CEE Jan-Mar 2012

c: "You have record investment in the midst of an economic and financial crisis." The findings indicate the World is shifting toward consuming more renewable energy even without a global agreement on limiting greenhouse gases. Delegates from more than 190 nations converge in Durban, South Africa , on Nov. 28 to discuss new measures for limiting emissions damaging the climate. Subsidizing the boom The renewables boom, spurred by about $66 billion of subsidies last year, intensified competition between wind– turbine and solar-panel manufacturers, gutting margins from the biggest producers led by Vestas Wind Systems and First Solar Inc. The 95-member Wilder Hili New Energy Index of renewable-energy stocks has tumbled 40 per cent this year, steeper than the 14 per cent drop in the MSCI World Index. The zeal to replace fossil fuels, which take millions of years to form from dead organic matter, belies the failed efforts at the UN talks to broker a deal that would limit carbon dioxide emissions from coal and oil blamed for global warming. Without a deal , existing pollution caps under the 1977 Kyoto Protocol expire next year. Debate in South Africa's third-largest city will include how to establish a fund that would channel an unspecified portion of $100 billion a year in climate aid pledged by rich nations to developing countries by 2020. Monitoring and verifying em1ss1ons cuts made by all nations are also on the agenda, as well as making a mechanism for transferring C0 2 -reducing technology between states. Discussions on those issues may be eclipsed by talks on the future of Kyoto. "It' s impossible to punt any further down the line a decision regarding a second commitment period for the Kyoto Protocol ," Harvard University Environmental economics Director, Mr Robert Stavins said in an interview. "Those discussions will dominate, and the process could become paralyzed." The talks on the future of Kyoto were deadlocked after existing members Russia, Canada and Japan said they won't make new em1ss1ons targets after 2012 because the accord doesn't set limits for the three biggest polluters: the US, which never ratified it, and developing nations China and India. Courtesy: The Hindu Business Line, New Delhi, 26.11.2011. [___ Biofue/ ..=J BIOMASS ROAD MAP Rationale, potential and challenges Dr. G. C. Datta Roy, Chief Executive Officer, Da/kia Energy Services Ltd. Biomass resources have significant potential for improving the rural energy access and economic scenarios in a country like India. These are the only sources of renewable energy available across the length and breadth of the country, thereby providing a local resource base for rural energy availability. Practically half of the income generated from the sale of biomass-based power goes back to farmers. Despite all these benefits and promotional efforts of the union and state governments, a very small percentage of the country's biomass potential has been converted to projects. In 2011 , Dalkia Energy Services Limited (DESL) has undertaken several studies for private power developers; the Ministry of New and Renewable Energy (MNRE); Rajasthan Renewable Energy Corporation Limited; the Department for International Development, UK; etc. Benefits of biomass energy system These benefits have been assessed through several field studies and meetings with key stakeholders: • 10,000 MW of biomass– based distributed generation capacity can meet the energy demand of 60 million rural households covering over 80 per cent of unelectrified rural households. This can make the biggest contribution towards universal energy access. • Annually, an estimated 63 million tonnes (mt) of agricultural waste can help generate over Rs 150 billion from the sale of waste and provide over 200 million man-days of employment. • Biomass-based power is the only form of renewable energy that can involve the rural population in the entire value chain - from resource management to conversion and mini industrial activities based on the available commercial energy. • Biomass-based power can help in reducing the diesel demand for irrigation pumps by about 2.5 mt per year. This would also contribute to additional finandal savings for the rural community and reduce the dollar outflow by about Rs 90 billion per year. 55