Alternative Clean Energy Roundup: 8 January 2014

UNIDO,FAO Build Capacity for Green Jobs

06 Jan 2014 - Forest resource depletion due to the effects of climate change, forest fires and failing reforestation, as well as sub-standard and wasteful logging and wood-processing practices, are some of the challenges faced by the forestry and wood industry in the countries of the Southern Africa Development Community (SADC).

In response, the United Nations Industrial Development Organisation (UNIDO) and the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) have joined forces to assist with the development of sustainable forestry and wood-processing sectors in the region.

Representatives of forestry education and training institutions from Malawi, South Africa, Zambia and Zimbabwe, together with FAO and UNIDO officials, met for a three-day project development meeting in George, South Africa. read more>>>

Majority of Ohioans support Clean Energy Initiative

Residents overwhelmingly support the Ohio Clean Energy Initiative by a margin of 35 percent (64 percent likely to vote for the Initiative versus 29 percent unlikely with 7 percent unsure), according to a new poll conducted for Yes for Ohio's Energy Future by Public Policy Polling (PPP). The poll of the Ohio Jobs Initiative also discovered that 55 percent of respondents had known of the initiative.

The Jobs Initiative enacts a constitutional amendment that would provide for $1.3 billion a year for 10 years from state general obligation bond funding in areas including clean energy industries and energy-related public infrastructure projects in of solar, wind, hydro, geothermal, biomass, and smart grid, as well as other technologies. Funding includes research and development, academic and educational development, and vocational training support. read more>>>

SolarWorld partners to bring clean water to 35,000 in developing nations

January 06, 2014 - A partnership among SolarWorld, the largest solar manufacturer in the United States and Europe, and nonprofit partners Rotary International and Water Missions International (WMI) has helped a total of 35,000 people in Africa, Latin America and the Caribbean gain access to clean, safe drinking water. At the close of 2013, SolarWorld, Rotary International, a global network of humanitarian volunteers, and WMI, a Christian water-engineering nonprofit, celebrated installation of 25 solar-powered, community-based water-purification systems in Haiti, the Peruvian Amazon and Malawi. The three organizations share a chief humanitarian goal of promoting water quality to enhance the health, quality of life and economic status of the world’s poorest people.

In the systems, high-performance solar panels donated by SolarWorld power submersible water pumps provided by Grundfos, the world’s pump-technology leader and a strategic partner of WMI. At each site, WMI’s engineers combined SolarWorld panels in treatment systems capable of supplying water needs of thousands of people. As another strategic partner of WMI, SolarWorld has for years donated and discounted its solar technology for deployment through the nonprofit’s programs in the developing world. read more>>>

Green jobs at risk without 2030 climate package: Hedegaard

6 January 2014 - Europe’s low carbon energy industries could bleed jobs and fail to create new employment unless the 28-nation bloc agrees ambitious carbon targets this year, climate chief Connie Hedegaard warned today, just weeks ahead of draft proposals on how to cut Europe’s emissions by 2030.

In an article on the European Commission’s climate website, Hedegaard said Europe’s green sector – estimated to employ 3.5-million people – would have most to lose if the EU fails to agree deeper cuts to its emissions of greenhouse gases by the end of the next decade. read more>>>

3 Ways Governments Can Involve the Private Sector in Climate Change Adaptation

Dec. 18, 2013 - As the impacts of climate change become ever-clearer, so does the challenge of adaptation. While the World Bank estimates that developing countries will need $70-$100 billion annually through 2050 to adapt to climate change, the public sector alone cannot meet this financial goal. Rather, the world needs the human, technical, and financial resources of the private sector to help bridge this significant adaptation finance gap and make vulnerable communities more climate-resilient.

National governments have a critical role to play in supporting and stimulating private sector investment in adaptation. read more>>>

7 Different type of alternative energy

Dec. 4, 2013 - There are different types of clean energy technologies that are available today for electricity generation. Most of these have a number of benefits that different communities can explore and put into good use. Here are some clean sources of energy.

Biomass Energy

Biomass energy is an alternative source of renewable and clean energy that is one of the oldest and most effective sources of green power. This type of energy has many advantages chiefly because it is organic matter that is available from plants such as trees and crops.

Clean Energy from Waste read more>>>

New Antenna, merged with solar panels

Dec. 5, 2013 - The EPFL researchers have managed to merge antennas and solar cells in a mixed device that promises unprecedented efficiency. It is a first step towards the development of more compact and lighter satellites, but also to the improvement of mobile communication systems used in case of disaster.

Traditionally, telecommunication antennas and solar cells do not mix. They must function independently to not interfere. read more>>>

Five US schools awarded solar grants

07 January 2014 - Five schools in the US state of South Carolina will soon begin generating electricity using roof-top solar panels as a result of being provided financial assistance from Palmetto Clean Energy, a nonprofit that promotes renewable energy resources.

Palmetto Clean Energy's Solar Matching Grant Pilot program targeted K-12 schools in South Carolina. The $250,000 program will cover 50 percent of a school’s rooftop solar installation – up to $50,000. Schools serving students from kindergarten through 12th grade, and not-for-profit 501(c)3 educational institutions in the state were eligible.

The program is intended to enable more schools and educational institutions to take advantage of solar technologies by assisting with upfront installation costs. read more>>>

Energy cooperative aims to install PV array on local Croatian school

02 January 2014 - A primary school in Croatia has embarked on an ambitious plan to become energy independent with the help of the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP Croatia) and Energy Cooperative Kaštela

UNDP Croatia in association with Energy Cooperative Kaštela is appealing for individuals and businesses around the world to become involved with its crowdfunding project launched on the cooperative’s Indiegogo project page.

The plan is to install a solar power plant on the roof of the Ostrog primary school in Kastel Luksic, Croatia thereby making it the first energy independent school in the country. read more>>>

Nigerian PV project wins African off-grid energy competition

05 December 2013 - The Green Village Electricity Project (GVEP) has won the Power Africa Off-Grid Energy Challenge, an initiative launched by General Electric (GE) and the United States Africa Development Agency (USADF) to deliver off-grid energy to communities not served by existing power grids

GVEP was established by Mr Ifeanyi Orajaka with the aim of providing energy solutions to a remote settlement in the Niger Delta region of Nigeria through the deployment of solar panels. The resulting off-grid solar electricity supplies the settlement’s energy needs including basic lighting, power for small gadgets and the provision of electricity for a health centre and water borehole. read more>>>