Wednesday, September 29, 2010

Liberia says Sinohydro interested in hydro project

Liberia says Sinohydro interested in hydro project
Reuters, Wed Sep 29, 2010 8:20am EDT

* Sinohydro shows interest in Liberia hydro project
* Govt to hold investor conference in October
* Presidential task team to decide on investment soon

By Wendell Roelf

CAPE TOWN, Sept 29 (Reuters) - Sinohydro, China's top dam builder, is the
sole investor interested so far in a contract to construct and operate a
hydro power project in Liberia estimated to cost up to $4 billion, a
minister said on Wednesday.

"They (Sinohydro) are the only investor who has expressed interest in the
BOT (build, operate and turnover)," Eugene Shannon, the lands, mines and
energy minister, told Reuters on the sidelines of an African energy
conference in Cape Town.

"They want to do a BOT of the entire St Paul river basin, which is good.
For the Mount Coffee development, which was operational before including
the reservoir, that would be about $400 million dollars. The entire St
Paul river scheme will be far more than that, approximately $4 billion,"
he added.

Liberia currently has capacity to generate only 10 megawatts, and
blackouts regularly plunge millions of citizens in the dark and constrain
the economically vital mining sector.

Brazilian mining firm Vale (VALE5.SA) and Israeli-owned BSGR are also
planning to help the west African state raise power production from almost
nothing to 1,000 megawatts by 2013.

Vale, as part of a deal with Liberia to transport iron ore from Guinea to
port, will help raise Liberia's energy production to 64 MW by rebuilding a
defunct hydro plant on the St Paul river.

Shannon, chairman of a presidential task team investigating ways of
garnering support for the hydro project, said a meeting in Monrovia next
month would help gauge investor appetite.

"Vale has said they would resuscitate 64 megawatts, but that's not
sufficient, so we are engaging Norad, we are engaging Ecowas, the African
Development Bank and others," he said.

Shannon said Liberia's government hoped to make a final investment
decision on the project before the end of the year, and was looking to
hand over the project to one company to control for about 25-30 years.
(Reporting by Wendell Roelf, editing by Jane Baird)
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Tuesday, September 28, 2010

Laos sees big fish as small price to pay for hydropower [Guardian 24 Sept 2010]

Laos sees big fish as small price to pay for hydropower

Plans for hydropower plant on the Mekong River threaten habitat of four of the world's largest freshwater fish, says WWF

By Jonathan Watts, The Guardian, 24 September 2010

Despite the risks to the world's biggest freshwater fish, Laos has rejected calls for a dam moratorium on the lower reaches of the Mekong because it wants cheap power to develop its economy.

The south-east Asian nation moved this week to secure regional approval for the first major hydropower plant on its stretch of the river in the face of protests from international conservation groups.

Catfish the length of cars and stingrays that weigh more than tigers are threatened by the proposed 800m barrier, but the government said the economic benefits outweigh the environmental risks.

"We don't want to be poor any more," said Viraphone Viravong, director general of the country's energy and mines department. "If we want to grow, we need this dam."

In a submission to the Mekong river commission (MRC) on Wednesday, Laos said it wants to build a 1.26GW-hydropower plant at Sayabouly in northern Laos to generate foreign exchange income.

If approved, about 90% of the electricity would be sold to neighbours Thailand, Vietnam and Cambodia.

It is part of a major plan to expand the economy through the utilisation of natural resources. According to Viravong, 20% of Laos' GDP will come from hydropower and mining by 2020, up from about 4% today.

Sayabouly is the first of 11 proposed dams on the lower reaches of the Mekong, a river that is already heavily dammed upstream in China.

The MMRC – made up of representatives from Laos, Cambodia, Vietnam and Thailand – will now assess the environmental impact of the project, but conservation groups fear the procedure is flawed and have called for a 10-year moratorium on hydropower on the river.

"This dam is the greatest challenge the MRC has faced since it was formed. It is the most serious test of its usefulness and relevance," said Marc Goichot, of the WWF. "It is already very clear this dam would amplify and accelerate the negative impacts of Chinese dams to the Mekong delta. What are the other impacts?"

Concerns have been raised about sedimentation, fisheries and the migration patterns of endangered freshwater species.

Four of the world's 10 biggest freshwater fish migrate up the Mekong to spawn. Among them is the Mekong giant catfish, which is the size of a bull shark, and the Mekong stingray, which can weigh up to 600kg.

The dam – which is being designed by Swiss company Colencois and the Thai contractors Karnchang – is also likely to affect the flow of nutrients along a delta that sustains tens of millions of people.

The Laos authorities insist the dam will be designed to mitigate the impact on food security, ecosystems and wildlife, but officials acknowledge that no solution is ideal for the environment.

"It won't be 100% perfect, but we believe mitigation measures will be effective. We must balance out the costs and benefits," said Viravong.

He felt there was no alternative. "We have done studies on micro-energy and renewables, but they are expensive. I don't think the world can subsidise that. If we do it ourselves, only cheap energy from hydropower will do."

http://www.guardian.co.uk/environment/2010/sep/24/laos-hydropower-plant-mekong-river

US senators express concern over Mekong dam plans [Nation 25.9.10]

US senators express concern over Mekong dam plans

By Supalak Ganjanakhundee
The Nation, September 25, 2010

The US Senate Committee on Foreign Relations has voiced concerns over the plans to build 12 dams on the Mekong River, saying the dams would impact the environment and food security in the region.

The committee, chaired by Senator Jim Webb, held a hearing on Thursday consider concerns about the extensive impact on the river and livelihoods if the projects go ahead.

As the United States is a donor to the Mekong River Commission (MRC), the committee was urged to do everything in its capacity to ensure that mainstream dams would not proceed until the findings of the MRC-commissioned Strategic Environmental Assessment were considered and adopted by regional governments.

Cambodia, Laos, Thailand and Vietnam are members of the MRC, which is a regulatory body to oversee the lower mekong basin.

The United States has paid more attention to the mekong River since Washington formed closer links with the four countries in the basin under the framework of Mekong Mississippi Rivers cooperation last year.

The hearing took place a day after the MRC said it had received official notification from Laos that the country would proceed with the Xayaburi project, as the first dam in the mekong mainstream, according to conservationist International Rivers.

Aviva Imhof, campaigns director for International Rivers, testified before the committee.

Imhof relayed to the committee the Strategic Environmental Assessment's findings and its recommendation that any decision on mainstream dams be deferred for at least 10 years.

"To allow the Xayaburi consultation process to go forward without considering the findings would be like getting a diagnosis of cancer and then ignoring it," she said in a statement.

Webb said the mekong fisheries were important for food security in the region, and expressed concern about the dramatic impact that could occur to livelihoods and the river ecosystem if the dams were built. The dam plans were "profoundly disturbing" on the political, economic and social levels, he said.

The Xayaburi Dam would be the first to be built on the lower Mekong. It would displace thousands of people in Laos, disrupt an important fish migration route and cause the extinction of the critically endangered mekong giant catfish by destroying one of its last natural spawning habitats.

The dam is being proposed by Thai company Ch Karnchang and more than 95 per cent of the power generated would be sold to Thailand.

This month, Thai community groups representing about 24,000 people in five provinces along the mekong River submitted an appeal to Prime Minister Abhisit Vejjajiva asking him to cancel the plan to buy electricity from the Xayaburi Dam.

SA solar park moving forward quickly

http://www.engineeringnews.co.za/article/first-solar-park-deals-possible-in-early-2011-first-power-by-end-2012-2010-09-28

RENEWABLE ENERGY
First solar park deals possible in early 2011, first power by end 2012


By: Terence Creamer
28th September 2010

The first commercial transactions relating to the development of
utility-scale solar power generation capacity in South Africa's first
designated solar park near Upington, in the Northern Cape province,
could be completed in the first half of 2011, with the first
electricity flowing into the grid by 2012, a senior government
official said on Tuesday.
Invitations were sent out this week to international technology
providers, as well as to local and international solar developers for
an investor conference, scheduled for Upington on October 28 and 29.
And, Department of Energy deputy director-general Ompi Aphane believes
that the first deals could be concluded in the first or second quarter
of next year.

He revealed that the solar park, which could involve an investment of
some R150-billion over a ten-year horizon, had been factored into the
yet-to-be-published integrated resource plan, or IRP2010, which would
provide a framework for South Africa's power generation mix for the
coming 20 to 25 years.

But Aphane also stressed that they would not compete with solar energy
projects seeking to access South Africa's renewable-energy feed-in
tariffs, or Refit, as it would be unaffordable to extend the Refit to
solar park investors, owing to the scale of the projects envisaged.

Proposed is a technology-neutral solar zone, operated by a so-called
�Solar Park Authority', or SPA, where up to 5 000 MW of peaking and
base-load solar electricity will be phased in over a ten-year horizon.

It is estimated that government would need to invest between R70-
million and R105-million to set up the basic transport, water and
transmission infrastructure to stimulate private investment of around
R150-billion in generating assets.

The investor conference itself will showcase the opportunities and
help inform a full feasibility study that is being pursued, following
the South African government's recent endorsement of the
prefeasibility study conducted by the Clinton Climate Initiative (CCI).

In fact, CCI chairperson Ira Magaziner argued that the Northern Cape's
world-beating solar irradiation levels of greater than 8 kWh/m2 for
much of the year, together with the fact that the government would
facilitate access to land, water and the power grid, could ensure the
delivery of peaking and base-load capacity that would be competitive
with coal.

The technology mix would hinge on factors such as grid stability and
the country's requirement for base-load as opposed to peaking power,
with the solar thermal solutions providing the former and
photovoltaics the latter.

The first phase would target the production of 1 000 MW built in
increments from a range of solutions.

Ministry of Energy special adviser Jonathan de Vries tells Engineering
News that work is currently being done to determine the technology
mix, with particular emphasis being given to dispatch stability.

"We want to use the first phase to assess the performance of the
various solar technologies at the scale we are proposing," De Vries
explained, adding that the projects would be selected through a
competitive bidding process.

Energy Minister Dipuo Peters, who unveiled the concept at a function
in Johannesburg, indicated that the SPA could be either be established
as a unit within the State-owned Central Energy Fund, or set up as a
provincial or local government agency.

The organisation would act as an investment facilitator, in a role
akin to that of a development authority within South Africa's
industrial development zones.

In other words, it will be responsible for the nongenerating
infrastructure within the 9 000-ha property, such as roads, water and
transmission capacity. The initial site, which is reportedly adjacent
to the one where Eskom plans to build a 100-MW power-tower project,
will draw water from the Orange River, which flows nearby. It is also
close to existing transmission infrastructure and within a corridor
that is earmarked for additional transmission investment by Eskom.

The full park could be built in a corridor spanning from Upington to
De Aar and involve up to 19 000 ha of land. The sites close to the
Orange River would not require additional water infrastructure, but
water would have to be piped to the other sites.

The SPA could also facilitate access to government incentives, as well
as aid investors in gaining regulatory and environmental approvals for
their projects.

But the solar park was also affected by the ongoing uncertainty
surrounding the buying entity for power generated by private
producers, as well as a lack of clarity on the nature of the power
purchase agreements (PPAs). It was not clear, for instance, whether
the PPAs would be backed by a government guarantee.

"We hope that, through this process, we will be able to deal with
these uncertainties in a way that not only unblocks investment in the
park, but is also supportive of other renewable energy developers, as
well as independent power producers more generally," De Vries said.

It was likely that Eskom would be the initial purchasing agent, with a
growing acceptance that creation of an independent system and market
operator, or ISMO, could still take years.

But Aphane insisted that the IRP2010 would be promulgated before the
end of the year, despite that fact that it has yet to be released for
public comment. He also indicated that a Ministerial determination on
new generation capacity was likely before year-end.

De Vries told Engineering News that site preparation could begin in
2011 and that, should the legislative and regulatory hurdles be
cleared, the first power plants could be producing by the second half
of 2012.

A number of working groups have been established around the project,
including one that will interrogate the potential job creation and
industrial development spin-offs.

Peters stressed that government was keen to facilitate the development
of industrial capacity to supply both into the solar park and future
domestic solar programmes, as well as into the export market.


Edited by: Creamer Media Reporter
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Monday, September 27, 2010

Renewables Continue Remarkable Growth

A very thorough article. Go online if you want to see a number of good
graphs and charts too.

http://www.renewableenergyworld.com/rea/news/article/2010/09/renewables-continue-remarkable-growth

Renewables Continue Remarkable Growth

Renewables had another banner year in 2009, with policy, investment
and market development activity across a spread of nations - as
recorded in the REN21 Renewables 2010 Global Status Report.

by Janet Sawin, Eric Martinot, David Appleyard

Published: September 27, 2010

London, UK By 2010, renewable energy had reached a clear tipping point
in the context of global energy supply, concludes the 'Renewables 2010
Global Status Report'. With renewables comprising fully one quarter of
global power capacity from all sources and delivering 18% of global
electricity supply in 2009, the latest release of the definitive
assessment of the state of the global renewable energy industry from
the Renewable Energy Policy Network for the 21st Century (REN21)
details the current status and key trends of global markets,
investment, industry and policies related to renewable energy.

Investment in new renewable power capacity continued to increase
during 2009, despite challenges posed by the global financial crisis,
lower oil prices, and slow progress with climate change policy. For
the second year in a row, more money was invested in new renewable
power capacity than in new fossil fuel capacity. The renewable
generating capacity installed over the past two years accounts for
nearly 50% of total generating capacity added to the world's grids
over this period.

Furthermore, the rapid adoption beyond the industrialised world means
that today more than half of the existing renewable power capacity is
in developing countries.

These trends reflect strong growth and investment across all market
sectors including power generation, heating and cooling, and transport
fuels. Grid-connected solar PV has grown by an average of 60% every
year for the past decade, increasing 100-fold since 2000. During the
period from year-end 2004 through 2009, consistently high growth year-
after-year marked virtually every other renewable technology as well.
During those five years, annual growth rates averaged 27% for wind
power capacity, 19% for solar water heating, and 20% for ethanol
production. Indeed, as other economic sectors declined around the
world, existing renewable capacity continued to grow during 2009 at
rates close to, or exceeding, those in previous years. Market growth
for some technologies - including wind and concentrating solar power,
and solar water heating - exceeded their five-year averages in 2009.
Annual production of ethanol and biodiesel increased 10% and 9%,
respectively, despite layoffs and ethanol plant closures in the United
States and Brazil. Biomass and geothermal for power and heat also grew
strongly last year.

Much more active policy development during the past several years
culminated in a significant policy milestone in early 2010 with more
than 100 countries having some type of policy target and/or promotion
policy related to renewable energy in place. Most countries have
adopted more than one policy and there is a significant diversity of
policy mechanisms in use at national, state/provincial and local
levels to advance renewable energy. In addition, many of the new
targets enacted in the past three years call for shares of energy or
electricity from renewables in the 15%-25% range by 2020.

Renewable Energy Extends Its Reach

Recent trends also reflect the increasing significance of developing
countries in advancing renewable energy. Collectively, developing
countries now account for almost half of the countries with some sort
of policy to promote renewable power generation, and they have more
than half of global renewable power capacity. Today China leads the
world in several indicators of market growth. India ranks fifth
worldwide in total existing wind power capacity and is rapidly
expanding many forms of rural renewables such as biogas and solar PV,
while Brazil produces virtually all of the world's sugar-derived
ethanol and has been adding new biomass and wind power plants.
Renewables markets are growing at rapid rates in several other
developing countries such as Argentina, Costa Rica, Egypt, Indonesia,
Kenya, Tanzania, Thailand, Tunisia and Uruguay, to name a few.

The geography of renewable energy is changing in ways that suggest a
new era of geographic diversity. For example, wind power existed in
just a handful of countries in the 1990s but now operates in over 82
countries. Outside of Europe and the US, other developed countries
like Australia, Canada and Japan are seeing recent gains and broader
technology diversification. The developing world is experiencing a
similar trend and, for example, today at least 20 countries in the
Middle East, North Africa and sub-Saharan Africa have active renewable
energy markets. This geographic diversity is boosting confidence that
renewables are less vulnerable to market dislocations in any specific
country.

Meanwhile, leadership in manufacturing is shifting from Europe to Asia
as countries like China, India and South Korea continue to increase
their commitments to renewable energy. In 2009, firms in China
produced 40% of the world's solar PV cell supply, 30% of the world's
wind turbines (up from 10% in 2007), and 77% of the world's solar hot
water collectors.

Figure 1. Installed capacity by region and technology for 2009

Renewables Investment Remains Robust

Greatly increased investment from both public-sector and development
banks is also driving renewables development. Excluding large hydro,
total investment in renewable energy capacity was about US$150 billion
in 2009, up from the revised $130 billion recorded in 2008. Investment
in new renewable power capacity in both 2008 and 2009 represented over
half of total global investment in new power generation. However,
investment in utility-scale renewable energy additions dropped 6% in
2009 from the 2008 level, despite 'green stimulus' efforts by many of
the world's major economies and increased investments from development
banks in Europe, Asia and South America.

All told, again excluding large hydro, the world invested $101 billion
in new utility-scale renewable energy development in 2009, compared
with $108 billion in 2008. In 2009 there was also investment of some
$50 billion worldwide in small-scale projects such as rooftop solar PV
and solar hot water. An additional $40-$45 billion was invested in
large hydropower.

Renewable energy companies invested billions of dollars in plant and
equipment to manufacture solar modules, wind turbines and other
generating devices during 2009. Venture capital and private equity
investment in clean energy companies totalled $4.5 billion, down from
$9.5 billion in 2008, while public market investment in quoted clean
energy firms reached $12.8 billion, up from $11.8 billion. Government
and corporate research, development, and deployment spending on clean
energy technology in 2009 is estimated at $24.6 billion, up around 2%
from 2008, the bulk (68%) of which went to energy-efficiency
technologies.

Germany and China were the investment leaders in 2009, each spending
roughly $25-$30 billion on new renewables capacity, including small
hydro. They were followed by the US, investing over $15 billion, and
Italy and Spain with about $4-$5 billion each.

The wind energy sector continued to be the hands-down leader,
receiving 62% of the global total invested - $62.7 billion in 2009, up
from $55.5 billion the year before. Most of the growth was due to
China's rapid capacity expansion, increased investment activity in the
wind sector in Latin America, and a handful of large utility-backed
offshore wind deals in the UK.

These gains were offset by a $5.6 billion drop in solar power asset
investment, to $17.1 billion in 2009, and a plunge in biofuels
spending, down to $5.6 billion from $15.4 billion in 2008. Lower
investment in PV in 2009 was due to several factors. One was the
behaviour of prices along the value chain, with PV module prices
falling by some 50% over the year, bringing the dollar value of
financial investment down with them. Other factors included the
Spanish government's cap on PV project development at the end of the
boom associated with the pre-September 2008 tariff, and the shortage
of debt finance for utility-scale projects in Europe and the US, which
also affected wind farms. Concerns about scheduled reductions in feed-
in tariff support for PV in some countries actually spurred on
developers rather than holding them back. Indeed, Germany witnessed a
spectacular end-of-2009 spurt in small-scale PV project construction.

In 2007, biofuels commanded 22% of global asset finance, with
investment totalling $19.6 billion. However, the sector slipped to
$15.4 billion in spending in 2008 and just $5.6 billion in 2009,
representing only 5% of global project investment. An oversupply in US
ethanol continued to smother investment in the biofuels sector in
2009. Things may soon turn around as both Brazil and the United States
continue to follow ambitious biofuels targets. Brazil's state-owned
oil company Petrobras has moved into the ethanol sector, and US plants
bought under bankruptcy auctions in 2008 and 2009 have begun slowly to
resume operation.

The decline in asset investment in biofuels relegated the sector to
fourth place among the renewable energy sectors in 2009. Stepping up
to third place, after wind and solar, was biomass (including waste-to-
energy), with a rise in investment to $10.4 billion, from $9 billion
in 2008.

In Europe, Brazil and elsewhere, the brightest feature for project
investors during 2009 was the expanded role of public sector banks.
The European Investment Bank (EIB) and Germany's KfW Banking Group, in
particular, significantly raised their lending to renewable energy.
The European Bank for Reconstruction and Development (EBRD) played an
active role in project finance, albeit not on the scale of the EIB and
KfW, as did the Brazilian National Bank of Economic and Social
Development (BNDES) for Brazilian projects (though its lending
declined relative to 2008 levels).

This strong contribution by the public sector was all the more needed,
because many commercial banks - from Europe to the United States and
elsewhere - found it impossible to sustain the 2008 level of lending
to renewable energy projects. Overall, development assistance for
renewables in developing countries surged in 2009, up to $5 billion
from $2 billion in 2008. For example, the World Bank Group, including
the International Finance Corporation and the Multilateral Investment
Guarantee Agency (MIGA), saw the largest increase to date in finance
from previous years. Finance rose fivefold in 2009 as $1.38 billion
were committed to new renewables (solar, wind, geothermal, biomass and
hydro below 10 MW) and another $177 million to large hydropower.

Expanding the Reach of Policies and Targets

Growth in renewables is inevitably supported through government
policy. Renewable energy policies existed in a few countries in the
1980s and early 1990s, but policy support began to emerge in many more
countries, states, provinces, and cities during the period 1998-2005,
and even more so during 2005-2010.

Many countries have adopted national targets for shares of electricity
production. Targets are typically for 5%-30% of electricity from
renewable sources, but they range from 2%-90%. Many historical targets
have aimed for the 2010-2012 timeframe, but targets aiming for 2020
and beyond have multiplied in recent years.

Developing nations now make up more than half of the countries
worldwide with renewable energy targets. The 'Renewables 2007 Global
Status Report' counted 22 developing countries with targets, a figure
that had expanded to 45 by early 2010. Developing countries' targets
are also becoming increasingly ambitious. For example, China aims for
15% of final energy consumption from renewables by 2020, even as total
energy demand continues to grow at nearly double-digit annual rates.

Several countries have adopted targets at state/provincial and
regional levels - and at other levels as well - with many mandated
through renewable portfolio standards (RPS) and other policies.

In 2008, all 27 EU countries confirmed national targets for 2020,
following a 2007 EU-wide target of 20% of final energy by 2020. It
appears that many countries won't meet their 2010 targets by the end
of the year, although this won't be known immediately due to data
lags. Nonetheless, some EU countries were close to or had already
achieved various types of national 2010 targets early in the year,
including France, Germany, Latvia, Spain and Sweden.

City and local governments around the world are also enacting
renewable energy promotion policies. Hundreds of cities and local
governments have established future targets for renewables; urban
planning that incorporates renewables into city development; building
codes that mandate or promote renewables; tax credits and exemptions;
purchases of renewable power or fuels for public buildings and
transit; innovative electric utility policies; subsidies, grants, or
loans; and many information and promotion activities.

Figure 2. Growth in renewables capacity, annual and five-year average

Supporting Renewable Electricity Generation

At least 83 countries - 41 developed/transition countries and 42
developing countries - have some type of policy to promote renewable
power generation. The 10 most common policy types are feed-in tariffs
(FiTs), renewable portfolio standards, capital subsidies or grants,
investment tax credits, sales tax or VAT exemptions, green certificate
trading, direct energy production payments or tax credits, net
metering, direct public investment or financing, and public
competitive bidding.

The most common policy currently in use is the feed-in tariff, which
has been enacted in many new countries and regions in recent years. By
early 2010, at least 50 countries and 25 states/provinces had adopted
FiTs over the years, more than half of which have been enacted since
2005.

Strong momentum for feed-in tariffs (FiTs) continues around the world
as countries enact new policies or revise existing ones. For example,
France adopted a tariff for building-integrated PV that was among the
highest in the world (�0.42-�0.58/kWh). Other countries that adopted
or updated FiTs included the Czech Republic, Germany, Greece, India,
Ireland, Japan, Kenya, Slovenia, South Africa, Taiwan, Thailand,
Ukraine and the UK. In some countries, tariffs were reduced in
response to technology cost reductions, market slowdowns and concerns
about foreign manufacturer market share; indeed, reductions were more
prevalent in 2009 and early 2010 than in previous years.

Renewable portfolio standards (RPS) - also called renewable
obligations or quota policies - exist at the state/province level in
the US, Canada and India, and at the national level in 10 countries:
Australia, Chile, China, Italy, Japan, the Philippines, Poland,
Romania, Sweden and the UK. Globally, 56 states provinces, or
countries had RPS policies in place by early 2010. Most RPS policies
require renewable power shares in the range of 5%-20%, typically by
2010 or 2012, although more recent policies are extending targets to
2015, 2020 and 2025. Most RPS targets translate into large expected
future investments in renewable generation, although the specific
means (and effectiveness) of achieving quotas can vary greatly across
countries or states.

Investment tax credits, import duty reductions and/or other tax
incentives are also common means for providing financial support at
the national level in many countries, and at the state level in the
United States, Canada and Australia. Many tax credits apply to a broad
range of renewable energy technologies, such as Indonesia's new 5% tax
credit adopted in early 2010, and a new 2009 policy in the Philippines
for seven-year income tax exemptions and zero-VAT rates for renewable
energy projects.

Energy production payments or credits, sometimes called 'premiums',
also exist in a handful of countries while capital subsidies and tax
credits have been particularly instrumental in supporting solar PV
markets. Net metering (also called net billing) is an important policy
for rooftop solar PV and laws now exist in at least 10 countries -
including a growing number of developing countries. A few
jurisdictions are also begining to mandate solar PV in selected types
of new construction through building codes.

Supporting Renewable Heating & Transport

More countries are also adopting policies to support renewable heat
and transport. The primary focus of heat-related measures has been
solar water heating, and mandates for solar hot water in new
construction represent a strong trend at both national and local
levels. For years Israel was the only country with a national level
mandate, but Spain followed in 2006 with a national building code that
requires minimum levels of solar hot water in new construction and
renovation. Solar thermal systems must meet 30%-70% of energy needs
for hot water, depending on climatic zone, consumption level, and
backup fuel. Many other countries have since followed suit. South
Korea's new 2010 mandate requires on-site renewable energy to
contribute at least 5% of total energy consumption for new public
buildings over 1000 m2, for example. Other countries with solar hot
water targets include Morocco and Tunisia.

Capital subsidies for solar hot water are now a common policy in many
states and countries. At least 20 countries, and probably several
more, provide capital grants, rebates, VAT exemptions, or investment
tax credits for solar hot water/heating investments, including
Australia, Chile, Japan, New Zealand, Portugal, Spain, and Uruguay.

In the transport sector, mandates for blending biofuels into vehicle
fuels have been enacted in at least 41 states/provinces and 24
countries at the national level. Most mandates require blending
10%-15% ethanol with gasoline or 2%-5% biodiesel with diesel fuel.
Mandates can now be found in at least 13 Indian states/territories,
nine Chinese provinces, nine US states, five Canadian provinces, two
Australian states, and at least 14 developing countries at the
national level.

In addition to mandated blending, several targets and plans define
future biofuel use. Countries with production or use targets include
the US, the UK, Japan, China and South Africa. Targets for renewable
energy's share of transportation energy exist in at least four EU
countries at the national level (Belgium, Croatia, France and
Portugal), as well as the EU-wide target of 10% of transport energy by
2020, covering both sustainable biofuels and electric vehicles.

Basis for Optimism

Almost all renewable energy industries experienced manufacturing
growth in 2009. It must be conceded, however, that many capital
expansion plans were scaled back or postponed.

The REN21 Renewables 2010 Global Status Report reveals that for the
second year in a row, in both the United States and Europe, more
renewable power capacity was added than conventional power capacity
from fossil fuels or nuclear. China added a staggering 37 GW of
renewable power generation capacity in 2009, more than any other
country in the world, to reach 226 GW installed. Globally, nearly 80
GW of renewable power capacity was added, including 31 GW of hydro and
48 GW of non-hydro capacity.

Indeed, wind power additions reached a record high of 38 GW - China
was the top market, with 13.8 GW added. Solar PV additions reached a
record high of 7 GW - Germany was the top market, with 3.8 GW added.
And many countries saw record biomass use - notable was Sweden, where
biomass accounted for a larger share of energy supply than oil for the
first time. And biofuels production contributed the energy equivalent
of 5% of world gasoline in 2009.

Even the most cynical observer must acknowledge this is a success
story by any means, let alone under the current economic climate.
Renewable energy is now breaking into the mainstream of energy markets
thanks to hundreds of new government policies, accelerating private
and public investment, and numerous technology advances achieved since
the first Renewables Global Status report was released in 2005.

Despite the continuing advances highlighted in this year's report, the
world has tapped only a fraction of the vast renewable energy
resources available to us. Further strengthening of policy support can
help drive the massive scale up in renewables needed for the sector to
play a major role in building a stable, secure and enduring low-carbon
global economy.

David Appleyard is chief editor of Renewable Energy World. Janet Sawin
is research director (2008-2010) and lead author of the REN21
Renewables Global Status Report. She is also a partner at Sunna
Research and a senior fellow with the Worldwatch Institute. Eric
Martinot is research director emeritus and lead author of the REN21
Renewables Global Status Report. He is also a senior research director
at the Institute for Sustainable Energy Policies and a senior fellow
with the Worldwatch Institute.

Most of the investment data was provided by Bloomberg New Energy
Finance (BNEF). See also the UNEP/BNEF report Global Trends in
Sustainability Energy Investment 2010, which was released jointly with
the REN21 report.

Sidebar: Renewables Investment Trends in 2010

The first quarter of 2010 found the renewable energy sector largely
out of the limelight, following the inconclusive Copenhagen climate
change conference in December 2009. However, investment continued at a
level significantly above that of a year earlier. Investment in clean
energy assets (not including large hydro) was $29.5 billion in the
first quarter of the year, some 63% above that in the same period of
2009. It was up from $26 billion in the fourth quarter of 2009, a
strong result given the continuing uncertainties in the world economy
and the financial markets and the impact of the Northern Hemisphere
winter on project progress. The highlights of the first quarter
included a healthier figure for asset finance in the United States, at
$3.5 billion from $2.3 billion in the fourth quarter of 2009, helped
by a $394 million construction debt package for a California wind farm
and another big number for China, $6.5 billion, reflecting its
investment in wind 'mega bases' and smaller projects. The quarter was
also notable for a continuation of the recovery in venture capital and
private equity investment in clean energy. This reached $2.9 billion,
up from $1.7 billion in the fourth quarter of 2009 and $1.5 billion in
the first quarter of 2009.
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SA: Is our new energy policy good enough?

http://moneyweb.co.za/mw/view/mw/en/page292681?oid=507920&sn=2009+Detail+no+image&pid=287226

by Rachel Browne and Na-iem Dollie*|
27 September 2010

Is our new energy policy good enough?

Government has taken the lead in rolling out a plan that will give a
massive boost to the green economic commitments.

Since the heady days of Polokwane, the government has taken the lead
in rolling out an electricity plan that will give a massive boost to
the country's large-scale green economic commitments. Renewable energy
is becoming a buzzword in the political corridors of power.

The central command of this unprecedented activity is the Ministry of
Energy which has become a greenhouse where new ideas about global and
local shifts away from fossil-based energy sources are cultivated. The
ministry has initiated projects to expand the mix of energy and power
generation in South Africa. Energy Minister Dipuo Peters says the new
path will "ensure a security of supply of energy resources that
include clean and renewable resources". This tectonic shift comes at a
time when the R9billion Pebble Bed Modular Reactor company and its
projects have been decommissioned, and when nuclear energy has become
just one of the generation possibilities that will form part of an
integrated 25-year electricity resource plan. It also comes at a time
when Eskom's role as sole purchaser and supplier of energy for the
nation will be radically altered, to enhance the attractiveness of
South Africa's energy space as an investment destination for renewable
and non-renewable energy by independent power producers.

South Africa currently consumes 40 gigawatts of electricity. It is
estimated that the country's industrial and household sectors will be
consuming double the amount of gigawatts in 20 to 30 years' time. The
centrality of energy policy on the development landscape is
unmistakable, and the direction that this policy takes concerns all of
South Africa's citizens.

But this new developmental path is not without problems. Eskom has
doubled up not only as sole seller of electricity but also as sole
buyer. The government has therefore embarked upon a plan to construct
a new buyer and seller of electricity, which is independent of Eskom.
The Independent System and Market Operator (ISMO) will plan, procure
and schedule generators to ensure that national supply meets demand.
Key questions that must be answered with respect to this emerging new
electricity authority are: Who or what will carry decision making
responsibility? What kind of governance structures will ensure that
this new authority leads energy generation in the interests of all
South Africans and not narrow and vested interest groups? Will the
authority become a Chapter 9 organisation, and what checks and
balances will be in place to ensure that it is not interfered with by
politicians and tenderpreneurs? What mechanisms will be in place to
ensure that the ISMO is integrated into the country's wider economic
developmental strategy?

With South Africa's huge stores of underground coal and with the
energy needs of our growing economy growing exponentially, coal will
remain the country's mainstream source of power for the foreseeable
future. However, government's commitment to develop an expanding mix
of energy sources has opened the space for a new debate that can be
anchored in two questions: What should this mix be? And, how open will
the energy mandarins be to civil society interest groups such as
Earthlife Africa and Groundwork as well as engagement with diverse
private sector innovators?

Cabinet has just endorsed a flagship Energy Ministry project. The
Solar Park project is to be located in Upington, Northern Cape, and
the envisaged energy hub is being modelled along the lines of an
industrial development zone without a harbour. The estimated costs are
in the region of R150 billion. When completed and within ten years,
the Solar Park, which may well be a public-private partnership, will
provide 5 gigawatts (5 000 megawatts) of solar power to the national
grid. Conceived as a high technology electricity generation project,
the Solar Park project will provide long-term employment opportunities
to many citizens of the Northern Cape. It will also pave the way for
further partnerships that will form part of the Department of Energy's
Integrated Resource Plan 2010 and its Integrated Energy Programme.

As the new energy policy direction begins to find traction, it is the
role of civil society, political and business organisations to raise
the level of information and comprehension about this key delivery
area. The starting point is that the future of energy supply concerns
all of South Africa's people. The Helen Suzman Foundation is one such
organisation that is strategically positioned to bridge the gap
between political decision makers and the wider community. On
September 28, the Foundation will be holding a Roundtable discussion
and hosting Minister Peters, Clinton Foundation Climate Change
Initiative chief Ira Magaziner, Business Leadership SA chair, Bobby
Godsell and Independent energy analyst Hilton Trollip at a Roundtable
in Johannesburg. The Roundtable will be attended by a wide range of
stakeholders in the energy industry and is open to the public. This
event underscores the Foundation's belief that it is crucial for
channels of information concerning South Africa's energy planning and
development, to be created and sustained in the interests of the well
being of all who live in this country, as well as in the region.

*This article was written jointly by Rachel Browne, a researcher at
the Helen Suzman Foundation, and Na-iem Dollie, an independent
consultant in the Office of the Energy Ministry's Special Adviser.
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Friday, September 24, 2010

Sinohydro power project in Equatorial Guinea

Equatorial Guinea Diversifying Energy Resources
Republic of Equatorial Guinea
September 24, 2010 1:32pm EDT

Construction of Djibloho Hydroelectric Plant nears completion

MALABO, Equatorial Guinea, Sept. 24 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- As part of
the country's effort to diversify its energy resources and improve
electrification nationwide, Equatorial Guinea (Republica de Guinea
Ecuatorial) has undertaken the construction of the Djibloho Hydroelectric
Plant on the continental region, near the city of Anisok. President Obiang
Nguema Mbasogo visited the plant to witness the positive developments as
the plant reaches completion in November 2011.

President Obiang, accompanied by the Minister of State for Agriculture and
Forestry, Teodoro Nguema Obiang Mangue, and the Minister of Mines and
Energy, Marcelino Owono Edu, toured the hydroelectric plant and received
technical explanations about the various facilities. Sinohydro Corporation
Ltd., a Chinese company, began construction of the plant in March 2008.

The Djibloho Hydroelectric and Distribution Plant will generate over 220
kilowatts to supply electricity to the mainland region. This ambitious
project, whose first phase is expected to be delivered in 2011, is funded
entirely by the Government of Equatorial Guinea and is one of the largest
infrastructure investments thus far.

This visit follows President Obiang's recent trip to the city of Aconibe,
accompanied by the First Lady, Constancia Mangue de Obiang. During his
stay in Aconibe, President Obiang chaired ground breaking ceremonies for a
total of 26 social projects, funded entirely by the government at a cost
of more than XAF$2,200 million francs. The projects include the
construction of a new Aconibe health center, drinking water capture and
storage facility, a new school, local government offices, 24 social
housing projects, and several roads in the center of the city and
surrounding villages.

This effort is part of the Equatorial Guinea's multi-year program to
upgrade and enhance the infrastructure of the country. The government's
Horizon 2020 development plan, put in motion by President Obiang, has made
infrastructure development a central goal to drive the country to become
an emergent and sustainable economy by 2020.


This has been distributed by Qorvis Communications, LLC on behalf of the
Republic of Equatorial Guinea. More information on this relationship is on
file at the United States Department of Justice, Washington, DC.


Read more:
www.centredaily.com/2010/09/24/v-print/2230353/equatorial-guinea-diversifying.html#ixzz10V8OnUmE
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Opened damgates in Nigeria displace 2 million

(Sorry for x-postings)

http://www.google.com/hostednews/ap/article/ALeqM5iVfKhpxncsfYHTNoP-i7ovlRKiyAD9IEGJTG0

Opened flood gates in Nigeria displace 2 million
By JON GAMBRELL (AP) � 48 minutes ago

LAGOS, Nigeria � Nigerian authorities opened the gates at two swollen
dams in the country's rain-soaked north, sending a flood into a
neighboring state that has displaced 2 million people, officials said
Friday.

Water from the Challawa and Tiga dams has swept through rural Jigawa
state, bordering the nation of Niger, said Umar Kyari, a spokesman for
the state governor. Kyari said the rising waters have affected about
5,000 villages in the typically arid region approaching the Sahara
Desert.

"They released water indiscriminately," Kyari said. "That's what why
the water flows."

It wasn't immediately clear whether residents received a warning or if
anyone was injured or went missing in the flooding. Officials
typically open dams seasonally in the region, but it appears far more
water flowed out than residents expected.

Nigeria, an oil-rich nation of 150 million in West Africa, typically
has strong seasonal rains that wash through the country. However, this
year has seen particularly strong rains in the north that already
broke a dam and flowed over levees in another northern state.

State information commissioner Aminu Mohammed said local officials had
begun putting displaced families in rural schoolhouses and other
government buildings out of the reach of the floodwaters. However,
Mohammed said the water had coursed across to the border with
neighboring Yobe state.

"The flood has washed away all the farms and houses," Mohammed said.

Officials with the agency in charge of the dam in neighboring Kano
state could not be immediately reached for comment Friday night.

Jigawa sits more than 870 miles (1,400 kilometers) from Lagos in
Nigeria's Muslim-dominated north.

Mohammed said the flooding has grown progressively worse since August,
reaching its height Friday. He said more than 222,000 acres (nearly
90,000 hectares) of farmland have been washed away by the flooding, as
well as millions of dollars worth of cattle.

The commissioner said the state has yet to receive significant aid
from the federal government

Typically, the water released yearly from the dams flows into farm
fields across the region known as the Sahel, a band of semiarid land
stretching across Africa south of the Sahara. There, farmers used the
water in the region's brief fertile season to grow corn, rice and a
variety of vegetables. However, rains this year have been unseasonably
strong, putting pressure on the reservoirs and dams in the area.

In Nigeria's northwest state of Sokoto, a dam failed during recent
flooding, spilling into surrounding villages. Local newspapers
reported as many as 40 people died.

The rains come as neighboring Niger faces what international aid
experts warn is the worst hunger crisis in its history following a
prolonged drought and poor growing season last year. One of the
poorest countries in Africa, Niger now has more than 7 million people
� almost 50 percent of the population � suffering from a lack of food,
officials say.

Associated Press Writer Salisu Rabiu in Kano, Nigeria, contributed to
this report.
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Opened damgates in Nigeria displace 2 million

http://www.google.com/hostednews/ap/article/ALeqM5iVfKhpxncsfYHTNoP-i7ovlRKiyAD9IEGJTG0

Opened flood gates in Nigeria displace 2 million
By JON GAMBRELL (AP) � 48 minutes ago

LAGOS, Nigeria � Nigerian authorities opened the gates at two swollen
dams in the country's rain-soaked north, sending a flood into a
neighboring state that has displaced 2 million people, officials said
Friday.

Water from the Challawa and Tiga dams has swept through rural Jigawa
state, bordering the nation of Niger, said Umar Kyari, a spokesman for
the state governor. Kyari said the rising waters have affected about
5,000 villages in the typically arid region approaching the Sahara
Desert.

"They released water indiscriminately," Kyari said. "That's what why
the water flows."

It wasn't immediately clear whether residents received a warning or if
anyone was injured or went missing in the flooding. Officials
typically open dams seasonally in the region, but it appears far more
water flowed out than residents expected.

Nigeria, an oil-rich nation of 150 million in West Africa, typically
has strong seasonal rains that wash through the country. However, this
year has seen particularly strong rains in the north that already
broke a dam and flowed over levees in another northern state.

State information commissioner Aminu Mohammed said local officials had
begun putting displaced families in rural schoolhouses and other
government buildings out of the reach of the floodwaters. However,
Mohammed said the water had coursed across to the border with
neighboring Yobe state.

"The flood has washed away all the farms and houses," Mohammed said.

Officials with the agency in charge of the dam in neighboring Kano
state could not be immediately reached for comment Friday night.

Jigawa sits more than 870 miles (1,400 kilometers) from Lagos in
Nigeria's Muslim-dominated north.

Mohammed said the flooding has grown progressively worse since August,
reaching its height Friday. He said more than 222,000 acres (nearly
90,000 hectares) of farmland have been washed away by the flooding, as
well as millions of dollars worth of cattle.

The commissioner said the state has yet to receive significant aid
from the federal government

Typically, the water released yearly from the dams flows into farm
fields across the region known as the Sahel, a band of semiarid land
stretching across Africa south of the Sahara. There, farmers used the
water in the region's brief fertile season to grow corn, rice and a
variety of vegetables. However, rains this year have been unseasonably
strong, putting pressure on the reservoirs and dams in the area.

In Nigeria's northwest state of Sokoto, a dam failed during recent
flooding, spilling into surrounding villages. Local newspapers
reported as many as 40 people died.

The rains come as neighboring Niger faces what international aid
experts warn is the worst hunger crisis in its history following a
prolonged drought and poor growing season last year. One of the
poorest countries in Africa, Niger now has more than 7 million people
� almost 50 percent of the population � suffering from a lack of food,
officials say.

Associated Press Writer Salisu Rabiu in Kano, Nigeria, contributed to
this report.
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IFC to Lend $100 Million for Kenya Clean Energy Projects

http://intelligentenergyportal.com/article/ifc-estimates-it-can-help-mobilize-initial-100-million-kenyas-sustainable-energy-market

IFC Estimates it Can Help Mobilize an Initial $100 Million in Kenya's
Sustainable Energy Market
TopicsNews, Business, Environmental Impact
September 24, 2010 | By Nikki Chandler
IFC, a member of the World Bank Group, said it can help mobilize an
estimated $100 million for sustainable energy projects in Kenya over
the next five years, representing a significant opportunity for the
private sector to support initiatives that will increase access to
electricity while reducing carbon emissions. Kenya's government has
identified an immediate market of renewable energy projects worth at
least $2.5 billion open to private sector investment.

IFC's Climate Change Investment Program in Africa (CIPA) is providing
advisory services and investments to financial institutions in Kenya,
helping them build a market for sustainable and renewable energy
projects. CIPA is also focusing on capacity building and raising
awareness around sustainable energy investments.

Paul Kirai, IFC CIPA program manager for Sub-Saharan Africa, said,
"IFC's work in sustainable energy finance around the world has proven
how financial mechanisms can be used to unlock millions of dollars
worth of investments that contribute to increasing energy efficiency
and access to energy. Over time, this will allow more people to access
clean energy, and will help businesses reduce energy costs, increase
competitiveness, and cut greenhouse gas emissions.�

An IFC commissioned study identified a number of sectors in Kenya that
could immediately benefit from sustainable and renewable energy
projects, including: food and beverages; agribusiness; hotels; cement,
healthcare (hospitals); and infrastructure (commercial and government
buildings). The study analyzed market barriers to sustainable energy
finance in Kenya and suggests ways to overcome them. It focused on the
demand for and supply of suitable financing mechanisms, market
development, and the policy environment.

According to the IFC study, a lack of appropriate finance options and
weak market integration are the two most serious barriers slowing
growth in Kenya's sustainable energy market.

http://www.businessweek.com/news/2010-09-24/ifc-to-lend-100-million-for-kenya-energy-projects.html

Bloomberg

IFC to Lend $100 Million for Kenya Energy Projects September 24, 2010,
6:21 AM EDT

By Eric Ombok
(Updates with comment in third paragraph.)

Sept. 24 (Bloomberg) -- The International Finance Corp., a branch of
the World Bank, plans to lend $100 million for sustainable energy
projects in Kenya, program manager Paul Kirai said.

The funds will be lent over five years, he told reporters in the
capital, Nairobi, today. The IFC is also in talks with 14 local banks
to help them finance the projects, he said.

�This will allow more people to access clean energy and will help
businesses to reduce energy costs, increase competitiveness and cut
greenhouse gas emissions,� Kirai said.

The government has identified renewable energy projects worth $2.5
billion, he said. Kenya has a geothermal potential of 7,000 megawatts
and is targeting 5,000 megawatts of geothermal power capacity by 2030,
Energy Minister Kiraitu Murungi said March 30.

--Editors: Philip Sanders, Ben Holland
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Africa's Regional Infrastructure Subject to Corruption

Below is the comment I posted in response to Jeffrey Sach's FT blog
promoting regional infratructure during the MDG Summit: China has left
the west on the sidelines in Africa
http://blogs.ft.com/beyond-brics/2010/09/22/jeffrey-sachs-china-has-left-the-west-on-the-sidelines-in-africa/

The public construction sector is notorious for corruption. Without
greater fiscal and development goal accountability to Africa's citizens,
regional infrastructure will fall short of local development regardless
of whose donor dollars or donor yuan are being used. Take the power
sector. Regional power grid planning is conducted at the highest levels
far from public eyes. Large power supply and transmission projects
dominate Africa's energy investments with a growing budget gap for
distribution. Much of the current infrastructure has been run down due
to poor maintenance. Without public accountability, where's the
incentive for project revenue streams to pay for the project investment
or to sustain maintenance? In many countries, power grids
disproportionately support commodities exports which may funnel some
revenues to state coffers, but without budget transparency there's no
way to trace those funds back into helping meet the state's development
goals. Since 2003, over $1 billion has been invested to rehabilitate the
DR Congo's degraded Inga dams and power grid which benefit Congo's
mining sector, a few major cities, and power consumers in South Africa.
The funding and the rehabilitation work both seem to be disappearing
into an unaccountable black hole. The DR Congo's grid is the foundation
for much of the SADC region's energy plans. Meanwhile, the DR Congo has
set a national target to achieve 67% of the population having access to
electricity by 2025, from its current rate of 11%. Even if the Inga dams
and transmission line were being rehabilitated in an efficient manner,
it would do virtually nothing to move DR Congo toward its 67%
electricity access goal. African citizens deserve transparency of public
infrastructure planning and accountability of public funds. Otherwise,
donors funding public infrastructure are throwing funds at corruption
more than at development.
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World's poorest should use renewables/IEA

http://af.reuters.com/article/commoditiesNews/idAFN2119229420100922?sp=true

Oil prices encourage poorest to use renewables-IEA
Wed Sep 22, 2010 12:58am GMT

By David Sheppard
UNITED NATIONS, Sept 21 (Reuters) - Higher oil and energy costs mean
the world's poorest people should look to renewable energy sources to
provide the power generation so many lack, the head of the
International Energy Agency said on Tuesday.

Nobuo Tanaka, executive director of the IEA which advises 28
industrialized countries on energy policy, said oil prices near $75 a
barrel CLc1 meant rural populations in sub-Sahara Africa should turn
to solar, wind and other renewables.

"Higher energy prices have a very large impact on the poorest
populations," Tanaka said on the sidelines of a summit on world
poverty at the UN headquarters in New York.

"That is why we think that renewables are often the best solution. The
issue is how you finance these projects initially."

The IEA was launching a report created with the United Nations
Development Programme and Industrial Development Organization looking
at energy poverty and how to make modern energy access universal.

It highlights that it would cost $36 billion a year between now and
2030 to provide energy supplies to the world's 1.2 million people who
currently lack access. [ID:nLDE68K23U]

The report argues this amounts to just 3 percent of what the world is
projected to invest in future energy projects over the next 20 years.

"Lack of access to modern energy services is a serious hindrance to
economic and social development and must be overcome if the UN
Millennium Development Goals are to be achieved," the IEA said in the
report.

Tanaka said current oil prices around $75 a barrel may fall in the
short-term if the economic recovery in the developed world falters,
saying he saw many risks to growth, but the IEA and its partners do
not see prices heading lower for long.

"In the report we're not projecting oil prices will go down
significantly," said Minoru Takada,the head of Sustainable Energy at
the UN Development Programme.

"We expect the oil price will stay around this level or rise a bit
higher."

The report said in this environment, "Small, stand-alone renewable
energy technologies can often meet the electricity needs of rural
communities more cheaply and have the potential to displace costly
diesel-powered generation options.

"One of the main advantages of renewable energy sources, particularly
for household scale applications, is their comparatively low running
costs (fuel costs are zero), but their high upfront costs demands new
and innovative financial tools to encourage uptake."

Takada of the UN Development Programme said they would work with host
and donor countries to encourage subsidies for initial projects.

Using primarily renewables to provide energy access to the world's
poorest populations would only boost oil demand by less than 1 percent
and carbon dioxide emissions by 0.8 percent, the IEA said. (Reporting
by David Sheppard; Editing by Richard Chang)

� Thomson Reuters 2010 All rights reserved

http://uk.ibtimes.com/articles/20100922/renewable-energy-can-help-world-039poorest-renewable-energy-sources-international-energy-agency-iea.htm

Renewable energy sources could help some of the poorest people in the
world mitigate the effects of high oil prices, a new report claims.
Published by the International Energy Agency (IEA), the report on the
United Nations (UN) Millennium Development Goals (MDG) suggests that
sub-Saharan regions should look to solar power as the "most widespread
energy resource" in the region. Nobuo Tanaka, executive director of
the IEA, speaking at the UN headquarters in New York, highlighted that
a lack of access to "modern energy services" has a severe effect on
both social and economic development. "Small, stand-alone renewable
energy technologies can often meet the electricity needs of rural
communities more cheaply and have the potential to displace costly
diesel-powered generation options," Reuters quotes Mr Tanaka as
saying. The report by the IEA suggested that there must be more
government support for renewable energy in Africa and that currently,
the framework for the development of such projects is lacking. Mr
Tanaka also noted that the initial financing of renewable energy
developments was an issue. The UN MDG for Environmental Sustainability
states that "a decisive response to climate change is urgently needed".
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Angola eyes hydropower expansion potential

http://af.reuters.com/article/topNews/idAFJOE68M08W20100923

Angola eyes hydropower expansion potential
Thu Sep 23, 2010 10:33am GMT

LUANDA (Reuters) - Angola currently only uses a fraction of its
hydropower potential but the African nation is prepared to invest
billions of dollars in coming years to rebuild dams destroyed by a
civil war that ended in 2002.
Secretary of State for Energy Joao Borges said Angola's powerful
rivers had the potential to generate 18 gigawatts of energy but his
country was currently only producing 4.4 percent of that capacity.

"The rest of the water is lost to the sea, without any use," state-
owned news agency Angop cite-d Borges as saying on Thursday.

He said his government plans to rebuild dams destroyed by Angola's
three-decade long civil war in a bid to take advantage of the
country's hydropower capacity.

Earlier this month, Minister of State Carlos Feijo said his government
would invest $18 billion until 2016 to overhaul dams and power grids
in the country's biggest power sector investment to date.

Angola, which rivals Nigeria as Africa's biggest oil producer, will
finance this investment with money from a soon-to-be-established oil
fund, Feijo said at the Sept 13 news conference.

The Angolan government has also said it plans to open tenders for
foreign and local Angolan companies to rebuild the dams.

� Thomson Reuters 2010 All rights reserved

http://www.ifandp.com/article/007313.html

Angola rebuilds dams to realise 18GW hydropower potential
under News September 24th, 2010 by IFandP Newsroom
Angola is preparing to invest billions of dollars in the next few
years to rebuild dams destroyed by the civil war that ended in 2002.
The country�s rivers have the potential to generate 18GW of energy,
according to Secretary of State for Energy Joao Borges. He added that
Angola was only using 4.4% of its hydropower capacity. �The rest of
the water is lost to the sea, without any use.�

Earlier this month, Minister of State Carlos Feijo announced
government plans to invest US$18bn until 2016 to overhaul dams and
power grids � the largest power sector investment to date in the
African nation. It is expected that the government will finance the
investment with money from a soon-to-be-established oil fund. Last
year, Angola produced 87.4Mt of oil, placing it a close second to
Nigeria (99.1Mt) in African oil production.
________________________________________________

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Thursday, September 23, 2010

MATU media statement on Tehri Dam Decision

Matu Peoples' Organisation
Delhi contact: D 334/10, Ganesh Nagar, Pandav Nagar Complex Delhi-110092
Phone No.-011-22485545/ 9891814707
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
23-9-2010

Criminal Offence committed by the Tehri Hydro-Development
Corporation
Life and property of people living close to the reservoir level of
820M are in danger.
Both THDC and State Govt. are culprits

The 260.5 M high reservoir of the Tehri Dam on the confluence of Rivers
Bhagirathi and Bhilangana poses a huge threat to the life and property
of the people living near it. On the 27th of August, on the basis of
misleading facts and figures, and by keeping the Hon'ble Supreme Court
in the dark about the actual situation, the THDC got permission from the
Supreme Court of India to fill the dam reservoir beyond 820m Reservoir
Level. The THDC approached the Supreme Court only when it did not
receive permission from the State government. It however kept the
Supreme Court in the dark about this issue.

It is apparent that the insistence of the THDC in raising the Tehri
reservoir water level even though people are residing in the reservoir
region amounts to attempted murder of the displaced people, not to
mention their butchering of Mother Nature and plain disregard for the
Rule of law.

In the case of N. D. Juyal, the Supreme Court of India judgment said
that *"It is made clear that the condition of pari-passu implementation
of conditions prior to the commissioning of the project shall be closely
monitored under the existing mechanism set up by MoEF and the project
authorities will ensure that prior to closing of diversion tunnels T1/T2
for impoundment of the reservoir, evacuation, resettlement and
rehabilitation are completed in all respects." *On October 29, 2005 the
Nainital High Court gave the same order to the above mentioned parties,
but in vain.

It was the constitutional duty/obligation of THDC to complete the
rehabilitation and resettlement in all respect, without doing which
increasing the water level of the reservoir is a criminal offence. Their
actions have put the life and property of people at stake. The same is
true for the Uttarakhand State Govt. They too have the responsibility of
rehabilitation and resettlement work. But both parties were busy passing
the buck and nothing was done.

The THDC claimed in their application dated 26-8-10 and then through an
additional affidavit dated 15-9-10 filed in the Hon'ble Supreme Court in
the N. D. Jayal and others Vs. Union of India and others that this move
is to save the lives and properties of the people downstream in
'important' towns such as Haridwar and Rishikesh. But now the we are at
the point where Haridwar and Rishikesh are under water and Tehri Dam
reservoir is crossing 830M level. Water is flowing over the under
construction of Koteshwer Dam, which is just after the Tehri Dam and the
life of nearby villgers also in danger. How can THDC decide which lives
are worth saving and which aren't? The THDC has clearly made its
decision and handed out the death sentence to the people living near the
reservoir.

There are many families living between 820m to 840m mostly in the
villages of Pilki, Ghoti, Palapu, Sodhu, Syansu, Badhan gaon, Hadiyaadi
and Chhaam, who have either never been rehabilitated and are too poor to
move. Such families continue to live on the rim of the reservoir. The
State government has not evacuated these houses and moved its residents
to safer locations, for which they are responsible under the law. These
families and their houses are in danger of being submerged should the
water level be raised beyond 820m. In fact, THDC admits in the petition
that there are families in the 820m region which have not been shifted.
Yet THDC wants to send them to their watery graves!

The incessant rain coupled with the weakening mountains (due to the dam
activities) has increased the chances of landslides. In addition to
Jogatmarg and Gangotri highway, many residential colonies got sandwiched
due to the land slides. The villages of Raulkot, Nakot, Bhald, Baldogi,
Haadiyadi, Chham and Syansu have also been affected by landslides.
Houses of the village Chhaam are in immediate danger due to the increase
in water level beyond 820m and village Chham people had to leave their
houses and move to other places and terror is in Chinyali Saud area.
There are cracks visible on the exposed surface of rocks facing the
reservoir at many of these sites. The possible landslides in the village
of Chanthi, located just above the Tehri dam reservior. In 2002, a study
by the Geological Survey of India (GSI) said a rise in water levels
could increase pressure and the instability of the slopes. Clearly, the
THDC does not care for minor inconveniences such as houses tumbling into
the water with its residents. THDC had the audacity to write in their
affidavit that they will deal with the problems of landslides when they
occur. Until the THDC knows how to bring the dead back to life, it is
hard to understand how they will 'deal with it'.

*What about the dam's safety?* THDC did not follow the norms of the
Central Water commission for the filling of the dam reservoir which they
promised to follow, in their affidavit filed in Hon'ble Supreme Court in
the N. D. Jayal case. According to the Central Water Commission rules,
the water level above 820m has to be monitored such that the water level
should not rise more than 1.3 M in 48 hours. The water level up to 830 M
has to be monitored closely since the water level is being raised above
820 M for the first time. THDC records show that while on the 28th of
August, the water level was 820 M, it rose to 825 M by 13th of
September. The water should not have risen more than 2.4 M in the 16
days. However, THDC allowed the water to fill the reservoir at more than
double the legal, prescribed speed and in doing so violated the law.
This move had put the people and animals of the surrounding areas, the
valleys downstream and the places upstream in extreme danger.

*Why does the THDC not have a contingency plan? Why did they not plan
for a rainy day, literally? Also, if the rains are as incessant and
heavy as the THDC claims in the petition, then there is a possibility of
even 830m water level not helping in flood** moderation. Has the THDC
considered this? Or is the realisation that they maybe drowning millions
to no avail yet to dawn? *THDC had released only 900 cumecs of water.
Why did they not release more water when they found out that the
situation was becoming worse? While they claim to want to protect the
people and property of downstream towns, it is a known fact that THDC
has made only one tunnel for diverging water at the Koteshwar dam site.
This tunnel has a capacity of 1180 cumecs only. The work at the dam has
been delayed and fear of the excess water sweeping away the dam is at
the core of THDC's case for increase in water level. The THDC is
responsible for the delays in construction and for not making more
diverging tunnels. Why is it then making the people pay the price for
its lack of foresight? Also, the increased discharge at Haridwar and
Rishikesh is mostly from Alaknanda and its tributaries. The contribution
of river Bhagirathi is minimal.

It is only when State Govt. did not permit them, that the THDC
approached the Apex court. If they believed in the possibility of a
flood and they knew that they could not go beyond 820mts then they
should have started releasing water at a much earlier stage. If water
goes beyond 820 mts then it would be contempt of Court and would place
lives of thousands of families in danger. Losses downstream can not be
used to get permission in the middle of the monsoon. *They should have
approached the Hon'ble Supreme Court after completing rehabilitation,
six months before monsoon. When the R&R had not completed by then, why
did THDC not approach the State Government or to the Hon'ble Court six
months before as per orders of Hon'ble Supreme Court?*

On 14th September, THDC announced to newspapers and media that due to
the incessant rains the water level in the reservoir may rise anytime.
This false alarm created the panic THDC hoped for. This shows the ugly
nature of THDCs tactics which feels no shame in manipulating the law in
its favour.

*Geological Survey of India (GSI)*
THDC and State Govt. Uttarakhand both were aware of GSI reports but they
did not take any action to save villages around rim of the reservoir.

*29th March, 2007- *The Geological Survey of India submitted its
preliminary note in which they assessed the slopes in and around Barola,
Kangsali, Raulakot, Nakot, Talla, Uppu, Bhald, Badhan and Hadiari
villages in Bhagirathi valley as highly vulnerable. Similarly, slopes
below Sod Uppu, Baldogi and Mundara Sera in Bhagirathi Valley were also
assessed as vulnerable.
14th and 15th May, 2007- Geological Survey of India (GSI) has visited
the site of vulnerable villages and observed the cracks in villages of
Nakot, Raulakot and Bhaldgaon. They assessed that land-slides can occur
in these villages upto 830 meters. The Survey team recommended the
rehabilitation of Nakot, Raulakot and Syansu in Bhagirathi Valley
immediately and that a detailed survey is done of the other villages.

*25th May, 2008- *the Supreme Court via an order directed that if there
is a possibility of water level going upto 830 meters or nearby,
immediate steps should be taken at least six months prior to FRL
reaching 830 meters. The directions with regard to rehabilitation were
reiterated in Orders dated 25th September, 2008 and 30th April, 2009. In
the affidavits filed by the State of Uttarakhand and THDC, from 2008
onwards, it was repeatedly assured that they were rehabilitating people,
but now the situation is worse.

It also came out in the affidavit of State of Uttarakhand and THDC that
when re-survey was done by the Survey of India a new demarcation line of
EL 835 meters was drawn wherein a maximum deviation of approximately
13.50 meters was observed at some places due to change in survey line,
requiring the rehabilitation of 118 more families and acquisition of
additional land falling in 45 villages. In such a situation, raising the
water level in the reservoir will bring devastation to the entire area
as well as the affected villages.

*Lame excuses by the Uttarakhand Govt.*

Nothing stops the State Government of Uttarakhand from spending money on
the R/R work. The State government cannot use lack of funds as an excuse
to play with people's lives. The State government is entitled under the
law to 12% free electricity from the Tehri Hydro electric project. The
revenue generated from this electricity is to be used for the
rehabilitation of affected people, development of the affected villages
and bio-diversity conservation.

Government of India, vide its O.M. dated 17th May, 1989 have approved
that "since the Home States are increasingly finding it difficult to
locate alternative land and resources for rehabilitation of the oustees
in hydro-electric projects. They need to be suitably assisted by giving
incentives, such as the (proposed) 12% free power, to enable them to
take care of the problems of rehabilitation in the areas affected by the
hydro-electric projects.

The Central and State government should stop playing this political
volleyball with the lives of the people. It's time to stop passing the
buck. The State Government should, therefore, take immediate steps to
stop the deliberate attempt of THDC to raise the water level of the
reservoir.

*We demand:-

· Tehri Dam reservoir's water level should be brought down below 820m.
by releasing water constantly.
· R/R of people up to full reservoir level, building of bridges and
other connectivity roads, civic amenities at all R/R site including
resolution of oustees residing in New Tehri Town should be done
immediately.
· Land Rights should be given to all the oustees immediately.
· THDC should be punished and should not be permitted to build any more
dams.
*

Vimalbhai
Puran Singh
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Wednesday, September 22, 2010

Tackling African Energy Poverty Takes Citizen Power!

Tackling African Energy Poverty Takes Citizen Power!
http://www.internationalrivers.org/en/node/5836
Wed, 09/22/2010 - 3:26pm
By: Terri Hathaway

Bravo for the spotlight on access to modern energy - the "missing MDG" -
at this week's United Nations Millennium Development Goals (MDG) Summit
in New York. The global energy poverty epicenters are Africa (affecting
550 million people) and South Asia (affecting 600 million people). A new
report released today at the MDG Summit, Ending Energy Poverty,
calculates that it will take $41 billion a year, $205 billion total, to
meet the MDGs by providing electricity to 395 million people and access
to clean cooking facilities to 1 billion by 2015. That's an average of
$30 per person per year for electricity (395m) and another $30 per
person per year for gaining access to modern cooking fuels or improved
cookstoves (1b).

According to Ending Energy Poverty, the key challenge is shifting
cooking from traditional biomass to modern fuels and improved
cookstoves. In sub-Saharan Africa, 80% of the people, including those
with electricity, depend on wood, charcoal and dung to fuel fires to
cook their food. Bravo to Hillary Clinton's $50 million pledge during
the MDG Summit for improved cookstoves in Africa. Although the funds are
a drop in the energy poverty bucket, it is a call to arms for world
leaders to put African women and their kitchens on the global energy agenda.

The UN Secretary General's Advisory Group on Energy and Climate Change
report, Energy for a Sustainable Future is also calling for universal
energy access by 2030. Calculations outlined in Ending Energy Poverty
require $36 billion each year between 2016 and 2030. This would give the
world's remaining 800 million people access to electricity and the
remaining 1.7 billion people access to modern cooking fuel. The
investment required per person reduces to $15 per year for each of the
world's remaining people without access to electricity (800m) and
without access to modern cooking fuels (1.7b).

Africa's Two Energy Crises
Africa's widespread access crisis has long lived in the shadow of the
continent's other energy crisis: it's fragile electricity sector with
limited access. Large power projects have long dominated Africa's
traditional energy investments. And the focus continues to be on supply
and transmission with a growing budget gap for distribution, the grid's
way of addressing energy access. Big, and increasingly regionalized,
power projects lack accountability, making them highly vulnerable to
vested interests, corruption, and disrepair. Africa's chronic
electricity crisis is very real, but limited in its overlap with the
continent's access crisis.

Increased international attention to the energy access crisis is vital
and welcomed. But the crisis is being addressed with virtually no
accountability to the most important stakeholder: the targeted
recipients. The discourse is dominated by donors, experts, international
agencies and, too often, unaccountable governments. Amidst the
challenges of implementation, oversight and political will, the critical
missing factor is public accountability. Programs to improve access to
modern energy are laborious to implement and challenging to oversee,
particularly without political will. International donors and agencies
have been loathe to hold their "clients" accountable or to leverage
funds for pet energy projects as a tool of persuasion to meeting access
targets.

Accountability to Government Targets
Last November, just prior to the climate talks in Copenhagen, the WHO
and UNDP released a comprehensive review of existing government targets
for access to modern energy in the least developed countries and all
African countries. The targets include access to mechanical power,
modern cooking fuels, and improved cookstoves in addition to
electricity. For example, the report states that the Democratic Republic
of Congo has set a national target to achieve 67% of the population
having access to electricity by 2025, from its current rate of 11%.
Ironically, over $1 billion has recently been invested to rehabilitate
the Congo's degraded power grid which benefits Congo' mining sector, a
few major cities, and is exported to South Africa. The funding doesn't
address existing access targets. The funding and the rehabilitation work
both seem to be disappearing into an unaccountable black hole of
corruption. There's no public accountability for addressing the
electricity sector, and no budget for achieving its access target.

Africa's Citizen Power

The bridge between targets and success can be paved with citizen powered
accountability. Women's groups, NGOs, churches and faith based groups,
youth movements, healthcare providers, students, farmer associations,
entrepreneurs, journalists, traditional leaders, and local governments
should work together to publicize and hold their national governments
accountable for energy access targets. Congratulate your government for
successes in meeting targets. Offer to work with government to achieve
targets. And hold your government publicly accountable if it is not
fulfilling its targets. Who knows - maybe a citizen's movement demanding
fiscal and development accountability could eventually lead to greater
success in Africa's other energy crisis, too.

What You Can Do

Find out: What is the government's concrete plan to meeting the targets?
Find your country's targets in the 2009 WHO/UNDP report The Energy
Access Situation in Developing Countries

Investigate: Work with your government and other agencies to make sure
that there is a realistic road map to meet targets. Do results on the
ground match budgets and spending reports? Learn about how to conduct
citizen-led social audits and other accountability tools from
International Budget Partnership.

Demand Accountability: If targets are not being met, call national and,
if necessary, international attention to help hold your government
accountable. Call for a halt to pet energy projects which don't support
access goals until governments get back on track to meeting their access
goals.

If you take this information to heart, please tell me and others about
it. Together, let's start Africa's citizen powered energy revolution!
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Make Bui Dam Environmentally Friendly

Make Bui Dam Environmentally Friendly

Story from peacefmonline.com News:
http://business.peacefmonline.com/industry/201008/75708.php

Published: 2010-08-27 18:18:00

The Executive Director of the Volta Basin Development Foundation (VBDF),
Richard Twum Barimah Koranteng says the construction of the Bui Dam must
follow strict environmental and social standards.

According to Mr Koranteng, it is critical to consider both the negative
and positive impacts of the Bui Dam so that environmental needs of
people in the catchment area would be taken care of when completed.

He has therefore urged government to consider adopting the
recommendations of World Commission on Dams (WCD) as well as the
numerous conventions, laws, polices and regulation. Established in May
1998, WCD is an independent and international commission that has
adopted an innovative framework and comprehensive guidelines for the
construction of dams.

Speaking at a press briefing to mark the 10th anniversary of the release
of the WCD recommendations, the Executive Director of VRDF reiterated
that �we call on the government of Ghana to uphold the principles of the
WCD through various norms and standards when planning, building and
commissioning of dam projects.�

He emphasized the need to dialogue with all actors including
governments, communities, financiers and other civil society groups on
the �protection of rivers and the rights of those who rely on them.�

The WCD�s recommendations promote an innovative framework for planning
water and energy projects that are intended to protect affected persons
and the environment to ensure that the benefits accrued from the dams
are equitably distributed.

A framework issued by the WCD also covers key areas for improved
planning of dams, assessing of all available options for meeting water
and energy needs, addressing outstanding social issues from existing
dams before building new ones, gaining public acceptance for key decisions.

The WCD recommendations form the basis for many decision-making
processes for dams around the world and constitute international soft
law. They are also being adapted to national contexts in various public
dialogue processes around the world. However, a decade after the WCD
issued its ground-breaking recommendations, there is evidence that large
dams significantly affect people and the planet.

The WCD was formed by the joint efforts of the International Union for
the Conservation of Nature and Natural Resources and the World Bank to
review the development effectiveness of large dams and assess
alternatives for water resources and energy development and also develop
internationally acceptable criteria, guidelines and standards for the
planning, designing, appraisal, construction, operation, monitoring and
decommissioning of dams.

The construction of dams for the generation of water and electricity in
many cases affects the livelihoods of people. Ghana has been actively
involved in the Commission's work and this had led to the development
and promotion of the Ghana Dams Dialogue.

The development of hydro power in Ghana spans about five decades with
the first, the Akosombo dam constructed in 1960, the second in 1980 at
Kpong and the Bui dam, which is currently under construction at Bui.

Mr. Koranteng noted that �though there was widespread consensus on the
need for hydro power in Ghana, observations are that the mitigation
measures that were put in place to deal with the social, environmental,
health and livelihood impacts of these exiting dams had been inadequate.�
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