficiency<br />
technologies, grid integration technologies,<br />
storage, electric vehicles, and fuel<br />
cells. Clean energy demands a system<br />
wide transition and change of approach.<br />
GN: Why bother? What’s the importance<br />
of pursuing clean energy?<br />
Diane: Fundamentally, non-renewable energy<br />
sources will by definition diminish.<br />
In the meantime, continued dependence<br />
on them is causing multiple global crises.<br />
Renewable energy sources, while they<br />
may vary from place to place, are virtually<br />
limitless, scalable and modular. Properly<br />
implemented, they avoid problems of the<br />
conventional energy system like fresh water<br />
depletion and contamination, greenhouse<br />
gas and local air pollution, radioactive<br />
waste, and geopolitical tensions that<br />
result from depending on commodities<br />
from other countries who may not share<br />
one’s values.<br />
Renewables are also more economical<br />
in the long run, and increasingly in the<br />
short run. As costs for renewable energy<br />
technologies drop, communities, regions,<br />
businesses and individuals are more and<br />
more looking to adopt renewable energy<br />
as a shelter from volatile fuel prices and<br />
imported fuel costs. Clean energy is also<br />
a source of new jobs and whole new industries.<br />
That’s good news for engineers,<br />
as well as the many other skilled workers<br />
who have roles to play in this development.<br />
Last year, the growth in the solar<br />
workforce outpaced the US economy by<br />
a factor of 12. In Germany, clean energy<br />
accounts for nearly 400,000 jobs. Globally,<br />
more than 7.7 million people were<br />
employed by renewable energy industries<br />
at the end of 2014, according to the International<br />
Renewable Energy Agency (IRE-<br />
NA), an 18% rise from the year before.<br />
THE MACRO LEVEL OF<br />
CLEAN ENERGY<br />
GN: Where are we today? What is the current<br />
situation of renewables?<br />
Diane: Renewable energy uptake is rapidly<br />
growing. Increasingly national and subnational<br />
governments, as well as businesses,<br />
are setting and reaching high targets of up<br />
to 100% and beyond. The Renewables 100<br />
Policy Institute’s project Go 100% Renewable<br />
Energy (www.go100percent.org) has<br />
so far mapped 8 Countries, 55 Cities, 61<br />
Regions/States, 9 Utilities, 21 NonProfit/<br />
Educational/Public Institutions, totaling<br />
more than 54.9 million people who have<br />
transitioned or are officially committed to<br />
transitioning within the next few decades<br />
to 100% renewable energy in at least one<br />
sector. And we will be mapping dozens<br />
more in the weeks ahead. In the US, solar<br />
and wind accounted for nearly all the<br />
new electricity generation that came online<br />
this year. This type of growth mirrors<br />
what’s occurring throughout the world,<br />
where most new generation came from<br />
renewables last year.<br />
Zero emissions transportation and renewable<br />
heating and cooling are also on<br />
the rise. Electric vehicles worldwide have<br />
surged past the one million mark, sales in<br />
China are exceeding expectations, and according<br />
to the Inside EVs report, US sales<br />
have broken records for the last 6 months<br />
in a row. The share of renewables in Europe’s<br />
heating and cooling sector rose<br />
from 10.2% in 2004 to 17.7% in 2014.<br />
That said, most of the world’s energy still<br />
derives from non-renewable sources, so<br />
there is much work to be done and room<br />
for expansion in the energy transition.<br />
GN: Where should we be 10 years from<br />
now? Are we on the right track? Are we<br />
delayed? Are we progressing?<br />
Diane: In the next decade, having a<br />
100% renewable energy target of no later<br />
mid-century and a workable implementation<br />
plan, as well as meaningful steps<br />
already achieved, should be the norm for<br />
all levels of government and corporations.<br />
These plans need to reach beyond electricity<br />
and encompass all energy sectors.<br />
This process is already underway. Several<br />
major urban cities are seeking to reach<br />
at least 100% renewable electricity within<br />
this time frame, like San Francisco and<br />
San Jose in California, and some countries<br />
are as well, such as Scotland. Many smaller<br />
cities and regions, as well as islands,<br />
already have achieved or surpassed 100%<br />
renewable energy targets in the electricity<br />
and heat sectors, and this trend can be expected<br />
to grow.<br />
In a basic sense, we are, of course, delayed<br />
because there are numerous global threats<br />
occurring that almost no one wants to see<br />
happening and are a result of not acting<br />
sooner to transition our conventional energy<br />
system to a safer, more secure one<br />
based on renewable energy.<br />
But we are also on track in the sense that<br />
adoption of renewable energy is rapidly<br />
increasing, and few now question<br />
whether renewables are here to stay and<br />
whether they are the way of the future. As<br />
confidence grows, stakeholders across the<br />
board, from prosumers to grid operators<br />
to utilities to businesses are increasingly<br />
seeing clean energy technologies less as<br />
challenges and more as opportunities.<br />
Continuing to transform energy systems<br />
at the scale and pace needed, however,<br />
will require policies, regulations, finance<br />
structures and markets that open the opportunities<br />
to a broad spectrum of participants,<br />
while also keeping up with rapidly<br />
changing technological advances and<br />
consumer demands.
107<br />
THE MICRO LEVEL OF<br />
CLEAN ENERGY<br />
GN: What are the advocacies that you are doing<br />
(or have done) that will drive low or zero<br />
emission?<br />
Diane: Our organization’s efforts are entirely<br />
centered around our mission to study and<br />
advance the global transition to clean, renewable<br />
energy. We do this in a number of ways.<br />
For instance, we educate leaders around the<br />
world, bring together multiple stakeholders<br />
from different regions to exchange knowledge<br />
and best practices. An example of this is<br />
the tours we organized over the last two years<br />
to Europe and California, which brought<br />
top level grid operators, policymakers, and<br />
civil society leaders together for first-time<br />
discussions, knowledge exchange, and cooperation<br />
building. Reports and video galleries<br />
for these are available on our website (www.<br />
renewables100.org).<br />
My fellow founder of Renewables 100 Policy<br />
Institute, Angelina Galiteva, also traveled<br />
twice in recent months on behalf of the State<br />
Department to Argentina and Brazil in recent<br />
to meet with energy leaders there and<br />
provide education on renewable energy advancement.<br />
We also have worked closely with the Office<br />
of the Governor of California on state, national,<br />
and international initiatives, such as<br />
promoting multi-state electric vehicle policy<br />
development, efficiency financing, and the<br />
Under 2 MOU, which is an international<br />
agreement that we initiated that commits<br />
subnational governments to reducing greenhouse<br />
gases 80-95% below 1990 levels or to<br />
under 2 tonnes per capita by 2050. These are<br />
just a few of the leadership education efforts<br />
we’ve undertaken in the last couple years.<br />
We additionally engage media to get the facts<br />
out to a broad audience. I think we were the<br />
first to get the concept of 100% renewable<br />
energy into some of the major media publications<br />
in the US.<br />
We also created the Go 100% Renewable<br />
Energy project on www.go100percent.org,<br />
which is our grassroots campaign platform<br />
that seeks to maintain a comprehensive database<br />
of actual 100% renewable energy proj-<br />
ects, studies, and other learning tools that<br />
showcase how 100% renewable energy is not<br />
a fantasy for someday, but a reality for today.<br />
There’s more because there is so much to do,<br />
but that gives you an idea of some of our advocacy<br />
efforts.<br />
GN: What impact have you delivered? Do<br />
you have metrics or statistics of your accomplishments?<br />
Diane: When the organization was founded<br />
in 2007, the concept of 100% renewable energy<br />
was too bleeding edge for most outside of<br />
a few places in Europe. We tried to get other<br />
organizations to take on the mission instead<br />
of starting a non-profit ourselves, but there<br />
was too much political fear, and no one was<br />
ready. Our organization was created to fill<br />
this big vacuum and to raise the debate. Over<br />
our first nine years, the Renewables 100 Policy<br />
Institute has helped catalyze a multi-sector<br />
conversation about 100% renewable energy<br />
targets and solutions and bring it to the<br />
cutting edge. Our work has also inspired a<br />
number of cities and regions to adopt 100%<br />
renewable energy goals.<br />
Among specific milestones have been our<br />
Pathways to 100% Renewable Energy conference,<br />
which was the first international forum<br />
in the Americas to focus on 100% renewable<br />
energy and brought together people from 4<br />
continents and more than 10 countries. This<br />
forum was the springboard for several cities,<br />
including San Diego, to make commitments<br />
to 100% renewable energy targets. Other<br />
non-profits and educational institutions in<br />
various countries also initiated 100% renewable<br />
campaigns. And numerous government,<br />
labor, and grid operation leaders began a<br />
first-time public discussion of 100% renewable<br />
energy targets.<br />
An outcome of our 2014 California-Germany<br />
Learning and Collaboration tour was<br />
the Under 2 MOU, which was signed first<br />
by the State of Cali- fornia and the State of<br />
Baden-Wuerttemberg, followed by more<br />
than 120 signatories.<br />
We were also honored to inspire and be a part<br />
of UNESCO’s official declaration and call to<br />
action for expanding 100% renewable energy<br />
as the way forward for the world, as well<br />
as to integrate the call for 100% renewable<br />
energy into the platform at global climate<br />
conferences and among several international<br />
coalitions.<br />
As mentioned, our Go 100% Renewable<br />
Energy project additionally created the first<br />
global campaign for 100% renewable energy,<br />
along with the first and most comprehensive<br />
interactive map of 100% renewable<br />
energy case studies from around the world.<br />
The project website go100percent.org and its<br />
social media counterpart are visited by tens<br />
of thousands of visitors a month from every<br />
continent in the world and have been emulated<br />
by several allies.<br />
Readers are welcome to read more about<br />
what we’ve been up to on our website: www.<br />
renewables100.org.<br />
Renewables 100 Policy Institute Founding<br />
Director Diane Moss interviewed by<br />
Al Jazeera at our Event “PV60”.<br />
Energy Regions in Transition –<br />
EU-California Tour 2015.<br />
Roundtable Discussion hosted<br />
by Stanford University.<br />
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108 ISSUE NO.004 RENEWABLE ENERGY<br />
THE CHALLENGES &<br />
THEIR SOLUTIONS<br />
GN: What are the stumbling blocks or<br />
bottlenecks in the renewable industry?<br />
Diane: One of the biggest is establishing<br />
policies and regulations that work well.<br />
First, they ideally must have the transparency,<br />
longevity, and certainty to ensure the<br />
required sustained investment. Second,<br />
they ought to be flexible and responsive<br />
enough to allow for innovation and quickly<br />
evolving consumer demand. Third, they<br />
need to ensure that opportunities for engagement<br />
are expanded to include a broad<br />
range of stakeholders, from corporations<br />
to prosumers to communities. Adding to<br />
the challenge, these policy and regulatory<br />
mechanisms need to do two things at<br />
the same time: focus on transforming the<br />
energy system and make sure the energy<br />
system is reliable and efficient.<br />
GN: What do you think the government,<br />
private companies and NGO of each<br />
country should do to get rid of this?<br />
Diane: There is no silver bullet, one size<br />
fits all formula. However, there are some<br />
best practices that frontrunners have been<br />
demonstrating. Here are some examples.<br />
1. Set a target of 100% renewable energy<br />
with milestones along the way and a practical<br />
plan for implementation. Having the<br />
big picture in view as much as possible<br />
helps prevent inefficiencies of piecemeal<br />
planning. This target setting and planning<br />
ideally integrates all energy sectors, since<br />
the energy system of the future will be increasingly<br />
cross-sectorial.<br />
2. Improve public trust and engagement<br />
by achieving at least one milestone quickly,<br />
transparently tracking progress, including<br />
multiple stakeholders from the<br />
community in the planning process, and<br />
making sure policies allow as many people<br />
as possible – including prosumers - the<br />
opportunity to get involved in and profit<br />
from the transition. Many communities<br />
report that getting women involved is also<br />
key to success, as they most often make<br />
household decisions and influence others<br />
in the community. The same goes for<br />
educating and engaging youth, not only<br />
because they need to equipped to manage<br />
the future, but also because they inspire<br />
adults to do the right thing.<br />
3. Learn from other frontrunners. We’re<br />
all smarter when we learn from each other’s<br />
challenges and solutions.<br />
4. Cut the red tape for adopting renewable<br />
energy and complimentary technologies,<br />
such as excessive costs or application procedures<br />
for renewable energy installation.<br />
5. Lead by example. Any entity is bound to<br />
be more effective at getting the public on<br />
its side if they walk the talk.<br />
6. Emphasize direct and local or regional<br />
procurement of renewable energy wherever<br />
possible, in order to encourage environmental<br />
and local economic benefits<br />
like jobs.<br />
7. Aim for a fair and level playing field that<br />
includes rather than excludes different<br />
types and sizes of clean energy technologies<br />
in the marketplace.<br />
8. Open the way for regional collaboration<br />
on grid operations and markets.<br />
9. Avoid the inefficiencies of siloed planning<br />
by integrating clean energy policymaking<br />
with other relevant planning, including<br />
greenhouse gas reduction plans,<br />
waste reduction plans, water resource<br />
protection plans, and food plans.<br />
10. Include externalities and lifecycle costs<br />
and benefits into economic decision making.<br />
These are just some best practices observed<br />
so far. Keep in mind that the playbook<br />
is being written as we speak, so stay<br />
tuned.<br />
GN: How do we provide cheap energy in<br />
poverty stricken areas?<br />
Diane: Many of the world’s poor live in rural<br />
areas where there is little to no energy<br />
infrastructure. Electricity grids can take<br />
decades at the soonest to reach these areas.<br />
Clean energy solutions have been allowing<br />
millions of people in these regions<br />
to have power for the first time because<br />
they can be installed by local people independently<br />
of the big energy companies.<br />
For example, solar panels can be hooked<br />
up to an efficient LED light and a small<br />
battery anywhere that the sun shines and<br />
are often cheaper than traditional forms of<br />
energy like kerosene. Villagers from these<br />
areas don’t have to wait for the government<br />
or utilities to bring them this energy,<br />
as the technologies are relatively simple<br />
to install themselves. And once they have<br />
the skills, entrepreneurial individuals can<br />
perform the installations for neighbors or<br />
train others to be installers, which is an<br />
added income opportunity.<br />
Inexpensive, flexible financing, for example<br />
in the form of micro-loans, is also critical<br />
to help people overcome the upfront<br />
capital costs for energy technologies. It’s<br />
been reported that putting the financing<br />
in the hands of women helps to ensure<br />
that the money is managed responsibly.<br />
Clean energy should be as ubiquitous<br />
as cell phones, which have now reached<br />
nearly every pocket of the world, no matter<br />
what the income level. Maybe not<br />
everyone has the latest iPhone, but they<br />
have the means to communicate. This<br />
happened very quickly. There is no good<br />
reason that the same kind of access should<br />
not be so for energy technology.<br />
GN: How do we ensure access to clean<br />
energy?<br />
Diane: This is mainly up to policymakers<br />
and, in democracies, the people who vote<br />
for them, to create policies and regulatory<br />
frameworks that support access to clean<br />
energy for all. It is also up to financing entities<br />
to make low cost financing available.<br />
And it is up to all of us collectively to decide<br />
that having access to energy, and particularly<br />
clean, renewable energy, is a right<br />
for everyone and that resources must be<br />
made available to make this happen. Literally,<br />
we must bring power to the people.<br />
Renewables 100 Policy Institute Founding Board Chair<br />
Angelina Galiteva was invited by US State Department<br />
to Meet With Energy Leaders in Brazil.
109<br />
ADVICE TO THE<br />
YOUNG ENGINEERS<br />
GN: Please give advice and words of wisdom<br />
about renewables to our young global<br />
audience. What would you like to tell to<br />
the millennials? Any inspiring words that<br />
you can share?<br />
Diane: We are in the middle of one of the<br />
greatest industrial transformations of our<br />
time. This brings with it vast opportunities<br />
for many skilled people, including engineers,<br />
to get involved in one of the most<br />
creative and meaningful endeavors humanity<br />
has ever had to undertake.<br />
I’ll pass on the advice often given by successful<br />
leaders in frontrunner cities and<br />
regions about the key to success: There are<br />
two ways of thinking about going 100%<br />
renewable. One is to think of all the reasons<br />
to fear it and how to slow down the<br />
process. The other is to commit, start and<br />
figure it out as you go, accepting that there<br />
will be mistakes, learning from them, improving<br />
and continuing to just go for it for<br />
the betterment of your community and<br />
future generations. Be the second kind of<br />
thinker. It’s not only the right thing to do,<br />
it is also a lot more fun.<br />
ISSUE NO.004 RENEWABLE ENERGY
110 ISSUE NO.004 RENEWABLE ENERGY<br />
All photos are taken from the<br />
Nordic Baltic Bioenergy Conference,<br />
a business connection between East and<br />
West which was held in Vilnius, Lithuania<br />
from April 19-21, 2016.<br />
Photos by Marius Linauskas/Makophoto<br />
Swedish Bioenergy Association:<br />
Saving Humanity Through<br />
Sustainable Bioenergy<br />
THE COMPANY<br />
The Swedish Bioenergy Association<br />
SVEBIO is a non-profit member<br />
association for companies and persons<br />
with the interest to develop the use of<br />
sustainable bioenergy. I am also Chairman<br />
of AEBIOM, the European Biomass<br />
Association with a similar purpose.<br />
SVEBIO has 12 employees with a turnover<br />
of USD$2.4 Million. The company’s<br />
mission is to increase the use of bioenergy<br />
in an economically and environmentally<br />
optimal way.<br />
Our ambition is focused more on the<br />
share of bioenergy in the Swedish society.<br />
Our aim is to have more than 50 percent<br />
of bioenergy in the total energy use. We<br />
are currently Sweden’s largest energy<br />
source (around 35 percent bioenergy of<br />
the country’s total use) and we surpassed<br />
fossil oil in 2009, which was the largest<br />
energy source before 2009.<br />
PURSUING CLEAN ENERGY<br />
THROUGH SUSTAINABLE<br />
BIOENERGY<br />
Clean Energy is renewable energy that<br />
we can use forever without damaging<br />
nature, causing worse health conditions<br />
or threatening survival of species, etc.<br />
Clean energy should enhance a healthier<br />
world and the survival of species. The<br />
recirculation of nutrients and minerals is<br />
an important part of the natural life.<br />
In my view, we as humans, have a given<br />
responsibility to leave the world a better<br />
place than when we came here.<br />
THE FUTURE OF<br />
CLEAN ENERGY<br />
Globally, according to IRENA, we have 19<br />
percent renewable energy and about 67<br />
percent of that is bioenergy. We have the<br />
technology and the economy to get 100<br />
percent renewable.<br />
We are taking steps forward but not at<br />
all with sufficient speed. We would need<br />
global Carbon Dioxide Pricing as soon<br />
as possible to back out the use of fossils<br />
to cope with the climate change. All<br />
technology is there but it is more about<br />
political will and knowledge about how<br />
to create the steering instruments to make<br />
people and companies move in the right<br />
direction. It is not costly or expensive and<br />
it has to be done. The alternative is more<br />
expensive and damaging. Ten years from<br />
now, I hope we have a global Carbon tax<br />
of at least 30 USD per Carbon Dioxide<br />
ton. Biofuels like ethanol and biodiesel<br />
from agriculture are more accepted since<br />
those are the cheapest and best options to<br />
replace fossil gasoline and diesel.
111<br />
SVEBIO’S INNOVATIONS<br />
AND PROJECTS<br />
Most important project of the company is<br />
the introduction of general incentives such<br />
as CO2 ta., We have to make the polluters<br />
pay since this is the most efficient way<br />
to stop climate change. In many regions,<br />
Combined Heat and Power should be<br />
introduced. It is a very cost-and-energyefficient<br />
system approach that decreases cost<br />
for energy use. Also, energy efficiency work<br />
is important and very much needed in most<br />
regions. We already have the technology to<br />
replace all fossils, replacing fossil jet fuels by<br />
renewable in aviation, in off grid solutions<br />
for power production, in replacing natural<br />
gas in industry, green houses, breweries, etc.<br />
When I say we have all needed technology<br />
to make the switch, it doesn’t mean that<br />
there is no room for further research and<br />
improvement. I believe biofuels for cars will<br />
cost less than a dollar per liter including<br />
VAT and we will use maybe only a liter<br />
to run 30 km. Biofuels will be very cost<br />
competitive to electric cars and batteries.<br />
Also, we see higher share of electricity in<br />
CHP-production which will lower the cost<br />
for electricity from biomass.<br />
In Sweden we have replaced 6000 cubic<br />
meter of fossil imported oil every week in<br />
20 years from 1990 to 2010. This has made<br />
a fantastic impact on Swedish trade balance<br />
and also made possibilities in rural areas<br />
and forestry, where fuel production takes<br />
place. We recommend every country that<br />
import fossil energy to introduce CO2-taxes<br />
urgently to better our domestic resources<br />
and save the climate.<br />
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112 ISSUE NO.004 RENEWABLE ENERGY<br />
THE CHALLENGES &<br />
THEIR SOLUTIONS<br />
The problem is mainly the mind set<br />
believing that it is not possible. But it is<br />
also the subsidies that distort markets<br />
and push investments that are not<br />
optimal or needed. It is important that<br />
it is the customer’s demand that initiates<br />
investment and not the subsidies and<br />
support schemes that put market demand<br />
out of the equation like in some European<br />
energy markets.<br />
NGOs are actually sometimes part of the<br />
problem, demanding support schemes<br />
that are not optimal and also blaming<br />
biofuels for causing problems. If you<br />
consider the global statistics, the yield<br />
per hectare has increased faster than<br />
the growth of the global population. We<br />
continuously free more land for energy<br />
production and still less people starve.<br />
The fact that people starve has other<br />
reasons than that we cannot produce food<br />
enough. In Europe, NGO’s try to forbid<br />
biofuels from agriculture and they say the<br />
land is needed for food production and<br />
thus, biofuels cause deforestation in the<br />
Amazon but at the same time they approve<br />
the 6 percent Ecological Focus Areas that<br />
is used to decrease the surplus production<br />
of food in Europe. The legislation of ILUC<br />
is illogical and stupid and should be taken<br />
away as soon as possible.<br />
We should start to buy renewable<br />
bioenergy from poor rural areas to<br />
inject capital and investments, then food<br />
production can also increase in these<br />
areas when capital is increasing. This<br />
creates a better economic development<br />
and combat poverty.<br />
Again, the Carbon tax is important to push<br />
development and use of renewables. If<br />
people are poor and cannot afford higher<br />
energy prices, a part of the governmental<br />
income of the carbon tax can be used to<br />
support poor people. Income streams<br />
will stop flowing to fossil companies and<br />
start to flow out in regional areas and<br />
into forestry and agriculture into many<br />
different hands and companies.
113<br />
ADVICE TO THE<br />
YOUNG ENGINEERS<br />
We have the potential of a much better<br />
world ahead; controlled combustion is not<br />
dangerous but a condition for life. There<br />
is actually no life on the globe without<br />
cellular respiration which is combustion<br />
at low temperature. With modern<br />
technology we get rid of problematic<br />
emissions and health issues. You can<br />
make a difference helping poor people out<br />
of poverty when developing agriculture<br />
and forestry in rural areas to produce<br />
food and bioenergy. At the same time,<br />
we can develop better life conditions for<br />
rare species when using natural resources<br />
without consuming them.<br />
VIDEOS FROM SVEBIO<br />
ISSUE NO.004 RENEWABLE ENERGY
114 ISSUE NO.004 RENEWABLE ENERGY<br />
WBA:<br />
MOVING FORWARD<br />
IN PROMOTING SUSTAINABLE<br />
BIOMASS FOR ENERGY<br />
Karin Haara, Executive Director WBA<br />
(Photo by Oskar Omne/Dagens Industri)<br />
CLIMATE CHANGE IS ONE of the greatest problems<br />
of our world today. The best solution to this problem<br />
is to replace fossil fuels with renewable energy, and<br />
according to World Bioenergy Association (WBA), biomass<br />
will be playing a major role in satisfying the human<br />
energy needs.<br />
The WBA is a global organization which was founded in<br />
May 2008, wherein they have been promoting the use of<br />
bioenergy globally in an “efficient, sustainable, economic<br />
and environmentally friendly way,” as stated in their<br />
factsheet. Their members include national and regional<br />
bioenergy organizations, institutions, companies and<br />
individuals.<br />
<strong>GineersNow</strong> conducted an exclusive interview with<br />
Karin Haara, the executive director of the World Bioenergy<br />
Association.<br />
GETTING TO KNOW<br />
GN: Introduce yourself. How many years have you been<br />
working in your industry?<br />
Karin Haara: I am the executive director of the World<br />
Bioenergy Association and it all started in 2008. Building<br />
up a new global organisation is a major challenge,<br />
but I really believe that bioenergy is going to be one of<br />
the most important players globally in the field of renewable<br />
energy.<br />
I was born in northern parts of Sweden and studied at<br />
the Royal Institute of Technology in Stockholm. There, I<br />
acquired my Masters Degree in Chemical <strong>Engineering</strong>.<br />
After attending different initiatives concerning renewable<br />
energy I decided to devote my professional work<br />
life to something that would be of importance to future<br />
generations, something that would be in balance with<br />
nature. The answer is bioenergy.<br />
In 1983, I started as an energy consultant and later on<br />
in 1988 as a project manager for the Swedish Bioenergy<br />
Association. During this time, I was involved in different<br />
bioenergy projects such as promoting education, statistics<br />
and information, national and international conferences<br />
and lately also international bioenergy business<br />
projects. Bioenergy is a widespread area and throughout<br />
my work I have been able to gain a better understanding<br />
of how different bioenergy systems work and also how<br />
to promote development.<br />
Bioenergy is a versatile energy source with a multitude<br />
of technologies, conversion pathways and end uses. It<br />
is a continuous challenge to keep abreast of all the developments<br />
in this sector. Every day, there is something<br />
new to learn in this sector and that’s what is so exciting<br />
and inspiring.
115<br />
WORLD BIOENERGY<br />
ASSOCIATION<br />
GN: Are you an educational institution, social enterprise,<br />
non-profit or private company? Describe your<br />
company.<br />
Karin: World Bioenergy Association (WBA) is an umbrella<br />
organization for bioenergy associations, companies<br />
and individuals supporting the sustainable development<br />
of bioenergy globally. It started 2008 in Jönköping<br />
(Sweden) by leaders of a group of national and regional<br />
associations.<br />
We are a non profit and a non governmental organization.<br />
WBA has 19 board members comprising one<br />
President and four Vice Presidents. The board sets the<br />
agenda for the organization. The agenda is executed by<br />
the Secretariat which sits in Stockholm, Sweden, led by<br />
the Executive Director.<br />
GN: How big is your company?<br />
Karin: In terms of manpower, WBA has 2 employees<br />
who work fulltime executing the activities of the organization.<br />
They are assisted by the President, the Vice Presidents<br />
and the Board. Apart from the Board, WBA has a<br />
project advisor, assistants and event managers who work<br />
voluntarily for some of the projects. The organization is<br />
truly global as our 190 members come from more than<br />
50 countries and with various backgrounds.<br />
GN: Describe your mission, vision and values.<br />
Karin: WBA aims to promote the sustainable use of bioenergy<br />
for mitigating climate change impacts of fossil<br />
fuels. We support various actors – associations, companies,<br />
institutions, individuals – working in the field of<br />
bioenergy. We see a future where bioenergy along with<br />
other renewables become the dominant energy source.<br />
A sustainable energy solution for the future generations<br />
is possible only if we show how bioenergy with other<br />
renewables can meet the energy demands of the local,<br />
national and regional energy needs. We actively work<br />
with knowledge transfer, technology transfer and capacity<br />
building as key aspects of promoting a sustainable<br />
future.<br />
GN: Where is this company headed? What’s your future<br />
expansion plans? Describe briefly your strategic goals<br />
(10 years to 20 years plan)<br />
Karin: The association is based in Stockholm, Sweden<br />
but our aim is to have a bioenergy association in every<br />
country in the world. The idea is to be the clearing house<br />
for everything that fits in bioenergy. These national associations<br />
become platforms for Bioenergy entrepreneurs,<br />
and their job is to educate leaders as well as to<br />
build networks in the different regions where bioenergy<br />
is available and/or used. We would like to see the<br />
companies and institutions involved in the whole supply<br />
chain offering jobs and building local businesses as<br />
well as global businesses. WBA is able to be serve as the<br />
hub to transfer both knowledge and technology in both<br />
directions on global level and serve with inspiration to<br />
even local needs.<br />
Illustration of different ecological systems<br />
for biomass origins: short rotation forestry,<br />
corn and sugarcane and managed forestry<br />
(Photo by SLU)<br />
The biogas plant in the municipality of<br />
Linköping, Sweden. Sweden is a world<br />
leader in upgrading and use of biomethane<br />
for transport. Biogas covers today 1%<br />
of the total road traffic in Sweden<br />
(Photo by Svensk Biogas)<br />
World largest combined heat and power<br />
plant based on biomass owned by Fortum<br />
and Stockholm City started operation in<br />
2016 in the middle of Stockholm, Sweden<br />
(Photo by Hans Ekestang)<br />
ISSUE NO.004 RENEWABLE ENERGY
116 ISSUE NO.004 RENEWABLE ENERGY<br />
WBA Steering Committee meeting<br />
in Nairobi. (Photo by WBA)<br />
WBA visit to Biogas plant in Nairobi.<br />
(Photo by WBA.)<br />
WBA at cookstoves lab in KIRDI, Nairobi.<br />
(Photo by WBA)<br />
WBA’S STAND ON<br />
CLEAN ENERGY<br />
GN: What is clean energy as defined by your organization/company?<br />
Karin: Clean energy should be renewable! Clean energy<br />
is tied with the definition of the sustainable development<br />
as envisaged in the Brundtland commission<br />
report. First and foremost, clean energy should meet the<br />
current energy needs without compromising the needs<br />
of our future generations. Hence, no fossil fuels.<br />
Clean energy should also be affordable and transparent.<br />
Technologies like Nuclear energy which are not only expensive,<br />
but also carry significant cost burdens due to<br />
disasters have to be avoided.<br />
Clean energy should be reliable. Millions of people in<br />
Africa and Asia suffer from unreliable and inefficient<br />
energy supply which significantly affects development.<br />
GN: Why bother? What’s the importance of pursuing<br />
clean energy?<br />
Karin: Energy is everything. We use electricity, heating,<br />
transport fuels to run our planet. Everything we do is<br />
tied with the use of energy. It is of utmost importance as<br />
to where we get the energy and how we use it. We have<br />
been using energy unsustainably with little or no care<br />
for the safety of the planet for generations. Only recently<br />
have we realized the drastic negative impacts of climate<br />
change. Climate change impacts everyone – from island<br />
nations in the pacific to mega cities in Asia to quaint<br />
Scandinavian countries up north. What we do on this<br />
planet now affects everyone. It is not an issue between<br />
neighbors or cities or even countries. It affects the whole<br />
planet and in that context energy is central.<br />
Replacing fossil fuels with renewable energy sources is<br />
the only way forward!<br />
In the word of Carl Sagan, one of the greatest astronomers<br />
ever: “The Earth is the only world known so far<br />
to harbor life. There is nowhere else, at least in the near<br />
future, to which our species could migrate. Visit, yes.<br />
Settle, not yet. Like it or not, for the moment the Earth is<br />
where we make our stand.”<br />
In other words, there is no Planet B!
117<br />
In a sustainable managed forest,<br />
trees of different age grow<br />
side by side, to left or in some<br />
cases even trees of even ages as<br />
shown to the right.<br />
(Left photo by ppcnet.org; right photo<br />
by Per Petersson, Sveaskog)<br />
REN Alliance at COP21 in Paris holding a side-event on how renewables are working<br />
together for 100% renewable energy systems. (Photo Bharadwaj Kummamuru)<br />
THE MACRO LEVEL<br />
OF CLEAN ENERGY<br />
GN: Where are we today? What is the current situation<br />
of renewables?<br />
Karin: Renewables currently provide 18 – 19% of the<br />
global energy. The rest of it is supplied by fossil fuels –<br />
coal, oil and gas. Among the renewables, bioenergy is<br />
the largest renewable energy source – currently at 14%.<br />
Most of it is in the form of traditional biomass – woodfuel,<br />
charcoal etc but modern bioenergy (liquid biofuels,<br />
pellets, efficiently used solid biomass, etc.) stands today<br />
for 4-5%. The rest of the contribution comes from hydro,<br />
wind, solar, geothermal, and other renewables.<br />
The share of renewables varies drastically among nations<br />
and regions. European nations have a high share<br />
of renewables in their energy mix. In Americas, countries<br />
like Brazil have increased renewables in the transport<br />
sector. African nations are largely dependent on<br />
biomass for heating. Countries like India and China are<br />
also investing heavily in solar and wind technologies for<br />
their growing energy needs.<br />
GN: Where should we be 10 years from now? Are we<br />
on the right track? Are we delayed? Are we progressing?<br />
Karin: We are not doing enough. Although the renewables<br />
have gained the spotlight – post COP21 in Paris,<br />
still more than 80% of all energy is supplied by fossil fuels.<br />
We have to wean off from coal, oil and gas at the earliest<br />
(possibly within this century, or even by 2050), if we<br />
are to have any chance of limiting the global warming<br />
levels to within 2 degrees – the standard metric agreed<br />
upon by climate scientists.<br />
Having said that, the momentum is shifting. Major fossil<br />
companies are exploring options to invest in renewable<br />
technologies. Banks and institutions are thinking twice<br />
before financing coal projects. Solar prices are dropping<br />
at a faster rate than expected.<br />
We are on the right track, but we have got to pick up the<br />
pace now!<br />
THE MICRO LEVEL<br />
OF CLEAN ENERGY<br />
GN: What are the initiatives / projects that you are doing<br />
(or have done) that will drive low or zero emission?<br />
Karin: Knowledge transfer: We actively publish factsheets<br />
and papers on the role of various bioenergy technologies<br />
in a natural science based idea. These factsheets<br />
are published in collaboration with experts in universities,<br />
companies and associations. They provide an unbiased<br />
view and clear the air on various misconceptions<br />
associated with bioenergy. These factsheets are used by<br />
professors in their teaching, companies in understanding<br />
the market and associations lobbying in favor of renewables<br />
in their countries.<br />
Statistics: One of our key activities is on improving the<br />
statistics on bioenergy. As the saying goes ‘one can’t<br />
manage what one can’t measure’. Data is key for sustainable<br />
development. A standardized approach to gathering<br />
bioenergy data will be an invaluable tool for investors,<br />
organizations including regional and global policy<br />
makers. The availability of consistent data will also lead<br />
to awareness among countries on the true potential of<br />
biomass and the sustainable use of locally available biomass<br />
resources can reduce energy poverty in developing<br />
countries.<br />
Bioenergy Action Plans: Developing bioenergy action<br />
plans for regions will contribute to a growing role of bioenergy<br />
in the energy system. The development of such<br />
action plans would create a strong economic benefit for<br />
the society in terms of jobs, savings in energy expenditures<br />
and increased regional economic growth. The<br />
development will also reduce greenhouse gas emissions<br />
and dependency on imported energy.<br />
Bioenergy Directory: WBA Bioenergy Equipment Directory<br />
is a database for companies working in the value<br />
chain of biomass to energy. Companies can offer their<br />
equipment to attract new buyers. Clients can request<br />
information or compare various products and services<br />
on the website. Such a directory facilitates technology<br />
transfer within the energy sector along with assisting<br />
companies and clients in accessing relevant information.<br />
Sustainability criteria for Biomass to energy: WBA<br />
would like to implement our sustainable biomass verification<br />
scheme. The role of verification processes is to<br />
participate in creation of a global market for bioenergy<br />
and biofuels. The goal of the following verification<br />
scheme for biomass is to secure the sustainability criteria<br />
for biomass, the supply of biomass in a sustainable<br />
way with clearly defined and consistent quality for specific<br />
purposes.<br />
Pellets.<br />
Photo by iStock_©tchara<br />
ISSUE NO.004 RENEWABLE ENERGY
118 ISSUE NO.004 RENEWABLE ENERGY<br />
Global final energy<br />
consumption.<br />
(Photo by WBA)<br />
GN: What are the future innovations that you or your<br />
company pursuing?<br />
Karin: Innovation is a difficult word with no borders and<br />
if you expand it a bit then it should cover what the shift<br />
in thinking means when faced with facts and integrating<br />
bioenergy in the circular driven society. This will open<br />
for collaborations with other groups to reach the 100%<br />
renewable energy driven society.<br />
Our continued focus is on integrating the renewable energy<br />
industry. Our collaboration with the International<br />
Renewable Energy Alliance (a partnership of International<br />
Solar Energy Society, International Geothermal<br />
Alliance, World Bioenergy Association, International<br />
Hydropower Association and World Wind Energy Association)<br />
aims to use our wide expertise in renewable<br />
energy to inform policy makers on the right decisions.<br />
Each city, region and nation have to be informed about<br />
their true and sustainable potential of their renewable<br />
energy resources. We will continue preparing reports<br />
on cities using bioenergy and regional bioenergy action<br />
plans so that everyone becomes self sufficient in a sustainable<br />
way.<br />
Our continued focus on improving statistics is crucial<br />
in meeting the recently announced Sustainable Development<br />
Goals by the United Nations. To satisfy the indicators<br />
and goals, measurement of key energy data is<br />
crucial and we strive for the same.<br />
GN: What impact have you delivered (social, economic<br />
and environmental)? Do you have metrics or statistics of<br />
your accomplishments?<br />
Karin: Our efforts have put bioenergy on the global map.<br />
Our continued presence at the UN climate conferences<br />
have built up a reputation as the leading global bioenergy<br />
organization.<br />
Our statistics report is downloaded close to 2000 times<br />
by financial institutions, banks, governments, research<br />
institutes and universities etc. The feedback we receive<br />
is largely positive on the global impact we are ensuring<br />
with updated and relevant bioenergy data.<br />
More than 30 companies have already joined our bioenergy<br />
equipment directory so far. This is leading to<br />
an improved transfer of technology from regions with<br />
manufacturing capabilities to regions with high potential<br />
of utilizing their own resources.<br />
THE CHALLENGES &<br />
THEIR SOLUTIONS<br />
GN: What are the stumbling blocks or bottlenecks in the<br />
renewable industry?<br />
Karin: The Fossil based energy system has built up<br />
structures that support the fossils. The renewables need<br />
other systems. Even if biomass can fit in the fossil structures<br />
we need to have a price on what we do not want so<br />
a carbon pricing would be needed as well as taking off<br />
the support schemes that hold up fossil systems. To get<br />
the price right it should follow the Polluters Pay principle<br />
(PPP) so that the one who is polluting pays the cost<br />
of the climate change. It is more of a question of policy<br />
and investment rather than technology. Another topic<br />
for bioenergy is the ignorance of politicians about the<br />
benefits and role of bioenergy.<br />
GN: What do you think the government, private companies<br />
and NGO of each country should do to get rid<br />
of this?<br />
Karin: Firstly, the governments have to initiate a carbon<br />
pricing. Fossil fuels have to pay for the pollution that<br />
they cause. Those countries which already have such a<br />
pricing should increase it further to deter the use of fossil<br />
fuels.<br />
Traditional family-farming corn straw<br />
baling in Region of Becej, Serbia.<br />
(Photo by Herman Wieser)
119<br />
Corn straw bailing in the Region<br />
of Sombor in Serbia.<br />
(Photo by Herman Wieser)<br />
The general public has to be educated on the climate<br />
change issues. Such a debate should not be restricted to<br />
the scientific community, but the whole society has to<br />
be aware of our current energy situation and how it will<br />
affect them in the near future. Moreover, they should be<br />
educated with natural science based facts.<br />
Fossil fuel companies have to explore alternative sustainable<br />
energy solutions. The era of big oil, coal and gas<br />
is over and they have to realize that. Banks should stop<br />
financing fossil fuel power plants and invest heavily in<br />
renewables as that is the future.<br />
GN: How do we provide cheap energy in poverty stricken<br />
areas?<br />
Karin: Bioenergy and other renewables are the best options<br />
for providing energy to rural and off grid areas in<br />
low income countries. Biomass along with solar and<br />
wind are easily available. Off-grid decentralized solutions<br />
should be developed as well as central solutions for<br />
easier and cleaner access to energy.<br />
Financial institutions should focus on providing low<br />
interest options for developing renewable energy technologies.<br />
ADVICE TO THE<br />
YOUNG ENGINEERS<br />
GN: Please give advice and words of wisdom about renewables<br />
to our young global audience. What would you<br />
like to tell to the millennials? Any inspiring words that<br />
you can share?<br />
Karin: Integrate your professional knowledge on renewable<br />
energy with visions about a desirable and sustainable<br />
society for future (your) generations.<br />
Company Husk power systems is creating change in rural India by providing<br />
electricity through bioenergy. In Bihar, more than 70 percent of the population<br />
has no electricity but now 200 000 have been provided with electricity.<br />
(Photo by Acumen)<br />
ISSUE NO.004 RENEWABLE ENERGY
120 ISSUE NO.004 RENEWABLE ENERGY<br />
A Kenyan delegation visiting a wind farm<br />
construction site in Germany.<br />
WWEA: Aiming To Achieve<br />
100% Renewable Energy Supply<br />
THE WORLD WIND ENERGY<br />
Association (WWEA) is an international<br />
non-profit association which specializes<br />
in the promotion of the worldwide<br />
deployment of wind energy technology.<br />
They have more than 600 members in<br />
around 100 counties and are cooperating<br />
with different renewable energy organizations<br />
in order to work for a full shift from<br />
polluting and hazardous waste-causing<br />
energies to renewable energies.<br />
<strong>GineersNow</strong> conducted an exclusive interview<br />
with Stefan Gsänger, the Secretary<br />
General for WWEA.<br />
Stefan Gsänger giving a speech at the<br />
WWEC2012 in the former German<br />
parliament in Bonn.<br />
PERSONAL BACKGROUND<br />
<strong>GineersNow</strong>: Introduce yourself.<br />
Stefan Gsänger: When I grew up in the<br />
1980s, the world was confronted with<br />
many severe environmental crises, which<br />
seemed to put on risk the future of mankind:<br />
air pollution and acid rain, climate<br />
change, water pollution, the nuclear disaster<br />
in Chernobyl etc – and no solution<br />
seemed to be available. During that time,<br />
I came across the German MP Hermann<br />
Scheer and his NGO Eurosolar who promoted<br />
strongly an economy based on<br />
renewable energy. I noticed immediately<br />
that many of his ideas and proposals<br />
would contribute substantially to solve<br />
our problems and, even more, they would<br />
create completely new prospects for all of<br />
us.
121<br />
GN: How many years have you been<br />
working in your industry?<br />
Stefan: I started working for renewable<br />
energy in the late 1990s for Eurosolar as a<br />
researcher and moved in 2001 to the German<br />
Wind Energy Association where I<br />
started building up the WWEA which was<br />
founded in that same year. In 2003, I was<br />
appointed by the board as WWEA Secretary<br />
General and since that time I have<br />
managed the association – a great work<br />
which has allowed me to travel around<br />
the world many times and to work closely<br />
with people from all different countries<br />
and cultures.<br />
THE COMPANY<br />
GN: Are you an educational institution,<br />
social enterprise, non-profit or private<br />
company? Describe your company.<br />
Stefan: WWEA is a non-profit organization<br />
and the global umbrella organization<br />
for the world wind community with<br />
the aim of promoting wind energy and<br />
other renewable energy sources on the<br />
global level, ultimately to achieve a 100%<br />
renewable energy supply worldwide. We<br />
currently have members in more than 100<br />
countries, and our elected board members<br />
are representing all continents. The current<br />
president is Peter Rae, former Senator<br />
from Australia, while his predecessors<br />
came from Denmark, India and China.<br />
GN: How big is your company?<br />
Stefan: WWEA has more than 600 direct<br />
members, and through its member associations<br />
indirectly far more than 50,000<br />
members. This includes national and<br />
regional wind energy associations, the<br />
whole range of companies, other organizations,<br />
and individuals.<br />
GN: Describe your mission, vision and<br />
values.<br />
Stefan: WWEA works for an energy system<br />
completely driven by renewable energy.<br />
In order to achieve global 100 %<br />
renewable energy supply, WWEA is supporting<br />
especially decentralized and community<br />
based approaches, as we believe<br />
that social support and a broad involvement<br />
of citizens is an essential precondition<br />
for the global shift towards renewable<br />
energy. Without that, it will be very difficult<br />
to mobilize the needed resources for<br />
this huge task. In addition, a more decentralized<br />
energy supply will also lead to a<br />
fairer and more democratic world.<br />
To achieve our goals, we connect the different<br />
actors of the wind community, we<br />
provide information about wind power,<br />
and we work with governments and international<br />
organizations – WWEA has<br />
special consultative status at the United<br />
Nations.<br />
GN: Where is this company headed?<br />
What’s your future expansion plans? Describe<br />
briefly your strategic goals.<br />
Stefan: The WWEA Head Office is located<br />
in Bonn, next to the UN Campus – in<br />
sight of the UNFCCC Climate Secretariat<br />
and not far from the IRENA Innovation<br />
and Technology Center. We have currently<br />
researchers also in other countries,<br />
including currently in Pakistan and in<br />
Russia.<br />
WWEA is a very broad and global network<br />
of the wind and renewable energy<br />
community around the world. We do<br />
believe in the strength of such networks<br />
of local and national units, and hence we<br />
have also launched two other important<br />
umbrella networks: The International Renewable<br />
Energy Alliance brings together<br />
the global renewable energy technology<br />
associations, and the Global100%RE<br />
campaign is a multi-stakeholder network<br />
from industry, civil society, academia, local<br />
governments and beyond who share<br />
the vision and goal of a 100% renewable<br />
energy future.<br />
At the Community Power Conference in<br />
Tokyo with Samse Energy Director, Soren<br />
Hermansen.<br />
RENEWABLE ENERGY,<br />
NOT CLEAN ENERGY<br />
GN: What is clean energy as defined by<br />
your organization/company?<br />
Stefan: We do not use the term “clean”<br />
energy because it is not clear enough. We<br />
prefer to talk about “renewable” energy<br />
as it describes very precisely the main<br />
requirement our energy sources have to<br />
fulfill in order to meet mankind’s energy<br />
demand in a sustainable way. In this sense,<br />
renewable energy includes geothermal<br />
energy, hydropower, bioenergy, marine<br />
energy, solar energy and wind power.<br />
GN: Why bother? What’s the importance<br />
of pursuing clean energy?<br />
Stefan: Renewable energies are by definition<br />
inexhaustible, and this also implies<br />
that in principle they do not cause major<br />
environmental and hence social or<br />
economic problems. Based on renewable<br />
energy, all human beings have equal opportunities<br />
to access modern energy and<br />
to develop and to satisfy their needs without<br />
endangering the lives of others. This is<br />
really a unique opportunity for mankind,<br />
the first time since industrialization has<br />
started. There is a chance that all humans<br />
can achieve a similar standard of life.<br />
ISSUE NO.004 RENEWABLE ENERGY
122 ISSUE NO.004 RENEWABLE ENERGY<br />
The Secretary General for WWEA<br />
speaking at the WWEC2015.<br />
THE MACRO LEVEL OF<br />
CLEAN ENERGY<br />
GN: Where are we today? What is the<br />
current situation of renewables?<br />
Stefan: The global shift towards renewable<br />
energy started more than<br />
30 years ago, in the United States and<br />
in Europe, particularly in Denmark.<br />
In the second phase, other countries<br />
such as Germany, India or Spain have<br />
joined the movement. At the beginning<br />
of the new century, new emerging<br />
economies such as China have become<br />
the largest players. This has led<br />
to great technological improvements<br />
so that renewables are today competitive<br />
even without looking at external<br />
cost such as climate change.<br />
Of course today’s level of renewable<br />
energy market penetration is still<br />
not sufficient, but according to latest<br />
figures, renewables in 2015 for<br />
the first time have become the largest<br />
investment in the power sector.<br />
And Paris has officially launched the<br />
global paradigm shift: From now on,<br />
renewables are the new normal, and<br />
any other investment needs to be justified.<br />
Anyway, we have still a long<br />
way to go, and it is now up to the renewables<br />
community to demonstrate<br />
further how to apply renewable technologies.<br />
An important element of the global<br />
success of renewable energy is that it<br />
is completely changing the structure<br />
of the energy industry, away from a<br />
few large corporations, be it in the oil,<br />
gas, coal, nuclear sector, towards millions<br />
of investors. People like you and<br />
me who install their own solar rooftop,<br />
community based cooperatives,<br />
small and medium sized companies<br />
and also larger companies.<br />
GN: Where should we be 10 years<br />
from now? Are we on the right track?<br />
Are we delayed? Are we progressing?<br />
Stefan: I have no doubt that the future<br />
belongs to renewable energy. However, it<br />
depends on all of us how fast the transition<br />
will happen. Climate change experts<br />
are telling us that we really need to accelerate<br />
our efforts in order to keep the 1.5 or<br />
even the 2 degree target. With our Global<br />
100%RE campaign we had a long discussion<br />
which year we should aim at for the<br />
100% renewable energy target– and the<br />
conclusion was that we should rather insist<br />
on the principle that any new investment<br />
has to be made in renewable energy.<br />
Amazingly, the Paris agreement strongly<br />
supports this principle. If we follow this<br />
principle, we will reach the 100% at the<br />
end of the natural investments cycles, this<br />
means in about 20-30 years.<br />
People all over the world prefer renewable<br />
energy but we have also to understand<br />
that there are still many hurdles to overcome,<br />
in particular there is still strong resistance<br />
from the fossil sector who wants<br />
to earn as long as possible and as much as<br />
possible from dirty fossil fuels.
123<br />
THE MICRO LEVEL<br />
OF CLEAN ENERGY<br />
GN: What are the initiatives / projects<br />
that you are doing (or have done) that will<br />
drive low or zero emission?<br />
Stefan: One very important initiative is<br />
certainly the Global 100%RE campaign<br />
which we launched three years ago together<br />
with partners from other NGOs,<br />
industry associations, and academia.<br />
The second pillar is our work on community<br />
power which aims at promoting<br />
bottom-up solutions and intends to encourage<br />
citizens and local communities<br />
to become active drivers of the necessary<br />
transition to renewable energy.<br />
GN: What are the future innovations that<br />
you or your company are pursuing?<br />
Stefan: The next big technical, but also<br />
social, political and economic innovation<br />
has to be the holistic integration of renewable<br />
energy into our economies and<br />
societies. This implies that the way we organize<br />
our economies today needs to be<br />
adjusted to the decentralized character of<br />
renewable energy. On the technical side,<br />
we will need innovation e.g. in terms of<br />
energy storage and demand side flexibility,<br />
in order to manage the volatile character<br />
of the abundant sources wind and sun.<br />
On the social and economic side, we need<br />
new business models which allow the<br />
participation of more and more people in<br />
order to benefit directly from the productive<br />
use of the renewable energy sources<br />
in their environment. And politically, we<br />
need the right policies in place which enable<br />
such innovations.<br />
GN: What impact have you delivered (social,<br />
economic and environmental)? Do<br />
you have metrics or statistics of your accomplishments?<br />
Stefan: A simple answer is: Look at<br />
the share of wind power in the year<br />
when WWEA was founded: In 2001,<br />
we had a global installed wind capacity<br />
of 24 GW, this year we will reach<br />
more than 20 times this number, soon<br />
we will be close to 500 GW. Another<br />
major indicator: I do believe that<br />
through this practical success and<br />
also thanks to our political work, the<br />
Paris agreement became possible.<br />
Of course I could also refer you to<br />
individual countries where we have<br />
been active: When we started working<br />
with our Chinese colleagues in<br />
2003, China had an installed wind capacity<br />
of around 500 MW. In the following<br />
year, we held our World Wind<br />
Energy Conference in Beijing, which<br />
resulted in the first Chinese renewable<br />
energy law. Today, China’s wind<br />
capacity is around 150 GW, 300 times<br />
what it was in 2003!<br />
Launch of a wind power conference<br />
in Coimbatore, India.<br />
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124 ISSUE NO.004 RENEWABLE ENERGY<br />
THE CHALLENGES &<br />
THEIR SOLUTIONS<br />
GN: What are the stumbling blocks or<br />
bottlenecks in the renewable industry?<br />
Stefan: Technology is certainly not a major<br />
bottleneck any more. It is obvious that<br />
renewable technology will develop further<br />
in the coming decades and centuries<br />
– like automobiles today are certainly not<br />
the same they used to be 50 or 100 years<br />
ago, and they will again change with the<br />
deployment of electric cars. The main<br />
barrier is still a mental barrier: We need<br />
a fundamental change in the way we think<br />
of energy supply. To give you an example:<br />
The technical concept of baseload is not<br />
at all needed in order to provide enough<br />
energy whenever there is demand. What<br />
we need is flexibility, which is rather in<br />
contrast to baseload. But still many people<br />
are stuck in the old way of thinking<br />
and cannot imagine that power supply is<br />
possible without baseload. We need also<br />
to make clear that close-to-zero-marginal-cost<br />
technologies such as wind or solar<br />
cannot simply compete on a spot market<br />
for electricity as the price would tend to<br />
zero. We need to find other regulatory<br />
tools which ensure economic efficiency as<br />
well, against what most economists have<br />
been proposing during the last decades.<br />
GN: What do you think the government,<br />
private companies and NGO of each<br />
country should do to get rid of this?<br />
Stefan: The best approach is certainly to<br />
point at practical solutions. On the local<br />
and regional level, we can already find<br />
hundreds, thousands of models from<br />
which the rest of the world can learn how<br />
to organize the global energy transition.<br />
Building networks amongst these practitioners<br />
will certainly be of great help to<br />
close the gap between the overall Paris<br />
goal and the perceived barriers.<br />
GN: How do we provide cheap energy<br />
in poverty stricken areas?<br />
Stefan: There is without doubt only<br />
one basic approach: The “poor” need<br />
to be enabled to harvest the renewable<br />
energy potentials in their environment.<br />
There is enough renewable<br />
energy around which can be harvested,<br />
but the “poor” often only suffer<br />
the capability of capitalizing on their<br />
skills and capacities so that they cannot<br />
get access e.g. to loans. A focus on<br />
energy productivity and confidence<br />
in people’s general creativity and productivity,<br />
together with spreading the<br />
right business models, can certainly<br />
bring the needed breakthrough. Bangladesh’s<br />
Grameen Shakti has provided<br />
a very encouraging and powerful<br />
example, with its microcredit program<br />
for solar home systems.<br />
GN: How do we ensure access to<br />
clean energy?<br />
Stefan: At first, we must exclusively<br />
focus on renewable energy sources<br />
as they are available in abundance<br />
everywhere. Secondly, we need to enable<br />
people to use their skills to harvest<br />
these energies. There is this nice<br />
example of the young guy somewhere<br />
in Africa who just had a book about<br />
wind energy and very basic pieces of<br />
a bike etc. – and he managed to build<br />
his own wind generator. If we focus<br />
on the productivity of the use of energy,<br />
we can make sure that people can<br />
use the energy to create more value,<br />
re-invest, and eventually escape from<br />
poverty.
125<br />
ADVICE TO THE<br />
YOUNG ENGINEERS<br />
GN: Please give advice and words of wisdom<br />
about renewables to our young global<br />
audience. What would you like to tell to<br />
the millennials? Any inspiring words that<br />
you can share?<br />
Stefan: The Indian leader Mahatma Gandhi<br />
said: “There is enough for everybody’s<br />
need, but not for everybody’s greed.” This<br />
is a very important and true statement, especially<br />
when we look at the energy side<br />
of it: There is an abundance of renewable<br />
energy resources on our planet! Let us<br />
harvest them jointly and create wealth for<br />
all people, without putting on risk the future<br />
of mankind. We have the choice, we<br />
have the responsibility, and we have now<br />
the opportunity to create a better and fairer<br />
world!<br />
ISSUE NO.004 RENEWABLE ENERGY
126 ISSUE NO.004 RENEWABLE ENERGY<br />
NEW<br />
BATTERY<br />
HARNESSES<br />
RENEWABLE<br />
ENERGY<br />
This new ‘green’ battery<br />
is capable of fundamentally<br />
transforming the way<br />
electricity is being stored<br />
in the grid, making the use<br />
of renewable energy more<br />
dependable that it was<br />
before.<br />
Photo by Harvard SEAS<br />
The world is going green at a very fast pace.<br />
Almost everyone is talking about renewable<br />
sources of energy and how that could<br />
be harnessed for various power needs. Very<br />
recently, researchers from Harvard University<br />
have invented a rechargeable battery or<br />
green battery that can store energy from<br />
rooftop solar panels and quench household<br />
electricity needs. This new technology<br />
could revolutionize renewable energy storage<br />
everywhere around the globe.<br />
This new ‘green’ battery is capable of fundamentally<br />
transforming the way electricity<br />
is being stored in the grid, making the use<br />
of renewable energy more dependable that<br />
it was before. This invention by Harvard<br />
engineers makes use solar and wind power<br />
which are two of the most abundant sources<br />
of renewable energy known today.<br />
The battery is a ‘flow’ battery which doesn’t<br />
contain any trace of metal and depends on<br />
the electrochemistry of ‘quinones’, a naturally<br />
occurring carbon-based molecule<br />
which acts like the molecules that store<br />
energy in our flora and fauna. This in turn<br />
makes the battery more organic than the<br />
batteries we know today.<br />
One of the reasons why this project was<br />
started is the fact that sources of renewable<br />
energy such as wind and sunlight are<br />
not constantly available in relation to their<br />
high demand. This urged the team to create<br />
a cost-effective way of storing the energy<br />
gathered from these sources, which would<br />
also help in making renewable energy readily<br />
available for future use.<br />
The team that conceived this organic flow<br />
battery is led by Michael J. Aziz, Gene and<br />
Tracy Sykes Professor of Materials and Energy<br />
Technologies at the Harvard School<br />
of <strong>Engineering</strong> and Applied Sciences. He<br />
created and developed the battery with the<br />
help of Roy G. Gordon,<br />
It was not just designed, but also built and<br />
tested in Michael J. Aziz’s laboratory. Professor<br />
Michael is associated with the Harvard<br />
School of <strong>Engineering</strong> and Applied Sciences.<br />
The other scientists who worked for the<br />
development of the battery include Roy G.<br />
Gordon, Thomas Dudley Cabot Professor<br />
of Chemistry and Professor of Materials<br />
Science, and Alan Aspuru-Guzik, Professor<br />
of Chemistry and Chemical Biology.<br />
Unlike our conventional batteries, the flow<br />
batteries are designed to store energy in<br />
chemical fluids which are stored in separate<br />
tanks. This way, the amount of energy<br />
stored is proportional to the size of the<br />
tanks which makes the flow battery able to<br />
store larger amounts of energy at a cheaper<br />
cost.
127<br />
NEW DEVICE THAT MAKES<br />
COMPOSTING EASIER<br />
It’s good for crops, it’s<br />
good for water and, in<br />
the end, it’s good for people<br />
and the planet. Why<br />
would anyone not turn<br />
food waste into compost?<br />
Rice University engineering students asked<br />
that question at the start of the school year<br />
and have spent the months since refining<br />
their answer.<br />
The team known as (com)post-haste invented<br />
a device that sits under one’s sink<br />
and takes macerated food waste produced<br />
by a standard garbage disposal and sends<br />
it in one direction while liquid waste (including<br />
water) goes in another. Effectively,<br />
it simplifies the process of recycling garbage<br />
into a useful product while helping to protect<br />
water supplies.<br />
The students make up one of more than 80<br />
capstone design teams at Rice. Most senior<br />
engineering students are required to complete<br />
a project to graduate and are presented<br />
with a host of possibilities when they begin<br />
their classes in August.<br />
For all the members of (com)post-haste,<br />
developing the device they call The Bio-<br />
Blend was a natural.<br />
“I think for all of us this was the top choice,”<br />
said Kavana Gowda, who like all of her<br />
teammates is a senior mechanical engineering<br />
student. Other members are Christina<br />
Petlowany, Andrew Miller, Edgar Silva,<br />
Mitch Torczon and Ryan Yeh.<br />
The students have spent much of the last<br />
eight months working in the basement of<br />
Rice’s Oshman <strong>Engineering</strong> Design Kitchen,<br />
where they have installed an actual research<br />
kitchen – or at least the sink part.<br />
The project is a partnership with NASA,<br />
which has an interest in such devices for<br />
outposts on the moon, Mars and beyond,<br />
and Chalmers University of Technology in<br />
Sweden, which pitched Rice on the project<br />
and intends to install The BioBlend at its<br />
Living Lab, where it will be tested alongside<br />
other emerging household technologies.<br />
Rice lecturer Matthew Elliott is the team’s<br />
faculty adviser.<br />
“I think one of the major barriers to being<br />
eco-friendly in a variety of ways in the<br />
United States is people aren’t willing to put<br />
in any effort,” said Torczon of the device.<br />
“This doesn’t require users to change their<br />
behaviors. They can continue putting food<br />
down the garbage disposal, and once every<br />
couple of days take it out, just like taking<br />
out their trash.”<br />
The difference is The BioBlend produces<br />
a moist, finely chopped form of waste that<br />
takes less time to turn to compost than regular<br />
garbage. Alternately, it can be used to<br />
generate biogas.<br />
“One of the things our sponsors want to see<br />
is if they can make the device large enough<br />
to put in the basement of an apartment<br />
complex or a grocery store or restaurant,<br />
places with a ton of food waste,” Torczon<br />
said. “They could create a lot of biogas they<br />
could then turn around and sell or, if they’re<br />
in a restaurant, use themselves.”<br />
“I think a family of four, using a biogas generator<br />
with their waste, would be able to<br />
make enough for them to cook with,” Gowda<br />
added.<br />
A weight sensor tracks how full the bin is,<br />
a cutoff switch automatically trips before it<br />
overflows and a carbon filter helps quash<br />
odors and keep flies away from the compost.<br />
The team has not ruled out giving The<br />
BioBlend Wi-Fi powers to alert users to its<br />
status via the Internet, Torczon said. They<br />
could just make it beep when full, but the<br />
students are wary that annoyed users would<br />
simply disconnect it rather than keep with<br />
the program.<br />
Photo by Rice<br />
University<br />
ISSUE NO.004 RENEWABLE ENERGY
128 ISSUE NO.004 RENEWABLE ENERGY<br />
WORLD’S FIRST<br />
EMISSIONS-FREE,<br />
LOW-COST<br />
FOSSIL FUEL POWER<br />
TECHNOLOGY<br />
NET Power breaks ground on<br />
demonstration plant for world’s first<br />
emissions-free, low-cost fossil fuel<br />
power technology.<br />
Illustration by NET Power
129<br />
NET Power, LLC, today announced that<br />
it has broken ground on a first-of-a-kind<br />
power plant that will validate a new natural<br />
gas power system that produces<br />
low-cost electricity with zero atmospheric<br />
emissions, including carbon dioxide.<br />
NET Power is a collaboration between<br />
Exelon Generation, CB&I, and 8 Rivers<br />
Capital. The 50-megawatt demonstration<br />
plant is being built in La Porte, Texas.<br />
The plant will demonstrate NET Power’s<br />
Allam Cycle technology, which uses carbon<br />
dioxide as a working fluid to drive a<br />
combustion turbine, eliminates all atmospheric<br />
emissions without requiring expensive,<br />
efficiency-reducing carbon capture<br />
equipment, and ultimately produces<br />
pipeline-quality CO2 that can be sequestered<br />
or used in various industrial processes,<br />
including enhanced oil recovery.<br />
“NET Power is the first technology that<br />
allows policy and economics to work together,<br />
instead of against each other, to ensure<br />
the world meets our climate targets,”<br />
said NET Power’s CEO, Bill Brown. “Today<br />
marks a significant step for our worldclass<br />
team, including Exelon, CB&I, 8<br />
Rivers and Toshiba, towards delivering a<br />
technology that will be the cornerstone<br />
of a modern global energy infrastructure<br />
that is clean, affordable and flexible.<br />
Executives from each of the companies<br />
gathered on the site to mark the start of<br />
construction of the demonstration plant.<br />
The $140 million program - which not<br />
only includes demonstration plant design<br />
and construction, but also ongoing<br />
technology advancement, a full testing<br />
and operations program, and commercial<br />
product development - is funded by<br />
a combination of cash and in-kind contributions<br />
from Exelon and CB&I. Toshiba<br />
has developed and is now manufacturing<br />
a new supercritical CO2 turbine and combustor<br />
for the project. CB&I is performing<br />
the engineering, procurement, and construction<br />
of the plant. Exelon is providing<br />
operations, maintenance, and development<br />
services. 8 Rivers invented and continues<br />
to advance the technology behind<br />
the project.<br />
NET Power uses a novel process – an<br />
oxy-fuel, supercritical CO2 power cycle<br />
– to produce electricity efficiently while<br />
inherently eliminating all air emissions.<br />
The system burns natural gas with oxygen,<br />
as opposed to air, and uses high-pressure<br />
carbon dioxide, as opposed to inefficient<br />
steam like most power plants, to drive a<br />
turbine. NET Power produces only electricity,<br />
liquid water and pipeline-ready<br />
CO2, all while operating as efficiently as<br />
the best natural gas power plants available<br />
today. Additionally, for a small reduction<br />
in efficiency, the technology can operate<br />
without water, actually becoming a net<br />
water producer. For the first time, cleaner<br />
energy does not mean more expensive<br />
energy, and, as a result, our global climate<br />
goals are within reach.<br />
NET Power’s 50MWth plant will be a fully<br />
operational unit that will generate power<br />
to the grid while demonstrating all key<br />
aspects of the Allam Cycle. Commissioning<br />
is expected to begin in late 2016 and<br />
be completed in 2017. The plant will also<br />
provide the validation to begin constructing<br />
the first 295MWe, commercial-scale<br />
NET Power plants. NET Power is already<br />
engaged with customers across several industries<br />
on the design and development of<br />
these projects.<br />
ISSUE NO.004 RENEWABLE ENERGY
130 ISSUE NO.004 RENEWABLE ENERGY<br />
WIND POWER<br />
BLOWS AWAY<br />
THE NEED<br />
FOR ENERGY<br />
PLANTS<br />
In an average working man’s life, what do you think<br />
are his most common monthly concerns? Pocket money?<br />
Yes. Rent? Yes, that too. But one of the most unstable-priced<br />
needs he has to worry about is the electricity<br />
bills!<br />
Yes, electricity bills. Every country in the world has this<br />
kind of dilemma. But, it seems like technology is taking<br />
a new turn to try and help keep our wallets from being<br />
empty.<br />
Wind power is slowly blowing away the need for energy<br />
plants using fossil fuels.<br />
New reports are showing that the onshore windfarms<br />
have become the cheapest method for producing electricity<br />
in the United Kingdom. The price drop is rather<br />
significant as electricity produced by windfarms is now<br />
£20 cheaper than producing the same amount of electricity<br />
from fossil fuels. This is certainly a great breakthrough<br />
for renewable sources of energy. Moreover, it is<br />
not limited to the United Kingdom only. This scenario<br />
is also being reflected elsewhere in the world such as<br />
Germany, as the cost of solar and wind technologies are<br />
rapidly decreasing while the costs of fossil fuels are increasing<br />
at the same time.<br />
In fact, wind power has become the source of the cheapest<br />
electricity in the United Kingdom as well as Germany.<br />
This is the first of such achievement by rich countries.<br />
According to analysts, this scenario has been brought<br />
about by the rise of popularity of renewable sources of<br />
energy. Moreover, there have been technological advances<br />
which have improved power storage and efficiency.<br />
This has caused fossil fuels become a more expensive<br />
source of energy.<br />
This resulted in the creation of a cycle that has caused<br />
the rise in the cost of power generated from gas and coal.<br />
That in turn has caused more attention to be given to<br />
renewable energies and their production has increased.<br />
The fact is that the cost of generating electricity from any<br />
renewable source of energy such as wind or solar is, at<br />
its essence, completely free. Of course, there are certainly<br />
costs of upkeep and staff to take into consideration.<br />
Nonetheless, the power company does not have to pay<br />
anything to get the actual source of energy as they are<br />
free natural forces. On the other hand, power companies<br />
have to buy the gas or coal in order to run the power<br />
plants when using fossil fuels. Therefore, power companies<br />
will always choose the free source at any given time<br />
leading to increase of renewable power plants such as<br />
windfarms.<br />
Of course people would prefer cheaper source of energy.<br />
Is this goodbye for power plants using fossil fuels then?<br />
Does this mean our electricity bilsl won’t be too high in<br />
the future? Let’s hope so.<br />
Photo by Carbon Brief
131<br />
WORLD’S<br />
BIGGEST<br />
WIND<br />
TURBINES<br />
Two new wind turbines have just been inaugurated<br />
in Denmark, in Måde near Esbjerg, to call them the<br />
biggest in the world, standing at 200 meters high<br />
with a wingspan of 164 meters and an 8MW production<br />
capacity. It is enough to power 18,000 Danish<br />
households.<br />
According to reports, if 300 of these huge turbines<br />
will be built, it will be enough to produce electricity<br />
for all the households in Denmark. European Energy,<br />
its main investor, takes the two new turbines a<br />
huge step in forwarding wind energy.<br />
“At European Energy this is an important step forward<br />
and adds to our exciting journey within wind<br />
development and increased focus on nearshore and<br />
offshore project opportunities. With this cooperation<br />
we take an important leap forward and we now<br />
become an important part of the testing process for<br />
the world’s most powerful wind turbines and the<br />
next generation of the 3MW platform.” says Knud<br />
Erik Andersen, CEO of European Energy A/S.<br />
The new wind turbines are a collaboration project of<br />
European Energy, MHI Vestas and BMC Energi.<br />
Photo by Windfair<br />
ISSUE NO.004 RENEWABLE ENERGY
132 ISSUE NO.004 RENEWABLE ENERGY<br />
WINDLICHT:<br />
TAKING WIND POWER<br />
TO A MORE ARTISTIC LEVEL<br />
A team of designers and engineers, led by Daan<br />
Roosgaarde, wanted to let the world visualize the<br />
beauty of green energy through their latest experimental<br />
installation—the Windlicht (windlight).<br />
Photo by Platoon.org
133<br />
A team of designers and engineers, led<br />
by Daan Roosgaarde, wanted to let the<br />
world visualize the beauty of green energy<br />
through their latest experimental installation—the<br />
Windlicht (windlight). Their<br />
artwork comprises of a sequence of bright<br />
green lights that connects one windmill<br />
to the next, filling the sky with beautiful<br />
light movements. Special software and<br />
tracking technology are used to detect<br />
the windmill blades, which rotates at 280<br />
kilometers per hour (174 mph) and illuminates<br />
the gaps between the neighboring<br />
windmills.<br />
Windlicht is supported by Dutch landline<br />
and mobile telecommunications company<br />
KPN. This year, the company has been<br />
exclusively using green energy generated<br />
in the Netherlands since 2011. ‘the update<br />
that the artwork gives to the landscape,<br />
represents important values such as sustainability<br />
and connectedness,’ describes<br />
KPN CEO eelco blok. ‘because these two<br />
values are of great significance for KPN,<br />
we are committed to this artwork. with<br />
‘windlicht’ we support the idea of roosegaarde<br />
that green energy is something to<br />
be proud of.’<br />
ISSUE NO.004 RENEWABLE ENERGY
134 ISSUE NO.004 RENEWABLE ENERGY<br />
Top 5 Largest<br />
Solar Parks<br />
In The World<br />
Solar power has given humanity hope in<br />
saving mother nature without sacrificing<br />
our electrical needs. A free source of energy,<br />
we are provided with power from solar<br />
parks as soon as the sun shines on the solar<br />
panels. Energy is easily stored during<br />
gloomy days as well. It plays a crucial role<br />
in our society as we stop global warming.<br />
It has plenty of advantageous - mainly its<br />
affordability. Aside from that, we are assured<br />
that it will always be there, ready to<br />
provide us with sufficient energy to power<br />
our homes and our offices. Unlike coal<br />
and fossil fuel energy, solar power is renewable.<br />
The sun won’t stop shining anytime<br />
soon. Through solar power, govern-<br />
ment and private companies can provide<br />
more jobs to people compared to natural<br />
gas and coal industries. These certainly<br />
are important details to remember when<br />
we encourage our own local governments<br />
to support the use of solar power.<br />
Accumulating energy from solar parks<br />
can result to cheaper and accessible power<br />
to everyone, especially to the poor countries.<br />
Comparing which countries have<br />
the largest solar parks in the world, China<br />
and the US come out at the top of the list.<br />
The list below shows which solar parks<br />
have made it to the top 5 largest solar<br />
parks in the world.<br />
Longyangxia Dam<br />
Solar Park<br />
Photo by Solar Power Today<br />
The Longyangxia Dam Solar Park is the<br />
largest photovoltaic power station in the<br />
world. With a capacity of 850 MW, it is<br />
made up of two phases: Phase I with a<br />
capacity of 320 MW and Phase II with a<br />
capacity of 530 MW.
135<br />
Topaz Solar Farm<br />
Photo by Wikimedia<br />
This $2.5 billion project has a capacity<br />
of 550 MW. Located in San Luis<br />
Obispo County, California, it has 9<br />
million cadmium tellurium photovoltaic<br />
modules provided by First Solar.<br />
It began construction last 2011 and<br />
ended in November 2014.<br />
Desert Sunlight<br />
Solar Farm<br />
Photo by Alternative Energies<br />
Located six miles north of Desert<br />
Center in California, this solar park<br />
produces 550 MW. With the help of<br />
US manufacturer First Solar, Desert<br />
Sunlight Solar Farm uses 8.8 million<br />
cadmium telluride modules.<br />
Solar Star<br />
Photo by Computer World<br />
It is found near Rosamond, California.<br />
Using 1.7 million solar panels, it has a capacity<br />
of 579 MW. The solar panels were<br />
provided by SunPower.<br />
Huanghe<br />
Hydropower<br />
Golmud Solar<br />
Park<br />
Photo by PV Buzz<br />
Producing 200 megawatt, this solar<br />
park is located in Golmud, Qinghai<br />
Province in China. It was constructed<br />
back in 2009 and won the China<br />
Quality Power Project Award three<br />
years later. This solar park has an estimated<br />
317 GWh production every<br />
year.<br />
ISSUE NO.004 RENEWABLE ENERGY
136 ISSUE NO.004 RENEWABLE ENERGY<br />
TOP10<br />
WIND ENERGY<br />
COMPANIES<br />
Photo by Gemenergy<br />
Wind is not only a clean renewable energy<br />
source, it is also free and readily available.<br />
Nowadays, many windfarms around<br />
the world are harnessing the power of the<br />
wind to convert it to electricity. Wind turbines<br />
are the main component in harnessing<br />
wind power and turn it into energy.<br />
Photo by Foractiva<br />
Windpower Monthly consolidated figures<br />
for Make Consulting, BTM Navigant<br />
and Windpower intelligence to be able to<br />
come up in this list of ten leading wind<br />
turbine manufacturers. Here are the Top<br />
10 leading Wind Energy Companies<br />
When all ten companies are combines,<br />
they have around 270GW installed wind<br />
power which is around three-quarters of<br />
the global total! The companies’ turbines<br />
range from 20+ year-old kilowatt machines<br />
to brand new megawatt designs.<br />
Here are the Top 10 Wind Energy Companies<br />
Siemens<br />
Siemens is rated as the world’s leading<br />
turbine supplier. Its 10.8% share of the<br />
market equates to 5.63GW in turbine installations.<br />
General Electric<br />
GE offers a full suite of turbines which are<br />
created for different wind environments.<br />
GE’s turbines feature rated capacities<br />
from 1.7MW to 3.4MW for onshore, and<br />
6MW for offshore. They hold 10.2% of<br />
market shares.<br />
Vestas<br />
Vestas has 53,743 turbines installed in 73<br />
countries which has a total joint capacity<br />
of 66GW. They hold 10.1% of market<br />
shares.<br />
Photo by Siemens<br />
Photo by me-boletin<br />
Photo by Scandasia<br />
Photo by Think Progess<br />
Goldwind<br />
Goldwind has come out to be China’s<br />
leading turbine manufacturer. They are<br />
now ranked fourth in the world. They<br />
hold 9.2% of market shares.<br />
Enercon<br />
By the end of 2014, Enercon had installed<br />
a total of 16, 867MW in Germany and<br />
20,284MW in export markets. They hold<br />
7.8% of market shares.<br />
United Power<br />
United Power is part of China Guodian,<br />
one of China’s five largest power producers,<br />
and owener of Longyuan, one of the<br />
world’s biggest developers. They hold 5%<br />
of market shares.
137<br />
Gamesa<br />
Gamesa has over 30GW installed worldwide,<br />
and they are aiming to become the<br />
largest manufacturer in India and Mexico.<br />
They hold 4.2% of market shares.<br />
Photo by Nrel<br />
Photo by EVWind<br />
Ming Yang<br />
Ming Yang is a newcomer in the top ten<br />
status, unlike other Chinese manufacturing<br />
companies, they don’t benefit from being<br />
state owned. They hold 4% of market<br />
shares.<br />
Senvion<br />
The German turbine manufacturer, formerly<br />
known as Repower, was one of the<br />
first companies to go into the offshore sector.<br />
They employ around 3,500 people in<br />
14 countries and have a little over 12 GW<br />
in operation worldwide.<br />
Nordex<br />
Nordex is a German wind turbine manufacturing<br />
company located in Rostock,<br />
Germany. Currently they manufacture two<br />
platforms of wind turbines, rated at 2.4 and<br />
3.3 MW. They hold 3.4% of market shares.<br />
Photo by Windpwer Monthly<br />
Photo by Recharge <strong>News</strong><br />
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138 ISSUE NO.004 RENEWABLE ENERGY<br />
TOP 5 LARGEST<br />
WIND FARMS<br />
IN THE WORLD<br />
Wind energy is one of the renewable energies<br />
that holds great potential in supplying<br />
electricity across the world. Unlike other<br />
sources of electricity which needs fuel<br />
in processing plants, wind energy generates<br />
electricity through wind—which<br />
is free. Wind can be considered a “fuel”<br />
that doesn’t require to be transported or<br />
mined.<br />
Here is a list of the top 5 largest onshore<br />
wind farms which are currently operational.<br />
Gansu Wind Farm Project<br />
The Gansu Wind Farm Project, which is<br />
also called the Jiuquan Wind Power Base,<br />
is found in the western Gansu province in<br />
China. It is composed of a group of large<br />
wind farms and is currently under construction.<br />
It has a capacity of 6,000 MW<br />
and has a goal of 20,000 MW by the year<br />
2020.<br />
Photo by The Guardian<br />
Alta Wind Energy Center<br />
The Alta Wind Energy Center (AWEC),<br />
or also known as Mojave Wind Farm, is a<br />
wind farm which is located in Tehachapi<br />
Pass of the Tehachapi Mountains, in Kern<br />
County, California. As of the year 2013,<br />
it is the largest wind farm in the United<br />
States and has a combined installed capacity<br />
of 1,547 MW.<br />
Photo by Almrsal
139<br />
Muppandal Wind Farm<br />
The Muppandal Wind far, has been selected<br />
as the showcase for India’s $2 billion<br />
clean energy program, which gives<br />
foreign companies tax breaks for building<br />
fields of wind turbines in the area. The<br />
village of Muppandal attracts many wind<br />
energy producing companies, which has<br />
created thousands of new jobs which help<br />
raise the income of the villagers. The wind<br />
energy generation capacity for this wind<br />
farm is around 1500 MW.<br />
Photo by Elperiodicodelaenergia<br />
The Jaisalmer Wind Park<br />
The Jaisalmer Wind Park is located in<br />
Jaisalmer district, Rajasthan, India and is<br />
the largest operational onshore wind farm<br />
in their country. The wind park’s capacity<br />
is 1,064 MW, which makes it one of the<br />
world’s largest operational onshore windfarms.<br />
Photo by Elperiodicodelaenergia<br />
The Shepherds<br />
Flat Wind Farm<br />
The Shepherds Flat Wind Farm is located<br />
in the state of Oregon. It has an installed<br />
capacity of 845 MW. The wind farm was<br />
built by Caithness Energy using General<br />
Electric (GE) 2.5 MW wind turbines, and<br />
it supplies electricity to Southern California<br />
Edison.<br />
Photo by Examiner<br />
ISSUE NO.004 RENEWABLE ENERGY
140 ISSUE NO.004 RENEWABLE ENERGY<br />
What<br />
makes<br />
a green<br />
home?<br />
WORLD’S<br />
GREENEST<br />
ECO RESORT<br />
PLANNED<br />
What is a green home?<br />
A green home is one that has been built,<br />
or remodelled to meet higher standards<br />
than that of conventional construction,<br />
to be able to achieve a healthier, more<br />
resource efficient and more cost-effective<br />
homes which in turn benefits the people<br />
who live in them.<br />
There are independent, third party verifications<br />
to document when a house has<br />
met certain standards. The verification<br />
will serve as a basis for certification of<br />
green homes, and will provide information<br />
for consumers like helping them with<br />
comparison shopping and decision-making.<br />
The National Green Building Standard<br />
(NGBS) is the first residential green<br />
building standard that undergone the full<br />
process and received approval from the<br />
American National Standards Institute.<br />
They were developed by the National Association<br />
of Home Builders.<br />
There are other organization that offer<br />
green building certification, many<br />
of which are regional or statewide, like<br />
the Build Green New Mexico Standards,<br />
largely adapted from the U.S. Home<br />
Builders Association Standards.<br />
Plans to create the world’s greenest eco resort<br />
in Liwa, the southern region of UAE,<br />
have just been revealed. The Oasis Eco Resort,<br />
with promising sustainable features,<br />
was designed by Baharash Architecture<br />
and commissioned by the Eco Resort<br />
Group.<br />
The 8,400 square foot development resort<br />
will be fully solar energy-dependent<br />
which will be acquired from the 1,570,000<br />
square feet of solar panels surrounding the<br />
area. It will also feature a spring, out of the<br />
existing groundwater, which is important<br />
to Bedouins for trade and transportation<br />
routes. Such water will be utilized for the<br />
resort’s crop irrigation, fish farming, and<br />
recreational activities, on top of providing<br />
habitat for local fauna. The spring will<br />
be the center of the entire resort, with a<br />
low-lying, angular PV-topped building<br />
comprised of 84 suits of various sizes.<br />
Moreover, there will be a zero-emissions<br />
zone that will have its own waste treatment<br />
center and a business and research<br />
facility.<br />
The Oasis Eco Resort, when completed,<br />
will be the greenest of its kind in the<br />
world. Other than that, according to Baharash<br />
Bagherian, it will preserve the<br />
region’s heritage and provide greater interaction<br />
with native people. It will also<br />
provide job opportunities for local which<br />
will create a more diversified economy.<br />
The compound is expected to be completed<br />
by 2020.<br />
Photos by Baharash Architecture
141<br />
The 8,400<br />
square foot<br />
development<br />
resort will be<br />
fully solar<br />
energy<br />
dependent<br />
which will be<br />
acquired from<br />
the 1,570,000<br />
square feet of<br />
solar panels<br />
surrounding<br />
the area.<br />
ISSUE NO.004 RENEWABLE ENERGY
‘Future of Mobility Concept’<br />
Unveiled by Nissan Europe<br />
and Foster + Partners<br />
142 ISSUE NO.004 RENEWABLE ENERGY
143<br />
Nissan has revealed an exciting<br />
glimpse into the future – with the first<br />
look at its fully connected vision of<br />
the future of mobility in association<br />
with renowned architects, Foster +<br />
Partners.<br />
The landmark partnership, between<br />
the manufacturers of the world’s<br />
best-selling 100 percent electric vehicle<br />
and the leading design studio,<br />
concluded that the fuel station of the<br />
future could actually be the car itself.<br />
Illustrated in a stunning two minute<br />
video, featuring the best-selling Nissan<br />
LEAF and futuristic IDS Concept,<br />
Nissan’s visionary concept explores<br />
how our way of living might change<br />
as technology develops.<br />
The collaboration, which concludes a<br />
12-month partnership, offers a snapshot<br />
of what’s to come from Nissan’s<br />
vision for Intelligent Mobility; a world<br />
in which cars interact with their environment<br />
as populations adopt zero<br />
emission, Piloted Drive technologies.<br />
The design study is being previewed<br />
at this year’s 86th International Motor<br />
Show in Geneva.<br />
Paul Willcox, Chairman, Nissan Europe,<br />
said: “Technology holds many<br />
of the answers for the challenges we<br />
face in our cities today. However, the<br />
true power comes when those technologies<br />
are integrated with each other<br />
and the world around us.<br />
“We’ve been at the forefront of zero<br />
emission technology since 2010, but<br />
our vision does not stop there – we<br />
believe that the future of transportation<br />
is reliant on both infrastructure<br />
and the environment. We’re looking<br />
for real, workable solutions that go<br />
beyond the product.”<br />
Incorporating a range of pioneering<br />
Nissan technologies, the vision hints<br />
at how vehicle-to-grid, battery storage,<br />
wireless charging, autonomous<br />
drive technology and over-the-air<br />
connectivity could combine to revolutionise<br />
how energy is used and distributed<br />
across Europe’s major cities.<br />
David Nelson, Co-Head of Design,<br />
Foster + Partners, added: “Integrating<br />
zero emission technologies into the<br />
built environment is vital in creating<br />
smarter, more sustainable cities. That<br />
commitment must extend far beyond<br />
the car – it must sit at the heart of everything<br />
we do.”<br />
The need for a sustainable and innovative<br />
refuelling network is becoming<br />
vital as the market shifts toward alternative<br />
sources like electric power.<br />
Today, more than half (54%) of the<br />
world’s population lives in cities and<br />
by 2050, seven out of every 10 people<br />
will live in urban areas[i], so it is imperative<br />
that the infrastructure exists<br />
to support this growth.<br />
Nissan is currently trialing an innovative<br />
vehicle-to-grid system in Europe<br />
which, when coupled with advances<br />
in its second-life batteries, will allow<br />
drivers to operate as individual ‘energy<br />
hubs’ able to store, use or return<br />
clean energy to the grid.<br />
It is predicted that by 2050, almost all<br />
global energy needs can be met with<br />
renewable energy sources.<br />
Nissan is the leader in zero emission<br />
technology, and pioneered the<br />
commercial electric vehicle market<br />
in 2010. The Nissan LEAF – the first<br />
mass-market, pure EV launched globally<br />
– continues to be the best-selling<br />
EV in history.<br />
Photos by Nissan<br />
ISSUE NO.004 RENEWABLE ENERGY
144 ISSUE NO.004 RENEWABLE ENERGY<br />
Photo by Lucid Energy<br />
Photo by OPB<br />
Photo by Version Daily<br />
LIFT-BASED<br />
TURBINES:<br />
A NEW SOURCE OF<br />
HYDROELECTRIC<br />
POWER<br />
Photo by Hydro World<br />
Engineers have devised a new way to produce<br />
hydroelectric power. Now, the water<br />
pipes that bring water to your home could<br />
produce electricity too! Did you hear<br />
about LucidPipes lift-based turbine? This<br />
is the turbine that produces electricity as<br />
the turbine spins.<br />
The set-up has been designed by engineers<br />
to maximize power production<br />
and to limit the onset of cavitation. As<br />
the velocity of the turbines increases, the<br />
power production also increases. This<br />
power-producing set-up has a lift-based<br />
design and the system generates power<br />
across a large range of velocities.<br />
The LucidPipe Power System is the power-producing<br />
system that harnesses the<br />
untapped energy of moving water and<br />
produces clean, low-cost energy. It is the<br />
kickass system that can work on a wide<br />
range of volumes, velocities, and flow<br />
conditions.<br />
You must be wondering how much energy<br />
this system could produce. This depends<br />
on the pressure and the flow rate inside<br />
the transmission pipe. Say for example,<br />
in a pipeline with 60-inch diameter, with<br />
a flow velocity of seven feet per second,<br />
a LucidPipe can produce up to 100kW<br />
of power! It will extract 11.5ft of head<br />
from the system. Now, if you could add<br />
multiple turbines to this set-up, the LucidPipe<br />
could produce thousands of watts<br />
of energy. And the best part is, this power<br />
generation process is without any sort of<br />
environmental impact.<br />
You can try taking a 40 feet section of a<br />
water pipe and install up to four Lucid-<br />
Pipe units at a distance of 3-4 turbine diameters<br />
apart. Contextually, you need to<br />
know that a mile of pipeline of 42 inch diameter<br />
is capable of producing more than<br />
3 megawatts of energy.<br />
Finding other ways to get hydroelectric<br />
power has to be influenced by great demands<br />
of electricity. Thanks to LucidPipe,<br />
we think that we have found another one.
145<br />
THE DOWNSIDE OF<br />
HYDROELECTRIC<br />
POWER<br />
Clean energy might make us pay a heavy<br />
price. How?<br />
Researchers of Harvard University have<br />
found out the reason behind the high concentration<br />
of methylmercury and potent<br />
neurotoxin in the Arctic region: it is the<br />
production of hydroelectric power that is<br />
being used to eliminate global warming.<br />
The research paper published in the PNAS<br />
had started off as a review of the environment<br />
effect assessment of the Muskrat<br />
Falls Hydroelectric dam of Labrador in<br />
Canada. In the year 2017, the dam will<br />
flood an extensive region upstream from<br />
the estuarine fjord called the Lave Melville.<br />
But reports predicted no danger and<br />
that is when the Government consulted<br />
Elsie Sunderland.<br />
So, is clean energy really benefitting us?<br />
No, not when you think of it this way. The<br />
people living on the Coast of Lake Melville<br />
will be affected because they depend<br />
on it being their only source of food.<br />
The research team of Sunderland found<br />
large quantities of methylmercury in the<br />
water of Lake Melville. The methylmercury<br />
coming from the river and from the<br />
sediments at the bottom part of the lake<br />
could not justify the level of the same in<br />
the water. The team discovered that the<br />
level increased just below the surface of<br />
the water.<br />
What could be the reason for this? They<br />
found out that it was because of the eating<br />
habit of planktons. When salt and fresh<br />
water meet, the salinity increases along<br />
with the density of water. All organic<br />
matter sinks down to the bottom and gets<br />
collected forming a debris and turns into<br />
a feeding area for marine plankton. The<br />
bacteria of this area cause a complicated<br />
chemical process turning mercury into<br />
methylmercury.<br />
Now there are is actually a risk in producing<br />
clean energy especially on this matter.<br />
Will the government still continue pushing<br />
through this?<br />
Photo by Energy Digital<br />
ISSUE NO.004 RENEWABLE ENERGY
146 ISSUE NO.004 RENEWABLE ENERGY<br />
What Does<br />
the Year 2050<br />
Have in Store<br />
for Engineers?<br />
Do you ever wonder what the world<br />
will look like by the year 2050? Is<br />
the technology too advanced for<br />
us? Will it make the world a better<br />
place? Or will the world look just<br />
like those dystopian films we see in<br />
the big screen? Will there be more<br />
robots than people?<br />
Technology is advancing at a rapid pace<br />
and affecting all industries and sectors in<br />
one way or the other. It is likely that technology<br />
will have brought to reality things<br />
by 2050 that only exist in fiction now. It<br />
will also have certainly made a major impact<br />
in the sectors of energy production<br />
and engineering. In fact, researches have<br />
already uncovered certain remarkable<br />
possibilities will come into being by 2050.<br />
For example, engineers at the Stanford<br />
University have already developed a plan<br />
that can transform the United States into<br />
a nation that uses only renewable sources<br />
of energy by the year 2050. The plan details<br />
the actions that need to be taken by<br />
each of the 50 states of the country in order<br />
to achieve the transformation. There<br />
are aggressive changes required in the<br />
energy consumption patterns and also the<br />
infrastructure. Nonetheless, the plan is<br />
feasible from an economic and technical<br />
standpoint.<br />
Is it the end of the coal industry then?<br />
Clean energy for all? What will the green<br />
activists complain about then?<br />
Similar plans are afoot in London, UK. A<br />
plan has been proposed which can bring<br />
about major changes in the infrastructure<br />
so as to make the city sustainable for over<br />
11 million people, the projected population<br />
of London in 2050. One of the major<br />
concerns has been water shortage, others<br />
being energy, waste, transport and resource<br />
management.<br />
Some of the largest engineering groups in<br />
the world have stated that we already have<br />
technologies which are capable of reducing<br />
the greenhouse gases in the planet by<br />
as much as 85% by the year 2050. Another<br />
prediction being made for the year 2050 is<br />
that the world will have a total population<br />
of 9.5 billion. In order to feed such a large<br />
population, researchers are suggesting the<br />
use of genetic engineering and high performance<br />
computing to increase the photosynthetic<br />
efficiency of the plants. This<br />
method can boost food production and<br />
crop yields.<br />
With all these plans for cleaner energy<br />
and sustainability, do you think engineers<br />
and scientists can make them happen by<br />
the year 2050? Only time can tell.
147<br />
Can One Tower Replace<br />
A Power Plant?<br />
Engineers Say Yes!<br />
Photo by Solar Wind Energy Tower<br />
The world has seen numerous<br />
valuable developments in the<br />
recent years. The focus of both<br />
researchers and engineers has<br />
shifted to making the best use<br />
of solar energy. One of the finest<br />
examples of the company which<br />
is making the best utilization of<br />
Tthe freely available resource is<br />
Solar Wind Energy Tower, Inc.<br />
The company is working on the<br />
development of a large Solar<br />
Wind Downdraft Tower, a structure<br />
capable of producing abundant,<br />
inexpensive electricity in<br />
Arizona, Mexico, and Chile.<br />
The tower is the first hybrid solar-wind<br />
renewable energy technology<br />
in the market. Comprising<br />
of a tall hollow cylinder with<br />
a water injection system near<br />
the top, the patented structure<br />
has wind tunnels containing<br />
turbines near the bottom.<br />
The functioning of the tower is<br />
simple. The water is delivered<br />
to the injection system at the<br />
top of the tower by a series of<br />
pumps where a fine mist is<br />
cast across the entire opening.<br />
The water then evaporates<br />
and is absorbed by<br />
hot dry air which has been<br />
heated by the solar rays of<br />
the sun. As a result, the<br />
air becomes cooler, denser<br />
and heavier than the<br />
outside warmer air, and<br />
falls through the cylinder<br />
at a speed up to in<br />
some excess of 50 mph.<br />
This air is then diverted<br />
into wind tunnels<br />
surrounding the base<br />
of the tower where<br />
turbines inside power generators<br />
to produce electricity.<br />
The exterior of the tower is constructed<br />
with vertical “wind<br />
vanes” at places where atmospheric<br />
conditions are conducive.<br />
These “wind vanes” capture<br />
the prevailing wind and channel<br />
it to produce supplemental electrical<br />
power. This dual renewable<br />
energy resource greatly enhances<br />
its clean energy-producing capability<br />
and productivity.<br />
What’s interesting about the Solar<br />
Wind Energy’s Tower is that<br />
it does not have any operational<br />
limitations in terms of time<br />
and can be operated around<br />
the clock, 24 hours per day, and<br />
seven days per week. However,<br />
there’s an operational limitations<br />
with solar collectors<br />
that work only when the sun<br />
shines, and with wind turbines<br />
that work only when the wind<br />
blows.<br />
The most remarkable feature is<br />
that these towers can be operated<br />
virtually with no carbon<br />
footprint, fuel consumption,<br />
or waste production. It<br />
generates clean, cost effective<br />
and efficient electrical<br />
power without damaging<br />
effects.<br />
We hope that the company<br />
soon meets its core objective<br />
and focus on becoming<br />
a leading enabler of<br />
clean, efficient renewable<br />
energy at reasonable<br />
cost.<br />
ISSUE NO.004 RENEWABLE ENERGY
148 ISSUE NO.004 RENEWABLE ENERGY<br />
THROWBACK<br />
CHANEL<br />
FEATURED<br />
RENEWABLE<br />
ENERGY IN<br />
ITS FASHION<br />
SHOW<br />
Photo by PSFK<br />
Photo from Blogspot<br />
Remember the time when Karl Lagerfeld<br />
famously put wind turbines and faux solar<br />
panels in his 2013 Chanel runway spring<br />
summer fashion show in Paris Fashion<br />
Week? The legendary fashion icon mixed<br />
fashion and renewable energy on the catwalk<br />
and showed that even fashion powerhouses<br />
like Chanel (probably) cares<br />
about the environment.<br />
The head designer and creative director<br />
of Chanel has always been ambitious with<br />
his fashion shows – something people in<br />
the creative world always look forward<br />
to. The past few years featured ambitious<br />
exhibits and 2013 was about renewable<br />
energy.<br />
With 80 looks to showcase, 68 models<br />
showed off the season’s designs in between<br />
13 massive wind turbines on blue faux<br />
solar panels. Some of the looks featured<br />
futuristic designs that mimicked these renewable<br />
energy icons: a look with a discshaped<br />
hat and a transparent brim that<br />
resembles the wind turbines and a blue<br />
dress with a glittering blue embroidery<br />
that resembles the solar panels.<br />
In this season, classic Chanel looks such as<br />
chains, braids and Chanel buttons weren’t<br />
present but an overwhelming occurrence<br />
of pearls can be noted on the dresses.<br />
Pearls, pearls everywhere.<br />
In an industry that is driven by innovation,<br />
boldness and progress, Chanel just<br />
showcased how delivering a message using<br />
visuals such as iconic green energy<br />
materials can make an impact in other industries<br />
and make one’s show memorable.<br />
However, it may just have been a stunt and<br />
Lagerfeld may not have a deeper meaning<br />
as to why he chose renewable energy<br />
as the season’s theme. In an interview he<br />
gave to explain the inspiration behind the<br />
theme, he said:<br />
“I started to sketch in St. Tropez over the<br />
summer and it was so hot I wanted some<br />
fresh air.”<br />
Nonetheless, renewable energy got the<br />
buzz it needed. Though Lagerfeld is controversial<br />
in his support in using furs, he<br />
did the renewable energy sector a favor by<br />
reminding the fashion industry, known<br />
for its materialistic ways, that renewable<br />
energy is in.
149<br />
Photo by Mic<br />
NEW APPLE HQ<br />
TO RUN ON<br />
SOLAR ENERGY<br />
& BIOGAS<br />
FUEL CELLS<br />
In their Environmental Responsibility Report,<br />
Apple revealed that their new headquarters<br />
will be solar-powered and will<br />
run on biogas fuel cells. The solar power<br />
will be coming from the rooftop solar<br />
panels, some of which will be at the top<br />
of tis two on-campus parking structures.<br />
The biogas fuel cells, on the hand will turn<br />
hydrogen and oxygen into electricity.<br />
The solar power has a capacity of up to 16<br />
megawatts while the biogas fuel cells are<br />
expected to be 4 megawatts of energy.<br />
According to the company representative,<br />
both sources of energy should be able<br />
to generate about 75% of the energy it<br />
needs during peak day time hours to run<br />
its campus. The remaining power will be<br />
produced by a California solar farm called<br />
First Solar, as part of their $848 million<br />
deal for 130 MW in 2015.<br />
For the new Apple headquarters to run<br />
entirely on alternative energy, Apple produced<br />
their own “microgrid” whenever<br />
local power grids fail to deliver to them.<br />
This effort is part of Apple’s commitment<br />
in running all of its operations on renewable<br />
energy and in helping solve the problem<br />
of climate change.<br />
Photos by Apple<br />
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150 ISSUE NO.004 RENEWABLE ENERGY<br />
MARK YOUR CALENDARS!<br />
June 23<br />
National Women<br />
in <strong>Engineering</strong> Day<br />
An Article by Women's <strong>Engineering</strong> Society<br />
through Dawn Bonfield, CEng, FIMMM, FICE, FWES.<br />
Inspiring Women as Engineers,<br />
Scientists and Technical Leaders<br />
About Dawn Bonfield, CEng, FIMMM, FICE, FWES<br />
DAWN BONFIELD IS CHIEF EXECU-<br />
TIVE of the Women's <strong>Engineering</strong> Society. She is a<br />
materials engineer, graduating from Bath University<br />
with a Degree in Materials Science. She has worked<br />
in the atomic energy, automotive and aerospace sectors<br />
for AERE Harwell, Peugeot SA in Paris, British<br />
Aerospace in Bristol, and MBDA in Stevenage. She<br />
has also worked for the Institute of Materials, Minerals<br />
and Mining and joined WES in 2011, becoming<br />
President in 2014. She became Chief Executive<br />
in 2015 - the first CEO that the Women's <strong>Engineering</strong><br />
Society has employed in its history.<br />
Dawn is a chartered engineer, a Fellow of WES, a<br />
Fellow of the Institute of Materials, Minerals and<br />
Mining, and a Fellow of the Institution of Civil<br />
Engineers. She is also a member of the Worshipful<br />
Company of Engineers.<br />
She is passionate about supporting women in engineering,<br />
and is founder of National Women in<br />
<strong>Engineering</strong> Day, and the WES outreach activities<br />
'Magnificent Women' and the 'Sparxx' project. Her<br />
Presidential theme was 'women returners' and she is<br />
working on a number of initiatives to support women<br />
to return to work after career breaks.<br />
Dawn has recently written a report for the Institution<br />
of Civil Engineers called Disruptive Diversity<br />
which has set out how this large institution can<br />
increase its diversity and inclusion to make a step<br />
change in attracting and retaining a diverse range of<br />
members.<br />
In addition to her work with WES Dawn is Patron<br />
of Alton Convent School, a member of the Institute<br />
of Materials Minerals and Mining Women in Materials<br />
committee, a steering group member of the 100<br />
Years of Women in Transport Campaign, a member<br />
of the Royal Academy of <strong>Engineering</strong> Diversity<br />
Concordat, an Advisory group member for the Science<br />
Museum's Engineer Your Future careers exhibition<br />
in 2014, a judge for a number of competitions<br />
in engineering including the Talent2030 National<br />
<strong>Engineering</strong> Competition for Girls and the WISE /<br />
Evoke bursaries for girls in engineering.<br />
Dawn has recently been awarded the SEMTA Diversity<br />
in <strong>Engineering</strong> Award 2016.<br />
Information taken from<br />
http://www.wes.org.uk/dawnbonfield
151<br />
About NWED and WES<br />
THIS YEAR IS THE THIRD YEAR of the<br />
National Women in <strong>Engineering</strong> Day, which takes<br />
place on 23 June annually, and continually grows<br />
in influence and reaches ever greater international<br />
audiences. The event was established in 2014 to celebrate<br />
the 95th anniversary of the Women’s <strong>Engineering</strong><br />
Society (WES), a society which was formed<br />
in the UK at the end of the First World War by<br />
women who were willing but legally unable to continue<br />
in the technical and engineering careers that<br />
they had been introduced to during the war. Now,<br />
97 years since the inception of WES, the UK still<br />
has a significant problem in attracting women to<br />
the engineering sector, with the lowest percentage<br />
of women in the engineering workforce in Europe<br />
at only 8%.<br />
The day itself is a celebration of the roles of women<br />
in engineering, and is based on the International<br />
Women’s Day model of individual ownership<br />
around a common goal. Established with the aim of<br />
focusing attention on the careers available for women<br />
in engineering, and celebrating the achievements<br />
made by our women engineers, this day is also a<br />
means for companies to look at their own efforts<br />
to encourage inclusivity in the workplace to ensure<br />
that we meet the skills shortages that we currently<br />
face. The consequence of this philosophy is that<br />
everybody feels they have a role to play, and that<br />
the onus is on the individual to get involved and<br />
do something positive on the day – however big or<br />
small. This was actually the hardest part of the establishment<br />
of the day – we had lots of offers of support,<br />
but we didn’t want support – we needed ownership.<br />
We wanted people to let us know what they<br />
were doing, but as a small organisation we were not<br />
realistically able to help with anybody else’s event –<br />
all we could do was encourage and send resources.<br />
The result has been a day which has been truly diverse<br />
in its response. In 2015, we saw as many as 400<br />
individual events taking place across the UK, linked<br />
by the campaign hashtag #NWED. We saw the day<br />
trending on twitter for 10 hours in the UK and for<br />
5 hours worldwide, and we recorded over 90 million<br />
twitter impressions. The day was mentioned in<br />
English, Welsh and Scottish parliaments and events<br />
were supported by numerous high profile celebrities,<br />
politicians and members of the Royal Family.<br />
The type of thing we have seen on the day included<br />
conferences, open days, visits and trips, quizzes,<br />
videos, competitions, blogs, and social media support.<br />
We were amazed by the range of things that<br />
were thought of to celebrate the day and the level of<br />
support it received. The day generated an enormous<br />
amount of press attention too, with hundreds of reports<br />
appearing on the day nationally and a growing<br />
international presence. Last year, we saw events that<br />
take place in India, South Africa, USA, Ireland and<br />
Canada.<br />
This year, the date of National Women in <strong>Engineering</strong><br />
Day will coincide with the UK’s EU Referendum.<br />
Not ideal! After a few debates about a<br />
date change we decided to go ahead regardless. The<br />
theme this year is Raising Profiles and one of the<br />
things that WES is also coordinating is the inaugural<br />
list of 50 Top Women in <strong>Engineering</strong>. This will<br />
be a great way of raising the profiles of our amazing<br />
women engineers, and also showing what great role<br />
models we have out there. We are looking forward<br />
to seeing the range of activities that take place again<br />
in celebration of this day, and we are gearing up for<br />
a whole week of celebrations – both national and international<br />
- to coincide with our centenary in 2019.<br />
We would like to encourage you all to get involved<br />
in some way if you can. And if it is too late for this<br />
year, then put the date in your diary for next year.<br />
For further information please see the NWED website<br />
www.nwed.org.uk and get involved using the<br />
hashtag #NWED2016. Please let us know what you<br />
are planning!<br />
ISSUE NO.004 RENEWABLE ENERGY
152 ISSUE NO.004 RENEWABLE ENERGY<br />
ENGINEERS CREATE<br />
MOBILE HOUSES:<br />
PROJECT<br />
CASAS EM<br />
MOVIMENTO<br />
BRINGS NEW<br />
CONCEPT OF<br />
HOUSING TO<br />
A GLOBAL<br />
SCALE<br />
Project Casas em Movimento Brings<br />
You the New Concept of Housing to a<br />
Global Scale!<br />
Imagine your house moving to wherever<br />
direction you want without you<br />
doing much at all. This mobile house<br />
can make that happen!<br />
The University of Oporto has created<br />
an awesome project— creating a<br />
moving house, which is also capable<br />
of generating energy from sunlight.<br />
This house can also be enlarged according<br />
to the needs of the family.<br />
The architectural world saw the introduction<br />
of a new concept that primarily<br />
concentrated on the creation<br />
of houses that are adjustable. As the<br />
family members increase, the house<br />
will also increase in size. These type<br />
of homes came into existence with the<br />
help of artistic groups like the Japanese<br />
Metabolists and British coordination.<br />
They are groups that can be<br />
found in an architectural magazine,<br />
known as Archigram. However, most<br />
of the mobile house designs created<br />
never crossed the boundary of the<br />
page. The only exception is the cool<br />
Nakagin Capsule Tower situated in<br />
Tokyo. All of these happened in the<br />
twentieth century.<br />
As soon as the 21st century arrived,<br />
new ideas began taking form. Thus,<br />
the project has been turned into a<br />
reality with the help of transferable<br />
units and advanced technology. The<br />
project of Casas em Movimento is<br />
known to have developed in Portugal,<br />
at the University of Oporto. This project<br />
is based on the east-west rotation<br />
of the sun for the production of energy,<br />
adjustment of the lightning in the<br />
room and the consumption of heat.<br />
The house creates energy through<br />
several photovoltaic solar panels.<br />
Thermal cork and numerous complex<br />
structures of timber are added along<br />
with this, to ensure greater amount of<br />
stability.<br />
The houses that are created are known<br />
to be self-sufficient and help in the<br />
sustenance of energy. As stated above<br />
they make use of solar energy and<br />
transform into two types of energy,<br />
thermal energy and electric energy.<br />
This makes the house rotation follow<br />
the course of the sun.<br />
The primary attraction of this house<br />
is that it produces twice the energy<br />
that it consumes. Excess of electricity<br />
that has been produced can be used<br />
for charging electric vehicles or can<br />
be sold off to the main grid.<br />
Wouldn’t it be exciting to live in a<br />
house that moves? With people trying<br />
to revolutionize the green movement,<br />
this project is one way to inspire people<br />
to use renewable energy more.
ISSUE NO.004 RENEWABLE ENERGY<br />
153
154 ISSUE NO.004 RENEWABLE ENERGY<br />
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