Unlocking Africa's renewable energy potential

For example, academics say about abundant solar, wind, water and biomass resources, properly used, that could change the energy picture in Africa. Environmentalists speak of deforestation, unsustainable use of coal in the cities and the risks associated with the production of biofuels. Social entrepreneurs speak kerosene by Pico solar systems to replace. Carbon Traders Select opportunities for wind farms on growing electricity grids. Community activists want programs energy to expand access with hydropower, solar, wind and electricity from cogeneration. Climate changer talk climate protection and adaptation strategies, and politicians make sweeping statements about new investment programmes.

Although the experts each 'right' are their special prescriptions, we land in the noise of the discussions blind for the 'big picture'. Yes, because the right stimuli, renewable energy can and will pull out in sub Saharan Africa. Appetite and resources are unique.

Renewable energies make enough progress in Africa unfortunately not fast. Electricity sector leave still primarily on petroleum, coal, and large hydro. Rural areas have bad power access and remain overly dependent on biomass from dwindling forests involved. Policies are murky, technical capacity lacking, and where there is cash, finance terms are absurd. While making companies in Africa are starved for electricity and fighting, the growing demand in most countries to deliver renewable energy not fill are frustrated the gap quickly enough and renewable energy companies.

As the case is still in many developed countries, renewable energy in Africa must overcome significant financial, political and social barriers. Finances all along the line are primary among these low understanding among all stakeholders, inertia and lack of lack of transparency by Governments and lack of investment. Despite hundreds of small projects by dedicated groups, the entire policy and industrial infrastructure in most countries remains incomplete.

If renewable energy talk, there are two major storylines: first use of renewable energy to build energy infrastructure and secondly use renewable energy to increase access to modern energy services. Growth depends both on the renewable sector. In fact, development of renewable energy infrastructure and increased access are interwoven and not seen. Renewable energy infrastructure-typically has predicates of the use of renewable energy sources to improve the access and attempted use of renewable energy sources, to increase rural energy access without investing in renewable energy infrastructure in many places too much less of an impact.

The 'prerequisites' growth of renewable energies described in long-term cross-sectoral strategies must be coordinated. Must fit the components carefully together like pieces of a puzzle and staged - sometimes sequentially and sometimes as parallel activities. Each country is a different plan is based on it have elements of these components.

Understanding of the situation and how we here

To know where we are and how we here, enough to plan perspective for a renewable future offers us. Now trails the developed world Africa and most of South-East Asia in renewable developments. This has much to do with government policy, donor decisions 20 years ago and a lack of attention by renewable companies even to Africa. It has to do attention to the issue with a lack of civil society.

First energy sectors in many countries are focused on the present crises makes survive. Although it may be easy on paper, that an investment in wind or solar PV is cheaper in the long run, must solve African energy sectors, which require immediate solutions with low. It is easy to see why diesel Gen-sets have such a huge share the culmination of the power supply across Europe won - they are cheap, flexible, manageable and available immediately. Some Governments have to invest long-term budget (or vision) in renewable solutions, even if they are more cost-effective.

Secondly, renewable energies are donor-led investment in grid part of market development problems. Is 1992, that global environment facility (GEF) and donor largely targeted renewable energy in Africa for off-grid rural energy access, programs, to believe that off-grid installations would be best for promoting one scale-up renewable energy in Africa. However during Africa grid sought, much of the rest of the world (Japan, Germany, California and recently China) were building policy to support grid-connected renewable markets. Thus failed Africa focused renewable programs on building grid, which often focused during the 'global' renewable player in fast-growing markets for grid developed-country, because she are isolated, small-scale and were unattractive for international players. For example, while global solar PV systems between 1995 and 2011 95% grid to 95% grid went, spent his planning of resources to expensive grid programs and almost nothing about plans for grid-connected PV PV Africa.

Thirdly, to much of the rest of the world, African energy sectors of centralized coal, petroleum, and large hydro in contrast are haunted. Although a lot of lip service paid, renewable energy, were actual investments of African sectors in biomass, solar, wind and small hydro makes much less than investment in renewable solutions over the last two years. Oil is much money in Africa and renewable energy were able to stimulate not appetite of the leaders in the same way, the oil. Coal and oil players are "old timers" in Africa, but renewable companies are only learn how on the continent to operate.

Once we know where we are, we can do the hard work renewable energy a central component of any energy discussion - and each Ministry program further.

Get renewable energy into the mainstream

Renewable energy must be in Africa 'Mainstreaming'. For this to occur they need to move away from the periphery will be seen and supported as integral, essential components of the energy sector in the country. Also, there is a need for coordination to build renewable infrastructure, increasing access to plans and traditional biomass address sectors. It's all about the message.

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Ministry of defence studies solar energy potential desert bases

The U.S. Department of Defense (DOD) could 7,000 megawatts (MW) of solar energy on four military bases located in the Californian desert, according to a study of DOD generate. The one-year study, published on 13 January, saw seven military bases in California and Nevada. Found that although most of the area unsuitable for solar big enough are development due to the military use and other factors, the appropriate locations, to generate understanding more than 30 times of electricity consumption by the California. That would equal approximately 25% of renewable energy, requires California utilities to use by 2015.

The study comes concluded that 25,000 hectares are suitable for solar suitable development and a further 100,000 hectares for solar. According to the study, which followed base (24.327 ha), Edwards air force at the most economical areas on the Fort Irwin (18.728 ha), China Lake (6.777) and Twentynine palms (553 acres) found. Finally, the study finds that private developers can tap the potential of solar to these plants with class investments of DOD, and that the development of income or other benefits like discount could bring the Federal Government up to $100 million a year.

DOD seeks to develop solar, wind, to reduce geothermal power and other distributed energy sources on its basis, their electric bill $4 billion per year and its dependence on the commercial power grid. This in place energy production, together with energy storage and so-called smart Microgrid technology allows to maintain a military base, its critical operations "off-grid" for weeks or months, if the grid have been interrupted. See press release DOD.

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DOE reports potential for wave and tidal power generation

DOE published on 18th January two resource reviews indicate that waves and coastal tidal currents at the U.S. much could contribute electricity generation. Particularly high potential for wave energy development has the West Coast, including Alaska and Hawaii, while there are great opportunities for the wave energy on the East Coast. In addition, parts of both coasts have strong tides, which could be used to generate energy. In combination with other analyses, these evaluations show that water power 15% of U.S. electricity by the year 2030 could.

Of electricity per year about 4,000 terawatt hours (TWh) uses the United States. DOE estimates that the maximum theoretical electrical generation generated by waves and tidal currents around 1,420 TWh per year could be about a third of the country's total annual consumption. Although not all of the possible resource identified in these realistic assessments can be developed, a new water power development, highlighting opportunities still significant results are specific ways, to the 6% that already the nation power out to expand hydropower resources.

In addition to the wave and tidal resource reviews plans DOE of additional resources of assessments for ocean current, ocean of thermal gradients and new water power resources in the year 2012. To support the development of technologies that can tap into these massive resources, DOE's water is power program a detailed technical and economic assessment of companies to more accurately predict a variety of water power technologies, the opportunities and cost of development and deployment of this innovative technology. The program supports more than 40 demonstration projects that will advance the commercial readiness of these systems; provide first-of-a-kind performance data that will verify the cost of energy predictions in the water; and to identify ways for great cost savings. Progress, see the DOE attention and water power program website.

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Production potential raised at Carioca discovery, offshore Brazil

BG Group reported an extended well test (EWT) had increased the production potential of the Carioca discovery located on the BM-S-9 concession in the Santos Basin, offshore Brazil.

Results from the EWT in progress at the well 3-SPS-74, known as Carioca Nordeste, indicate potential production of approximately 28 000 barrels of oil per day (bopd), above initial expectations. The well, which is connected to the FPSO Dynamic Producer, is currently producing 23 400 bopd, constrained by facilities.

The potential of the Carioca area was further underlined by results from the 4-BRSA-973A-SPS well, informally known as Abare, located 35 kilometres south of the discovery well 1-BRSA-491-SPS (Carioca) and 293 kilometres off the coast of Sao Paulo state.

Wireline samples showed good quality oil at Abare, about 28 degrees API, in carbonate reservoirs at a depth of about 4 830 metres. A drill stem formation test is planned to evaluate the productivity of the interval.

Five wells have now been drilled in the Carioca area in addition to the completion of two formation tests. This fulfills the evaluation commitments required by the National Agency for Petroleum, Natural Gas and Biofuels (ANP).

Given the promising results at Carioca, the consortium intends to do more appraisal work to further evaluate the area's full potential.

To allow this, the ANP has approved a revision of activities and has extended the deadline for a Declaration of Commerciality from November 2011 to 31 December 2013. There is no change to the consortium's plans and schedule for development and production.

BG Group has a 30% interest in Block BM-S-9 which is comprised of two appraisal areas - Guara and Carioca (Petrobras 45%, operator and Repsol Sinopec 25%).

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Experts had criticised long potential weakness in the design of the reactor

Now, with a mark i containment vessel damaged in the competitive Fukushima Daiichi nuclear plant and other ships it under heavy pressure, which developed in the 1960s General Electric - weaknesses of design - could that development will contribute to disaster.

If the possibility of a reactor cooling is compromised, the ship is containing the last line of Defense. Usually made of steel and concrete, it is intended to prevent - fuel slur for a while - from spewing radiation into the environment, if cooling efforts complete failure.

In some reactors, known as pressurized water reactors the system in a thick steel and cement tomb is sealed. The most nuclear reactors around the world are this type.

But the nature of the containment vessel and pressure fire suppression system in the faulty reactors in the Japanese Fukushima Daiichi plant used physically is less robust, and it long was adopted, has that more prone to error in an emergency than competing designs. In the United States, 23 reactors of 16 sites using the mark i design, including the Oyster Creek plans the Dresden plant near the city of Chicago and the plant of Monticello in Minneapolis in Central New Jersey.

G.e. the mark began, i boiling water reactors in the 1960s, marketing as cheaper and easier to make - part, because they used a relatively smaller and less expensive containment structure.

American regulators began very early weaknesses identify.

1972 Stephen H. recommended Hanau, then a security with the Atomic Energy Commission, official, set the mark i system because it unacceptable security risks. The smaller containment design which more vulnerable was for explosion and rupture of a building in hydrogen - a situation that may have had in the Prefecture Fukushima Daiichi plant was among the concerns cited. In the same year, said Joseph Hendrie, later Chairman of the nuclear regulatory Commission, a successor to the nuclear Commission, was the idea of a ban on such systems was attractive. But the technology adopted so far by the industry and regulatory officials, he said that "reverse this sacred policy, particularly at this time could be the end of nuclear power."

In an E-mail on Tuesday, said David hole tree, Director of the nuclear safety program at the Union of concerned scientists, these words now, ironically seemed the potential global waves from the Japanese accident given.

"she not to ban the end of nuclear power, could be", said Mr hole tree, a nuclear engineer, spent 17 years in nuclear facilities, including three that design uses the g.e.

Ask about the design of its mid-1980s, when Harold Denton, an official with the nuclear regulatory Commission, claims that mark had a 90 percent chance burst 1 reactors should the fuel rods overheat and melt in an accident.

Industry officials denied that assessment, saying that the chance of failure was only about 10 percent.

Michael Tetuan, a spokesman for g.e.'s water and makes sharing, staunchly defended the technology of this week, called it "the industry's workhorse with a proven track record of safety and reliability for more than 40 years."

Mr Tetuan said there are currently 32 mark i boiling water reactors operate safely around the globe. "Never was a violation of a mark i containment system," he said.

Some utilities and system operator threatened to sue g.e. in the late 1980s after providing these corporate documents from the 1975, which proposed that the containment designs either not enough were ship tested or had defects that could compromise security.

The mark have undergone 1 reactors in the United States a large number of changes since the initial concerns have been raised. Among these, according to Mr hole tree, changes to the torus - a water-filled ship were encircling the primary containment vessel, to reduce the pressure of the reactor. In early iterations may steam blast from the primary vessel in the torus under high pressure the ship out of the ground to jump.

At the end of the 1980s all mark were 1 reactors in the United States also with venting systems to help reduce the pressure in an overheating situation retrofitted.

It is not clear exactly what changes were now fail reactors in the Japanese boiling water, but James Klapproth, senior engineer at nuclear for General Electric, Hitachi, said a ventilation system on the Fukushima was plants to relieve pressure.

The special role of the design g.e. in the Prefecture, Fukushima crisis is expected to be a debate, and it is possible that all reactor design could succumb the one-two punch of earthquakes and tsunami such as those that occurred last week in Japan.

Although the g.e. would - appear limited liability in Japan above all, because the regulatory system in this country the most liability attaches to operators - the company's shares fell 31 cents to $19,61 in trading Tuesday.

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