by Tinashe Madava This is the second in a Jour-part series on Solar Energy
Scientific research is showing that solar energy is the most environmentally friendly alternative as one looks beyond the world’s limited fossil fuel reserves and the resistance to expand nuclear energy.
In response to such limitations, the recent World Solar Summit (WSS) held in Harare, Zimbabwe recommended increased investment in, and exploitation of, renewable energy to save the planet from degradation.
Concerned that the depletion of non-renewable energy sources were affecting the globe, representatives at the WSS undertook to increase education, research, production, marketing, and job-creation in all fields of renewable energy.
Through the World Solar Programme (WSP) and the Harare Declaration on Solar Energy and Sustainable Development, world countries committed themselves to save the environment by using “clean energy”.
The programme challenges governments, major international organisations and funding institutions, NGOs, industries, scientific and research and educational institutions to promote the development and use of renewable solar energy.
Enhancing the global understanding of the role of renewable energy in environment conservation is another aim. About 2.4 billion people in the world have no electricity and will benefit from the successful implementation of the WSP.
“The lack of a reliable means of heating and lighting the homes, clinics and schools of some 40 percent of the world’s population living mainly in rural or remote areas of the developing world acts as a significant brake on the development process,” said Professor Federico Mayor, Director General of the United Nations Education Scientific and Cultural Organisation (UNESCO).
Delegates, mostly from developing countries, were in support of the introduction of environmentally friendly policies that will encourage investments in renewable energies. Such investment will change the lives of the vast majority of rural people who rely on conventional energy sources, which are unavailable or expensive.
“Once solar energy is harnessed, it does not require expensive and elaborate infrastructure or highly Skilled experts to operate it. Solar technologies therefore are an entry point for the adoption of wider renewable energy technologies,” said Zimbabwe’s President Robert Mugabe. Southern African News Features 1-1Xovember 1996
Solar energy will enable rural and remote communities to improve the quality of their lives by upgrading health and education facilities. Wood fuel is the major source of energy for rural communities in the region. Efforts to discourage them from using wood fuel have not been successful mainly due to a lack of resources.
Calling for investment in renewable energy, President Sam Nujoma of Namibia said that his country embarked on a programme to promote renewable energy with financial and technical support from the German government.
In Malawi, the government has revealed a plan to establish a renewable energy training centre. “It is expected that this centre will serve as a national as well as a regional facility where research on development of solar energy technologies will be carried out,” said Vice President Justin Malewezi. However, he confessed that progress in the promotion of solar energy through actual projects has been minimal, attributing this to lack of finance.
Some delegates observed that there had been too much concentration on boosting their economic performance at the expense of the environment. Renewable energy projects received very little government commitment.
Millions of tonnes of woodfuel had been used per year causing severe deforestation throughout the region. Wood fuel accounts for 75 percent of the total energy consumption in the region. Scientists have warned that maintaining the current patterns of fossil fuel use will cause unprecedented rates of global warming, resulting in extensive climatic changes and more environmental refugees as people and animals move to areas that can sustain their lives.
The summit urged researchers to highlight effects on the environment as they endeavour to find alternative energy resources. Among some of the available options are biogas and solar which seem to be the most favourable alternatives in the SADC region because of the easily acquired inputs such as agriculture residue and sunshine. Harnessing energy from wind is also another option.
Biogas is basically methane gas released from organic materials such as cow dung, chicken, goat, and pig manure as well as crop residue. It is generated in large volume reaction vessels in which organic materials are partially decomposed under the action of anaerobic bacteria releasing a medium energy gas, methane.
“The solution of the energy problem lies in the cheaper, cleaner and renewable forms of energy such as solar,” said President Frederick Chiluba of Zambia.
The Harare declaration which was adopted at the WSS, urges countries to: “recognize that the provision of sufficient energy services at affordable prices and the adoption of energy conservation measures are essential for the progress of all countries … “It also encourages the use of solar energy to reduce environmental degradation from activities such as industrial pollution and deforestation.
Meanwhile, an Energy Protocol for the SADC energy sector was signed in August this year by member countries which will allow the financing of small-scale energy projects. Some developed countries at the WSS pledged to support the renewable energy projects in developing nations. (SARDC)
