Cement, Energy and Environment July-Sep 2002

mitigating climate change. Today, the total of a ll wind energy installed worldwide stands over 23,000 MW. with cumulative in s ta ll ed capacity in variou s countries as: Germany, USA, Spain and Denmark, Jndia. Most of the installed capacity and investment in wind energy sector has been from the developed nations in Europe and America. This has not been due to being blessed with exceptional wi nd reg imes; but because of their commitment to the ecologica l concerns. Most of these countries have set forth a target to have at least I0% of th e ir total energy requ irement, comi ng from wi nd energy. Today the average size of a WEC (Wind Energy Convetier- also call ed turbine ) added wo rldwide crosses the I MWmark. This results in hi gher cost of generation per megawatt and hence moved to wind farms of capacities of 250 MW to derive befe ftts of economy of scale. Last three years have seen Maharashtra emerge as a leader in adding wind energy with Suzlon tak ing about 80% of the share. Since wi nd energy is not affected by changes in fuel costs due to global political uncertainties or otherwise, it more or less freezes the cost of powe r and acts as a wonderful buffer fo r corporales, entrepreneurs and even to large utilit ies. For the IOth plan, the goal set for wind ene rgy is around 6000 MW. To ac hi eve this target the renewables prog ramme. needs suppo rt from associated market players lik e investors. manufacturer s. fi nanc ia I institutions, government and most importantly SEB's and utilities. If we take a look at the history of wind energy in India, the growth in the sector has been inconsistent. Ifconsidered seriously, it may prove as a catalyst to our core industry. Courtesy: FAR & NEAR in Water & Energy, CBIP, Apr. 02, Pp. 53-55. Fax: 91-l l -6/163.J7 Email: cbiiJ@nda.vsnl.net.in Web: www.cbip.com CLIMATE PACT Happil y fo r World Environment Day, two crucial green developments signal hope. First, all 15 European Union countries and Japan have ratified the 1997 Kyoto pact on global warming. Second, a repo rt of the US government 's Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has conceded the co-relation between human activities and global warming. The Kyoto Protocol (KP) enjoins on industrialised (signatory) countries to reduce their greenhouse gas emiss ions (GHGs) by 8 per cent of the 1990 level between 2008 and 20 12. With the rati ft cation by the EU and Japan, the number of parties of the KP is more than the minimum of 55 needed to grant it legal status. However, for the treaty to become effective, it still needs to be ratified by countries that together account for 55 per cent of global GHGs. Even with the EU and Japan on board, the total share of emissions of the agreement's supporters so far is onl y 36 per cent of the GHGs. Shou ld Ru ss ia also say 'yes' to Kyoto before August, thus joining the western countries in defying the US, the protocol will come into effect in time for the forthcoming Rio plus Ten Johan nesburg summit. The US accounted for 36.1 per cent or em iss ion s in 1990 and continues to be the largest emitter: its GIIG!> could fur1her increase by 30 per cent instead of reducing by 7 per cent as required by tl~e treaty. Littl e wonder, president George Bush chose to opt out of the KP last yea r. "to protect US's economi c interests·· - suggesti ng in effect that good economic exc ludes environment. Mr Bush' s alternat ive plan stresses o r purely voluntary meas ures to contai n em iss ion s. These columns have pointed out earlier that goi ng gree n does not have to mean giving up on good bus iness - the t\.VO need not be incompatible. Th is has been amply demon strated by EU countries who have taken the business or reducing emiss ions very seriously, indeed, setting targets as high as 50 per cent reductions for themselves. It' s iron ic that while Mr Bush refuses to relate human activi ties to globa l warming. the American EPA says there is a definite link between the two. A dithering Japanese government was forced to accept the KP because of strong anti-GIIG public opini on. Can we expect a sim il a r performance from the American people in time for the US to vote green at Johannesburg? Courtesy : The Business Li11e. June 6. 02, !' 1-1. ENVIRONMENT BENCHMARKI!\G CLl B BRE Nell'S Release, Apr -1, 02 A recent ly launched Envi ronmental Benchmarking Club gives property managers exc lusive access to benchmark ing software that calculates the environmental pro file s of la rge commercia l building s tocks. This sc lr– assessment tool h<ls been developed by UK's Builidi ng Researc h Establi shment (BRE) and industry partne rs so that envi ronmental – performance ~cores can be produced quick!) and easily. The software uses ready data to calculate the performance or building stock against bcnchmarl-.ers lor energy. pollution. tra nspo rt , water consumption, waste longevity and mnnagement issues. l~y pinpointing where@stock is per forming bad ly.