Shanghai attracts conferences in October 98

Rising expectations for renewable energy development in China and partnership opportunities in the region have attracted 2 international conferences and exhibitions to Shanghai.

China's economic growth is expected to increase the country's energy needs. In an attempt to moderate demand and to defend the environment, China is urging its people to reduce the use of fossil fuel as well as energy losses. The government is recognising an urgent need for advanced energy-efficient technologies and new ideas on energy. To support this, China is making efforts to revise and strengthen its major laws that pertain to energy. The government is urging local organisations and the industry to import new ideas and technologies.

Shanghai is especially interested, because its Pudong New Area is planned to be developed in a high scale in the coming years. The new area includes several municipal projects, an airport, and 100 skyscrapers which all have a big energy demand to meet.

October 14-16, 1998

This event is being organised by Alternative Development Asia Ltd. from Hong Kong in partnership with the Regional Institute of Environmental Technology (RIET) and the European Union (EU). RIET is a joint EU and Singapore

Initiative that works to create partnerships towards environmental best practice and technology in Asia.

The main objectives of the event is to promote the financing and marketing of renewable energy and energy efficiency in the Asia-Pacific region and between Asia-Pacific companies and the global market.

October 20-22, 1998

This event is being sponsored by the China Energy Research Society. Its organizers include the Shanghai Commission on Energy, the Shanghai International Exhibition Corporation, and the Shanghai Chamber of Commerce.

The event is designed to be an open forum for the energy industry and a global energy information exchange. It will also help to bring advanced technologies, ideas, and solutions into China in the areas of renewable energy, energy conservation for buildings, and energy management. Key experts, decision makers, and end-users will be specifically invited from the Chinese electric power, metallurgy, chemical, building, and transportation industries to share the knowledge presented.

Joint NGO & World Bank Workshop in India

INSEDA, INFORSE regional coordinator, initiated and organised a workshop for representatives of the World Bank and 40 NGOs involved in the environmental issues related to renewable energy and/or the power sector.

The workshop on May 6-7, 1998 in New Delhi coincides with preparation of the final report on a 2-year World Bank study called, "Environmental Issues in the Power Sector in India "(*).

The main aim of the meeting is to discuss the key findings of the study and to get feedback from the NGO representatives. The goal of the study was to reduce the adverse impact that the generation of power in India has on the environment.

The principal purpose was to improve environment planning, management, and decision-making tools, which would enable the Government of India to evaluate alternative options for power development in India.

Recognizing NGOs as important stakeholders, the study also envisaged involving them by keeping them informed about the study as it progresses, as well as by incorporating their views & feedback into the study. Unfortunately, during the first year, the involvement of NGOs was very limited. Their input came mainly through workshops, more particularly in two states namely Andhra Pradesh & Bihar, where detailed case studies were done. The involvement of

INSEDA members started in May, 1997. Since then, 80 NGOs have shared their views about the broad objectives and summarized it in a document.

(*) The study received partial funding from each of the following: the British Development Administration, the World Bank, UNDP, the Energy Sector Management Assistance Program (ESMAP).

Information: Raymond Myles, lNSEDA, Regional Coordinator of INFORSE, 3rd floor, St. Soldier Tower, Vikas Puri, New Delhi 110018, India. Ph:+91-115510344, fax: +91-11-5529646, e-mail: [email protected].

Solar cookers attract attention in Nepal

Solar-cooked food attracted many people at the exhibition in Kathmandu, Nepal on February 17,1998.

The solar cooker and drier exhibition was a big success on a very sunny day with temperatures reaching 26 °C on February 17 in Kathmandu, Nepal. The solar-cooked food was well cooked in an hour at noon and was tasted by many people including housewives and children as well as others, old and young. The event also attracted several governmental officials, students, journalists, and international as well as national NGOs. Several companies used this opportunity to show their solar equipment.

Everybody was very excited about using the environmentally friendly de vice on exhibit. People who showed interest, whether in buying or in making a solar cooker or drier, were very pleased to get brochures along with manuals in English and in Nepali. Many were happy to know that the government gives a 50% subsidy for solar cookers.

The event was organised jointly by the Center for Rural Technology (CRT), a member of INFORSE, the Alternative Energy Promotion Center (AEPC), and the Liver Foundation, Nepal.

Information: Santa Shrestha, CRT, Center for Rural Technology,
PO Box 3628, Tripureswore, Kathmandu, Nepal,
Ph.: +977-1-256819, fax: +977-1-225212
e-mail: [email protected].

Wind farm in New Zealand

Largest wind farm in the Southern Hemisphere, first in New Zealand

Best Wind Conditions

Forty-eight 660-kW wind turbines will go online in New Zealand during the next year. Each will have a large rotor 47 m in diameter. The wind farm will be located on the more northern of New Zealand's two main islands, in a hilly area known as the Tararua Ranges. The area is blessed with some of the best wind conditions in the world; wind speeds at some locations there can exceed 11 m/s. So, the park's annual electricity production is expected to be almost twice as large as those of typical European sites. The wind farm will be the largest in the southern hemisphere, with a capacity equivalent to the annual electricity consumption of more than 25,000 households. The project will cost US$ 25 million.

Milestone - No Subsidies

Vestas - Danish Wind Technology, the supplier of the turbines, believes that this project could constitute a milestone in the development of wind power, which thus far has been accused of only being viable with subsidies. 'The project proves that our new turbines are so effective that preferential treatment of wind power may not be necessary where the wind conditions are adequate. In this project, wind power competes on even terms with conventional power production. The project is not subsidized by government funds,' says Tom Petersen of Vestas.

Information:

Vestas, Smed Hansens Vej 27, 6940 Lem,
Denmark Ph.: +4597341188,
fax:+45-97-341484, http://www.vestas.dk

New Zealand's only wind turbine installed in 1993 in Wellington. The successful Vestas 225-kW turbine is a symbol and tourist attraction of the town. It paved the way to the order of the 48600-kW Vestas turbines recently.