Bali: Climate negotiators finally united
The Bali COP 13 climate conference was undoubtedly the most important
recent event, and one where the drama – increased by an unprecedented
alarming
IPCC
report - kept more than the attendants breathless.
The assessment of the Bali result depends very much on the position and
expectations of the assessor. Including criteria identified in the last
REN21 "At Stake" web column (above),
renewable energy proponents can be hopeful the next 22 months will bring
substantial progress on long term targets and medium term emission
objectives that were not fixed at Bali, but not entirely dropped either.
All parties agreed on the
Bali
Roadmap.
Read
more...
Disappointingly, discussions and negotiation on specific technologies
remained vague, and the conventional formula of "clean" technologies
prevailed, making it easy for many to agree that there ought to be a
transition to a low carbon economy and society. Under such formula,
however, a broad selection of "low-carbon technologies" remain eligible,
including those that cannot claim the sustainability and safety
standards inherent in most renewable energy technologies.
Such a formula also ignores the choice between
transforming the energy
system and
incremental change. Many energy suppliers want to continue
the status quo of constructing coal power plants without carbon capture
and storage, claiming that new technologies such as ultra-critical power
generation are a huge incremental improvement in the greenhouse gas
intensity of electricity production. Once built, however, these
facilities have a 30-year plus lifetime, making needed CO2 emissions
reductions of more than 50 percent in the next few decades all but
impossible. Transformation, as New York Times columnist
Thomas
Friedman rightly observes, is something else. Several renewable
energy technologies are available now to begin the urgent transformation.
REN21 has identified a number of
key issues for
renewables in the upcoming negotiations. Referring to paragraph 1.d,ii
of the
Bali
Action Plan, this could include the definition of renewables as
choice technologies.
Rome: Big energy industry dual strategies
At the recent World Energy Congress - the traditional get-together of
the large energy companies and equipment manufacturers - a sort of
"technology schizophrenia" became visible. The publicity outside the
event in Rome was all wind energy, with a large share of the trade show
dressed up with renewable energy promotions. The plenary sessions,
however, were all about fossil fuels and nuclear power. In the
conclusions,
the mantra of the past was repeated: fossil fuel is the main fixture for
the next generation, R&D is needed for renewable energy, and there will
be a growing share for nuclear. Maybe a "change of heart" will finally
arrive by the time the next World Energy Council is held in 2011.
Industry, however, continues to employ a dual strategy, adopting
renewable energy as a substantial addition to their customary business.
GE and Siemens made it clear, though, that their fossil and nuclear
businesses are still more important - despite promotions such as GE's "ecomagination".
However, power generators invest heavily in renewable energy. The newest
are Germany's EON and RWE, joining Spain's Iberdrola, Electricidade de
Portugal, Florida Light and Power LLC and others. EON has bought a large
wind
portfolio
in the US, while RWE revives its Innogy firm, making it an entire renewable
energy affiliate with a very substantial investment budget and
management recruiting from the renewable energy industry.
Meanwhile, Shell and BP, champions of renewable energy within the oil
industry, have
modified their strategies. Shell has pulled out from its solar
business to concentrate on core competences that do not include
equipment manufacturing or electricity generation. BP, however, is still
increasing PV panel production and wind generation capacity. Both are
investing in biofuels, as well as the more environmentally dubious tar
sands and oil shales.
A glance at regional trends
At the end of 2007, REN21 observed a continuous struggle for conditions
that can create rapid growth of the renewable energy sector.
In Europe, the attention is focused on the 2020 EU renewable energy targets
which are to be announced on 23 January (will appeear on the
Commission's
website). The new targets will oblige all 27 EU countries to create and implement
proactive policies. A contentious issue is the one of certificates and
tradable permits between the EU and neighbouring countries. The renewable energy industry is
warning that this will water down the
effects of the targets. The European Commission is busy with a number
of related dossiers, not least addressing the complexities
of bioenergy and its trade.
On the national level, many European countries are working on their
renewable energy policies. Germany has launched a large package
including modifications of the feed-in tariffs and commencing renewable
heating and cooling policies. The UK is adjusting its renewable
obligations to make them more effective. Portugal, Spain and Italy are
all adjusting their frameworks.
New
EU member states still face internal negotiations to implement or to
enforce effective policies.
One very encouraging sign is that oil-rich Middle East and North African
countries are moving to harness their solar and wind energy potential,
joining countries who are already active in the region, like
Egypt.
In Sub-Sahara African countries numerous biofuel projects, predominantly
biodiesel, are under development, and high hopes are set on large
hydropower. However, few countries are as effective as, for example,
Uganda
in recognising the opportunities medium and small-scale renewable energy
technologies offer to reliably solve their energy access and supply
crises.
The picture in Asia remains mixed.
China
has defined straightforward policies that may prove more effective in
creating renewable energy capacity than many had expected. South East
Asian countries are reappraising their various and often underestimated
renewable energy opportunities.
India
has advanced sharply in wind energy – surpassing its 10th year plan
targets and preparing an ambitious 11th five-year plan for renewable
energy.
In Central Asia, the geopolitics of oil and gas overshadow and interfere
with rational renewable energy policies. Turkey is becoming host and
crossroads of pipelines and is awarded preferential gas supply
conditions that make it more difficult for electricity from wind and
other renewable energy sources to compete, despite a multitude of
project proposals to develop the excellent wind potential.
Australia's
new government not only immediately signalled ratification of the Kyoto
Protocol but also announced higher mandatory renewable energy targets of
20 percent by 2020, while the
New Zealand government presented its
sustainable energy policy that includes a 90 percent renewable
electricity goal by 2025. The small island states of the Indian Ocean,
the Pacific and the Caribbean are desperately advocating renewable
energy promotion policies for all countries.
In the shadow of high hydro shares and the growth of Brazilian biofuel,
various countries in Latin America such as Chile, Ecuador, Costa Rica,
Mexico and others are pushing forward with new policies. The two
American neighbours in the North offer the spectacle of a controversial
struggle between a pro-renewable energy state or provincial governments
and reluctant national governments. The renewable energy community is
hoping the now-signed
US
energy bill will not be the last word from the US Congress and White
House before the end of 2008. In the law-making process, the initially
intended nationwide 15% renewable portfolio standard and extension of
production/investment tax credits were dropped.
WIREC: Agenda set and invitations to be re-sent - Alert!
The Agenda of the Washington International Renewable Energy Conference (WIREC
2008) has been
announced
by the hosting US government and registration opened. The invitations to
WIREC have been sent through the US Energy Association (USEA) since
December and will be sent again. Check your inbox!
WIREC International Action Program launched
As the host of the Washington International Renewable Energy Conference
(WIREC 2008), the United States government announced on 15 January the
launch of the Washington International Action Program (WIAP), which will
collect domestic and international pledges to accelerate the global
uptake of renewable energy. WIREC participants are encouraged to pledge
specific policy measures and programme initiatives that will
significantly increase the deployment and use of renewables worldwide.
As with the Action Programme adopted at the Bonn renewables 2004
conference, REN21 has accepted to support collecting, analysis,
publication, and follow-up of the WIAP..
Read more...
IEA's World Energy Outlook 2007 more bullish on renewables
In its 2007 World Energy Outlook (WEO), the International Energy Agency
(IEA) expects renewable energy to play a much larger role in future
energy supply. In both the "reference" and the "alternative policy"
scenarios, electricity generation from hydro and all other renewables,
as well as biofuel use, is expected to be higher in 2030 than foreseen
in the 2006 edition of the WEO. In the new "450 Stabilization Case", the
IEA sees over 40 percent of power generated from renewables by 2030, and
well beyond 10 percent of transport fuel supplied from bio energy.
Read more…
World Bank outperforms Bonn commitment
At the end of 2007, the World Bank Group reported its progress on
renewable energy and energy efficiency in fiscal year 2007. In the
recent
REN21 Daidalos Forum, Jamal Saghir points out the major
achievements and lessons.
Read
more…
Congratulations to the College of the AtlanticIn an exemplary way, the College of the Atlantic (COA) has achieved
carbon neutrality. Besides
offsetting emissions, the college also
significantly
reduced emission from its campus under the leadership
of its President and REN21 Vice-Chair David Hales.
Read more...
REN21 Global Status Report 2007 prepublicationREN21 presented a prepublication summary of the REN21 Renewables
2007 Global Status Report in Bali. The complete report will be out in
February, 2008.
Read more…
REN21 paper on National Renewable Energy Policies
As part of the report on renewable energy potential and the policies to
achieve this potential, REN21 has produced a new renewable energy policy
paper addressing renewable energy promotion policies in the three main
renewable energy markets of electricity, heat and cooling, and transport
fuels.
Read more…
REN21 Chair on The Promise of RenewablesAt the annual
ACORE conference Phase II, REN21 Chair Mohamed El-Ashry described his view
of the international process to promote renewable energy from Johannesburg
to Bonn, Beijing and Washington and how it is helping the evolution of
renewable energy.
Read more…
Call for contribution to publication on Strategies for Survival
REN21 is happy to disseminate the call for contributions to a planned
publication by Peter Droege.
Read more…
Also on the REN21 website:
- The Virtual Library continues to
grow as a choice selection of publications and book reviews. Reader reviews on any of the
library's documents and suggestions to include publications are most
welcome and can be sent to the REN21 Secretariat for inclusion to the
website.
- The REN21 International
Policy page is updated to cover the recent UN and G8 events and
their meaning for renewable energy.
- The Event
Calendar features policy events relevant to renewable energy, such
as the conference on "Making Renewable Energy Markets Work For Africa"
which will take place in Senegal in April.
