Report on Parallel Workshop Session 1
Pasha Sohel, M2 Student, Department of Urban Engineering
Parallel Workshop Theme: Energy
Session 1: Management of Clean Energy Development in Asian Countries
Time: March 20 (Monday) 2006, 13:30-17:10
Venue: Riverside 7, Royal Orchid Sheraton, Bangkok, Thailand
Facilitator: Keisuke Hanaki (the University of Tokyo)
Foreword
The aim of the workshop is to discuss management of energy and environment especially in Asian region. Topics include mitigation of expected growth in developing region and sustainable GHG reduction in developed region. Interaction of energy technology with social and economic aspects is addressed. The final goal of this workshop is to provide valuable inputs in order to improve the interim proposal of the new flagship program that AGS is going to launch. The workshop invited 7 speakers in session 1 to provide regional information on management of clean energy development. After the lectures, there was a commentator’s speech on all the presentations of the session. However, the workshop started with the session facilitator’s introductory talk on session topic, scope of the workshop and presentation rules.
Lecture 1
Renewable Energy Development in Asia: Promoting Renewable Energy Technologies
S Kumar, Asian Institute of Technology (AIT)
The Renewable Energy Technology (RET) Program, conducted during 1997-2005, in Bangladesh, Cambodia, Lao PDR, Nepal, the Philippines and Vietnam was presented. The program aimed to promote RETs viz. photovoltaics (PV), solar drying and biomass briquetting/ briquetting stoves. Major areas of program activities are development of RETs system components through adaptive research, capacity building on RETs and dissemination of the technology to the potential users and policy makers.
Reference
• http://www.retsasia.ait.ac.th
Q&A
• Was there any viability test, for example, resource assessment for use of RET devices? There was no such study. For instance, measurement of solar energy is not so easy. Renewable energy is assumed to be in abundant in the nature.
• Was there any quality assessment regarding the renewable energy? There was no problem concerning quality.
• Is there any supply side problem regarding silicon for photovoltaic cells? There is no problem in silicon supply. No resource restriction exists.
Lecture 2
Sustainable Bioenergy for India
N H Ravindranath, Indian Institute of Science-Bangalore (IISc)
Rural energy demand has, so far, received limited attention in developing countries. The presentation was about the potentiality of bioenergy technologies as an opportunity to meet all the rural energy needs. Feasibility of commercial scale manufacturing and dissemination, demonstration and implementation of technologies, technical and operational feasibility, acceptability to the rural community has been tried practically in India. However, economic viability is yet to be proven in the field for some of the bioenergy technologies. Research and development capability as well as manufacturing and entrepreneurship capability exist in India. Also land needed for sustainable biomass feedstock production for energy is available in India. Bioenergy technologies such as biomass gasifiers for power generation, biodiesel or liquid fuels for local transportation, biogas and high efficiency wood stoves for cooking can promote economic development in rural areas by providing employment and incomes. In addition, such programs can prevent land degradation, protect watersheds and reduce greenhouse gas emissions. Policy, financial and institutional interventions are needed to promote bioenergy programs.
Q&A
• We have seen that there is a lot of energy demand. But still we haven’t seen the impact yet. What are the barriers for promoting bioenergy? Social and economic factors are not allowing to have the benefits of bioenergy. Barriers include: (a)Electricity has traditionally been subsidized in India. So, bioenergy is in competition with subsidized electricity. (b) Technological challenges still exist. (c) Policy barriers are also there.
• Is there any water pollution problem regarding cleaning gasifier engine? Gasifier engine is of complete combustion type with little tork. It does not use lot of water because of its small scale. Moreover, water is used for cooling purpose not for cleaning. That water is recycled.
• What is the price of biodiesel? It costs 25-30 baths to produce one litre of biodiesel and sold at 30-35 baths a litre. So, compared to gasoline or diesel biodiesel is cheaper.
• As for developing bioenergy in rural areas, what is the requirement? Both small fund and labour are available in rural areas. It could be promoted as employment generation program solving the rural employment problem. Thus it can promote economic development in rural areas by providing employment and incomes.
• There is a debate that large scale production of bioenergy is raising the price of fuel. How this could be defended? No good agricultural land will be used for producing bioenergy. No farmer shifts from food to energy. So, no high quality land would go. Non-arable land is still available right now. So, it wouldn’t be a serious problem in promoting bioenergy.
Lecture 3
Development of Japan Law Carbon Society (LCS) Scenarios toward 2050 and Global Challenges
Junichi Fujino, National Institute of Environmental Studies (NIES), Japan
An analysis of possible Japanese energy systems to achieve low carbon society toward 2050 was presented. We might need drastic and early reduction of GHG emissions such as 50% global emissions by 2050 to stabilize GHG concentration at a level that would prevent dangerous anthropogenic interference with the climate system. The study suggested that Japan might require to undertake greater reductions such as 60-80%. However, current study examined 70% CO2 reductions by 2050 as compared to 1990 level for Japan. It showed that renewable energies may have significant role to realize low carbon society. Therefore, it is important to design feasible roadmap to expand their share and use with long term perspectives. The speaker also emphasized the importance of quantitative verification using simulation models to find consistence and feasible pathways toward achieving low carbon society. Analysis on low carbon society scenarios of some Asian countries like China, India and Thailand has been started.
References
• Japan Low Carbon Society Scenarios toward 2050, http://2050.nies.go.jp.
• LCS Research Booklet No.1 (November 2005), Research Project on “Establishing of Methodology to Evaluate Middle to Long term Environmental Policy Options toward Low Carbon Society in Japan” (FY2004-2008), sponsored by Strategic Research Development Project, Global Environment Research Fund, Ministry of the Environment, Japan.
• Japan – UK Joint Research Project (Feb.16 2006), Developing visions for a Low Carbon Society through sustainable development, MoE Japan/ Defra UK.
• Japan (June 2005), Guidance for Self-sustained Residential, 50% reductions
• UK (February 2005), 40% House, 60% reductions
Q&A
• Existing technology and its barriers have been talked about provided that the new technologies are also in the horizon. So, if you model the long term what are the critical points to convert this low carbon society scenario into reality? We have developed back casting model. If we just hold the trend it will not be of use. How to develop fuel cell technology is also critical. Problem also exists in how to store energy. Somehow storing energy is required but the battery technology is not so well developed. So, the approach is to find the crucial point by setting different scenarios and then think which to do.
• Japanese society is aging rapidly. Does aging make difficult or easier? Aging is not only problem of Japan, especially China also has the same problem. By using population dynamic model it has been tried to understand that what things happen in Lifestyle Model. It is now trend that elder people moving from rural to city area.
• Change of oil price is very strongly affecting alternative fuel production. Is the oil price factor introduced to the model? Hiking of oil price is in a sense good for development of alternative energy. Macro economic model is used to estimate oil price.
• There is a controversy on Fuel Cell Hydrogen vehicles’ energy efficiency. How is it in Japan? At present it is not so good situation regarding FCH vehicles in Japan. How to generate hydrogen is a question.
Pasha Sohel, M2 Student, Department of Urban Engineering
Parallel Workshop Theme: Energy
Session 1: Management of Clean Energy Development in Asian Countries
Time: March 20 (Monday) 2006, 13:30-17:10
Venue: Riverside 7, Royal Orchid Sheraton, Bangkok, Thailand
Facilitator: Keisuke Hanaki (the University of Tokyo)
Foreword
The aim of the workshop is to discuss management of energy and environment especially in Asian region. Topics include mitigation of expected growth in developing region and sustainable GHG reduction in developed region. Interaction of energy technology with social and economic aspects is addressed. The final goal of this workshop is to provide valuable inputs in order to improve the interim proposal of the new flagship program that AGS is going to launch. The workshop invited 7 speakers in session 1 to provide regional information on management of clean energy development. After the lectures, there was a commentator’s speech on all the presentations of the session. However, the workshop started with the session facilitator’s introductory talk on session topic, scope of the workshop and presentation rules.
Lecture 1
Renewable Energy Development in Asia: Promoting Renewable Energy Technologies
S Kumar, Asian Institute of Technology (AIT)
The Renewable Energy Technology (RET) Program, conducted during 1997-2005, in Bangladesh, Cambodia, Lao PDR, Nepal, the Philippines and Vietnam was presented. The program aimed to promote RETs viz. photovoltaics (PV), solar drying and biomass briquetting/ briquetting stoves. Major areas of program activities are development of RETs system components through adaptive research, capacity building on RETs and dissemination of the technology to the potential users and policy makers.
Reference
• http://www.retsasia.ait.ac.th
Q&A
• Was there any viability test, for example, resource assessment for use of RET devices? There was no such study. For instance, measurement of solar energy is not so easy. Renewable energy is assumed to be in abundant in the nature.
• Was there any quality assessment regarding the renewable energy? There was no problem concerning quality.
• Is there any supply side problem regarding silicon for photovoltaic cells? There is no problem in silicon supply. No resource restriction exists.
Lecture 2
Sustainable Bioenergy for India
N H Ravindranath, Indian Institute of Science-Bangalore (IISc)
Rural energy demand has, so far, received limited attention in developing countries. The presentation was about the potentiality of bioenergy technologies as an opportunity to meet all the rural energy needs. Feasibility of commercial scale manufacturing and dissemination, demonstration and implementation of technologies, technical and operational feasibility, acceptability to the rural community has been tried practically in India. However, economic viability is yet to be proven in the field for some of the bioenergy technologies. Research and development capability as well as manufacturing and entrepreneurship capability exist in India. Also land needed for sustainable biomass feedstock production for energy is available in India. Bioenergy technologies such as biomass gasifiers for power generation, biodiesel or liquid fuels for local transportation, biogas and high efficiency wood stoves for cooking can promote economic development in rural areas by providing employment and incomes. In addition, such programs can prevent land degradation, protect watersheds and reduce greenhouse gas emissions. Policy, financial and institutional interventions are needed to promote bioenergy programs.
Q&A
• We have seen that there is a lot of energy demand. But still we haven’t seen the impact yet. What are the barriers for promoting bioenergy? Social and economic factors are not allowing to have the benefits of bioenergy. Barriers include: (a)Electricity has traditionally been subsidized in India. So, bioenergy is in competition with subsidized electricity. (b) Technological challenges still exist. (c) Policy barriers are also there.
• Is there any water pollution problem regarding cleaning gasifier engine? Gasifier engine is of complete combustion type with little tork. It does not use lot of water because of its small scale. Moreover, water is used for cooling purpose not for cleaning. That water is recycled.
• What is the price of biodiesel? It costs 25-30 baths to produce one litre of biodiesel and sold at 30-35 baths a litre. So, compared to gasoline or diesel biodiesel is cheaper.
• As for developing bioenergy in rural areas, what is the requirement? Both small fund and labour are available in rural areas. It could be promoted as employment generation program solving the rural employment problem. Thus it can promote economic development in rural areas by providing employment and incomes.
• There is a debate that large scale production of bioenergy is raising the price of fuel. How this could be defended? No good agricultural land will be used for producing bioenergy. No farmer shifts from food to energy. So, no high quality land would go. Non-arable land is still available right now. So, it wouldn’t be a serious problem in promoting bioenergy.
Lecture 3
Development of Japan Law Carbon Society (LCS) Scenarios toward 2050 and Global Challenges
Junichi Fujino, National Institute of Environmental Studies (NIES), Japan
An analysis of possible Japanese energy systems to achieve low carbon society toward 2050 was presented. We might need drastic and early reduction of GHG emissions such as 50% global emissions by 2050 to stabilize GHG concentration at a level that would prevent dangerous anthropogenic interference with the climate system. The study suggested that Japan might require to undertake greater reductions such as 60-80%. However, current study examined 70% CO2 reductions by 2050 as compared to 1990 level for Japan. It showed that renewable energies may have significant role to realize low carbon society. Therefore, it is important to design feasible roadmap to expand their share and use with long term perspectives. The speaker also emphasized the importance of quantitative verification using simulation models to find consistence and feasible pathways toward achieving low carbon society. Analysis on low carbon society scenarios of some Asian countries like China, India and Thailand has been started.
References
• Japan Low Carbon Society Scenarios toward 2050, http://2050.nies.go.jp.
• LCS Research Booklet No.1 (November 2005), Research Project on “Establishing of Methodology to Evaluate Middle to Long term Environmental Policy Options toward Low Carbon Society in Japan” (FY2004-2008), sponsored by Strategic Research Development Project, Global Environment Research Fund, Ministry of the Environment, Japan.
• Japan – UK Joint Research Project (Feb.16 2006), Developing visions for a Low Carbon Society through sustainable development, MoE Japan/ Defra UK.
• Japan (June 2005), Guidance for Self-sustained Residential, 50% reductions
• UK (February 2005), 40% House, 60% reductions
Q&A
• Existing technology and its barriers have been talked about provided that the new technologies are also in the horizon. So, if you model the long term what are the critical points to convert this low carbon society scenario into reality? We have developed back casting model. If we just hold the trend it will not be of use. How to develop fuel cell technology is also critical. Problem also exists in how to store energy. Somehow storing energy is required but the battery technology is not so well developed. So, the approach is to find the crucial point by setting different scenarios and then think which to do.
• Japanese society is aging rapidly. Does aging make difficult or easier? Aging is not only problem of Japan, especially China also has the same problem. By using population dynamic model it has been tried to understand that what things happen in Lifestyle Model. It is now trend that elder people moving from rural to city area.
• Change of oil price is very strongly affecting alternative fuel production. Is the oil price factor introduced to the model? Hiking of oil price is in a sense good for development of alternative energy. Macro economic model is used to estimate oil price.
• There is a controversy on Fuel Cell Hydrogen vehicles’ energy efficiency. How is it in Japan? At present it is not so good situation regarding FCH vehicles in Japan. How to generate hydrogen is a question.