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Final Report of the World Renewable Energy Congress VII Cologne, Germany 29 June - 5 July 2002
Renewable Energy 28 (2003) 667–682 www.elsevier.com/locate/renene
WREN newsletter
Final Report of the World Renewable Energy Congress VII, Cologne, Germany 29 June – 5 July 2002 The seventh Congress began with a successful and lively meeting attended by 80 WREN members on 29 June, 2002. During the morning session, WREN activities for the period 2000–2002 were outlined. Mr Hugh Lockhart-Ball presented a report on the WREN Newsletter. He urged members to send him news of any renewable energy activities in their countries for publication. Prof. Sayigh then reported on the great number of papers received for consideration for publication in Renewable Energy, published by Elsevier Science, almost one paper a day. He was happy to report on the excellent quality of most of the papers received, and thanked all the reviewers for their considerable, anonymous, contribution. No doubt the ever-increasing standard of the journal owed much to their efforts. He went on to mention the aims of the recently established Renewable Energy Magazine, which is the annual official publication of WREN produced by Sovereign Publications Limited. The first issue was an outstanding success and issue number two is available at the Congress. He thanked everyone concerned for their hard work and all the sponsors for their support. Regarding the publication of books, so far five books have been edited by WREN and published on different renewable energy topics. Two further books are in the pipeline, one on biomass technology and the other on modern crop drying. WREN continues to hold targeted seminars, (12) and regional conferences (5) in many parts of the world. A lively discussion took place concerning regional conferences. It was decided that in future these would be called World Renewable Energy Conferences on specific topics rather than regional conferences. The meeting confirmed that the next World Renewable Energy Congress would take place in Denver, Colorado, USA, 28 August to 3 September, 2004, while WREC-IX 2006 will be held in Japan. Professor Sayigh explained to the meeting that two organisations exist: one, the World Renewable Energy Council, on which each country has representatives, with Professor Sayigh as its Chairman. This body cooperates with WREN to promote renewable energy, to publicise and participate in the bi-annual Congress. Networking between Council members is seen as a major objective. The members of the Council are under no financial obligation and are selected by the countries concerned and in PII: S 0 9 6 0 - 1 4 8 1 ( 0 2 ) 0 0 1 5 1 - 9
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consultation with the Chairman of the Council to represent non-governmental bodies, research agencies and academia, industry and government bodies in the various regions of the world, to promote renewable energy use within their home country and globally and to attend the Council meeting every two years. The other organization is WREN, a UK registered charity, with a board of trustees and an Executive Director. The role of WREN is to establish and implement policy and to oversee the management of all WREN activities. WREN is a network of worldwide organizations promoting environmentally safe and economically sustainable renewable energy. WREN has been established to support and enhance the utilization and implementation of renewable energy sources, to further the communication and technical education of scientists, engineers, technicians and managers in this field and to address itself to the energy needs of both developing and developed countries. WREN was established in 1992 during the second World Renewable Energy Congress at Reading, UK. Its director general is Professor Ali M Sayigh, and it has an executive committee from all regions of the world. WREN is affiliated to UNESCO. Dr Ikeda, Secretary General of JORBE, outlined the preliminary programme for the Japan Congress. He mentioned the numerous offers from organisations to cooperate and sponsor this meeting. The final venue has not yet been chosen from the six possibilities, but will be known by the end of 2002. Dr Kuruvilla Mathew, Murdoch University, Perth, Australia gave a short presentation in support of the Perth bid for the 2008 Congress. The decision on the venue for 2008 was deferred until the meeting in Denver. A brief discussion ensued on the question of competitive meetings. Those present felt that the WREN Congress has a sufficiently strong identity and is well established enough to meet competition and members need not be concerned. During the afternoon session there were four presentations: 1. How Energy Policy can provide practical Answers to Poverty? By C Coventry: ITDG, Rugby, UK. 2. The State Initiative in North Rhine-Westphalia, Germany: Structure and Projects by Inge A Wieschenkamper and F-M Baumann: NRW State Initiative on Future Energies, c/o Ministry of Economic Affairs, Energy and Transport, Dusseldorf, Germany. 3. Solar Energy Research Association (FVS) by G Stadermann: FVS, c/o HahnMeitner Institute, Berlin, Germany. 4. Industrial Perspectives of the Future Technology PV Solar Electricity by Winfried Hoffmann: RWE Solar GmbH, Alzenau, Germany.
WREN members and invited guests were attended a dinner at the Hyatt Hotel overlooking the Rhine and with a splendid view of the famous Cathedral. On Sunday, June 30, 2002, a 3-mile race was organized at 8.30 in the morning. Nearly 30 participants (men and women) took part in the race. From the men the winners were Professor Ralph Sims, New Zealand, Mr Hasan Nfaoui, Morocco, and
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Mr Paul W Magoha, Kenya. The women winners were Ms Sheryl Williams, Jamaica, Mrs Meryem Daryabegy, Iran and Ms O Yasmina Fasoul, UK. A Workshop on Austria and Europe – Partnership for Sustainable Energy R&D was held from 10.30 to 16.00, where 40 participants attended. Registration for the Congress began at 16.00 –18.30 and the main reception was held at 19.30 in the beautifully restored City Hall of Cologne, hosted by the Mayor of Cologne, Mr Fritz Schramma. More than 500 participants were present at the reception and enjoyed the generous hospitality of the Mayor who welcomed the participants. An excellent buffet and plentiful drinks were much appreciated by all present. On Monday 1 July, under the Patronage of Wolfgang Clement, The President Minister of North Rhine-Westphalia (NRW), the Congress Chairman Professor Ali Sayigh, opened the Congress with welcome speech highlighting the importance of renewables and praised the host country Germany and in particular the North RhineWestphalia (NRW) for their aim to achieve 26% of their energy consumption from renewables. The host Chairman, Professor Richard Wagner, stressed the cooperation with WREN and his delight at seeing so many nationalities present at this famous gathering. His Excellency Dr Abdulaziz Othman Altwaijri, Director General of ISESCO delivered a speech and added his welcome to all nations present at the Congress. He also stressed the importance of ISESCO’s cooperation with WREN in promoting the use of renewable energy. The next speaker was Dr Stanley R Bull, Associate Director for Science & Technology, NREL, Golden, Colorado, USA, who emphasised the need for wider use of renewables and expressed his delight in being at the Congress and cooperating with WREN. He invited all the participants to Denver in 2004, where NREL will host WREC-VIII. The Rt. Hon. Ernst Schwanhold, Minister for Economics Affairs, Technology and Transport, NRW, gave the Congress speech. He highlighted the importance of his state in leading the way in Germany in utilizing all aspects of renewables. He pledged that his government would continue in their programme towards achieving 50% usage by 2020, and leading the way within the European Community. A press conference followed at which 30 journalists, TV and Radios reporters were present. During the week five ministers from Germany were present, two ministers from Saudi Arabia and Yemen, and one deputy minister from Iran. Representatives from WMO, UNDP, ESCWA, FAO and EC delivered papers at the Congress. The Congress sessions were divided into three parts: 앫 All Monday, Friday, and morning periods on Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday were devoted to plenary sessions. Policy makers, heads of organizations, government representatives, and bankers, heads of research establishments and ministers, made 38 presentations. 앫 During the remaining parts of Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday, there were 10 parallel technical sessions covering: photovoltaic technology – 65 papers; solar
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materials – 47 papers; wind energy – 47 papers; fuel cell systems - 32 papers; solar thermal applications – 67 papers; biomass for energy and materials – 67 papers; low energy architecture – 79 papers; policy issues – 70 papers; energy, gender and poverty reduction – 22; plus two workshops and other major topics – 61 papers. 앫 The third part was devoted to poster sessions on Tuesday and Wednesday during the lunch breaks where 380 posters in PV, ST, BM, LEA, PI, FC and OMT, were displayed.
In all 758 participants registered, while 50 persons came for one and two days only, representing 88 countries: - Germany – 188; UK – 88; Japan – 40; Australia – 22; USA and India – 21 each; Sweden – 16, The Netherlands – 14; Canada, Malaysia and Algeria – 13 each; Turkey, Egypt and Armenia – 10 each; and other countries varied from 9 to 1 each. A truly international meeting! Final observations and recommendations: 앫 The progress made in photovoltaic technology, wind energy, biomass for energy and solar thermal applications was very pleasing and represents major competition for the gas and oil energy industries in the next three to five years. 앫 Mini hydro and geothermal are well placed to provide power at a competitive cost. 앫 It is noticeable that more countries are now using low energy architecture and energy conservation in their buildings. There is no doubt that this trend will accelerate in the next decade. 앫 Innovative ideas in material technology have not only created new build materials, but also coatings and switchable materials as well as electrochromic materials which have made glazing more attractive and increased the use of energy saving elements in buildings. 앫 A area of fast growth is that of fuel cell systems. It is expected that within ten years massive applications in transport as well as remote applications will be seen.
WREC DECLARATION The World Renewable Energy Congress believes that sustainable development, in all its dimensions, provides the only practicable way forward if our World’s peoples are to live in harmony with each other. Access to affordable and reliable energy services, drawn from environmentally acceptable sources of supply, is an important feature of sustainable development. Renewable energy sources and technologies - where carefully harnessed, harvested and positioned - provide a virtually infinite supply source and environmental compatibility with sustainable development. There are 1.7 billion people in rural areas of developing countries now living without access to modern energy services. That means the most basic services –
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such as cooking, heating, cooling, lighting, use of electric appliances, and use of motors for many purposes – are still out of reach for them. Over 400 million people in urban and peri-urban areas suffer the same deprivation. In addition to these 2.1 billion people – one third of our World’s population – have unreliable access to modern energy services. This results in supply failures which create severe disruption in the home and workplace. Renewable energy sources, appropriate to local conditions, usually offer the most attractive supply source for scattered rural populations. Renewable energy sources will also make an increasing contribution in urban areas. For a variety of economic and strategic reasons – from security and diversity of supply to avoidance of heavy import costs – renewable energy sources are also expected to become the supply form of choice. This Congress has noted the ‘targets’ set out in the Report of the Group of Eight Industrial Nations’ Task Force on Renewable Energy, published in July, 2001. It is not clear how closely the Task Force and its Advisory Group examined those targets. But the main ‘targets’: for “up to 300 million people” in rural areas of developing countries to receive modern energy supplies from renewable energy sources over the next decade or so; and for “up to 200 million people” to received improved cooking stoves over the same time period, are rejected by us as they are inadequate. The first target is rejected because the implied rate of rural electrification has been greatly exceeded in the past (in the 1970s and 1980s); and because it is unacceptable to suggest that the needy can wait sixty years or so for their needs to be fulfilled. The second target is rejected because it is only twice what China alone has achieved in the recent past; and because the use of charcoal even in improved cooking stoves may simply undermine fuel wood availability and sustainable development unless counter measures are taken. This Congress welcomes challenging targets for the more rapid diffusion of renewable energy technologies. We believe the needs of rural populations could be served within 20 years, not 60, if financing was made available of the order of US$ 300 billion (some $1,000 per family involved). That sum represents less than 3% of the annual Gross Domestic Product of the USA. It is surely not an unreasonable goal if given the support of the major industrialised countries over a twenty-year period. We believe that solar cookers should be given greater encouragement, and charcoalburning stoves only supported where fuel is readily available without negative consequences. We wish to see a much more determined effort to expand the use of renewable energy technologies in urban areas. To these ends this Congress calls upon the international community to move beyond the G8 Renewable Energy Task Force Report, and to satisfy the demand for modern energy services in rural areas within 20 years. We invite the international community to subscribe to the goal of providing at least 50% of our World’s energy needs from renewable sources by the end of this century. We invite the developed country Parties to the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change to fulfil their agreed commitments to take all practicable steps to promote, facilitate and finance the transfer of – or access to – environmentally-sound technologies and know-how as set out in Article 4.5 of the Convention.
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Summary of various technical committees’ reports
Photovoltaic Technology Report: Prepared by Dr AbuBakr S. Bahaj, Southampton University, Southampton, UK The photovoltaic division of WREC VII has lined up a comprehensive programme for the congress. Dr Bahaj has introduced the work of the committee starting by the review process which was initiated some 18 months before the congress. An example of the review activity is sited in Table 1. The number of papers for each category presented at the conference either in poster fashion or orally is shown in Table 2. The oral session and papers were of high quality and addressed all major issues related to photovoltaics. These papers were extremely informative and straddled new avenues of research and development. This has been a success for the congress especially since it has come just about a month behind the PVIEEE specialist conference in New Orleans. One of the disappointing factors for the PV Division was the small number of Posters presented in Day 1. This however, was rectified in the next day when most of the posters were displayed. Over 90% of the oral programme papers were presented at the congress. The oral presentations were extremely informative many of which generated passionate debates.
Solar Materials Report Prepared by: Prof M G Hutchins, Oxford Brookes University, Oxford, UK The conference attracted 47 papers from 27 countries. 7 technical sessions covered topics in the fields of switchable glazing, transparent conductors, photochemistry, transparent and translucent materials, daylighting, shading and re-directional materials and spectrally selective solar absorbers. Invited speakers included Prof Geoff Smith, University of Technology Sydney, Australia who presented a stimulating overview of recent advances in nanomaterials and nanoparticle science and the revolutionary opportunities now being researched to produce new generations of products for the efficient conversion and control of light and solar energy. Dr Rolf Blessing, Interpane, Germany, presented a beautiful lecture on thin films for solar energy gain which clearly demonstrated industry’s commitment to the development of high quality products for glass and glazing and solar collector applications. Windows with total solar energy transmittance above 0.7 exhibiting U-values below 1.0 W/(m2K), based on silver coating technology, are now being realised together with new switchable glazing such as the gasochromic window. Prof Roos of Uppsala University presented results showing the impact of
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the use of advanced glazing on the energy performance of buildings. In Europe, energy savings in the region 100 – 200 kWh/m2/annum can be readily achieved creating buildings with low energy demand and drastically reducing Europe’s energy consumption in the built environment. Amongst the smart materials papers presented Dr Jin of NIAIST, Japan, presented some novel and interesting improvements to the thermochromic properties of tungsten-doped vanadium dioxide films, where antireflecting coatings have been successfully applied to significantly raise the visible transmittance of the coatings and hence increase the dynamic range of these devices. The recently established European thematic network, WINDAT, is building a database of glass and glazing and shading products to be used in conjunction with freely available software, WIS, for window design and selection. Training courses are targeted towards manufacturers, architects, building services engineers and other relevant user groups to maximise the potential for use of software that will ensure glazing selection is made in an educated way and that our buildings will perform better, providing lower energy costs and greater occupant visual and thermal comfort. The importance of vacuum technologies was underlined in a group of presentations describing evacuated glazing, vacuum flat plate collectors employing granular aerogel and vacuum insulation panels for building insulation. The use of transparent granular aerogels in the flat plate collector provides opportunities for significant reduction in production costs combined with high performance. Measurement methods and procedures for determination of the key optical and thermal performance parameters of solar optical systems were well represented. Measurements reported included the outdoor measurement of the angular dependence of the total solar energy transmittance and newly developed reflectance and transmittance accessories developed by TNO-TPD, Eindhoven, for accurate and reliable spectrophotometric measurement of optical properties. A number of papers focussed on selective coatings for solar absorbers. Of particular interest are the non-black selective solar paints developed by NIC, Ljubljana, Slovenia, for architecturally acceptable building integrated solar thermal collector applications. Regrettably a significant number of submitted papers were not presented. A more rigorous procedure for the selection of papers is recommended to avoid confusion in the programme for speakers and delegates attending the conference. Best paper prize: A tungsten-doped vanadium dioxide multifunctional window with highly improved luminous transmittance, P Jin, G Xu, M Tazawa and K Yoshimura, National Institute of Advanced Industrial Science and Technology, Nagoya, Japan. Wind Energy Report By D T Swift-Hook – IEE, UK and H Nfaoui, Laboratory d’Energie Solaire, Rabat, Morocco The scene was set by Dr Mays, Managing Director of Renewable Energy Systems Ltd. His UK firm is developing 6GW of wind farms around the world and recently
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completed two wind farms in Texas which together generate nearly 500MW. So the wind industry is now well established with over 20GW installed and is expanding rapidly at more than 30% annually – faster than mobile phones. As production has risen, prices have fallen and, in some countries such as the UK, wind farms are cheaper than any other form of generation, whether it be coal, nuclear, oil or gas. In other countries incentives are still necessary and many different systems are to be found for promoting wind farms. Against this background the technical papers dealt with a wide range of research topics and reported on progress and experience in man y different countries with their various national programmes. Environmental issues were dealt with in several sessions and offshore development was prominent as a way of avoiding many of those issues. It certainly costs more to build and operate wind farms offshore but the wind blows harder there, so the onshore costs of electricity generated offshore are 40% or 50% more than normal costs for wind energy. Hybrid systems attracted some attention, both wind-solar and wind-wave, and a few vertical axis systems were reported. In all there were 8 technical sessions with 46 papers from 25 countries. 22 papers were presented with the highest number from Japan and Germany. Interesting concepts were presented by Wakni et al from Japan and Irps from Germany. The first presented a hybrid configuration of Darrieus and Savonius rotors for stand-alone power systems in remote areas, while the other is a wind energy machine with two rotors on a chassis of a pulled agricultural trailer in order to use wind energy in different places on farms. Many country papers expressed the positive role played by governments in supporting renewable energy, in particular wind energy as a result of the problems now associated with the environmental and other problems of other forms of energy such as oil and nuclear. And Alnaser presented the preliminary work on the first wind energy atlas for the Arab World. While Nath from Germany mentioned the replacement of the former Renewable Energy Feed-In Tariff by the regulation of the Renewable Energy Law which has greatly encouraged offshore wind energy development. The German government has published its aim of achieving a total of 5GW wind power to be installed by 2010. Finally the best two papers from this section are: 1. Hybrid configuration of Darrieus and Savonius Rotors for stand-alone power systems by T Wakni et al, Japan. 2. Mobile Wind Energy Converter by H Irps, Germany. Summary Report of Technical Session of Fuel Cell Systems By Prof Dr – Ing Detlef Stolten, Juelich, Germany In the Cologne Meeting Fuel Cells have been incorporated for the first time. Fuel Cell Systems will be become a technology which will be used in Renewable Energy
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Production. The Plenary Talk of Professor Stolten dealing with the “Fuel Cell Technology at the Brink of Commercialization” presented an overview. The technical session encompassed thirty competent speakers. Further strategies of Government and industry about the US-DOE FredomCAR, the European Commission, the DaimlerChrysler and Shell Fuel Cell Programmes were presented. The status of mobile and stationary fuel cell application could be explained by a multitude of presentations on the basis of typical examples like drives and energy facilities for households and for portable generators. To use other energy carriers beside hydrogen in combination with the different fuel cell types there were presentations on the possibilities and the ongoing activities in fuel processing including the use of renewable fuels. To give some answers towards the potential of further cost reduction of fuel cell component a selection of different roots for component manufacturing was given. Fuel Cell Technology is for many parts actually in research and development. This was covered by selected contributions of modeling and simulation activities.
Report from the solar thermal technical committee Prof P C Eames, Ulster University, Northern Ireland, UK; Dr R E Critoph and Dr R N Thorpe, Warwich University, Coventry, UK A total of 113 papers were submitted to the conference in the area of solar thermal applications, of which 68 were invited for presentation in 9 technical sessions. The technical sessions covered the full range of solar thermal applications with a good mix between theoretical, experimental and importantly technological implementation. The approximate numbers of papers selected for oral presentation presented in representative subject areas are summarised below
Solar cooling and heating Freshwater production Thermal and hybrid systems CPC collector based systems Collector technology Solar drying and crop production Solar cookers Solar power plants Solar Combisystems Collector test methods Solar System economics Built Environment
20 9 7 5 4 4 4 2 1 1 1 1
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Of particular note were the large number of papers dealing with aspects of solar cooling and freshwater production. The presentations were generally well attended and of a good standard with many new results and findings presented. Papers for particular commendation include those presented by Professor Saitoh from Japan entitled “Advanced Solar Thermal Electric Systems with Phase Change Steam Accumulator and CPC Collector” and “Cooling Power Enhancement for 2-d and 3d CPC Sky Radiators”. The use of PowerPoint enabled Dr R Thorpe to make effective use of animation in his presentation entitled “Progress Towards a Highly Regenerative Adsorption Cycle for Solar Thermal Powered Air Conditioning”. The excellent paper entitled “Solar Cooling” which reports on the significant work undertaken to develop and implement solar cooling technology presented by Professor R Braun from the University of Applied Sciences in Gelsenkirchen is awarded the best paper award in the area of Solar Thermal Technology. Although only 20 in number the poster presentations made were in general of good quality. Those of Dr K A Khan from Bangladesh entitled “Performance of a Solar Medical Sterilizer for Practical Utilisation in Bangladesh” and the poster entitled “Optical Rasters – Comparison of Theoretical and Measured Values Taken from Real Rasters” by V Jirka, V Kuceravy, J Koreco, J Cap, B Sourek, J Jangl and J Wagner from the Czech Republic are worthy of particular commendation. By Unanimous decision of the solar thermal technical committee the best poster prize is awarded to Miss Gallagher from Northern Ireland for the level of her detailed simulation work evident in her poster entitled “Predicting the Behaviour of Quantum Dot Solar Concentrators.”
Biomass Programme By Dr R.P. Overend, NREL, Denver, USA Biomass proved to be an important and sustained conference track with a significant audience holding in to the end. Statistically – there were 3 Plenaries, and 9 technical sessions. The technical sessions typically had about 80% of the speakers attending, however, the poster sessions were the inverse ratio which was really dissapointing as many of the missing contributions would have come from developing countries. Never the less it was exciting to see the number of younger researchers attending and the high representation of women researchers in the field. Both Plenary and session papers emphasized the sustainability of the biomass system and indeed many of the sustainability questions of the past decades are now answered through both energy R&D and examination of the role of biomass and photosynthetic carbon fixation in climate concerns. This detailed work has revealed high net energy gains in most biomass systems, and now research is following the fate of the non-carbon elements in the biosphere, when it is used as a sustainable energy resource. Biomass and Bioenergy impact on the social and economic activities in the food, animal feed, and fibre sectors of the economy. It was exciting that the majority of
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the contributions placed the societal and developmental context of bioenergy in clear context – recognizing that the needs of people are neither Joules or kWh, but rather employment, social development, and improvements in daily living. Both small scale heating (North and South), and large scale multi-MW power stations are economic today and this was clearly established through many contributions. Environmental protection through biogas, and the application of energy crops both figured significantly. Energy crops in the context of changing agriculture policies in the EU show large potentials that were clearly identified in the sessions. One exciting aspect of the Northern contribution were papers that reflected the International Energy Agency’s successful biomass programs related to forestry, climate change, and socio-economic development.
Low Energy Architecture Summary Report By Dr Martin W. Liddament, Consultant, Reading, UK Low Energy Architecture attracted 65 speakers from over 30 countries. In addition there were 22 posters. Key subjects covered lighting, innovative ventilation techniques, air quality and building environment. Other important topics included the building fabric, insulation, life cycle analysis, heating and cooling techniques, climate change and the control of solar radiation. In the field of lighting, several examples were demonstrated illustrating the development and use of light pipes. There was also an impressive presentation on the application of architectural design to spread light in a Mosque. This approach could easily have applications in other buildings. From the Czech Republic came a presentation on the use of glass rasters to focus light in a space. Such glass can be conventionally produced and be used to achieve a wide range of lighting conditions in a building. Several ventilation designs focused on the development of wind towers and thermal stacks. Other ideas included using the building insulation for supply air filtration and heat recovery. Various ‘Hybrid’ ventilation systems were also discussed. These are aimed at providing controlled ventilation but with much lower electrical energy load than is possible with conventional mechanical systems. Cooling and achieving thermal comfort were also important issues that were covered in various presentations. Comfort papers covered calculation methods, climate data analysis and passive techniques. Many speakers introduced case study examples illustrating effective and cost efficient methods to achieve an optimum indoor environment. There were also examples aimed at providing solutions to particular problems, especially in the area of over-heating. The sessions were all well attended and attracted much discussion. Also a good proportion of the listed speakers were present to make their presentations. The quality of presentations was high and all the speakers responded well to the issues raised in discussion. It has therefore been difficult to select a presentation for the Best Paper Award. After much consideration, the Award is given to Professor Dania Gonzalez
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Couret of the Faculty of Architecture, ISPJAE, Cuba for her paper entitled “Light and Ventilation Conduits for Architecture in Compact Urban Areas”. The award is based on the quality of presentation and on the introduction of practical and inexpensive systems for providing natural ventilation and daylighting. The posters complimented the presentation material and were largely based on design and case study examples. Unfortunately not many of the planned poster presenters attended the conference and therefore many of the posters were not available. There were, however, some particularly good posters. These included: LEA30 “Tower House School Multi Purpose Hall” which presented a very complete design approach; LEA31 “Regenerative Climatisation of Buildings via Possible Cooling on Roofs” which proposes the night cooling of harvested rainwater for use in a cold store; LEA47 “Life Extension of Corkboard Insulation” which looks at the re-use of cork insulation and LEA74 “The Application of New Developed Daylighting Systems in Egypt”. The choice of winner was again difficult but goes to Poster LEA 30 “The Tower House School Multi-Purpose Hall” by Glas Architects. With the expansion of the Federal German Renewable Energy Law to cover all of the renewables (regretably it does not include cofiring of biomass residues with coal) the enthusiasm of the host country for bioenergy was evident and it was clear that the policy is supporting and ecouraging major National developments in the R& D of thermochemical conversion (pyrolysis and gasification) and biogas along with biodiesel as key near term areas.
POLICY ISSUES REPORTS By Mr Michael Jefferson, Global Energy & Environment Ltd., Bedfordshire, UK Seventy Papers were offered in this Section, together with 14 Posters. There were usual absentees from developing countries due to visa problems. The coverage of the Policy Papers was, however, not quite as broad or as policydirected as the Congress planners had originally hoped for. With the Marrakesh Accords and UNCSD-9 occurring last year, the Sixth Conference of the Parties to the Convention on Biological Diversity having taken place last April, and with the WSSD still to come (from 24th August in Johannesburg), we had hoped for numerous Papers tied closely to the themes for sustainable development, biological diversity, and climate change. Of the 9 Plenary Session Papers, which can clearly be said to have fallen within the scope of Policy Issues, 7 covered one or more of these three crucial subjects, and the overall balance of the programme was successfully achieved as a result. International policy issues were covered in one Policy Issues Paper (here I exclude papers covering framework legislation), as well as in 9 Plenary Papers. National policy issues and/or Performance and Prospects were covered in 27 Policy Section Papers and 6 Plenary Papers. Finance, Emissions Trading/Quotas, and Risk Management/Insurance issues were covered in 6 Papers, including one Plenary Paper.
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Referring to risks, two Papers, one in a Plenary Session and one in Policy Issues Session, warned of the level and potential toxicity of emissions from biomass burning. Perhaps thankfully, given its very poor quality, the G-8 Renewable Energy Task Report prepared for the G-8 Summit in Genoa exactly a year ago, was almost completely ignored. However, it should be noted what a wasted opportunity that was to advance the interests of renewable energy. Policy or Investment Framework issues were covered in 6 Papers. Eleven papers presented work on academic modelling exercises, divided almost equally between exercised with explicit empirical inputs or outcomes, and those which remained largely theoretical. Two Papers fell into the broad capacity building/educational field. One covered renewable energy project analysis software, which has been made available free of charge on the Internet in both English and French languages. The other relates to an international scheme for improving education in sustainable energy by university departments entering into the scheme. The Papers relating to national situations given in the Policy Issues Section divided into 14 Papers relating to industrial economies and 13 Papers relating to developing countries. The broad impressions left by the Papers on international countries were: 앫 Although there are some examples of good national performance ( solar initiatives in Germany were tightly given exposure), these are too few and far between. 앫 In some countries the status or percentage of renewable energy’s contribution to electricity generation is actually deteriorating. 앫 Indicative targets for renewable energy’s contribution to electricity generation in a number of EU-Member countries are very optimistic. 앫 It was clear from some Papers that more is occurring to advance renewable energy in some countries, usually stigmatised for doing nothing to mitigate climate change, than is generally realised – Australia and the USA, particularly. Although the Texasn RPS scheme was not felt to be as good in principle as some Minimum Price Standard schemes, it is certainly accelerating wind power development in that State. 앫 Quota systems and incentive schemes, which are of less than five years’ duration came in for criticism from various speakers. 앫 Only four Papers covered or touched on what industrialised countries are doing, or should be doing, to assist developing countries. The Papers relating to developing countries needs and experiences left the following broad impressions: 앫 There are renewable energy initiatives taking place in many developing countries, but these usually on a small scale and often still of a pilot project nature. 앫 It is not clear that investment in individual solar home systems offers the best value for money or the quickest route to accessing needed energy services at this point of time. 앫 Renewable energy schemes are frequently held back by lack of finance, available
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technology, maintenance skills, and knowhow more generally. Where renewable energy schemes are being implemented, the beneficiaries are often the richer members of the community. For those who see renewable energy as an important tool for poverty eradication, and providing access to the poor in remote areas especially, this is not viewed as satisfactory. 앫 The importance of an interactive approach to engage local understanding and support was stressed by several speakers. There is also a need to evaluate the success, or otherwise, of schemes. One evaluation exercise in India of solar home schemes (carried out in 2002) was believed to be unique. However, in work done in Thailand on behalf of the promotion programmes is made standard practice. 앫 Emphasis was placed on the importance of developing domestic capital markets, and the feasibility of doing so. There was here an implicit, and at times an explicit, criticism of international lending institutions. No paper in the Policy Issues Section covered the activities of multilateral lending institutions, and in Plenary 7 a GEF speaker/addressed grid-connected renewable energy in developing countries. 앫 There remain many opportunities to save energy in all countries, including developing countries, as well as huge potential for the greater use of renewable energy sources. The Seventh World Renewable Energy Congress once again allowed for wonderful opportunities to network, and we also had the pleasure of two excellent side events, for which I should particularly like to thank the Local Organising Committee.
ENERGY POVERTY AND GENDER TECHINICAL SESSIONS AND WORKSHOP Prepared by: Dr Sheilah Meikle, University College, London, UK and Dr Rona Wilkinson, ITDG, Rugby, UK Three Technical sessions were held on Tuesday 2nd July on the theme of Energy, Poverty and Gender Technical Session EGP1: Poverty Reduction Overview This session consisted of an opening address by Abdulaziz Altwaijri, Director General of ISESCO, who talked about poverty in these countries and the contribution energy could make. This was followed by Dick Jones from DFID who linked the Millennium Development Goals and Energy, showing that energy is a crucial component in achieving ALL of the MDGs. Sheilah Meikle from DPU/UCL then explained how the Sustainable Livelihoods framework had been used as a tool in looking at energy interventions. Elizabeth Cecelski closed the session by talking about energy strategies and the need for supporting Institutions and Policies.
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Technical Session EGP2: This session was chaired by Pradeep Chaturvedi and Rona Wilkinson. Five papers were given (see Appendix) covering Household Energy and Indoor Pollution, and the need for a number of different interventions including stoves, hoods and windows; the experience of an organisation in Nepal that used micro hydro as a point of social mobilisation; Street foods; and an example of a successful women’s coopertaive in Germany. All of these presentations showed the links between energy, poverty and gender. The final presentation was by Stephen Karakezi who talked about de-emphasising the role of solar PV technology. There was a lively discussion and questions at the end.
Technical Session EPG3 This session was chaired by Sheila Meikle and Rona Wilkinson. Five papers were presented and complemented each other. Two were presented about cooking and stoves- one looking at solar cooking and one at improved charcoal stoves. Two papers by members of AFRAPEN looked at the role of subsidies and whether they were really helping the poor receive access to energy services. The final paper gave a overview of poverty in ISESCO countries and how energy fits into this. All of the above help to provide a good basis for the workshop on Wednesday A one-day workshop, titled Energy Poverty and Gender, was held on Wednesday. The objective of the workshop was to discuss issues around poor women’s access to energy services and to identify key messages relating to poverty. The workshop was attended by about 25 participants. These were divided into two groups who had a lively and enthusiastic discussion. One group considered energy’s impact on the household and the other energy’s impact on production. The discussion was structured around the following questions.
1. What do poor women need energy for? 2. What are the barriers to accessing energy and energy services to meet needs of poor women? 3. What is needed to overcome these barriers (in terms of Policies, Institutions and other interventions)? 4. What key messages and actions to this group want Policy Makers to take on board?
Following group discussion the findings were further considered in plenary session. The groups concluded that: energy plays a key role in meeting the millennium development goals and is crucial for the eradication of poverty. Note: The Technical Committee decided that the best paper was: Household Energy, Indoor air pollution and Health Experiences in rural Kenya – Doig Bates, Bruce and Gitonga as presented by Elizabeth Bates
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Other Major Topics : Prepared by Prof. David Elliott, Open University, Milton Keynes, UK The Main focus of OMT was the water based technologies small hydro, wave and tidal. Geothermal was also included in this sectim, as well as hydrogen production techniquer, including solar hydrogen. Medium source hydro clearly continues to play a key role in meeting energy need, locally in many countries, as does geothermal – it’s worth remembering that there is over 6 GW of electricity generated by geothermal . This figure will be doubled if we consider the thermal applications of geothermal. We had, 6 papers on geothermal. 7 on hydro. But wave and tidal power are the newly energy options. The UK is pushing ahead with both, as it was illustrated by the four displays in the Renewable Energy Exhibition – Stinray and Plamis. However, the ideas are also being looked at elswhere, and we had papers from India, Japan, Bangladesh, Jamaica and the USA, as well as from the UK and Ireland. 9 papers in all. A link to hydrogen production was make by in interesting paper from Russia and sea water electrolysis, but equally interesting were papers on photo dissociaton from Romania and hydrogen production from organic wastes from India. In all there were 9 papers on various aspects of hydrogen. Finally, there were a range of papers on various aspects of the solar resource including an Atlas of the Arab solar resource
WREN newsletter
Final Report of the World Renewable Energy Congress VII, Cologne, Germany 29 June – 5 July 2002 The seventh Congress began with a successful and lively meeting attended by 80 WREN members on 29 June, 2002. During the morning session, WREN activities for the period 2000–2002 were outlined. Mr Hugh Lockhart-Ball presented a report on the WREN Newsletter. He urged members to send him news of any renewable energy activities in their countries for publication. Prof. Sayigh then reported on the great number of papers received for consideration for publication in Renewable Energy, published by Elsevier Science, almost one paper a day. He was happy to report on the excellent quality of most of the papers received, and thanked all the reviewers for their considerable, anonymous, contribution. No doubt the ever-increasing standard of the journal owed much to their efforts. He went on to mention the aims of the recently established Renewable Energy Magazine, which is the annual official publication of WREN produced by Sovereign Publications Limited. The first issue was an outstanding success and issue number two is available at the Congress. He thanked everyone concerned for their hard work and all the sponsors for their support. Regarding the publication of books, so far five books have been edited by WREN and published on different renewable energy topics. Two further books are in the pipeline, one on biomass technology and the other on modern crop drying. WREN continues to hold targeted seminars, (12) and regional conferences (5) in many parts of the world. A lively discussion took place concerning regional conferences. It was decided that in future these would be called World Renewable Energy Conferences on specific topics rather than regional conferences. The meeting confirmed that the next World Renewable Energy Congress would take place in Denver, Colorado, USA, 28 August to 3 September, 2004, while WREC-IX 2006 will be held in Japan. Professor Sayigh explained to the meeting that two organisations exist: one, the World Renewable Energy Council, on which each country has representatives, with Professor Sayigh as its Chairman. This body cooperates with WREN to promote renewable energy, to publicise and participate in the bi-annual Congress. Networking between Council members is seen as a major objective. The members of the Council are under no financial obligation and are selected by the countries concerned and in PII: S 0 9 6 0 - 1 4 8 1 ( 0 2 ) 0 0 1 5 1 - 9
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consultation with the Chairman of the Council to represent non-governmental bodies, research agencies and academia, industry and government bodies in the various regions of the world, to promote renewable energy use within their home country and globally and to attend the Council meeting every two years. The other organization is WREN, a UK registered charity, with a board of trustees and an Executive Director. The role of WREN is to establish and implement policy and to oversee the management of all WREN activities. WREN is a network of worldwide organizations promoting environmentally safe and economically sustainable renewable energy. WREN has been established to support and enhance the utilization and implementation of renewable energy sources, to further the communication and technical education of scientists, engineers, technicians and managers in this field and to address itself to the energy needs of both developing and developed countries. WREN was established in 1992 during the second World Renewable Energy Congress at Reading, UK. Its director general is Professor Ali M Sayigh, and it has an executive committee from all regions of the world. WREN is affiliated to UNESCO. Dr Ikeda, Secretary General of JORBE, outlined the preliminary programme for the Japan Congress. He mentioned the numerous offers from organisations to cooperate and sponsor this meeting. The final venue has not yet been chosen from the six possibilities, but will be known by the end of 2002. Dr Kuruvilla Mathew, Murdoch University, Perth, Australia gave a short presentation in support of the Perth bid for the 2008 Congress. The decision on the venue for 2008 was deferred until the meeting in Denver. A brief discussion ensued on the question of competitive meetings. Those present felt that the WREN Congress has a sufficiently strong identity and is well established enough to meet competition and members need not be concerned. During the afternoon session there were four presentations: 1. How Energy Policy can provide practical Answers to Poverty? By C Coventry: ITDG, Rugby, UK. 2. The State Initiative in North Rhine-Westphalia, Germany: Structure and Projects by Inge A Wieschenkamper and F-M Baumann: NRW State Initiative on Future Energies, c/o Ministry of Economic Affairs, Energy and Transport, Dusseldorf, Germany. 3. Solar Energy Research Association (FVS) by G Stadermann: FVS, c/o HahnMeitner Institute, Berlin, Germany. 4. Industrial Perspectives of the Future Technology PV Solar Electricity by Winfried Hoffmann: RWE Solar GmbH, Alzenau, Germany.
WREN members and invited guests were attended a dinner at the Hyatt Hotel overlooking the Rhine and with a splendid view of the famous Cathedral. On Sunday, June 30, 2002, a 3-mile race was organized at 8.30 in the morning. Nearly 30 participants (men and women) took part in the race. From the men the winners were Professor Ralph Sims, New Zealand, Mr Hasan Nfaoui, Morocco, and
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Mr Paul W Magoha, Kenya. The women winners were Ms Sheryl Williams, Jamaica, Mrs Meryem Daryabegy, Iran and Ms O Yasmina Fasoul, UK. A Workshop on Austria and Europe – Partnership for Sustainable Energy R&D was held from 10.30 to 16.00, where 40 participants attended. Registration for the Congress began at 16.00 –18.30 and the main reception was held at 19.30 in the beautifully restored City Hall of Cologne, hosted by the Mayor of Cologne, Mr Fritz Schramma. More than 500 participants were present at the reception and enjoyed the generous hospitality of the Mayor who welcomed the participants. An excellent buffet and plentiful drinks were much appreciated by all present. On Monday 1 July, under the Patronage of Wolfgang Clement, The President Minister of North Rhine-Westphalia (NRW), the Congress Chairman Professor Ali Sayigh, opened the Congress with welcome speech highlighting the importance of renewables and praised the host country Germany and in particular the North RhineWestphalia (NRW) for their aim to achieve 26% of their energy consumption from renewables. The host Chairman, Professor Richard Wagner, stressed the cooperation with WREN and his delight at seeing so many nationalities present at this famous gathering. His Excellency Dr Abdulaziz Othman Altwaijri, Director General of ISESCO delivered a speech and added his welcome to all nations present at the Congress. He also stressed the importance of ISESCO’s cooperation with WREN in promoting the use of renewable energy. The next speaker was Dr Stanley R Bull, Associate Director for Science & Technology, NREL, Golden, Colorado, USA, who emphasised the need for wider use of renewables and expressed his delight in being at the Congress and cooperating with WREN. He invited all the participants to Denver in 2004, where NREL will host WREC-VIII. The Rt. Hon. Ernst Schwanhold, Minister for Economics Affairs, Technology and Transport, NRW, gave the Congress speech. He highlighted the importance of his state in leading the way in Germany in utilizing all aspects of renewables. He pledged that his government would continue in their programme towards achieving 50% usage by 2020, and leading the way within the European Community. A press conference followed at which 30 journalists, TV and Radios reporters were present. During the week five ministers from Germany were present, two ministers from Saudi Arabia and Yemen, and one deputy minister from Iran. Representatives from WMO, UNDP, ESCWA, FAO and EC delivered papers at the Congress. The Congress sessions were divided into three parts: 앫 All Monday, Friday, and morning periods on Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday were devoted to plenary sessions. Policy makers, heads of organizations, government representatives, and bankers, heads of research establishments and ministers, made 38 presentations. 앫 During the remaining parts of Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday, there were 10 parallel technical sessions covering: photovoltaic technology – 65 papers; solar
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materials – 47 papers; wind energy – 47 papers; fuel cell systems - 32 papers; solar thermal applications – 67 papers; biomass for energy and materials – 67 papers; low energy architecture – 79 papers; policy issues – 70 papers; energy, gender and poverty reduction – 22; plus two workshops and other major topics – 61 papers. 앫 The third part was devoted to poster sessions on Tuesday and Wednesday during the lunch breaks where 380 posters in PV, ST, BM, LEA, PI, FC and OMT, were displayed.
In all 758 participants registered, while 50 persons came for one and two days only, representing 88 countries: - Germany – 188; UK – 88; Japan – 40; Australia – 22; USA and India – 21 each; Sweden – 16, The Netherlands – 14; Canada, Malaysia and Algeria – 13 each; Turkey, Egypt and Armenia – 10 each; and other countries varied from 9 to 1 each. A truly international meeting! Final observations and recommendations: 앫 The progress made in photovoltaic technology, wind energy, biomass for energy and solar thermal applications was very pleasing and represents major competition for the gas and oil energy industries in the next three to five years. 앫 Mini hydro and geothermal are well placed to provide power at a competitive cost. 앫 It is noticeable that more countries are now using low energy architecture and energy conservation in their buildings. There is no doubt that this trend will accelerate in the next decade. 앫 Innovative ideas in material technology have not only created new build materials, but also coatings and switchable materials as well as electrochromic materials which have made glazing more attractive and increased the use of energy saving elements in buildings. 앫 A area of fast growth is that of fuel cell systems. It is expected that within ten years massive applications in transport as well as remote applications will be seen.
WREC DECLARATION The World Renewable Energy Congress believes that sustainable development, in all its dimensions, provides the only practicable way forward if our World’s peoples are to live in harmony with each other. Access to affordable and reliable energy services, drawn from environmentally acceptable sources of supply, is an important feature of sustainable development. Renewable energy sources and technologies - where carefully harnessed, harvested and positioned - provide a virtually infinite supply source and environmental compatibility with sustainable development. There are 1.7 billion people in rural areas of developing countries now living without access to modern energy services. That means the most basic services –
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such as cooking, heating, cooling, lighting, use of electric appliances, and use of motors for many purposes – are still out of reach for them. Over 400 million people in urban and peri-urban areas suffer the same deprivation. In addition to these 2.1 billion people – one third of our World’s population – have unreliable access to modern energy services. This results in supply failures which create severe disruption in the home and workplace. Renewable energy sources, appropriate to local conditions, usually offer the most attractive supply source for scattered rural populations. Renewable energy sources will also make an increasing contribution in urban areas. For a variety of economic and strategic reasons – from security and diversity of supply to avoidance of heavy import costs – renewable energy sources are also expected to become the supply form of choice. This Congress has noted the ‘targets’ set out in the Report of the Group of Eight Industrial Nations’ Task Force on Renewable Energy, published in July, 2001. It is not clear how closely the Task Force and its Advisory Group examined those targets. But the main ‘targets’: for “up to 300 million people” in rural areas of developing countries to receive modern energy supplies from renewable energy sources over the next decade or so; and for “up to 200 million people” to received improved cooking stoves over the same time period, are rejected by us as they are inadequate. The first target is rejected because the implied rate of rural electrification has been greatly exceeded in the past (in the 1970s and 1980s); and because it is unacceptable to suggest that the needy can wait sixty years or so for their needs to be fulfilled. The second target is rejected because it is only twice what China alone has achieved in the recent past; and because the use of charcoal even in improved cooking stoves may simply undermine fuel wood availability and sustainable development unless counter measures are taken. This Congress welcomes challenging targets for the more rapid diffusion of renewable energy technologies. We believe the needs of rural populations could be served within 20 years, not 60, if financing was made available of the order of US$ 300 billion (some $1,000 per family involved). That sum represents less than 3% of the annual Gross Domestic Product of the USA. It is surely not an unreasonable goal if given the support of the major industrialised countries over a twenty-year period. We believe that solar cookers should be given greater encouragement, and charcoalburning stoves only supported where fuel is readily available without negative consequences. We wish to see a much more determined effort to expand the use of renewable energy technologies in urban areas. To these ends this Congress calls upon the international community to move beyond the G8 Renewable Energy Task Force Report, and to satisfy the demand for modern energy services in rural areas within 20 years. We invite the international community to subscribe to the goal of providing at least 50% of our World’s energy needs from renewable sources by the end of this century. We invite the developed country Parties to the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change to fulfil their agreed commitments to take all practicable steps to promote, facilitate and finance the transfer of – or access to – environmentally-sound technologies and know-how as set out in Article 4.5 of the Convention.
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Summary of various technical committees’ reports
Photovoltaic Technology Report: Prepared by Dr AbuBakr S. Bahaj, Southampton University, Southampton, UK The photovoltaic division of WREC VII has lined up a comprehensive programme for the congress. Dr Bahaj has introduced the work of the committee starting by the review process which was initiated some 18 months before the congress. An example of the review activity is sited in Table 1. The number of papers for each category presented at the conference either in poster fashion or orally is shown in Table 2. The oral session and papers were of high quality and addressed all major issues related to photovoltaics. These papers were extremely informative and straddled new avenues of research and development. This has been a success for the congress especially since it has come just about a month behind the PVIEEE specialist conference in New Orleans. One of the disappointing factors for the PV Division was the small number of Posters presented in Day 1. This however, was rectified in the next day when most of the posters were displayed. Over 90% of the oral programme papers were presented at the congress. The oral presentations were extremely informative many of which generated passionate debates.
Solar Materials Report Prepared by: Prof M G Hutchins, Oxford Brookes University, Oxford, UK The conference attracted 47 papers from 27 countries. 7 technical sessions covered topics in the fields of switchable glazing, transparent conductors, photochemistry, transparent and translucent materials, daylighting, shading and re-directional materials and spectrally selective solar absorbers. Invited speakers included Prof Geoff Smith, University of Technology Sydney, Australia who presented a stimulating overview of recent advances in nanomaterials and nanoparticle science and the revolutionary opportunities now being researched to produce new generations of products for the efficient conversion and control of light and solar energy. Dr Rolf Blessing, Interpane, Germany, presented a beautiful lecture on thin films for solar energy gain which clearly demonstrated industry’s commitment to the development of high quality products for glass and glazing and solar collector applications. Windows with total solar energy transmittance above 0.7 exhibiting U-values below 1.0 W/(m2K), based on silver coating technology, are now being realised together with new switchable glazing such as the gasochromic window. Prof Roos of Uppsala University presented results showing the impact of
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the use of advanced glazing on the energy performance of buildings. In Europe, energy savings in the region 100 – 200 kWh/m2/annum can be readily achieved creating buildings with low energy demand and drastically reducing Europe’s energy consumption in the built environment. Amongst the smart materials papers presented Dr Jin of NIAIST, Japan, presented some novel and interesting improvements to the thermochromic properties of tungsten-doped vanadium dioxide films, where antireflecting coatings have been successfully applied to significantly raise the visible transmittance of the coatings and hence increase the dynamic range of these devices. The recently established European thematic network, WINDAT, is building a database of glass and glazing and shading products to be used in conjunction with freely available software, WIS, for window design and selection. Training courses are targeted towards manufacturers, architects, building services engineers and other relevant user groups to maximise the potential for use of software that will ensure glazing selection is made in an educated way and that our buildings will perform better, providing lower energy costs and greater occupant visual and thermal comfort. The importance of vacuum technologies was underlined in a group of presentations describing evacuated glazing, vacuum flat plate collectors employing granular aerogel and vacuum insulation panels for building insulation. The use of transparent granular aerogels in the flat plate collector provides opportunities for significant reduction in production costs combined with high performance. Measurement methods and procedures for determination of the key optical and thermal performance parameters of solar optical systems were well represented. Measurements reported included the outdoor measurement of the angular dependence of the total solar energy transmittance and newly developed reflectance and transmittance accessories developed by TNO-TPD, Eindhoven, for accurate and reliable spectrophotometric measurement of optical properties. A number of papers focussed on selective coatings for solar absorbers. Of particular interest are the non-black selective solar paints developed by NIC, Ljubljana, Slovenia, for architecturally acceptable building integrated solar thermal collector applications. Regrettably a significant number of submitted papers were not presented. A more rigorous procedure for the selection of papers is recommended to avoid confusion in the programme for speakers and delegates attending the conference. Best paper prize: A tungsten-doped vanadium dioxide multifunctional window with highly improved luminous transmittance, P Jin, G Xu, M Tazawa and K Yoshimura, National Institute of Advanced Industrial Science and Technology, Nagoya, Japan. Wind Energy Report By D T Swift-Hook – IEE, UK and H Nfaoui, Laboratory d’Energie Solaire, Rabat, Morocco The scene was set by Dr Mays, Managing Director of Renewable Energy Systems Ltd. His UK firm is developing 6GW of wind farms around the world and recently
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completed two wind farms in Texas which together generate nearly 500MW. So the wind industry is now well established with over 20GW installed and is expanding rapidly at more than 30% annually – faster than mobile phones. As production has risen, prices have fallen and, in some countries such as the UK, wind farms are cheaper than any other form of generation, whether it be coal, nuclear, oil or gas. In other countries incentives are still necessary and many different systems are to be found for promoting wind farms. Against this background the technical papers dealt with a wide range of research topics and reported on progress and experience in man y different countries with their various national programmes. Environmental issues were dealt with in several sessions and offshore development was prominent as a way of avoiding many of those issues. It certainly costs more to build and operate wind farms offshore but the wind blows harder there, so the onshore costs of electricity generated offshore are 40% or 50% more than normal costs for wind energy. Hybrid systems attracted some attention, both wind-solar and wind-wave, and a few vertical axis systems were reported. In all there were 8 technical sessions with 46 papers from 25 countries. 22 papers were presented with the highest number from Japan and Germany. Interesting concepts were presented by Wakni et al from Japan and Irps from Germany. The first presented a hybrid configuration of Darrieus and Savonius rotors for stand-alone power systems in remote areas, while the other is a wind energy machine with two rotors on a chassis of a pulled agricultural trailer in order to use wind energy in different places on farms. Many country papers expressed the positive role played by governments in supporting renewable energy, in particular wind energy as a result of the problems now associated with the environmental and other problems of other forms of energy such as oil and nuclear. And Alnaser presented the preliminary work on the first wind energy atlas for the Arab World. While Nath from Germany mentioned the replacement of the former Renewable Energy Feed-In Tariff by the regulation of the Renewable Energy Law which has greatly encouraged offshore wind energy development. The German government has published its aim of achieving a total of 5GW wind power to be installed by 2010. Finally the best two papers from this section are: 1. Hybrid configuration of Darrieus and Savonius Rotors for stand-alone power systems by T Wakni et al, Japan. 2. Mobile Wind Energy Converter by H Irps, Germany. Summary Report of Technical Session of Fuel Cell Systems By Prof Dr – Ing Detlef Stolten, Juelich, Germany In the Cologne Meeting Fuel Cells have been incorporated for the first time. Fuel Cell Systems will be become a technology which will be used in Renewable Energy
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Production. The Plenary Talk of Professor Stolten dealing with the “Fuel Cell Technology at the Brink of Commercialization” presented an overview. The technical session encompassed thirty competent speakers. Further strategies of Government and industry about the US-DOE FredomCAR, the European Commission, the DaimlerChrysler and Shell Fuel Cell Programmes were presented. The status of mobile and stationary fuel cell application could be explained by a multitude of presentations on the basis of typical examples like drives and energy facilities for households and for portable generators. To use other energy carriers beside hydrogen in combination with the different fuel cell types there were presentations on the possibilities and the ongoing activities in fuel processing including the use of renewable fuels. To give some answers towards the potential of further cost reduction of fuel cell component a selection of different roots for component manufacturing was given. Fuel Cell Technology is for many parts actually in research and development. This was covered by selected contributions of modeling and simulation activities.
Report from the solar thermal technical committee Prof P C Eames, Ulster University, Northern Ireland, UK; Dr R E Critoph and Dr R N Thorpe, Warwich University, Coventry, UK A total of 113 papers were submitted to the conference in the area of solar thermal applications, of which 68 were invited for presentation in 9 technical sessions. The technical sessions covered the full range of solar thermal applications with a good mix between theoretical, experimental and importantly technological implementation. The approximate numbers of papers selected for oral presentation presented in representative subject areas are summarised below
Solar cooling and heating Freshwater production Thermal and hybrid systems CPC collector based systems Collector technology Solar drying and crop production Solar cookers Solar power plants Solar Combisystems Collector test methods Solar System economics Built Environment
20 9 7 5 4 4 4 2 1 1 1 1
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Of particular note were the large number of papers dealing with aspects of solar cooling and freshwater production. The presentations were generally well attended and of a good standard with many new results and findings presented. Papers for particular commendation include those presented by Professor Saitoh from Japan entitled “Advanced Solar Thermal Electric Systems with Phase Change Steam Accumulator and CPC Collector” and “Cooling Power Enhancement for 2-d and 3d CPC Sky Radiators”. The use of PowerPoint enabled Dr R Thorpe to make effective use of animation in his presentation entitled “Progress Towards a Highly Regenerative Adsorption Cycle for Solar Thermal Powered Air Conditioning”. The excellent paper entitled “Solar Cooling” which reports on the significant work undertaken to develop and implement solar cooling technology presented by Professor R Braun from the University of Applied Sciences in Gelsenkirchen is awarded the best paper award in the area of Solar Thermal Technology. Although only 20 in number the poster presentations made were in general of good quality. Those of Dr K A Khan from Bangladesh entitled “Performance of a Solar Medical Sterilizer for Practical Utilisation in Bangladesh” and the poster entitled “Optical Rasters – Comparison of Theoretical and Measured Values Taken from Real Rasters” by V Jirka, V Kuceravy, J Koreco, J Cap, B Sourek, J Jangl and J Wagner from the Czech Republic are worthy of particular commendation. By Unanimous decision of the solar thermal technical committee the best poster prize is awarded to Miss Gallagher from Northern Ireland for the level of her detailed simulation work evident in her poster entitled “Predicting the Behaviour of Quantum Dot Solar Concentrators.”
Biomass Programme By Dr R.P. Overend, NREL, Denver, USA Biomass proved to be an important and sustained conference track with a significant audience holding in to the end. Statistically – there were 3 Plenaries, and 9 technical sessions. The technical sessions typically had about 80% of the speakers attending, however, the poster sessions were the inverse ratio which was really dissapointing as many of the missing contributions would have come from developing countries. Never the less it was exciting to see the number of younger researchers attending and the high representation of women researchers in the field. Both Plenary and session papers emphasized the sustainability of the biomass system and indeed many of the sustainability questions of the past decades are now answered through both energy R&D and examination of the role of biomass and photosynthetic carbon fixation in climate concerns. This detailed work has revealed high net energy gains in most biomass systems, and now research is following the fate of the non-carbon elements in the biosphere, when it is used as a sustainable energy resource. Biomass and Bioenergy impact on the social and economic activities in the food, animal feed, and fibre sectors of the economy. It was exciting that the majority of
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the contributions placed the societal and developmental context of bioenergy in clear context – recognizing that the needs of people are neither Joules or kWh, but rather employment, social development, and improvements in daily living. Both small scale heating (North and South), and large scale multi-MW power stations are economic today and this was clearly established through many contributions. Environmental protection through biogas, and the application of energy crops both figured significantly. Energy crops in the context of changing agriculture policies in the EU show large potentials that were clearly identified in the sessions. One exciting aspect of the Northern contribution were papers that reflected the International Energy Agency’s successful biomass programs related to forestry, climate change, and socio-economic development.
Low Energy Architecture Summary Report By Dr Martin W. Liddament, Consultant, Reading, UK Low Energy Architecture attracted 65 speakers from over 30 countries. In addition there were 22 posters. Key subjects covered lighting, innovative ventilation techniques, air quality and building environment. Other important topics included the building fabric, insulation, life cycle analysis, heating and cooling techniques, climate change and the control of solar radiation. In the field of lighting, several examples were demonstrated illustrating the development and use of light pipes. There was also an impressive presentation on the application of architectural design to spread light in a Mosque. This approach could easily have applications in other buildings. From the Czech Republic came a presentation on the use of glass rasters to focus light in a space. Such glass can be conventionally produced and be used to achieve a wide range of lighting conditions in a building. Several ventilation designs focused on the development of wind towers and thermal stacks. Other ideas included using the building insulation for supply air filtration and heat recovery. Various ‘Hybrid’ ventilation systems were also discussed. These are aimed at providing controlled ventilation but with much lower electrical energy load than is possible with conventional mechanical systems. Cooling and achieving thermal comfort were also important issues that were covered in various presentations. Comfort papers covered calculation methods, climate data analysis and passive techniques. Many speakers introduced case study examples illustrating effective and cost efficient methods to achieve an optimum indoor environment. There were also examples aimed at providing solutions to particular problems, especially in the area of over-heating. The sessions were all well attended and attracted much discussion. Also a good proportion of the listed speakers were present to make their presentations. The quality of presentations was high and all the speakers responded well to the issues raised in discussion. It has therefore been difficult to select a presentation for the Best Paper Award. After much consideration, the Award is given to Professor Dania Gonzalez
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Couret of the Faculty of Architecture, ISPJAE, Cuba for her paper entitled “Light and Ventilation Conduits for Architecture in Compact Urban Areas”. The award is based on the quality of presentation and on the introduction of practical and inexpensive systems for providing natural ventilation and daylighting. The posters complimented the presentation material and were largely based on design and case study examples. Unfortunately not many of the planned poster presenters attended the conference and therefore many of the posters were not available. There were, however, some particularly good posters. These included: LEA30 “Tower House School Multi Purpose Hall” which presented a very complete design approach; LEA31 “Regenerative Climatisation of Buildings via Possible Cooling on Roofs” which proposes the night cooling of harvested rainwater for use in a cold store; LEA47 “Life Extension of Corkboard Insulation” which looks at the re-use of cork insulation and LEA74 “The Application of New Developed Daylighting Systems in Egypt”. The choice of winner was again difficult but goes to Poster LEA 30 “The Tower House School Multi-Purpose Hall” by Glas Architects. With the expansion of the Federal German Renewable Energy Law to cover all of the renewables (regretably it does not include cofiring of biomass residues with coal) the enthusiasm of the host country for bioenergy was evident and it was clear that the policy is supporting and ecouraging major National developments in the R& D of thermochemical conversion (pyrolysis and gasification) and biogas along with biodiesel as key near term areas.
POLICY ISSUES REPORTS By Mr Michael Jefferson, Global Energy & Environment Ltd., Bedfordshire, UK Seventy Papers were offered in this Section, together with 14 Posters. There were usual absentees from developing countries due to visa problems. The coverage of the Policy Papers was, however, not quite as broad or as policydirected as the Congress planners had originally hoped for. With the Marrakesh Accords and UNCSD-9 occurring last year, the Sixth Conference of the Parties to the Convention on Biological Diversity having taken place last April, and with the WSSD still to come (from 24th August in Johannesburg), we had hoped for numerous Papers tied closely to the themes for sustainable development, biological diversity, and climate change. Of the 9 Plenary Session Papers, which can clearly be said to have fallen within the scope of Policy Issues, 7 covered one or more of these three crucial subjects, and the overall balance of the programme was successfully achieved as a result. International policy issues were covered in one Policy Issues Paper (here I exclude papers covering framework legislation), as well as in 9 Plenary Papers. National policy issues and/or Performance and Prospects were covered in 27 Policy Section Papers and 6 Plenary Papers. Finance, Emissions Trading/Quotas, and Risk Management/Insurance issues were covered in 6 Papers, including one Plenary Paper.
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Referring to risks, two Papers, one in a Plenary Session and one in Policy Issues Session, warned of the level and potential toxicity of emissions from biomass burning. Perhaps thankfully, given its very poor quality, the G-8 Renewable Energy Task Report prepared for the G-8 Summit in Genoa exactly a year ago, was almost completely ignored. However, it should be noted what a wasted opportunity that was to advance the interests of renewable energy. Policy or Investment Framework issues were covered in 6 Papers. Eleven papers presented work on academic modelling exercises, divided almost equally between exercised with explicit empirical inputs or outcomes, and those which remained largely theoretical. Two Papers fell into the broad capacity building/educational field. One covered renewable energy project analysis software, which has been made available free of charge on the Internet in both English and French languages. The other relates to an international scheme for improving education in sustainable energy by university departments entering into the scheme. The Papers relating to national situations given in the Policy Issues Section divided into 14 Papers relating to industrial economies and 13 Papers relating to developing countries. The broad impressions left by the Papers on international countries were: 앫 Although there are some examples of good national performance ( solar initiatives in Germany were tightly given exposure), these are too few and far between. 앫 In some countries the status or percentage of renewable energy’s contribution to electricity generation is actually deteriorating. 앫 Indicative targets for renewable energy’s contribution to electricity generation in a number of EU-Member countries are very optimistic. 앫 It was clear from some Papers that more is occurring to advance renewable energy in some countries, usually stigmatised for doing nothing to mitigate climate change, than is generally realised – Australia and the USA, particularly. Although the Texasn RPS scheme was not felt to be as good in principle as some Minimum Price Standard schemes, it is certainly accelerating wind power development in that State. 앫 Quota systems and incentive schemes, which are of less than five years’ duration came in for criticism from various speakers. 앫 Only four Papers covered or touched on what industrialised countries are doing, or should be doing, to assist developing countries. The Papers relating to developing countries needs and experiences left the following broad impressions: 앫 There are renewable energy initiatives taking place in many developing countries, but these usually on a small scale and often still of a pilot project nature. 앫 It is not clear that investment in individual solar home systems offers the best value for money or the quickest route to accessing needed energy services at this point of time. 앫 Renewable energy schemes are frequently held back by lack of finance, available
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technology, maintenance skills, and knowhow more generally. Where renewable energy schemes are being implemented, the beneficiaries are often the richer members of the community. For those who see renewable energy as an important tool for poverty eradication, and providing access to the poor in remote areas especially, this is not viewed as satisfactory. 앫 The importance of an interactive approach to engage local understanding and support was stressed by several speakers. There is also a need to evaluate the success, or otherwise, of schemes. One evaluation exercise in India of solar home schemes (carried out in 2002) was believed to be unique. However, in work done in Thailand on behalf of the promotion programmes is made standard practice. 앫 Emphasis was placed on the importance of developing domestic capital markets, and the feasibility of doing so. There was here an implicit, and at times an explicit, criticism of international lending institutions. No paper in the Policy Issues Section covered the activities of multilateral lending institutions, and in Plenary 7 a GEF speaker/addressed grid-connected renewable energy in developing countries. 앫 There remain many opportunities to save energy in all countries, including developing countries, as well as huge potential for the greater use of renewable energy sources. The Seventh World Renewable Energy Congress once again allowed for wonderful opportunities to network, and we also had the pleasure of two excellent side events, for which I should particularly like to thank the Local Organising Committee.
ENERGY POVERTY AND GENDER TECHINICAL SESSIONS AND WORKSHOP Prepared by: Dr Sheilah Meikle, University College, London, UK and Dr Rona Wilkinson, ITDG, Rugby, UK Three Technical sessions were held on Tuesday 2nd July on the theme of Energy, Poverty and Gender Technical Session EGP1: Poverty Reduction Overview This session consisted of an opening address by Abdulaziz Altwaijri, Director General of ISESCO, who talked about poverty in these countries and the contribution energy could make. This was followed by Dick Jones from DFID who linked the Millennium Development Goals and Energy, showing that energy is a crucial component in achieving ALL of the MDGs. Sheilah Meikle from DPU/UCL then explained how the Sustainable Livelihoods framework had been used as a tool in looking at energy interventions. Elizabeth Cecelski closed the session by talking about energy strategies and the need for supporting Institutions and Policies.
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Technical Session EGP2: This session was chaired by Pradeep Chaturvedi and Rona Wilkinson. Five papers were given (see Appendix) covering Household Energy and Indoor Pollution, and the need for a number of different interventions including stoves, hoods and windows; the experience of an organisation in Nepal that used micro hydro as a point of social mobilisation; Street foods; and an example of a successful women’s coopertaive in Germany. All of these presentations showed the links between energy, poverty and gender. The final presentation was by Stephen Karakezi who talked about de-emphasising the role of solar PV technology. There was a lively discussion and questions at the end.
Technical Session EPG3 This session was chaired by Sheila Meikle and Rona Wilkinson. Five papers were presented and complemented each other. Two were presented about cooking and stoves- one looking at solar cooking and one at improved charcoal stoves. Two papers by members of AFRAPEN looked at the role of subsidies and whether they were really helping the poor receive access to energy services. The final paper gave a overview of poverty in ISESCO countries and how energy fits into this. All of the above help to provide a good basis for the workshop on Wednesday A one-day workshop, titled Energy Poverty and Gender, was held on Wednesday. The objective of the workshop was to discuss issues around poor women’s access to energy services and to identify key messages relating to poverty. The workshop was attended by about 25 participants. These were divided into two groups who had a lively and enthusiastic discussion. One group considered energy’s impact on the household and the other energy’s impact on production. The discussion was structured around the following questions.
1. What do poor women need energy for? 2. What are the barriers to accessing energy and energy services to meet needs of poor women? 3. What is needed to overcome these barriers (in terms of Policies, Institutions and other interventions)? 4. What key messages and actions to this group want Policy Makers to take on board?
Following group discussion the findings were further considered in plenary session. The groups concluded that: energy plays a key role in meeting the millennium development goals and is crucial for the eradication of poverty. Note: The Technical Committee decided that the best paper was: Household Energy, Indoor air pollution and Health Experiences in rural Kenya – Doig Bates, Bruce and Gitonga as presented by Elizabeth Bates
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Other Major Topics : Prepared by Prof. David Elliott, Open University, Milton Keynes, UK The Main focus of OMT was the water based technologies small hydro, wave and tidal. Geothermal was also included in this sectim, as well as hydrogen production techniquer, including solar hydrogen. Medium source hydro clearly continues to play a key role in meeting energy need, locally in many countries, as does geothermal – it’s worth remembering that there is over 6 GW of electricity generated by geothermal . This figure will be doubled if we consider the thermal applications of geothermal. We had, 6 papers on geothermal. 7 on hydro. But wave and tidal power are the newly energy options. The UK is pushing ahead with both, as it was illustrated by the four displays in the Renewable Energy Exhibition – Stinray and Plamis. However, the ideas are also being looked at elswhere, and we had papers from India, Japan, Bangladesh, Jamaica and the USA, as well as from the UK and Ireland. 9 papers in all. A link to hydrogen production was make by in interesting paper from Russia and sea water electrolysis, but equally interesting were papers on photo dissociaton from Romania and hydrogen production from organic wastes from India. In all there were 9 papers on various aspects of hydrogen. Finally, there were a range of papers on various aspects of the solar resource including an Atlas of the Arab solar resource