J A N UA RY 2 0 0 6 I V O L U M E 3 I N R
4
reCOMMEND
reCOMMEND IS A NEWSLETTER OF THE COMMUNITY FOR ENERGY, ENVIRONMENT AND DEVELOPMENT
EDITORIAL
Welcome to this fourth issue of
reCOMMEND! This issue gives
particular attention to
methodological issues in energy
planning approaches. It discusses a
new interactive planning approach
developed at Aalborg University,
argues that energy planning should
Photo: Wolfgang Bayer
focus more on the energy markets
used by the peri-urban poor and
goes into the approach used in the
national biomass energy planning
project in Ethiopia and the IES
program of the US Environmental
Donkey cart in Afar Region, near Gewane town, Ethiopia
Protection Agency. In addition, the
results of the recent Cape Town
NATIONAL BIOMASS PLANNING IN ETHIOPIA
Energy Futures Program are
presented and the implications of the
MDG’s on energy planning are
The Woody Biomass Project
discussed.
We warmly welcome your feedback
on this issue, as well as suggestions
for articles for publication in future
issues of the newsletter.
Peter Sutcliffe
years later the Ethiopian Forestry Action Plan
NILE BASIN INITIATIVE
(EFAP)*-2 estimated that nationally annual
fuelwood consumption was 35 million tons and
Enjoy reading,
This article describes a recent
the annual yield was only 8.6 million tons, the
reCOMMEND EDITORIAL TEAM
comprehensive effort to study woody
consumption being over 4 times the annual
biomass in Ethiopia: an effort that
yield. These estimates of fuelwood deficit are
addressed many of the weaknesses in
examples of the use of “fuelwood gap”
previous “gap theory” analyses.
methodology – a simplistic use of fuelwood
CONTENTS
supply minus consumption - that were
The Woody Biomass Project
1
A New Approach to Energy Planning
4
INTRODUCTION
influential in energy planning and policy
In 1984 a joint World Bank/UNDP
formulation during the 1970’s and 1980’s.
Energy Sector study*-1 identified the
The Global Energy Implications of
unsustainable consumption of
Four major weaknesses were seen in the use of
fuelwood, leading to increasing
this methodology. Firstly, the aggregated
deforestation and soil erosion as major
application of the theory obscured the fact that
environmental and economic problems
fuelwood problems are location specific and so
facing Ethiopia. In national terms
required geographically targeted interventions.
Sustainable City Energy Development 15
fuelwood consumption was estimated
Secondly, in many cases where gap theory was
News & Events
at 20 million tons and annual yield only
applied, the consumption and supply data
8.1 million tons, the consumption being
supporting the analysis were very weak. Often
some 2.5 times the annual yield. Ten
no account was taken of wood resources
the MDG’s
The Peri-Urban Testing Market
7
10
EPA’s Integrated Environmental
Strategies Program
13
16
reCOMMEND-4•2006 1
reCOMMEND
Newsletter of the COMMEND initiative
outside forest and woodlands. Thirdly,
complex and localized dynamics of
weak forecasting methodologies were
biomass fuel supply and consumption.
COMMEND –COMMunity for Energy,
used. These often assumed that there
environment and Development- aims at
fostering a professional community
would be no response from households
The woody biomass inventory
to a decreasing supply of fuelwood.
comprised three activities: the landcover
COMMEND is an open community
intended to be accessible to all energy
Finally, the theory assumed that
mapping of the whole of Ethiopia at a
deforestation is driven mostly or entirely
scale of 1:250,000 using Landsat ETM
analysts, and designed to foster mutual
assistance between its members.
by fuelwood consumption.
imagery; a comprehensive woody
among Southern energy analysts.
biomass stock inventory covering all
Appreciating the weakness of existing
landcover types including cultivated
data and before investing in any
land; and an 8 year long annual tree
remedial actions the Government of
yield study of all major species in the
Ethiopia (GoE) formulated the Woody
main agro-ecological zones. Database
Biomass Project. The objective was to
and GIS software tools were used to
obtain a clearer picture of the status and
develop woody biomass stock and yield
potential supply of woody biomass as
estimates at the smallest spatial unit: a
Fundación Bariloche in Argentina
(IDEE/FB), ETC Foundation in the
fuel, and to conduct a comprehensive
specific landcover type in a “Land Use
survey of patterns of biomass fuel
System” within the lowest
Netherlands, ENDA-TM in Senegal, and
consumption. The Project was also
administrative unit – the wereda*-3.
the Energy Research Centre in South
Africa (ERC).
mandated to assess the extent and
Because of the extreme variation in
production of natural grazing lands and
agro-ecological conditions in highland
the status of livestock feed resources as
Ethiopia, each wereda could comprise
input to a national livestock
one, two or even three Land Use
development project. In doing so, the
Systems, particularly where there was
project also attempted to address the
great altitudinal extent. There are 500
weaknesses of the gap theory applied in
wereda administrative units in Ethiopia
earlier studies.
with an average of two Land Use
COMMEND is being funded by the
Government of the Netherlands and
undertaken as a collaboration between
the Boston Center of the Stockholm
Environment Institute (SEI-B) and four
leading international institutions working
on sustainable energy development: the
Institute for Energy Economics of the
The newsletter is distributed free of
charge and is available through the
COMMEND web site.
To subscribe, contact Anja Panjwani at the
ETC Foundation.
Editorial team
This issue has been compiled by: Charlie
Heaps and Ellen Hoog Antink.
Contact reCOMMEND
Anja Panjwani
ETC Foundation
P.O. Box 64, 3830 AB, Leusden
the Netherlands;
Tel: +31.33.432 6000;
Fax: +31.33.494 0791;
Email: a.panjwani@etcnl.nl
COMMEND web site:
www.energycommunity.org
Design
Labl.nl, Zeist
Printing & Layout
Koninklijke BDU Grafisch Bedrijf B.V.,
Barneveld
Systems in each.
Given the federal administrative
structure of Ethiopia with power
Biomass fuel*-4 consumption estimates
devolved to “National Regional States”,
were derived from rural and urban
the approach was to work on a Region
household surveys that captured data
by Region basis to develop in close
not only on household energy
collaboration with each Region, a
supply/consumption patterns, but also
Strategic Plan and Investment
for rural households data on crop,
Programme for the sustainable
livestock and on-farm tree production.
management and development of each
The rural household survey was based
Region’s woody biomass resources.
on a stratified random survey using the
Plans and Investment Programs have
Land Use System as the basic strata.
subsequently been produced for all 11
These were mapped from ground
Regions. Funding for the
surveys and knowledge of the
implementation of these investment
distribution of socio-ethnic groups and
programs has since been provided by
their distribution was mapped and
the GoE and the World Bank under a
entered into the GIS. Total annual
new “Access to Energy Programme”.
consumption of each biofuel was
estimated for each Land Use System
Funding
This newsletter is supported
by the Netherlands Directorate General of
International Cooperation (DGIS).
2 reCOMMEND 4•2006
METHODOLOGIES
within each wereda.
At the outset, the Project attempted to
capture the high spatial variability of
Based on the data for woody biomass
environmental, social, economic and
stock and yield for each spatial unit,
cultural conditions in Ethiopia, and the
together with total consumption
estimates, the model produced
balances in national or even regional
supply/consumption balances for wood
terms. The number of weredas that are
fuel (including charcoal) for each area
consuming more than the sustainable
covered by a Land Use System. Results
supply of woody biomass are some 307
were aggregated first to the wereda,
out of a total of 500 (just over 60
then to the Region and finally to the
percent). Even within a specific wereda
national level. Balances were projected
there are Farmers Associations (the
for 10 years assuming constant
smallest administrative unit) that are in
consumption rates and no substitution
“surplus” while others are in “deficit”.
among biomass fuel types.
The analysis of deforestation due to
The Project minimized the weaknesses
land-clearing for agriculture and
of the “gap methodology” in the
settlement estimated annual losses of
following ways:
65,540 ha of high forest, 91,400 ha of
•
The analysis captured the location
woodland and 76,400 ha of shrubland.
of where the analysis is being employed
specific nature of fuelwood supply
This amounted to woody biomass losses
include:
and consumption by working at the
of approximately 3.5 million tons,
level of the Land Use System within
considerably less than that
each wereda.
unsustainably burnt as fuelwood and
enabled detailed soil maps to be
The woody biomass inventory
charcoal. Wood cleared for agriculture
produced, which together with the
included woody plants in all types of
involves a complete change in land
land cover maps has enabled soil
land cover: forests, woodlands,
cover from shrubland, woodland or
erosion estimates and maps to be
shrublands, grassland and cultivated
forest to “non forest land” and an
developed.
areas. Estimates were also made of
almost complete removal of wood in the
annual fall of dead branches, twigs
area cleared. However, wood removed
eling has identified weredas
and leaves, of wood from annual tree
for fuel does not involve a complete and
experiencing structural food deficits:
mortality from natural causes and
instant change in land cover. Instead,
thus providing important information
wood supplied from clearing for
there is a gradual erosion of wood
on poverty reduction activities.
agricultural land.
stocks and degradation of land cover
•
Status of fuelwood supply in Ethiopia
•
•
•
Soil erosion: The analysis has
Population support capacity mod-
Livestock feed estimates have
rather than deforestation. Dense
been made to the same level of
RESULTS AND CONCLUSIONS
woodland gradually becomes open
detail as those for biomass energy
In national terms the Project’s estimate
woodland, which may then gradually
and form the basis for planning a
in 2000 of annual potential supply of
become open shrubland. This may in
national forage development pro-
woody biomass was 77 million tons and
turn become grassland with scattered
gramme.
an annual consumption (including wood
trees. The conclusion is therefore that
as charcoal) of 54 million tons. Only
land-clearing and fuelwood removal are
biomass inventory form the basis
10.7 million tons was taken from woody
two very different processes that cannot
for monitoring land cover change
biomass stocks (i.e. unsustainable yield).
be directly compared.
and degradation of natural vegeta-
•
The land cover maps and woody
tion.
This leaves an apparent “surplus” of
66.2 million tons. This is in stark
The Project involved considerable
contrast to the estimated “deficits” of
human and financial resources, but it
For more information:
12.2 million tons in 1984 and 26.4
has resulted in a much more complete
Please contact: Mr.J.P.Sutcliffe,
million tons reported in 1993.
picture of fuelwood supply and
Nile Basin Initiative,Ethiopia
consumption patterns in Ethiopia. In
Tel: +251-9-405865
However these national estimates
addition, a very comprehensive natural
Email: peter.s@ethionet.et
conceal sharp regional and local
resources and socio-economic database
differences. Of the 11 regions, four
and GIS have been developed. It can
recorded overall consumption rates
now be used to help guide and monitor
*1. Esmap (1984) Ethiopia: Issues and Options in the Energy
Sector, UNDP/World Bank Report 47641-ET, July 1984.
*2. TGoE (1994) Ethiopia Forestry Action Plan: Final Report,
exceeding supply (and three of these are
policies in numerous areas such as
“urbanized” Regions). These figures
biomass energy supply, livestock feed
*3. Or “district”.
reveal the dangers of considering energy
policies or soil erosion. Some examples
*4. Wood, charcoal, crop residues and dung.
EFAP Secretariat, Addis Ababa.
reCOMMEND-4•2006 3
I N T E R AC T I V E E N E R G Y P L A N N I N G
A New Approach to Energy Planning
In this article, Morton Blarke introduces the concept of “phronesis” and argues that energy planning
should be based on interaction between stakeholders and planners.
Morten Boje Blarke
PHRONESIS AND SOCIAL
between the general and the concrete,
INTERACTION
between model and reality. In order for
In recent years, energy planning models
energy-environmental planners to
In June 2004, Malaysia’s Economic
such as LEAP, which was used in
provide sound judgment, they are
Planning Unit (EPU) invited an
Malaysia, have become particularly
required to have experience about the
international team of energy planners to
good at allowing participants to develop
concrete. A crucial part of this
assist in producing a new long-term
knowledge of the techno-economic
experience comes through social
energy plan for Malaysia. The
characteristics of energy systems.
interaction. Therefore, if planners
AALBORG UNIVERSITY
immediate objective was to analyze
become better able to understand, plan
energy-related environmental and
Central in this effort is the idea that a
and manage the process of social
economic problems and opportunities,
techno-economic rationality is
interaction, then planners will become
while building capacity within energy
instrumental in proposing policies for
better at supporting plans that promote
planning with selected Malaysian
society’s development. While the goals
particular ethics and values, such as the
institutions.
are given by the values of those who
concept of sustainability.
either hire the planners or are
This article illustrates an operational
negotiated within the planning group,
What are the lessons for energy
energy planning framework that was
the planning is guided by the idea that a
planning? One is that more time and
developed as part of this work, and
goal-oriented rationality is a good
resources need to be devoted to the
which may be a useful reference for
platform for social engineering.
social interactions that take place in the
future planning projects. The framework
planning process, whether in local
stresses the importance of allowing
However, even as far back as the
communities, in research, in
context and problem-orientation to
ancient Greeks, it was recognized that
government offices, and in energy
define the course of the planning
techno-economic knowledge (epistime
markets.
process.
and techne) was necessary, but not
sufficient, for making judgments about
Can social interaction be more
The article also offers some thoughts
right or wrong, good or bad. Aristotle
systematically explored, stimulated,
about why energy planning frameworks
introduced the notion of phronesis,
planned, and managed as an integral
and models should aim at becoming
meaning practical wisdom, as a
part of the energy planning process?
better at supporting social interaction.
prerequisite for enlightened
This will require that our attention
technological and social development.
should be on making our planning tools
Aristotle suggested that a context-
better at stimulating and managing
dependent understanding of values was
interactivity. How may planning tools,
necessary for obtaining a balanced
like LEAP, become better platforms for
approach to development, and that this
interactivity, for example by better
understanding would not come from
supporting interaction between
techno-economic studies alone, but
planners and the physical world?
Photo: Morten Boje Blarke
even more so from an experienced
understanding of values and interests.
It may even be useful to introduce a
new concept in energy planning,
Sharing the energy cake during an energy
planning workshop
4 reCOMMEND 4•2006
Still, many efforts in local and national
namely “Interactive Energy Planning”:
energy planning are detached from
one that suggests that extensive
reality and so do not provide sound
interaction is the basis for acquiring
judgment. Phronesis requires interaction
practical wisdom and thus is the primary
ingredient for sound and realistic
Table 1: Phases within an interactive energy planning framework*-1
decision-making.
Interface
Mode of Analysis
0
Context Analysis
Explore external and internal contexts
1
Problem Analysis
Analyse problem complex
2
Goal Analysis
Identify planning goals
3
Reference Situation
Picture current situation
4
Reference Scenario
Picture likely development
promote the rationality of “integration”
5
Analysis of Options
Compare supply/demand options
and “sustainability”. They were a
6
Alternative Scenario
Picture alternative development
reaction to an array of short-sighted,
7
Scenario Analysis
Compare scenarios
non-democratic, and destructive plans
8
Decision Analysis
Prioritize policies and instruments
that primarily were fulfilling the financial
9
Policy and Action
Strategic intervention, political change
INTERACTIVE ENERGY
PLANNING
Frameworks for integrated energy
planning have been developing since
the early 1970s and have been used to
Objective
and political interests of well-established
stakeholders, while ignoring the wider
answer five fundamental questions in
context. And that it is being developed
interests of society.
planning:
by means of interaction. For example,
• Where do we stand?
• Where are we going?
• Who gains and who loses, and by
when establishing a Reference Situation,
The focus on “interaction” emphasizes
that each phase of the planning process
objective to acquire practical wisdom in
utility companies, local governments,
which mechanisms of power?
and the manufacturing industry,
• Is this development desirable?
• What, if anything, should we do
planners are also developing an
should be organised primarily as an
interface for interaction with the
by interacting with stakeholders such as
about it?
context. In fact, social interaction allows
understanding about how such a system
came about, and who is benefiting from
planners to experience and study the
the current situation. Ultimately, the
institutional and economic trails of
The interactive energy planning
hypothesis is that through interaction,
power, thereby preparing them to
framework identifies ten such interfaces
decision-making is widely influenced.
for interaction, which are
presented in table 1.
The external context may be said to
constitute the object of analysis (the
Figure 1 illustrates this as a
world), while the internal context (the
circular process of analysing
planning team) constitute the subject of
problems, objectives,
the analysis. How can planners more
trends, options,
effectively deal with and relate to such
instruments, policies, and
knowledge? In this respect, it may prove
strategies for intervention.
useful to have a look at how the
Aside from dealing with
methods and tools currently used in
techno-economic issues,
energy planning may effectively support
this framework emphasizes
interaction within context.
two analytical elements
that enable planners to
MODELING TOOLS THAT
understand concrete
SUPPORT INTERACTION
decision-making. The first is
In Malaysia, LEAP assisted professionals
the study of context. The
and institutions to exercise various
second is the study of
understandings about energy-related
power: winners and losers.
technical and economic problems and
opportunities. In the process, through
Figure 1: The Interactive Energy Planning
framework*-2
The idea in interactive
experimentation, dialogue, and
energy planning is that this
negotiation, common rules about what
understanding develops in
was “good”, and even a consensus
the interface between an
understanding about where the energy
external and an internal
sector seemed to be heading and the
reCOMMEND-4•2006 5
extent of future problems, was reached.
introduction of fuel efficiency standards.
Also, the involved professionals
“Interactive Energy Planning”? Well, by
not allowing techno-economic reason to
developed an understanding, primarily
Despite this knowledge, large-scale
stand alone in planning research, it
based on techno-economic reason, that
manufacturing and supply of palm-
would help planners to integrate the
particular priority options should be
diesel, as well as even an expensive
analysis of rationality and power. Energy
promoted in order to address the
programme on fuel cells, are new major
planning tools, and LEAP in particular,
problems. These options were well
energy policy initiatives, which are likely
have improved tremendously, but the
researched and documented through
to be central elements in the
time won in operation should not be
case studies and demonstration projects.
Government’s new energy policy.
spent on making more “exact” utopias,
For example, priority options included
but rather on interaction in context,
efforts on the demand-side, like revised
What are the mechanisms behind such
exploring the mechanisms of power. The
building codes, as well as the promotion
seemingly irrational decisions? And why
concept of interactive energy planning
of solid biomass use in industry
it is so difficult to get institutions
should inspire planners to spend less
replacing fuel oil.
involved in demand-side efforts?
time in utopia, and more time at the
LEAP helped the participants to
By acknowledging that rationality and
basis for sound and realistic decision-
structure the techno-economic aspects
power are analytically inseparable from
making through interaction in context.
of this research. For questions beyond
each other, and with the end goal of
the scope of techno-economics, other
“good” decision-making in mind,
tools and methods were applied,
energy planning tools and methods will
phases see:
including participatory visioning, policy
need to do better in supporting
http://www.plan.aau.dk/~blarke/downloads/publications/24
workshops, technical experiments, and
planners in dealing with not only
case studies.
techno-economics, but also interactivity,
sets out initially to describe the current situation and likely
context, and power.
future developments. The evolving system model becomes
waterfront becoming familiar with the
The Malaysian case tends to make a
*1. The objective for each phase is primarily to establish an
interface for interaction. For more information on these
-REM-chapter-23.pdf
*2. As contexts, problems, and goals are recognized, the team
the basis for analysing alternatives and identifying feasible
options
story of rather good practice in planning
In LEAP, there is a fuel database, but it
research and the planning process was
could be usefully supplemented by
well anchored within decision-making
country-specific organisational
institutions. But did it result in “good”
databases, as well as localized
decision-making?
directories of policies, legislation, market
information, funding opportunities, and
References:
1. Codoni, R., Park H.C., and Ramani K.V., eds., Integrated
Energy Planning: A Manual, 1986.
2. Danida, Logical Framework Approach: A Flexible Tool for
Participatory Development, 1995.
3. Flyvbjerg, B., Phronetic Planning Research: Theoretical and
Methodological Reflections, Planning Theory & Practice,
The immediate outcome is not very
journalists in energy and environment.
encouraging, as the most current
Similarly, LEAP provides a technology
information from Malaysia indicates. In
database, but no database describing
the Malaysian mass media, on the
institutional designs that are good in
streets, and in parliament, the option to
supporting demand-side efforts, or
Methods for Integrated Resource Planning, UNEP
invest in the wide-scale introduction of
instruments for public intervention.
Collaborating Centre for Energy and Environment, Risø
Vol. 5, No. 3, 283–306, September 2004.
4. Goldemberg, J., and Johansson, T.B., Energy as an instrument
for socio-economic development, World Energy Council, 1995.
5. Swisher, J.N., Januzzi, G.d.M., and Redlinger, R.Y., Tools and
National Laboratories, November 1997.
palm-diesel in transportation is receiving
much positive attention. While this
In LEAP, the energy sector is broken
option was investigated by the planning
down into demand, transformation and
For more information:
team, it was also rejected as a feasible
resources, but it would also be useful to
Please contact: Morten Boje Blarke,
option, on at least three counts: the
support the charting of institutional
Ph.D. Fellow, M.Sc. Eng.,
Government could not support
relations by sector, ownership, and flow
Department of Development and
extensive use of palm-diesel without
of funds. In this respect, the
Planning, Aalborg University,
massively increasing fiscal subsidies to
specification of costs could allow for an
Denmark
transport fuels, palm-diesel would
analysis of winners and losers, for
Tel: +45 9635 7213
further promote a non-sustainable form
example in terms of fiscal costs and
E-mail: blarke@plan.aau.dk
of mono-culture in agriculture, and
revenue losses for utility companies in
finally, other more cost-effective options
efficiency scenarios.
for reducing fossil fuel use in
How would such changes support the
transportation exist, including the
concept of “Interactivity” or even
6 reCOMMEND 4•2006
E N E R G Y, T H E M D G ’ S A N D T H E E N V I R O N M E N T
The Global Energy Implications of
the MDGs
This article summarizes a recent study undertaken by the Stockholm Environment Institute that examines
the global energy implications of meeting the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs).
Anders Arvidson
related energy demands, and also the
STOCKHOLM ENVIRONMENT INSTITUTE
impact on poverty reduction efforts of
The MDG Energy Vision
environmental threats related to global
At the World Summit on Sustainable
energy expansion.
Development in Johannesburg in 2002,
The targets of the MDG Energy
Vision are that by 2015 :
• 100% of the world’s urban
all Member States of the United Nations
In the absence of specific targets for
agreed that access to affordable modern
access to energy services stipulated as
populations and 50% of the
forms of energy is a prerequisite for
part of the Millennium Declaration, a
world’s rural population use
reaching each of the Millennium
few initiatives have been taken to set
modern liquid and gaseous fuels
Development Goals (MDGs). Access to
targets for what type of energy services
for cooking
modern forms of energy affects all
are needed to support the achievement
aspects of development - social,
of the MDGs. All of them recognize the
population use improved biomass
economic, and environmental -
importance of increased access to
stoves
including livelihoods, access to water,
modern clean cooking fuels and
agricultural productivity, health,
technologies as well as expanded
cooking is produced in a
population levels, education, and
electricity services and availability of
sustainable way
gender-related issues. It is a key
mechanical power within communities.
prerequisite for providing income
In this study, we base our discussion on
populations have a basic electricity
generating activities. Presently about 2.4
an “MDG Energy Vision” that was
supply to meet lighting and
billion people lack access to clean fuels
developed and used as part of the
communication needs
for cooking and approximately 1.6
Millennium Development Project.
• 50% of the world’s rural
• 100% of the biomass used for
• 100% of the world’s urban
• 100% of the world’s health
facilities and schools have
billion people lack access to electricity.
By 2015 the situation will not look
The MDG Energy Vision is only a
electricity supply and use modern
much different unless concerted actions
starting point and will not achieve a
liquid and gaseous fuels to meet
are taken to at least bring basic levels of
world free of energy poverty, but it will
cooking and heating needs
energy services to the world’s poor.
put countries on the right trajectory for
• 100% of all communities have
further development. Much more is
access to mechanised power
THE MDG ENERGY VISION
needed to reach “satisfactory” levels of
There are two main energy-related
human and societal welfare. In this
challenges with regard to meeting the
endeavour it is important to be aware of
SCALE OF THE CHALLENGE
MDGs. The first is the expansion of
the dangers of technology lock-in
In order to meet the MDGs a substantial
access to energy services that is needed
during the development of national
improvement in the types of energy
to realise the MDGs. The second
energy sectors. Although technology
services that the poor have access to is
broader challenge relates to the
lock-in is not difficult to avoid in the
required. Unless concerted actions with
environmental and public health impacts
provision of basic services for the
more emphasis on providing the poor
of the global energy sector and how in
poorest segments of the population, it is
with basic modern energy services are
the long-term these might jeopardise
more important when designing large
taken, 1.6 billion people will still be
our abilities to meet the MDGs.
infrastructure programmes, such as
without electricity access and 2.5 billion
In this article, we discuss both
power plants and grid-based system
people will still rely on traditional
challenges - the scale of direct MDG-
with long lifetimes.
biomass for cooking by 2015.
reCOMMEND-4•2006 7
A prerequisite for meeting the MDGs is
Table 2: Per capita public financing
reference scenario, global commercial
to reduce the population without access
needed to achieve the MDG Energy
energy demand will increase by 15% by
to basic levels of electricity and the
Vision
2015. As the energy sector expands, it
is likely to contribute to economic and
population reliant on traditional solid
social development, which will help
fuels for cooking to no more than
Region
around 1 billion people by 2015.
North Africa
0.3
reduce poverty levels around the world.
The MDG Energy Vision foresees
Sub-Saharan Africa
18
However, the positive benefits of this
improved access to modern energy for
China and East Asia
5
expansion may be dampened by some
about 1.5 billion people. Contrary to
South Asia
9
of the negative environmental impacts
Latin America
2
what might be expected in light of this
challenge, the incremental amount of
commercial energy needed for this is
USD
Middle East
0.3
caused by the growing energy
consumption. These negative impacts
have the potential to make it harder for
negligible compared to the world’s total
include necessary investments in
development to occur, and may inhibit
commercial energy consumption.
institutional capacity building and
poverty reduction. In the long run,
Reaching the poor with basic modern
administration related to the
climate change in particular threatens to
energy services as envisioned in the
implementation of the MDG Energy
undermine society’s capacity to meet
MDG Energy Vision would increase
Vision.
basic needs for food, health and shelter.
Climate change is projected to
global commercial energy consumption
by about 900 TWh per year which is less
ENVIRONMENTAL AND HEALTH
disproportionately affect the world’s
than 1% of global energy demand.
IMPLICATIONS
poor, of which 70 percent live in rural
The environmental implications of
areas and are directly dependent on
COST OF THE CHALLENGE
achieving the MDG Energy Vision will be
soils, water and weather for their
The annual required public financing of
positive at all levels. Emissions from
subsistence. Millions of people in West
meeting the MDG Energy Vision is
burning of solid cooking fuels kill about
Africa experience almost annual famines
about USD 45 billion: two-thirds of this
1.6 million people annually – most of
related to declining precipitation in the
is support to cleaner and more efficient
them women and children. As a result
Sahel region. Unusually frequent
cooking fuels and technologies; one-
of substantially reduced indoor air
droughts and sudden floods in Eastern
third is support to electrification and
pollution, health problems and mortality
and Southern Africa affect farmers. Sea
availability of mechanical power in
can be reduced at the household level.
level rise in Bangladesh puts millions of
communities.
Cleaner cooking fuels will also
people in lowlands at risks. In Asia
contribute to reductions in local and
temperature rise can reduce harvests for
Table 1: Annual public financing
regional emissions. Cadmium,
the world’s most important staple food
needs in USD
particulate matter causing brown
– rice – by 15%.
clouds, and nitrogen oxides causing
Cooking
30 Billion
electricity and
mechanical power
15 Billion
acidification will be reduced if the MDG
CONCLUSIONS
Energy Vision is achieved. Combustion
Reaching the poor, their communities
of traditional solid fuels using commonly
and social service institutions with basic
available cooking appliances contribute
levels of energy services using modern
The challenge is by far the greatest in
more to greenhouse gas emissions than
cooking technologies and fuels,
Sub-Saharan Africa, where annual
liquid and gaseous petroleum fuels do.
electricity and mechanical power is a
public financing of about 16 Billion USD
Thus the MDG Energy Vision would also
prerequisite for meeting the MDGs and
or 18 USD/capita is needed, followed by
contribute to a reduction of greenhouse
will have positive environmental impacts
South Asia where 9 USD/capita is
gas emissions at the global level.
at the local, regional and global levels.
needed.
Strikingly, the primary commercial
THE EXPANDING GLOBAL
energy requirements for implementing
This calculation assumes fully-subsidized
ENERGY SECTOR
the MDG Energy Vision are small
investment and recurrent fuel/electricity
Whether the MDGs can be met and
compared to the projected global
costs for schools and health facilities.
maintained over the long run will also
energy sector growth during the same
Private and commercial end-users are
depend on the wider development of
period. In order not to jeopardise the
assumed to pay a substantial share of
the global energy sector. According to
achievement of the MDGs, it is
the cost. The calculation does not
the International Energy Agency’s
necessary that richer countries and
8 reCOMMEND 4•2006
Table 3: Commercial energy demand to meet MDG Energy Vision in relation
parts of energy sector investments into
to global commercial energy demand 2015
effective measures to reduce energy
poverty will mean that new actors will
have to be empowered to take an active
part in energy sector planning.
Developed countries committed to
supporting the achievement of the
MDGs and a global transition to a
sustainable energy sector, need to focus
research and investments into energy
efficiency and development and
dissemination of renewable energy
technologies. This should also benefit
developing countries since primary
energy demand will shift from fossil
based fuels to renewable fuels, and
appropriate technologies will become
affluent populations around the world
future compatible with sustainable
reduce their greenhouse gas emissions
development objectives is finding ways to
and other energy sector impacts
accelerate progress for new technologies
The full report “Sustainable Pathways
significantly. These impacts are likely to
– from research and development to
to Attain the Millennium
have serious negative consequences on
demonstration deployment and diffusion
Development Goals - Assessing the
the ability of the poor to move out of
– a responsibility which lies heavily on
Role of Water, Energy and Sanitation”
poverty. Climate change in particular
developed countries.
is available here:
threatens to disrupt the food production
more widely available.
http://www.sei.se/
systems, and the poor are also the most
RECOMMENDATIONS
vulnerable to adverse climatic effects
In developing countries that have
such as floods and hurricanes.
committed to the MDGs, there is a need
For more information
to further integrate poverty reduction
Please contact: Anders Arvidson,
This requires a fundamental global
strategies with energy strategies. On the
Stockholm Environment Institute, Box
change in how we supply and use
national level, this means that energy
21 42, SE-103 14, Stockholm, Sweden
energy in order to have enough
sector planning will have to include
Visiting address: Lilla Nygatan 1
resources and not risk negative
strong components on social factors such
Tel: +46 8-412 14 14
environmental impacts that will
as valuation of energy poverty and
Fax: +46 8-723 03 48
undermine the chances of living
energy access, environmental factors
e-mail: anders.arvidson@sei.se
sustainably.
such as emission impacts on humans and
www.sei.se
SustMDG31Auglowres.pdf
ecosystems. Furthermore, a redirection of
Transitioning to a more sustainable
energy system globally is not only
necessary for attaining global poverty
reduction goals, but it is also feasible
without incurring excessive costs. Policy
options and technological alternatives
are available that can dramatically
reduce the negative impacts from the
Photo: Anders Arvidson, 1994
energy sector. Realising sustainable
futures will require much greater
reliance on some combination of higher
energy efficiencies, renewable resources
and advanced energy technologies. A
prerequisite for achieving an energy
Charcoal vendors in front of transmission line, Central Province, Zambia
reCOMMEND-4•2006 9
ENERGY PLANNING FOR THE POOR
The Peri-Urban Testing Market
The poor are ill-represented in energy statistics and energy planning because, measured in megajoule
terms, their consumption of energy is low. However, the contribution that energy can bring to improving
their quality of life is very high. Therefore, energy planning needs to focus more on the development needs
of the poor. This article proposes one way of achieving that goal: by energy market testing in peri-urban
areas.
Frank van der Vleuten
inflexible, making it important to avoid
For example, rising incomes may allow a
ETC ENERGY
strategies that cause a country to lock-in
typical rural household in Africa to stop
to inefficient or polluting energy use
relying solely on traditional biomass,
patterns.
and to start being able to take
STRATEGIC ENERGY PLANNING
Energy planners work in an extremely
advantage of new energy services such
challenging field. While energy is a key
INDIVIDUAL ENERGY PATHS
as kerosene lamps for lighting, car
input to economic development, few
Maybe even more important than the
batteries for television. And what next?
countries have well-planned long-term
long term effects of physical
Will they get a grid connection? Will
strategies for their energy sectors.
infrastructure is the long term effects of
they arrange their own energy solution
Choices made now regarding energy
“individual energy paths”: the ways in
in situ using for instance a diesel
infrastructure, will have major impacts
which households (and organisations)
generator or solar system? Or will they
on the energy sector in 20 to 50 years
transition from one form of energy use
move to the cities, where infrastructure
from now. The energy infrastructures of
to another as their incomes rise, moving
for further growth seems already
the housing, transport, industry and
them out of absolute poverty to a
present?
power supply sectors tend to be very
higher standard of living.
Currently, energy planning in most
energy countries provides few insights
into these individual energy paths. It is
focused on macro-level statistics such as
energy balances which describe total
consumption and production of fuels,
but say little about individual energy
pathways.
Just as Newton’s law of gravity can now
be traced back to quantum mechanic
theories describing the behaviour of
large numbers of fundamental
individual particles (which have never
heard of gravity), so also national
Photo: Anders Arvidson, 2005
energy planning must recognize the
fundamental linkage between energy
balances and scenarios and the
understanding that societies are
composed of large numbers of
individual energy users, each with their
LPG and electricity - modern energy carriers, Nairobi, Kenya
10 reCOMMEND 4•2006
own specific behaviour.
reACTION TO THE ARTICLE
FOCUS ON THE POOR
Nicolás di Sbroiavacca
Why focus on the poor ? There are two
Fundación Bariloche
main reasons for this.
The article written by Frank van der Vleuten is a very interesting one, because the
•
First, fighting poverty is the prime
author contributes a detailed analysis of the energy situation of the poor, and
stated objective of most
proposes a novel idea: using peri-urban markets for testing the patterns of energy
governments. Therefore energy
consumption. Without a doubt, a detailed analysis of the uses of energy in
planning, as a key tool in achieving
consumption sectors constitutes a necessary base for formulating energy policies
development, should not be limited
that seek to contribute to sustainability and poverty alleviation. However, the
only to promoting economic growth
proposed approach seems both partial and insufficient.
but should also make planning for the
poor a high priority.
•
• Firstly, it does not seem valid to extract conclusions about desirable future
Second, future development will be
evolutions of energy consumption among the poor on the basis of an analysis only
one of the main driving factors
in peri-urban areas. Integrated analyses that examine all fuels, all sectors, and all
behind changing energy patterns in a
parts of society are needed for a full evaluation of energy policies.
country. In fact, the poor are
continuously looking for ways to
• Secondly, it must be remembered that energy planning is a normative process
improve their quality of life. Where
founded on moral objectives such as alleviating poverty and protecting the
this is difficult through finding a job
environment. The proposed approach seems overly fatalistic, aiming as it does to
in the formal sector, people resort to
passively study how markets operate today and validate existing consumption
the informal or illegal sectors. This
patterns. This seems insufficient for meeting the huge challenges facing energy
means that their energy development
planners: namely transforming the operation of markets to overcome poverty and
paths may also be completely out of
protect the environment.
sight for the energy planners.
Contact: ndisbro@bariloche.com.ar
Energy is a key aspect of the
development process that countries will
• where levels of poverty are high, and
quality of life, defining their individual
be going through in the coming
typical individual energy paths are
decades. Without proper planning
unclear, energy scenarios with major
support, the consequences of such
impacts may develop completely
In peri-urban areas people adopt a mix
development in energy terms may be
outside the scope of the energy
of energy solutions: informal (such as
choking both the energy sector and the
planners.
informal sector distribution of charcoal,
energy paths as they go.
dry cell batteries etc), illegal (such as
natural environment, which may bring
development to a standstill or even drop
WHAT TO DO ? ADOPT A PERI-
electricity theft) as well as professionally
back.
URBAN TESTING MARKET
provided (such as the first connections
Since energy for the poor is often
to micro utilities or even the national
The clear dilemma is that while
essentially a completely free market
grid).
development of the poor is closely
product, and energy planning for the
linked to the energy sector, the poor are
poor is therefore very closely related to
Seeing energy planning as strategic
very difficult to include in energy
marketing, we suggest that energy
marketing means that energy planners
planning, because:
planners should actively engage in
should seek direct access to the variety
setting up their own testing markets.
of on-the-ground ways in which people
• Energy statistics focus on Megajoules
and developing organisations are
instead of contribution of energy
We propose to do this in the peri-urban
changing their energy use, thereby
services to well-being and
areas, which form the nexus between
shaping their individual energy
development;
the traditionally poor rural background
development paths.
• energy use of the poor is often
of the newcomers and the rich
embedded in informal or illegal sector
possibilities of the city economy and
We propose a concise but continuous
practices, making information very
urban infrastructure. It is exactly there
field test market in a few selected peri-
scarce and unreliable for energy
that people seem to be struggling and
urban locations. The scale and selection
planning;
experimenting most to improve their
should be such that:
reCOMMEND-4•2006 11
reACTION TO THE ARTICLE
•
The energy market can be segmented
in terms of customers and customer
Charlie Heaps
needs, products and supply
Stockholm Environment Institute
structures, together defining the
variety of existing individual energy
The article makes important observations about the vital role that energy services
development paths;
can play in improving the lives of the poor. But the poor tend to be overlooked in
• The interaction, distribution and
many traditional energy planning efforts because their absolute consumption of
selection between the energy
energy is low. It also emphasizes the need to gain a better understanding of how
development paths should be
the poor use energy and how transitions occur as income levels rise and people
assessed, and especially;
adopt new energy forms and devices.
• The test market should show how
and to what extent the individual
The author proposes that energy planners should intercede to try and shape
energy paths can be changed or
these “individual energy paths” by actively setting up their own testing markets
customers can be made to switch
in peri-urban areas. I am concerned that this approach may not be ambitious
between paths;
enough to properly address the huge development and sustainability challenges
• Impact of targeted marketing actions
that lie ahead. A premise of the proposed approach seems to be that there is no
can be tested, such as placing a grid
longer a major role for central planning (see last paragraph). I am disappointed
connection, a battery charging
that so much faith is put in markets. In fact, in the energy sector, free markets
station, a kerosene distribution point,
have largely failed to deliver substantial benefits to the poor. Countries that have
a sales point for special energy
focused on planning their energy sectors have generally been much more
appliances, etc.
successful in achieving major development benefits. Two examples come to mind
in recent years: China and South Africa. Both have managed to achieve high
The information that the test marketing
levels of electrification over recent decades. This was achieved, not by expecting
will give, can be integrated in bottom-
markets to address the problem, but instead through political will and a strong
up energy planning tools like LEAP, to
emphasis on strategic planning. Of course markets have a major role to play in
give energy scenarios with more details
shaping future energy systems, but surely we should not abandon the role of
on the situation of the poor, which may
planning?
prove a useful input for giving energy a
more pragmatic place in National
Contact: cheaps@tellus.org
Poverty Reduction Strategies. However
probably much more important would
be the result that energy planners would
The energy sector is moving rapidly from
Energy planners have an important role
be able to make concrete and pragmatic
the centrally planned and centrally
to play to help government and market
marketing plans to facilitate and
controlled sector, that it once was, to a
players better understand the linkages
improve the development of energy
market place with many and very
between the macro-economic and long
services for the poor. Effective actions
diverse players ranging from large
term developments in the energy sector
can then be launched immediately.
utilities to small informal traders.
and the choices and products that shape
the behaviour of the individual clients in
the market. Especially where the poor
are concerned, setting up a testing
market becomes as crucial for energy
planning as it is for marketing any
product.
For more information:
Photo: Sustainable Energy Africa
Please contact:
Frank van der Vleuten,
ETC Energy, P.O.Box 64,
3830 AB Leusden, the Netherlands
Email: f.vleuten@etcnl.nl
www.etc-energy.org
City of Cape Town
12 reCOMMEND 4•2006
I N T R O D U C T I O N TO T H E P R O G R A M
EPA’s Integrated Environmental
Strategies Program
This article introduces the US EPA’s Integrated Environmental Strategies Program, an initiative to promote
integrated planning to simultaneously address local environmental concerns and reduce associated global
greenhouse gas emissions.
Jack Fitzgerald
U.S. ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION
AGENCY
INTRODUCTION
Many countries are struggling to
balance their desire to protect the
environment and improve public
health with the need for economic
development. They are facing critical
day-to-day needs to improve urban air
Photo: Ellen Hoog Antink
quality, protect public health and raise
living standards while also attempting
to minimize long-term risks such as
global climate change. Although these
problems may seem unrelated, they do
overlap. Opportunities exist for the
A restaurant kitchen in Uganda
APPROACH
Country programs are tailored to
development and implementation of
strategies and measures that address
GOALS AND OBJECTIVES
address local and national needs and
both local and global environmental
The goals and objectives of the IES
priorities and build lasting capacity.
effects.
program are to:
In-country research teams, guided by
The U.S. Environmental Protection
•
policymakers and assisted by U.S.
Provide tools and approaches to help
counterparts, identify key policy
Agency’s Integrated Environmental
analyze and quantify environmental
objectives and a range of
Strategies (IES) program engages
(air quality and greenhouse gas),
conventional and innovative policy
developing countries to build support
public health, and economic co-
measures. The team analyzes the
for integrated planning to address
benefits in major developing
potential co-benefits of selected
local environmental concerns and
countries;
mitigation strategies and makes
reduce associated global greenhouse
gas emissions. The program promotes
the analysis and implementation of
• Improve analytical methods for cobenefits analysis;
• Provide the information necessary for
recommendations that inform policy
decisions. To date, analyses of cobenefits have focused primarily on
policy, technology, and infrastructure
consideration of global issues in local
estimation of the human health benefits
measures with multiple public health,
energy and environmental policy
resulting from air quality improvements
economic, and environmental benefits.
initiatives;
associated with increased use of clean
To date, government agencies and
• Build expertise in integrated energy
research institutions in Argentina,
and environmental analysis; and
Brazil, Chile, China, India, Mexico, the
• Promote local support for the
energy technologies and measures. In
the future, IES analyses may be
expanded to quantify additional benefits
Philippines and South Korea have
implementation of measures and
such as job creation, impacts on trade
participated in the IES program.
policies with multiple benefits.
and reduced traffic congestion.
reCOMMEND-4•2006 13
THE STEPS OF AN IES PROJECT:
determined by data availability and a
study site where original research was
DESCRIPTION OF FLOW CHART
qualitative assessment of ambient
conducted to the local site, adjusting for
conditions. All IES projects to date have
important differences in the local
Step 1: Scope Project and Build Team
focused on PM10 due to the strong
economy and health care system.
An IES project begins when a host
evidence linking it to compromised
organization within a country (usually
human health, and CO2, the major
Step 6: Rank Measures and Share
the government) commits to a project
greenhouse gas.
Results
and identifies a technical team to
To assist policymakers in making
perform the analytical tasks. The
Local ambient air quality and
informed decisions, mitigation measures
technical team then organizes a formal
meteorological data are combined with
are ranked based on a set of selected
scoping meeting, which provides a
outputs from the energy/emissions
criteria, such as the relationship
forum for the project team,
model and run through an air quality
between monetized benefits and
policymakers, and other stakeholders to
model to forecast future atmospheric
mitigation costs. The team then begins
refine the scope, objectives, and desired
concentrations of the targeted
sharing its results to promote the
outcomes of the project. The meeting
emissions.
eventual inclusion of the
also provides an opportunity for
recommendations into policy and
different team members to share
Step 4: Quantify Public Health
planning initiatives. An IES team
information about available data, tools,
Effects
typically utilizes a number of
and methodologies.
The health effects team utilizes the air
dissemination strategies, including
quality modeling outputs to forecast the
meetings; publication of reports;
Step 2: Develop Energy/Emission
avoided health effects (morbidity and
presentations; and outreach to the
Scenarios
premature mortality) associated with
general public.
In this step, the technical team develops
each scenario. Health effects studied
a base-year emissions inventory of
include increased incidence and
Step 7: Promote Implementation of
selected conventional pollutants and
prevalence of respiratory symptoms and
Measures
greenhouse gases (GHGs). Once the
illnesses, increased asthma attacks,
An IES project does not end with the
inventory is complete, the team
chronic and acute bronchitis, hospital
completion of the analytical steps. To
develops scenarios showing how energy
admissions, days of work loss, and
begin achieving the co-benefits that
demand and resulting emissions might
infant and elderly mortality.
characterize the IES program, teams
evolve into the future (e.g., 10 and/or
Once the set of health effects is
need to continue engaging stakeholders
20 years) based on the implementation
selected, the technical team adopts or
and policymakers to promote the
of various control measures, coupled
develops concentration-response (C-R)
implementation of recommended
with economic indicators.
functions, which describe the
measures.
relationship between increased
The team develops a baseline scenario
concentrations of emissions and
ADDITIONAL INFORMATION
against which a variety of integrated
resulting health effects. The team must
Comprehensive information on the
mitigation scenarios can be compared.
also account for uncertainty, particularly
program, including the Integrated
Three modeling tools have been used in
if extrapolating studies from one
Environmental Strategies Handbook
the program to date: ENPEP-MAED in
location to another.
and all final reports, is available at
http://www.epa.gov/ies.
Argentina; MARKAL in Shanghai, China;
and, LEAP in Beijing, China, Korea and
Step 5: Perform Economic Valuation
Brazil.
of Health Benefits
The economics team is responsible for
Step 3: Calculate Atmospheric
estimating the monetary values of
For more information
Concentrations
health-related benefits resulting from
Please contact: Jack Fitzgerald, U.S.
The air quality technical team quantifies
improved air quality. Monetary values of
Environmental Protection Agency,
changes in air pollutants and GHGs
avoided health impacts are estimated
1200 Pennsylvania Avenue,
from the baseline for each integrated
using an appropriate valuation
Washington, D.C. 20460, USA
mitigation scenario. A critical task is
approach. Most IES teams utilize the
Email:
selecting the emissions for inclusion in
“benefits transfer” technique, which
Fitzgerald.Jack@epamail.epa.gov
the analysis. This selection is most often
extrapolates economic values from a
14 reCOMMEND 4•2006
C A P E TOW N E N E R G Y F U T U R E S
Sustainable City Energy Development
In a recent study, Energy Research Centre of the University of Cape Town used LEAP to study how energy
might develop in Cape Town over the next twenty years. The article below shows the main results.
Harald Winkler, Mark Borchers, Alison
contributes more than half of total
R30). The potential for solar water
Hughes, Eugene Visagie and Glen
energy consumption and emissions.
heaters is largest in medium- to high-
Heinrich
A lesson from this is that, given the
income households. We
ENERGY RESEARCH CENTRE,
need for reliable data and the high cost
suggest that local government should
UNIVERSITY OF CAPE TOWN
of data gathering, it is important that
consider subsidising the capital costs
studies do not under-budget for data
of these interventions for poor
The Cape Town Energy Futures study
gathering. On the other hand, cost
households.
attempted to simulate what might
savings can be achieved if policy
happen to energy and pollution
interventions are identified up-front.
have significant costs:
emissions in the future, in a business-as-
Data collection can then be focused
The estimated total capital cost of
usual scenario and in scenarios with
based on the analytical needs of each
implementing the renewable energy
various plausible policy interventions
policy measure.
target would be R4 370 million.
•
A renewable energy target will
However, the reduction of GHG
designed to save energy and reduce
pollution and greenhouse gas (GHG)
CONCLUSIONS AND
emissions could earn back about
emissions. Energy savings are important
RECOMMENDATIONS
17% of the total capital costs,
to Cape Town, since it depends on
Major recommendations were presented
imports of both electricity and liquid
to city officials. Some of the main
The report is currently being used to
fuels. Similarly, reducing pollution is
conclusions of the study are as follows:
help formulate a follow-up to Cape
important because Cape Town has long
•
Town’s city energy strategy.
Significant energy savings are
through the sale of carbon credits.
suffered from the problem of ‘brown
possible relative to business-as-
haze’.
usual: Unsurprisingly, since transport
References:
currently accounts for 54% of energy
1. CCT & SEA, ‘State of Energy’ report for Cape Town. Situation
In preparing the study, data availability
consumption, the biggest energy
was a key challenge. For example, in
savings come from a shift from
the transport sector, there was
private to public transport.
•
assessment of energy issues and state of energy data of Cape
Town. (City of Cape Town & Sustainable Energy Africa, Cape
Town, 2003)
2. SEA & CCT, ICLEI (Sustainable Energy Africa, City of Cape
Energy efficiency saves money:
Town & International Council for Local Environmental
proper modal analysis. This was
Efficient lighting in the commercial
Initiatives), Cape Town energy strategy. October. (2003)
particularly problematic since transport
sector can save R144 million over the
insufficient data available to support a
Photo: Sustainable Energy Africa
•
Solar thermal installations in Cape Town
projection period. More efficient
For more information
heating and air conditioning in the
Please contact: Harald Winkler, ERC,
commercial and government sectors
University of Cape Town,
is also seen to be cost effective.
Tel: +27 21 650-3230
Low-income households can save
e-mail: harald@erc.uct.ac.za
on their energy bills. Each house-
The full report, as well as the asso-
hold could save R75 per year just by
ciated LEAP dataset is download-
installing two compact fluorescent
able from the COMMEND web-site.
lights (CFLs) (at capital cost of about
reCOMMEND-4•2006 15
Photo: Yves Beaulieu – IDRC
NEWS
& EVENTS
UNFCCC WORKSHOP ON GREENHOUSE
capita electricity consumption varies between
ning systems. The courses ran over two con-
GAS MITIGATION
the countries in South America. To enable
secutive weeks from August 28th to
LEAP has recently been used in a one week
LEAP’s mapping features, you will need to
September 9th, 2005, and were attended by
training workshop on greenhouse gas (GHG)
download and install the separate LEAP map-
21 participants from Ethiopia, Kenya, Zambia
mitigation assessment for non-annex 1 coun-
ping components, which are available for free
and South Africa. The COMMEND initiative
tries organized by the Consultative Group of
on the COMMEND web site.
provided funding for scholarships to cover
Experts of the UNFCCC. The workshop, which
the fees for many of the participants.
was held in Seoul, Korea in September 2005,
OTHER INITIATIVES
was designed to assist countries in preparing
the mitigation section of their national communications to the UNFCCC. This was done
IMPROVES
through training on a wide range of mitiga-
In July this year the kick-off workshop of a
tion assessment approaches and methods and
new EU-funded initiative was held in
by providing information on the relative
Bamako, Mali. The IMPROVES-RE project aims
strengths and weaknesses of different tools.
to reinforce the impact of rural electrification
The workshop reviewed a range of energy
by developing an alternative planning
and GHG modelling tools including LEAP,
approach. This approach is based on an
assessment of a combination of potential
MARKAL, ENPEP and RETScreen.
Electricity consumption variation in South America
sector and on economic development
To complement the workshop, a handbook
has been developed (currently in draft form),
impacts on the health sector, the education
COMMEND ACTIVITIES
possibilities. The project is being carried out
in Burkina Faso, Mali, Cameroon and Niger.
which is intended to serve as a succinct guide
to the issues addressed in the workshop. The
COMMEND LIBRARY CREATED
For more information, see:
handbook and the accompanying workshop
The COMMEND web site (http://www.energy-
http://www.improves-re.com
presentations are available online at:
community.org) has recently been updated. The
http://forums.seib.org/unfccc.htm. Also avail-
site now has a new “library” section which gives
INTERNATIONAL ENERGY STATISTICS
able are two simple training exercises, each
access to a range of documents, which are use-
MEETING
of which can be completed in a just an hour
ful for those doing sustainable energy studies.
In November 2005, the International Energy
or two. The spreadsheet and the LEAP data
The library’s contents have largely been suggest-
Statistics Meeting was held in Paris. Although
set used in these exercises are available for
ed by COMMEND members. Please contact
there was broad acknowledgement of
download from the COMMEND web site.
Charlie Heaps (cheaps@tellus.org) if you have
improvements in the quality of energy
suggestions for other online public-domain doc-
statistics over the past five years, participants
uments that should be added to the library.
identified concerns such as low awareness
LEAP UPDATE RELEASED
A new version of LEAP has been released
and commitment to statistics gathering,
that includes the ability to display results on
LEAP AND MARKAL SHORT COURSES
insufficient resources and expertise and the
a map for multi-region data sets. Each region
HELD IN SOUTH AFRICA
need for more harmonization and co-
in a LEAP data set can be associated with a
In September 2005, the Energy Research Center
operation. For more information:
shape in a standard ArcView GIS “shape” file.
at the University of Cape Town in South Africa
http://www.iea.org
In LEAP’s Results View any result can be plot-
(http://www.erc.uct.ac.za/) ran two short courses
ted on a color-coded map. The example
designed to introduce planners and policy
shown in the figure below shows how per
makers to the LEAP and MARKAL energy plan-
16 reCOMMEND 4•2006