Pens Agencies in Pacific Nationsl Islands Energy for Sustainable Development Partnership (PIESD) Bringing to You Current Biofuel Energy Developments in the Region
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Energy, Environment& Economics Number 1, May 2008 CONTENTS Welcome to the first issue of the Pacific Energy News for 2008. Regional Activities PIESD updates As we progress to the end of first quarter of 2008, we are pleased to present the first issue of National News the Pacific Energy News for the year. Pacific Island Country News This issue provides a wide coverage of current national, regional and international energy issues Regional News relevant to the Pacific region. EU Supports to the Pacific Region REEEP assists major Pacific RE initiative In this issue, we include updates of Pacific UN opens Agencies in Pacific Nationsl Islands Energy for Sustainable Development Partnership (PIESD) bringing to you current Biofuel energy developments in the region. Petroleum April, 22 2008 was recognized as the Regional Earth/Energy Day. In leading up to this, SOPAC International News has worked with member countries to celebrating Japan to offer US$10 Billion in Global Warming this important day in creating more awareness in Aid to Developing Countries the promotion of energy conservation and Samsoe: Europe’s Renewable Energy Island efficiency measures. In this regard, we include Australia’s 20% clean energy commitment in this issue a new column on latest Clean Energy – It’s Getting Affordable developments and discoveries on energy Highlight of the 148th Meeting of the OPEC efficient lighting and other technologies which we hope will bring greater knowledge on new Clean Development Mechanism technologies in the region. Energy Technology Developments Again we welcome contributions, news and opinions, announcements and feedback that you Energy efficient lighting would like to share with other readers of PEN. Renewable Devices Swift Turbines We have two more issues coming up for 2008, Finding Energy All Around Us so your comments and contributions are most New Clean Energy Project Analysis Tool welcome. REEGLE – information gateway for renewable energy and energy efficiency Please note the next issue of PEN will be in Renewable Energy Jobs Soar in Germany August. Lastly thank you to those that have contributed to this issue. Announcements • Regional Earth Day 22nd April 2008 Enjoy Reading Staff Updates We look forward to receiving comments, announcements and articles from our readers, please send these to the following address: PEN Newsletter, Community Lifelines Programme, SOPAC Secretariat, Private Mail Bag, GPO. Suva, Fiji. or email [email protected] Tel: (679) 3381377 - 1 - We are pleased to present to our readers Solar Cooking Demonstration and Monitoring updates on the “Pacific Islands Energy for Kiribati and Tuvalu Sustainable Development Partnership (PIESD) A technical collaboration between SOPAC and initiatives implemented at different stages by the the Ferris University commenced in February Pacific Island Countries and SOPAC. Brief 2008. The Ferris University students with a updates are presented below: professor from Japan visited SOPAC for signing of the Memorandum of Understanding (MoU). GOVERNMENT OF ITALY AND THE PACIFIC The Ferris University agreed to provide financial SMALL ISLAND STATES PARTNERSHIP assistance for the demonstration workshop and assist SOPAC in procurement of three models of The main components of the programme will solar cookers, the Karu-pika (Parabolic), the Sun include the development in the Pacific Small Oven and the Island States of adaptation measures as well as Hand Made the development and dissemination of the Cooker (HMC). use of local renewable energy sources and biofuels to meet the energy security of the A demonstration Pacific Small Islands countries. workshop was convened in Sub-programmes in this partnership are: Kiribati from 14 to 21 February 2008 1. Development of climate change with the Energy adaptation measures; Planning Unit of 2. Assessment of energy requirements and the Ministry of strengthening of energy policies and Works and Public action plans; Utilities, SOPAC 3. Rural electrification; and Ferris 4. Development of biofuels; and University in 5. Development of renewable energy collaboration with sources. the major women’s group (AMAK). Contact: Rupeni Mario:[email protected] Representatives of Pacific Islands Greenhouse Gas Abatement the women based through Renewable Energy Project communities on (PIGGAREP) South Tarawa were invited for the Upcoming activities include: demonstration Renewable Energy Application for Small Island workshop and were States Workshop in Vanuatu from 21 – 25 April also engaged at Solar cooking demonstrations, Kiribati 2008 the public Nauru Wind Power Feasibility Study 30 May 2008 demonstration. Technical Design of the Mabuduwan Solar PV Tuvalu will be visited in September when Power System, Papua New Guinea 14 May 2008 SOPAC’s and Ferris University will share views Study and Establishment of a Renewable and ideas through a solar cooker demonstration Energy & Energy Efficiency Unit at the Tuvalu workshop. Solar cooking in Kiribati was Electricity Corporation 30 May 2008 successful and a variety of foods were cooked Review of the Ha’apai Solar Electricity using solar energy. A six month monitoring Incorporated 30 April 2008 period has been developed with the Pre-feasibility study of the Sinivit Geothermal communities, where the women will be using the Power Generation Project (SGPGP), Papua New three solar cookers and trialing more local Guinea 30 April 2008 cooking. Contact Contact Solomone Fifita, [email protected] Koin Etuati Email: [email protected] - 2 - Renewable Energy Development for The Pacific Micro Energy Services Company Electricity Generation and Productive Uses in (PMESCOs) Project Selected Pacific Island States The PMESCOs project implemented through The objective of this project is to develop a SOPAC with co-financing from REEEP programmatic approach at the regional level to (Renewable Energy and Energy Efficiency promote development of renewable energy Partnership) is to develop an appropriate and sources (biofuel energy & solar) for power affordable solar energy lighting system for the generation, productive uses, and to enhance most vulnerable communities in both the energy security in selected Pacific Island States. Solomon Islands and Kiribati. UNIDO with support from the Government of Activities in the past months included Austria will oversee the execution of project consultations at the community level in Kiribati to activities, implemented through SOPAC in close determine an appropriate and affordable lighting collaboration with national energy and system. The final identification of the system agricultural offices. A Steering Committee will be was collectively discussed and approved both by set up under the project to provide guidance, the solar entrepreneurs and the households evaluation and approval of the work programme, through a consultative process. budget and the elaboration of a long-term sustainable strategy. Solomon Islands will be visited in May 2008 for community consultation and promotion of the The identification of financing and investment solar LED lighting systems. A micro credit opportunities for promoting renewable energy facility will be established in both countries. technologies will be one of the key objectives. Where biofuels are the focus, steps will be taken Promotion of this project at various workshops to ensure that development does not compete and the project’s ability in reducing kerosene use with food production and negative environmental and contributing less to climate change were impacts are studied in detail through discussed at a regional workshop on CDM development of sustainability indicators. Awareness Forestry Workshop organised by the Secretariat of the Pacific Communities convened UNIDO will build on and complement the existing in January 2008 in Nadi. work within the region, and adopt the following strategic approaches: One of the barriers identified in the implementation of this project is getting an • To develop a programmatic approach for appropriate and affordable system to the rural renewable energy development in Pacific communities that will suit the rural communities Islands (to begin with, the focus will be on and which will need little maintenance and at Samoa and the Solomon Islands); which the energy entrepreneurs will determine its • To disseminate information on best practices appropriateness to the cultural settings. through workshops/seminars and publications; Affordability of the system is also another issue • To facilitate networking and partnerships considering the target communities are those between institutions working in the field of communities with limited opportunity for income renewable energy at the regional/national generating activities and but relying on sales of level; and local produce such as copra, fish and crops. • To mobilize resources from multi/bilateral donors, and also explore funding from global Installations of these systems in Solomon mechanisms such as GEF, UNF and the EU. Islands and Kiribati will be carried out around June and July 2008 respectively. For more information contact: Contact: Rupeni Mario Koin Etuati Energy Adviser Project Officer – Energy Email: [email protected] Email:[email protected] - 3 - EU (REP-5 PROGRAMME), SOPAC & LlVE PACIFIC ENERGY & GENDER (PEG) AND LEARN NETWORK & REP-PoR (UNDP) Energy Efficient Training and Public Awareness Media Based Advocacy Initiative to Mainstream Campaign Gender Issues in Regional and National Energy Policies for Poverty/Hardship Reduction SOPAC with LIVE AND LEARN was provided