Overview of Thematic Studies on Renewable Energy

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Overview of Thematic Studies onRenewable Energy
Poverty

• Global Network on Energy for Sustainable
  Development

Daniel Bouille Fundación Bariloche
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RE Poverty Theme Objectives

• Identification of role of RE options for poverty
  alleviation
• Identification of the main mistakes and successes
  in past approaches concerning renewable energies
  projects and dissemination strategies
• Identification of the main barriers for RETs
  dissemination and sustainable use
• Provision of policy guidance for the
  dissemination of RETs

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GNESD - RETsGlobal Network on Energy for
Sustainable Development
AFREPREN, AIT, CENBIO/COPPE, ENDA, ERC, ERG, ERI,
FB, MEDREC, TERI
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RE Poverty - Scope

• RE - Policy Analysis
• Initial Assessment and identification of RE
  niches
• General diagnosis and prioritization of problems
• Formulation of Policy outlines for overcoming
  barriers
• RE - Policy Recommendations
• Selection and detailed assessment of main RE
  niches
• Policies and instruments for main niches
  promotion
• Recommendations necessary to take concrete
  actions in order to develop specific renewable
  niches

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Assessment stages
Energy requirements
Technologies
Capacities
Resources
Barriers
Objectives
Policies
Instruments
Actions
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RE Poverty
Renewable Energy Options

• Wide range of technologies selected by Centres
  (both improved traditional and advanced)
• There is no universal technology for answering
  energy needs of all regions
• There is a diversity of solutions based on local
  characteristics
• Technologies which are able to satisfy multiple
  uses are preferred (residential productive)
• Urgency for development is uneven among countries
  (conventional fuels supply issues, rural
  population, etc.)

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RE Options Analysed

• Kenya, Tanzania wind pumps, treadle pumps and
  hydraulic rams for water supply and irrigation in
  rural areas
• Senegal improved biomass stoves, solar and wind
  pumps
• South Africa solar water heaters and improved
  biomass stoves
• Thailand solar driers and biogas digesters
• China electricity for remote villages based on
  local available resources (PV. Wind, mini-hydro
  or hybrid)
• India, Nepal Thermal applications of biomass
  gasifier in SMiEs specific focus on rubber
  drying and textile dyeing
• Brazil biomass for EE production
• Argentina Solar Water Heaters for all uses in
  urban and rural areas
• Jordan, Syria, Lebanon solar thermal energy for
  water and space heating and cooling in urban and
  rural residential sector. Solar thermal energy
  for drying applications and process heating in
  the food industry.

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Main Options
r residential p productive s services a
all
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RE Poverty

• Some Key Problems Identified
• High cost and lack of affordability by poor
  population
• Lack of adequate policies, planning and
  regulation
• Lack of adequate OM infrastructure and project
  sustainability
• Lack of coordination institutions and qualified
  staff
• Lack of adequate RD and local RETs Industry
• Exclusion of poor population in policy objectives
  and lack of opportunities
• Lack of awareness or negative perception about
  RETs
• Conventional Energy Policy Framework
• Lack of coordination between stakeholders
• Inadequate resource management / lack of access

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Key problems by Country
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Policy Options

• Problem High cost of RETs and lack of
  affordability by poor population
• Payment capacity is uneven among countries
  resulting in different approaches to introduce RE
  and overcome cost barrier
• In some countries, poorer part of the population
  has access to conventional energies, further
  reducing RE penetration possibilities (Jordan,
  Lebanon, Syria, Argentina)
• The lack of specific financing schemes for RE is
  widespread
• Main set of policies are focused on reducing
  taxation, implementing standards, incentives and
  attractive financing schemes, RD and technology
  adaptation, leveling playing field

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Policy Options

• Problem Lack of adequate policies, planning and
  regulation
• Broad spectrum of issues, from lack of policies
  to incorrect application or limited scope or
  instruments
• Problem usually compounded by lack of
  coordination, and lack of coherence of legal and
  regulatory framework
• Argentina, Brazil, Senegal, India and Nepal lack
  consistent and specific policies for RETs (some
  legal instruments may be present)
• China, South Africa, Jordan, Syria, Lebanon and
  Thailand have in place some components of RE
  policies but further elements are needed (e.g.
  resources for correct implementation)
• Capacity development in this area is highly
  recommended

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Policy Options

• Problem Lack of adequate OM infrastructure
• and project sustainability
• Availability of highly skilled technicians is a
  problem in many countries, particularly in
  Africa.
• Encourage the involvement and training of users
  and technicians
• Improving the quality of equipment and
  installation procedures through standards and
  industry support
• Some Centres opt for low maintenance
  technologies and community management to cope
  with this problem
• Income generating activities could greatly
  contribute to sustainability but are not always
  considered in RE projects

14
Policy Options

• Problem Lack of adequate RD and local RE
  industry
• Involve universities and research institutions
  in developing training programs, reduce cost,
  facilitate transfer and identify feasible
  projects.
• Aim local manufacturing at affordable and
  adapted technologies
• Coordination of stakeholders is generally
  lacking
• Technology transfer and industrial capacity
  development are needed

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Specific Policies for Increased RE dissemination

• India, Nepal (biomass gasifiers)
• Establishment of a market for biomass (develop
  biomass supply chain and rational pricing scheme
  vis a vis fossil fuels)
• Gasifier development (improve collaboration,
  improve system design aimed at user friendly and
  commercializable product)
• Gasifier manufacturing and distribution
  (establish reliable supplier network, ensure
  quality and offer after sales support)
• Implement financial incentives for manufacturers,
  local service providers and users

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Recommendations

• India (Biomass)
• Provide financial support to improve, adapt and
  demonstrate technology aimed at SMiEs upgrading
• Link financial institutions and potential
  investors in the whole product development cycle
• Develop capacity for commercialisation in SMiEs
• Develop of decision support framework for policy
  makers

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Specific Policies for niches dissemination

• East Africa (treadle and wind pumps)
• Create a rural energy agency (small scale
  irrigation issues, information dissemination,
  awareness)
• Remove duties and taxes on water pumping
  technologies and components
• Create RD fund from electricity or fuel levy and
  from rural energy funds
• Launch national action programmes for low cost
  pumping technologies promotion

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Recommendations

• East Africa (Treadle and Wind Pumps)
• Promote small and mid scale RETs for improving
  agricultural production and increase income
• Transform rural electrification programmes into
  rural energization programmes
• Develop specific policies on small scale
  irrigation aimed mainly at women

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Conclusions

• The role of RETs for poverty alleviation could be
  very important in all countries studied, and
  contrasts with the low level of development and
  priority assigned to the area. (degree depending
  on resources, capacities, existing energy
  infrastructure and population distribution)
• Specific RE policies should be formulated and
  implemented in those countries currently lacking
  them. RETs should become an integral part of
  development programs
• Continued political commitment towards RETs is
  an underlying key issue. Need to develop
  political will, commitment and application of
  adequate policies and strategies
• Relevance of non-electrical technologies for
  satisfying priority household and productive
  energy requirements (cooking, water heating,
  heating, water pumping)

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Conclusions (II)

• Availability of adequate databases matching
  population distribution, energy requirements,
  income level and energy resources is generally
  lacking and would be useful for planning
• There is high potential for local job generation
  and increased economic activity through system
  manufacture and renewable resource extraction and
  processing
• Equipment manufacturing, OM infrastructure and
  post sale services are generally weak, though
  some capacity exists (variable among countries)
• RD should be coordinated and focus on
  technologies that correspond to priority energy
  requirements and local capacities

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RETs Theme

• Thank you
• Theme Coordinator
• Gustavo Nadal
• gnadal_at_fundacionbariloche.org.ar
• Fundación Bariloche
• GNESD
• www.gnesd.org