MORE SUNDAY WORLD, 6-14 (WORLD WIND DAY JUNE 15; INDIA WANTS MORE SUN; AWARD WINNING NEW ENERGY IN AFRICA)

WORLD WIND DAY JUNE 15
Wind Power Works; Discover the power of wind around the world on 15 June
(European Wind Energy Association and Global Wind Energy Council)
and
Show Your Support for Wind Energy on Global Wind Day, June 15; Join AWEA’s Visual Petition, Call for a National Renewable Electricity Standard, Organize or Attend a #GWind09 Tweet-Up Near You
Shawna Seldon, June 10, 2009 (American Wind Energy Association)

"In 2009, the European Wind Energy Association (EWEA), which initiated the Wind Day campaign, will join forces with the Global Wind Energy Council (GWEC) in order to coordinate the first Global Wind Day. The campaign will build on the efforts and success of the European Wind Day 2007 and 2008, in which over 20 countries participated in Europe, with hundreds of public events organised."

"At a time of energy and climate crisis, it is vital to explain to the decision makers why the world crucially needs an energy shift. Policy makers are seeking solutions and the wind industry offers the best way to produce CO2-free electricity quickly and efficiently...Wind can be found everywhere, and energy from wind is helping ease the widespread dependence on fossil fuels. In addition, wind energy creates jobs and contributes to economic growth…

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"The Global Wind Day is an awareness campaign for the promotion of wind energy worldwide. The message is global: wind power works – it tackles climate change, it improves energy dependence on fossil fuels, and it is an intelligent investment. All the events will take place all across 25 countries worldwide. The Global Wind Day will both reach out for and be powered by the people…On 15 June 2009, thousands of public events will be organised simultaneously..."

"2009 will be a crucial year for the fight against climate change. Decision makers from all over the world will meet in Copenhagen in December to discuss the post-Kyoto protocol agreement. By participating in one of the numerous events organised for the Global Wind Day you will have the possibility of learning how wind energy works, and how wind turbines work. Above all, you will join EWEA and GWEC in asking decision makers at national, regional, and local level around the world to endorse new commitments and approve proper legal frameworks that will enable a large-scale development of wind power…

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"Wind energy supporters can join AWEA’s call for an RES through a number of events and activities on Global Wind Day, including: Asking representatives in Congress to support a STRONG national renewable electricity standard… through Power Of Wind…[OR] Submitting a photo or comment [in My Wind Energy Job, I Love Wind Technology, Faces of Wind, My Wind Turbine, and Scenic categories] to AWEA’s visual petition, Why Wind Matters to Me!… that shows how wind energy is making a difference today. These photos will be presented to members of Congress to highlight their constituency’s support of wind power…[OR] Attending or organizing a #GWind09 Tweet-Up near you: AWEA is hosting Global Wind Day Tweet-Ups in Washington, D.C. and New York City on June 15…or host your own Tweet-Up in your home town!"


INDIA WANTS MORE SUN
Could India Become a Solar Leader?
James Kanter, June 5, 2009 (NY Times)

"India may be gearing to turn itself into the global leader in solar power generation, a sign that major developing nations could become renewable energy hubs to rival Germany and the United States…[T]he National Solar Mission outlines a target for 20,000 megawatts of solar capacity by 2020, according to a draft copy…India would generate 100,000 megawatts of solar power by 2030 and 200,000 megawatts by mid-century under the plan.

"The plan acknowledges the high cost of solar compared with other sources of energy, and coal in particular. But it says costs could be driven down to between 4 and 5 rupees per kilowatt hour by the period 2017-2020, making solar cost-competitive with fossil fuels."

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"There would be one million rooftop systems with an average capacity of 3 kilowatts by 2020 to cut the use of diesel for daytime power while generation parks could be built in the “exclusion” zones around nuclear plants, where people are not allowed to live but solar facilities could be safely installed.

"Crucial to the project would be building up local manufacturing capacity. The plan envisages training 100,000 specialists by 2020…[India will need] processing facilities for raw materials, factories and technology parks for making components and equipment and generation parks to produce electricity…"

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"India can now make 700 megawatts of photovoltaic modules each year…The aim would be to make 20,000 megawatts of solar cells annually by 2017 and to establish expertise in solar thermal technologies…Total costs would be 85,000 and 105,000 crores ($18.5 billion to $22.8 billion) over a 30-year period. To help finance the project, the plan foresees a significant tax on gasoline and diesel — fuels the government currently subsidizes.

"The plan also foresees a feed-in tariff, solar power purchase obligations for Indian authorities, tax breaks for manufacturers, and exemptions on tariffs for imported equipment. A so-called Solar Energy Authority of India would be set up to manage the system…[H]elp from rich countries would be essential for India to meet its goals…"


AWARD WINNING NEW ENERGY IN AFRICA
Ashden Awards for Sustainable Energy (London); Africa: Two Schemes Win in Global Green Energy Awards
11 June 2009 (All Africa)

"…[T]he world’s leading green energy prize named [Solar Energy Foundation, working in the Ethiopian highlands, and Ugandan company Kampala Jellitone Suppliers]…as winners of Ashden Awards for Sustainable Energy…Short films [showed]…how they have transformed the lives and fortunes of individuals and communities, as well as saving thousands of tonnes in carbon emissions…

"…[T]he Solar Energy Foundation wins the Ashden Award for electrification of rural areas, supported by the John Ellerman Foundation, for setting up the biggest solar energy programme in Ethiopia, with over 2,000 small solar systems installed in two villages that are off the electricity grid and a further 8,500 units due to be installed elsewhere in the country by the end of the year…"

A Solar Energy Foundation panel on a rural Ethiopian hut. (click to enlarge)

"The Foundation was established in 2006 by Dr Harald Schützeichel, who had previously set up and run a solar business in Germany. It has developed high quality solar-home-systems and solar lanterns for the 10,000-plus villagers living in Rema and Rema ena Dire, villages in Ethiopia’s northern highlands, five hours’ drive from Addis Ababa. The residents previously depended on smoky kerosene lamps and candles for their lighting and had turned down the offer of free diesel generators in favour of solar power.

"Working closely with local government bodies and also the Disaster Preparedness Agency Ethiopia, SEF provides not just technology, but also maintenance and a financial structure that means each household can have its own solar-home-system."

The Kampala Jellitone cooking fuel going into a Ugandan stove. (click to enlarge)

"…Kampala Jellitone Suppliers Ltd [in Uganda] wins The Ashden International Award for Avoided Deforestation, supported by the Waterloo Foundation, for producing non-char biomass briquettes made from agricultural waste. 130 tonnes of briquettes sold every month reduce deforestation and save about 6.1 tonnes of CO2 per tonne of briquettes used…

"Processing of commercial crops generates large volumes of biomass residues including rice and peanut husks, coffee pulp and maize stalks. KJS is a coffee processing business that recognised the potential for converting this ‘waste’ into a clean fuel. Market demand was so strong that they started producing and selling briquettes made from the residues along with improved stoves that burn the briquettes more cleanly and efficiently…[T]hese products are used by thousands of cooks throughout Uganda…[T]he business [is currently selling briquettes every month to 31 schools, universities and hospitals for cooking, and to five factories for producing heat and] is set to expand…"