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Worldwide Renewable Energy Initiatives

COSTA RICA, RURAL AREAS
by Daniel P. Kray, Editor
May, 2007

Outside the capital city, rural Costa Ricans are beginning to explore the potential for biogas in the place of firewood for home uses, such as cooking. Deforestation was a critical problem for the country until very recently, and continues to be an eminent concern, especially as the national economy tries to establish itself firmly on the footing of ecotourism revenues.

In remote areas, household cooking relies on either firewood or on liquid fuels at exorbitant prices. Programs such as the Santa Fe Women's Group provide simple, inexpensive biodigester tanks to convert animal wastes and plant material into methane piped straight into the kitchen, producing a hot blue flame free of charge. The system is self-supporting and prevents methane from being released into the atmosphere, where it is a potent greenhouse gas.

ECP: Biogas: A mixture of methane and carbon dioxide produced by bacterial degradation of organic matter and used as a fuel.
Source: http://www.answers.com/topic/biogas

HAWAII
by Daniel P. Kray
November 4, 2009

America's island state unveiled the Hawaii Clean Energy Initiative in January 2008, outlining plans to cut energy usage by a third and derive 40% of its energy requirements from renewable energy resources by 2030. Hoping to have added the last of the fossil fuel generators to the islands, the initiative will target solar, biomass, geothermal, wind, and ocean resources for less expensive, less harmful sources of electricity and transportation fuels. Because of the state's remoteness, fossil fuels are already more expensive after shipping than in other regions; hence, the renewable energy sources are already on a better economic footing. However, the most immediate benefits may come from reducing air conditioning inefficiencies and improving transmission over the electrical grid.

SAN JOSE, COSTA RICA
by Daniel P. Kray, Editor
May, 2007

Remarkably, the entire country of Costa Rica gets 95% of its energy from renewable sources such as wind, hydro-electric, and geothermal. Altogether, it is aiming by 2021 to become the first carbon-neutral country in the world. Global Climate change puts the country's carbon-neutrality at risk, however, as rainfall patterns have shifted, reducing the amount of hydropower available. Increases in geothermal, wind, and solar resources are being attempted, along with improved efficiency measures in lighting and appliances.

SOUTH POLE, ANTARCTICA
by Daniel P. Kray, Editor
July 3, 2009

Sadly, the continent tends to come up a bit short on the use of renewable sources of energy. For a place that has round-the-clock sunshine for the four most active months of each year (like a lakeside resort, the place really quiets down after the summer season!) and strong, dependable and often consistently directional winds, the station at the pole really doesn’t take advantage of the available renewable resources.

Considering the expense of the station’s primary electrical generation system, more renewable resource use would seem a no-brainer. The South Pole station relies on industrial generators burning jet fuel, all of which has to flown in on plane after plane to keep the station lit, warm, watered, and able to complete its extensive scientific studies in operation. Regular gasoline or diesel generators wouldn’t do, only JP-8 jet fuel will resist gelling at local temperatures. The fuel itself is far from cheap, as you can imagine, and the cost of transporting multiplies that cost several times over.

UNITED KINGDOM
By Daniel P. Kray, Editor
April 4th, 2007

UK Parliament Urges Changes to Microgeneration Zoning

Led by the Tory leader, David Cameron, and the Communities Secretary, Ruth Kelly, the British Parliament urged its local communities to ease restrictions and reduce the complexity of zoning applications for the installation of small renewable energy systems in homes throughout the United Kingdom. Currently, small windmills and solar cells require applications for local approval that may require months and hundreds of dollars/euros in fees. The new recommendations would only restrict construction under exceptional circumstances.

Microgeneration is a concept advanced by the British government as the use of small-scale, low carbon sources of heat and electricity. In 2006, the government initiated the Low Carbon Buildings Programme with £28.5 million for investment in such technologies by families, communities, housing groups, and businesses.

Within the country, microgeneration sites are expected to multiply ten-fold by 2020, a meaningful change that would do much to decrease the country’s carbon footprint. At present, homes produce approximately 25% of Britain’s greenhouse emissions. Local power generation would increase the amount of green energy used and reduce the economic and environmental costs of energy dissipated over long transmission lines.

Sources:

Anonymous. “Planning Law Eased for Turbines.” BBC Online News. 4 April 2007.
UK Department of Trade and Industry. “Microgeneration.” DTI. 6 April 2007.

WHISTLER, CANADA
by Daniel P. Kray, Editor
May, 2007

Whistler Blackcomb Ski Resort is currently constructing a small hydropower system, the Fitzsimmons Creek Hydro Project, that will produce 33.5 gigawatt hours of emissions-free electricity--power equal to the resorts year-round operations energy usage. The resort is aiming to net a zero-emissions carbon footprint, and the project -- located on a stream that will suffer minimal ecological impact -- will have them well on the way when it begins operations in 2010.

Whistler is not the first ski resort to pursue renewable energy. After all, climate change is a critical issue for an industry dependent on lengthy winters and continued snowfall totals. The question is, why aren't other nature-dependent industries following suit? Where are the renewable energy investments from the golf industry (or water conservation efforts), cruise lines, and professional athletics leagues?

Additionally, the municipality itself shifted its entire public fleet to biodiesel, utilizing renewable fuel sources in fire trucks, police cars, and the like while reducing emissions.

READER FEEDBACK

12/16/2009: Trudy from Sebastian, Florida writes: "I just want to take the time to say that I feel we should take advantage of the winds not only in the interior of the country with windmills, but the coastlines would be an excellent place to be assured of constant wind producing energy, since we have known currents of air around the world, this would not be hard to figure out."