Newsletter for Members and Supporters of the Alliance for Rural Electrification
- ARE General Assembly
- ARE Workshop: "Market Potential for off-grid PV for Rural Electrification"
- Soon: ARE workshop wil the World Bank Group / Global Environment Facility
3. NEWS FROM ARE WORKING GROUPS
- Working Group on Technological Solutions: A new contribution in the pipeline
- Working Group on Corporate Social responsibility: Kick Off Soon!
4. NEWS FROM THE RENEWABLE ENERGY WORLD
- SEE Campaign: Join the Sustainable Energy Europe Award Competition
- Netherlands intend to boost clean energy in developing world with 500 Milion Euros!
5. RURAL ELECTRIFICATION AND RENEWABLE ENERGY EVENTS: Incoming appointments
EDITORIAL
In a few weeks the United States will elect a new President. Both candidates vowed to adopt new policies against climate change. In December, at the Climate Change Conference (COP 14) in Poland the world community will try to come closer to a new international agreement. No one can ignore that the global climate is changing rapidly. Solutions which help to avert the worst are becoming ever more urgent.
There are only seven years left to reach the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs). So far the results are mixed. Asia is on a good track, whereas progress in Africa remains slow and fragile. This is an alarm signal which means that the world needs increased efforts to reach the MDG. Against this background three years ago EU Development ministers vowed to substantially step up financial resources for development cooperation. Now they have to admit that they will probably not be able to fulfill their promise. Hence, financial means for development remain very limited.
We all know that renewable energies are essential in the fight against climate change. We all know that electricity is a key prerequisite for economic development and poverty alleviation. One would assume that both, industrialized countries and developing countries step up their efforts to deploy the most cost effective and at the same time climate friendly technologies for electrification. Renewable energy and off-grid solutions impose themselves and should be on the rise in developing countries. But we also know: The reality is different. RES are far behind their potential in the developing world.
In many countries prejudices that renewable energy is expensive and unreliable persist. As a consequence, financial resources for rural electrification with renewables are insufficient. But money is not the only bottle neck: In many countries the right political and economic framework conditions, which allow the sustainable use of these technologies are missing.
Rural electrification with renewable energies by no means sells itself. That is why the Alliance for Rural Electrification is indispensable. We strive at overcoming prejudices against renewable energies; we provide technological and financial solutions.
The new ARE board is committed to boost the work of our Alliance: We strive at more focused communication and lobbying, we prepare outreach activities to the United States and the World Bank, we begin our work on Corporate Social Responsibility and are about to enhance services for our members. There is a plenitude of things to do. That is why a broad based support from the industry and all stakeholders is critical.
On 1 September 2008 I have become Secretary General of the Alliance. I thank the ARE members for their trust. I am looking forward to working together with them and all stakeholders in the field of rural electrification. We have a great mission to accomplish.
Guido Glania
News from the Alliance
New board of Members to lead the Alliance:
The new board of members has been elected at the last General Assembly of the Alliance. This enlarged board will guide ARE on major decisions. The board members have the mandate to officially represent the ARE at conferences and events.
These elections represented an extension of the existing board of ARE already composed by Ernesto Macías as President, Christine Lins (European Small Hydropower Association) and Angelika Pullen (Global Wind Energy Council).
The following persons were elected unanimously to the board:
- Bernard McNelis (IT Power)
- José Galindez (Solarpack)
- Balthasar Klimbie (Fortis Wind)
- Michael Wollny (SMA)
New ARE Secretary General
The ARE Board has appointed Guido Glania (see editorial) as new Secretary General of the Alliance.
Guido Glania is an economist with a specialization in international affairs. He worked on trade and development policy for the Federation on German Industries in Berlin and Brussels.
He has taken office on September 1, 2008.
New Member at the Alliance!
Studer Innotec was founded in 1987 and has firstly developed its areas of competences in the PV and in the energy conversion, with the first inverters (DC/AC). In 2005 the company received the Sommet Prize, organized among others by the Union Bank of Switzerland, for its capabilities to innovate as well as to export.
Studer Innotec is today a European leader in the inverter market and a major actor in the rest of the World. Innotec employs 40 people and manages a network of more than one hundred distributors in 70 countries.
Rural electrification being the main application of their inverters and also an important subject of their R&D department, it is naturally that they join the Alliance for Rural Electrification. Through this membership, they wish to exchange and share their experience, to cooperate on projects and to increase their knowledge of rural electrification stakeholders.
ARE ACTIVITIES
ARE General Assembly
On the 25th June 2008 the Alliance for Rural Electrification hold its first official General Assembly.
ARE members expressed their views on the Annual Report 2007/2008 and decided on the work plan for 2008/2009. In addition, ARE members discussed the strategic development of the organization and set thematic priorities. It was also an occasion to take stock of the accomplishments that have been made till now.
ARE members decided to enlarge the board by knowledgeable and experienced executives of well known companies. The new board members underlined their commitment to contribute to the organizational development and external communication of the ARE. The new Secretary General of the Alliance Guido Glania (see above) has been officially nominated.
The General Assembly was complemented with a joint dinner on lake du Bourget. The next General Assembly will take place beginning of February 2009 in Brussels.
To see the Annual report 2007/2008 of the Alliance for Rural Electrification please click here.
ARE workshop: “Market potential for off grid PV for rural electrification”
Thanks to the kind support of EPIA, ARE has organized a workshop on "Market potential for off grid PV for rural electrification" at the biggest PV event in the world.
Through market presentations as well as case studies, the speakers of the Alliance showed that the off-grid market for rural electrification is a real opportunity for the renewable energy industry and for fostering self sustained growth in developing countries.
Firstly, Mr. Ernesto Macias, President of the Alliance and of EPIA, presented ARE, its activities and its ambitions for the future. ARE promotes and provides efficient renewable solutions for rural electrification in developing countries and aim at becoming an international key reference in that field.
To see this presentation please click here.
Mr. Jan Oliver Kessler, Portfolio Manager Off-grid Products from Conergy AG, made a presentation on the market potential for rural electrification using PV and Hybrid Systems. Off-grid technologies have multiple advantages on conventional energies and grid connexion. They can provide real win-win situation to all stakeholders and have a very important potential if the right frameworks are put in place...
To see this presentation please click here.
Then Mr. Bernad McNelis, CEO of IT Power and ARE Board's member, presented some case studies based on the immense experience and expertise of IT Power in rural electrification and off-grid projects worldwide. Going through a brief history of the development of the RES worldwide, he presented different projects set up by IT Power using different technologies as well as various existing support schemes. Therefore, he demonstrated the success met by the renewable technologies worldwide as well as their potential!
To see this presentation please click here.
Finally, Mr. Alvaro Ponce, Corporate Social responsibility Manager from Isofoton, made a presentation on Rural Electrification as a an approach to CSR. Many opportunities exist for the RES industry to show their commitments to sustainability worldwide in order to remind to the world that RES are not only about business but also about global progress. Rural Electrification in developing countries is an ideal vector for CSR policy in Renewable Energy Companies.
To see this presentation please click here.
Soon: ARE workshop with the World Bank Group / Global Environment Facility
The Alliance for Rural Electrification will organize workshop with World Bank group and the Global Environment Facility in Washington DC
The World Bank is a key actor in the field of infrastructure development. It is not only an important financial institution but also a global trendsetter for development policies. The World Bank program ESMAP for instance (Energy Sector Management Assistance Program) is providing technical assistance to energy projects in developing countries.
Against this background the Alliance will intensify its collaboration with the World Bank and convey the message that mini grids with RES are the most cost-effective and climate friendly solution for rural electrification. ARE will propose technological solutions and appropriate support schemes.
Finally, the Alliance will also meet official from the GEF (Global Environment Facility). This facility is intended to finance environmental friendly projects in developing countries. It has a volume of 3, 13 bio. US$ for 2006-2010.
The Workshop will take place in November 2008.
ARE members will receive an invitation in the near future.
News from ARE Working Groups
Working group on Technological Solutions: A new contribution in the pipeline
The ARE working group on technological solutions chaired by Michael Wollny, SMA, met on 16 July 2008 in Frankfurt.
After the brochure on Hybrid Systems, the working group is now focusing on support schemes for sustainable RE projects in developing countries. Without the right framework conditions, such as a sufficient cash flow which allows the operation and maintenance or trained local staff, projects run the risk of failure. Based on the ample project experience of its members, the working group will explore the various bottle neck factors for RE projects in developing countries.
End of September ARE will organize a webconference which will decide on the structure of a publication on support schemes for rural electrification.
Working group on Corporate Social Responsability: Kick Off Soon!
Many members of ARE set up CSR-Projects and demonstrate in very practical terms their commitment to sustainable development.
In order to facilitate exchanges of experiences and information, ARE will kick off a working group on CSR on 4 November 2008.
At this meeting ARE members will discuss about their CSR concepts and experiences. In addition, the European Commission will highlight the broader political context of CSR.
If you wish more information or to participate please contact us.
News from the Renewable Energies world
SEE Campaign: Join the Sustainable Energy Europe Award Competition!
The Sustainable Energy Europe Campaign (www.sustenergy.org) is a major initiative from the European Commission/DG Transport and Energy which aims at promoting, showcasing and rewarding outstanding projects and programs with innovative actions and impressive results.
Within this European Campaign, the Sustainable Energy Europe Award recognizes and rewards commitment and efforts in sustainable energy made at the European level. Based on the success of last year’s edition, the 3rd edition of the SEE Award Competition is now officially launched.
ARE as a partner of the European Commission for the Sustainable Energy Campaign (SEE) strongly encourages its members and supporters to participate to this yearly initiative.
For more details on joining the SEE Campaign and submitting your project in this year’s competition, visit http://www.sustenergy.org/tpl/page.cfm?pageName=award_competition
Netherlands intend to boost clean energy in developing world with 500 Million Euros!
The Dutch government foresees investment of €500m in renewable energy projects in the developing world.
Bert Koenders, (Minister for development cooperation and Jacqueline Cramer (Minister for the Environment) have introduced a proposal on "Renewable energy in development cooperation" to the Dutch Parliament.
They propose investments in renewable energy projects across Africa, particularly wind, solar & hydropower projects. Special action in the field of hydropower and reforestation is envisaged for the Great Lake region (including Burundi, Congo, Rwanda and Tanzania).
The Netherlands intends also to contribute to geothermal energy, small-scale hydropower and biogas in Indonesia. Investments will also be made through multilateral agencies such as the World Bank.
Rural Electrification and Renewable Energies Events: Incoming appointments
1-12 December 2008: "COP 14", Poznań, Poland
COP 14 (The 14th Conference of the Parties to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC), which will take place on 1- 2 December 2008 in Poznań, is the most prestigious forum of political discussion in the scope of climate protection, attracting the attention of the entire world. It is envisaged that the two-week sessions will be attended by 8,000 participants: more than 190 government delegations headed by the Ministers for the Environment or Climate Change, international institutions, environmental, business, NGOs and media.
The main objectives and principles of the UNFCCC are to prevent climate change and to mitigate its adverse effects but subjects such as the financial support for developing countries, technology transfer and international carbon emissions trading schemes are also discussed and decided under the Convention.
In addition to the plenary sessions and the meetings of working groups, the agenda of the Conference includes a number of side events (presentations, seminars, happenings and exhibitions) with the main purpose of drawing attention to the problems related to global climate change and to the eventual solutions to the multiple problems it raises. Within this framework, and along with the most important renewable energy industry associations (EWEA, GWEC, EPIA), ARE will be participating to this event.
This event represents a unique lobbying opportunity for the RE industry towards stakeholders from all over the world as well as to push forward their role in the major debates which will take place there.
For more information about the COP 14 please see: www.cop14.gov.pl
For more information about ARE activities please contact us
7-9 October 2008: 'Exploiting Renewable Energy Opportunities in Africa', Abuja, Nigeria.
Organizers: BAS Associates Consulting Limited
BAS Associates Consulting Limited is delighted to organize what remains the premier Renewable Energy event in Africa.
This year’s theme is “Exploiting Renewable Energy Opportunities in Africa”. The three days will be packed with four Forums with the Sub Themes : Finance and Investment opportunities in Renewable Energy, Renewable Energy for Sustainable Building, Converting Waste to Wealth, and Renewable Energy for Rural Development.
Everyone is affected by the electricity problems in Africa. All are concerned about energy security and development of alternative energy sources. Still others are concerned about environmental issues.
At IREC you will meet the leading experts in RE from the public and private sectors and be able to share ideas about ways forward, leading international and local companies will exhibit their products and finaly some workshops will be available for acquisition of practical skills.
Go to www.irec-nigeria.com to register
E-mail info(at)irec-nigeria.com or info(at)basconsultingltd.com
4-7 November 2008: “GEO2, the Sustainable Development Fair”, Bilbao, Spain
PROMA, the International Environment Exhibition, has changed its concept and name. In November GEO2 2008, the Sustainable Development Fair will be launched. The conference will address the three pillars of sustainable development, namely environment and energy, economy and society. It will be held in the Bilbao Exhibition Centre (BEC) from 4 to 7 November 2008.
Within the framework of GEO2 2008, the Basque Enterprise Europe Network, the Cluster Association of Environmental Industries of the Basque Country (ACLIMA), the Energy Cluster Association of the Basque Country and the Basque Energy Board (EVE) will also organise a Brokerage Event on Sustainable Development that will take place on 6 and 7 November 2008.
This Bokerage Event will focus on the three sectors that structure the GEO2 exhibition: Sustainable development, Environment and Energy, Sustainable development and Economy, Sustainable development and Society
To register and participate please click here.