East African Community States to Have a Renewable Energy Centre

PLANS to have a centre for renewable energy and energy efficiency in the East African Community have been completed, according to Deputy Secretary General in charge of Productive and Social Sectors Jesca Eriyo.

The Deputy Secretary General told a meeting of EAC Energy ministers in Arusha, Tanzania, Friday the feasibility study and project documents for the establishment of the EAC Centre for Renewable Energy and Energy Efficiency had been completed.

Eriyo informed the ministerial session of the 8th Meeting of the EAC Sectoral Council on Energy that the Austrian Government had committed one million euros towards the establishment of the centre, which she said would be instrumental in advancing the development of renewable energy in the region.

She added the project would also provide a channel for implementing energy efficiency programmes and thus called for its expeditious approval.

The meeting also discussed the East African Petroleum Conference and Exhibition, selecting Rwanda as the host for the seventh edition of the event due in 2015, while the ministers directed the EAC Secretariat to develop a concept paper on establishing an energy fund as a window under the EAC Development Fund.

Other matters the meeting discussed included the establishment of the East African Community Power Pool, new and renewable sources of energy and energy conservation and efficiency, the Regional Clean Energy Programme, and the Energy and Environment Partnership programme.

In attendance were Irene Muloni, Uganda's Minister for Energy and Mineral Development and chairperson of the sectoral council, Come Manirakiza, Minister for Energy and Mines (Burundi), Emma Francoise Isumbingabo, Minister of State for Water and Energy (Rwanda), George Simbachawene, Deputy Minister of Energy and Minerals (United Republic of Tanzania) and Davis Chirchir, Cabinet Secretary for Energy & Petroleum (Kenya).

http://allafrica.com/stories/201306250090.html

Obama Unveils $7 Billion ‘Power Africa’ Electricity Plan

That is OUR $7 billion he is spending on another nation. Because of the sequester, he wanted, this country doesn’t have the funds to help vets in need, fund White House tours or Independence Day festivities but is ready to help Africa out! This is the same guy who promised his policies on Cap & Trade would bankrupt coal companies and that under his plan electricity prices would necessarily skyrocket!

This is what you call social and economic justice. What the MARXIST in Chief is doing is raising the lifestyle of lower classes around the world with US taxpayer dollars while taking steps in the US to bring Americans lifestyle down to the rest of the world!
We are broke and this govt as a whole, both sides, just keeps blowing money. The Fed is printing/ digitizing money we don’t have while emperor 0 and the progressives leave the American taxpayers on the hook for their “good deeds”!

This is all part of the emperors promise to fundamentally transform the USA!

Obama Unveils $7 Billion ‘Power Africa’ Electricity Plan

What can Barack Obama’s “Power Africa” program achieve?

Seven billion dollars is a lot of money—except when it goes into infrastructure. Then, $7bn, the sum that the US has committed to spend over the next five years on the Obama administration’s newly-announced Power Africa initiative, does not sound like so much at all. Even considering that Power Africa will roll out in only six countries (Ethiopia, Ghana, Kenya, Liberia, Nigeria and Tanzania), the project’s funding feels slender. Power plants are expensive: in Tanzania, for example, a Sumitomo-built 240 MW gas-fired plant that just secured Japanese financing will cost $414m; in Ghana, the 400 MW Bui hydroelectric plant, now under construction with Chinese financing, costs $622m. Transmission and distribution networks are expensive in their own right.Announced by President Obama himself during his current Africa tour, Power Africa arrives with the pomp of a legacy-building initiative; measured against these industrial costs, it risks appearing tentative and small-bore, like much of the administration’s Africa policy.

That said, all infrastructure investment should be considered a good thing unless proven otherwise—especially in Africa, where the need is so great. At present, continent-wide installed capacity and power generation are roughly equivalent to those of Germany or Canada. Remove South Africa and Egypt, and you are left with about 63 GW supplying 260 billion kWh, scarcely more than Australia or Iran. In this context, if the first phase of Power Africa succeeds in its stated goal of adding 10 GW of generation capacity and connecting 20 million new residential and commercial customers, it will represent a major expansion—albeit not near the doubling of access that, according to the White House fact sheet on Power Africa, is the program’s ultimate aim. Indeed, the same fact sheet soberly estimates that it would cost $300bn to secure universal access to power on the continent by 2030.

Good forecast for Dutch solar panels in Kenya

Rwanda: Experts Tip Region On Energy Saving

East African countries have been urged to act fast in adopting energy conservation measures and renewable energy in buildings.

The appeal was made, yesterday, during an ongoing workshop in Kigali organised to discuss and adopt energy efficiency measures that can be integrated into building policies all over East Africa.

The workshop, which closes tomorrow, is organised by the UN-Habitat in collaboration with the Rwandan government with support from the World Bank.

It is partly in response to reports by the Green Building Council in Africa, indicating that the buildings alone consumes 54 per cent of energy supply on the continent, and this energy is used only in cooking, lighting, cooling, heating, communication.

The participants were drawn from five East Africa partner states of Burundi, Kenya, Rwanda, Tanzania and Ugand as well as West Africa, Asia, North America, Europe and Arab states.

According to a UN-Habitat representative, Dr. Vincent Kitio, there is an urgent need to adopt energy efficiency measures into building policies in the region.

"This will reduce energy demand in buildings and will ultimately reduce electricity bills. The workshop also aims at promoting resource efficiency such as efficient use of water resources, optimal use of land, better use of locally available materials, energy conservation and adoption of renewable energy technologies in building through innovative solutions," Kitio said.

According to Kitio, due to population growth, rapid urbanisation, economic growth and climate change, this region is facing an energy crisis because of the dependence on energy imports, high demand for energy and inadequate supply and production of energy.

FINAL MENA renewable vs. nuclear - Global Energy Network …

www.geni.org/globalenergy/...east-energy...renewable-vs-nuclear.pdf · PDF file

Renewable Energy Potential of the Middle East, North Africa vs. The Nuclear Development Option _____ or

http://www.geni.org/globalenergy/research/middle-east-energy-alternatives/MENA-renewable-vs-nuclear.pdf

Renewable energy to solve Africa's power crisis

 
Renewable energy has taken a hit globally, but the UAE's Masdar Energy went against the grain by inaugurating a 15-megawatt solar photovoltaic facility in the West African state of Mauritania - the largest project of its kind in Africa.

The USD 32 million project will account for 10% of Mauritania's energy capacity and displace 21,255 tons of carbon dioxide, according to the company.

"Energy access is a pathway to economic and social opportunity," said Mauritania's president Mohamed Ould Abdel Aziz during the inauguration of the solar plant. 

"Electrification, through sustainable sources of energy, is critical in ensuring our people have access to basic services and is a step toward improving our infrastructure and long-term economic development. We are pleased to have partnered with Masdar to successfully deliver Africa's largest solar PV plant and an important facility to meet Mauritania's growing energy needs."

The Masdar initiative will make a small dent in Africa's massive electricity problem, but it is a welcome start.

Electricity use per capita (kw/h) in the west, east and central parts of Africa stands at 160 kilowatt, compared to 1,410 in North Africa and 4,810 kw/h in southern Africa, according to the International Renewable Energy Association (IRENA).

About 590 million people in Africa - or 57% of the population -- has no access to electricity, and that figure is expected to rise to 655 million, if current trends persist.

This is a major hurdle, as without access to electricity, Africans are deprived of basic services such as healthcare, communications and education.

In places like the Central African Republic and the Democratic Republic of Congo, electricity has led to annual sale losses of more than 20%.

Experts tip region on energy saving

East African countries have been urged to act fast in adopting energy conservation measures and renewable energy in buildings.

The workshop is aimed at changing the mindset of many Rwandans on energy consumption in buildings. The New Times/ Timothy Kisambira.

The appeal was made, yesterday, during an ongoing workshop in Kigali organised to discuss and adopt energy efficiency measures that can be integrated into building policies all over East Africa.

The workshop, which closes tomorrow, is organised by the UN-Habitat in collaboration with the Rwandan government with support from the World Bank.

It is partly in response to reports by the Green Building Council in Africa, indicating that the buildings alone consumes 54 per cent of energy supply on the continent, and this energy is used only in cooking, lighting, cooling, heating, communication.

The participants were drawn from  five East Africa partner states of Burundi, Kenya, Rwanda, Tanzaniaand Ugand  as well as West Africa, Asia, North America, Europe and Arab states.

According to a UN-Habitat representative, Dr. Vincent Kitio, there is an urgent need to adopt energy efficiency measures into building policies in the region.

“This will reduce energy demand in buildings and will ultimately reduce electricity bills. The workshop also aims at promoting resource efficiency such as efficient use of water resources, optimal use of land, better use of locally available materials, energy conservation and adoption of renewable energy technologies in building through innovative solutions,” Kitio said.

Vestas, GE Lead Wind-Turbine Market as U.S. Installations Surge

General Electric Co. (GE) tied with Vestas Wind Systems A/S (VWS) as the biggest turbine maker with less than 50 megawatts between them, unsettling the Danish maker’s 12-year hold on the title, Bloomberg New Energy Finance said.

GE, based in Fairfield, Connecticut, and Vestas each supplied about 5.7 gigawatts of turbines in 2012, according to the London-based researcher. Siemens AG (SIE) was third, Enercon GmbH fourth and Suzlon Energy Ltd. (SUEL) of India fifth.

A tax incentive drove a record 13.6 gigawatts of installations in the U.S., where GE commissioned 96 percent of its turbines and Vestas sold 40 percent, its biggest market. Installations are set to plunge to 2.8 gigawatts this year after the subsidy expired Dec. 31, the researcher said.

“2012 was a great year for western manufacturers in terms of adding new capacity, particularly those with large exposure to the U.S. market,” said Justin Wu, head of wind analysis at BNEF. “Unfortunately, this boom was largely based on beating the deadline on an expiring subsidy and not on sustainable growth. As such, 2013 will look very different.”

Globally, a record 48.4 gigawatts of new wind was added in 2012, BNEF said. China Guodian Corp. overtook Iberdrola SA (IBE) as the largest wind owner with 13.7 gigawatts installed at the end of 2012. Its lead is likely to extend as build-out in China continues, it said. BNEF expects Chinese owners to gain market share as domestic grid constraints ease and they seek overseas expansion, while U.S. and European installations fall.

Power plant lights up Uganda’s future

AN AERIAL VIEW OF BUJAGALI

THE CONTROVERSIALBujagali hydropower station in Uganda has been commissioned and is now on the grid. It loads an additional 250 MW on the national grid effectively doubling the power generationcapacity in the country. 

This development is a sigh of relief for Ugandans in several ways:  it eliminates expensive thermal power; It releases some US$9.5 million in electricity subsidies to the exchequer;  it eliminates load shedding and brightens prospects for economic growth.

 For Ugandan President, Yoweri Museveni, who launched the dam, it was a vindication that tenacity pays. He had the last laugh over opposition to the project!

The project Uganda was dogged by controversy, some of it crass.  Mooted in 1990s, Bujagali immediately faced all sorts of opposition from donors and their cohorts in the civil society sector-that at a time when the country experienced 12 hour loading shedding due to drought.

Ultra-Efficient Bladeless Wind Turbine Inspired by Nikolai Tesla.

http://www.prweb.com/releases/Solar-Aero-Research/Wind-Turbine/prweb2688434.htm
http://solaraero.org/
Solar Aero Research , a New Hampshire non-profit alternative energy research corporation, unveiled the proof-of-concept prototype of its revolutionary wind turbine.
https://www.facebook.com/photo.php?fbid=245427568895353&set=a.179472205490890.31745.178459745592136&type=3&theater

Solar Oven Makes Clean Drinking Water from Salt Water

Solar Oven Makes Clean Drinking Water from Salt Water

- Developed by an Italian graduate student, Gabrielle Diamant.
- The oven can make about 5 liters of fresh water a day.

Interested: Contact us

Wind Power Engineering

It's not much to look at, but this 500W fuel cell can power remote sensors such as sodars and lidars, and runs a month on a tank of propane. In fact, it's more efficient at higher power outputs.

http://www.windpowerengineering.com/policy/environmental/fuel-cell-powers-remote-sensors/

Toyota bids for Juba-Lamu Oil Pipeline

An oil pipeline: Bid in place for Africa's largest PPP project

TOYOTA TSUSHO, the investment arm of Toyota Motor Corporation of Japan, has bid for the construction of the US$3 billion, Juba-Lamu oil Pipeline. The pipeline will initially transport some 700,000 to one million barrels per day (bpd) of Sudanese crude to the Lamu Port in Kenya which is under construction. Eventually it is expected to transport crude from Kenya and Uganda to the Lamu port for export.

Apart from the 2000Km Pipeline, the bid also includes the construction “of an oil refinery, power stations, jetties and other infrastructure facilities” said Dennis Awori, Chairman-Toyota Kenya Ltd.

The bid, if successful, will be the largest PPP project in Africa. In a statement released this week, the company said it has proposed to develop the Pipeline on a Built-Operate and Transfer (BOT) basis on a 20 year concession.

The company is still doing a feasibility study of the project whose construction is expected to begin in June 2013. The construction is expected to last 18 months to the end of 2014.South Sudan expects to turn the tabs through Kenya come 2015. However, some analysts say that a project of this magnitude lasts three –years citing logistical and security concerns in the general area on which the pipeline is to be constructed.

Lamu-Juba Railway line: Next   in line 

Toyota Tsusho has also announced that the project could be expanded to include a pipeline to Uganda and another to Djibouti through Ethiopia. This would raise the cost of the entire project to US$5 billion. The proposal is apparently based on non-binding MOUs signed between South Sudan and Ethiopia to construct a pipeline to Djibouti through Ethiopia. South Sudan has already signed an agreement with Kenya for the construction of the 2000KM pipeline through Kenya to the Lamu Port.

Birth of Kenya's Konza Techno City is in October

Proposed Konza Technocity: Attracting serious investors

THE GROUND BREAKING CEREMONY  for Kenya’s Konza Techno City will be held in October this year, we can report.  This will pave the way for construction work on the US$7 billion project to begin.

It is expected that, after the ground breaking ceremony, work on roads, water and waste water disposal systems will be the first off the blocks. Already a Chinese government owned Construction Company, Shanghai Corporation for Foreign Economic & Technological Cooperation (SFECO) is eyeing construction of roads and other social infrastructure.

  The government is constructing a US$200 million multipurpose water dam expected to be complete by October 2013. The dam will pump one million litres of water to the city.

The proposed city has generated a lot of interest among both investors and developers a like hastening the pace of implementation. Reports have it that some 200 investors are eyeing space in the metropolis, dubbed Africa’s silicon Savannah.

Such fast pace at which the building blocks of the city’s development is being put in place has critics confounded.  In just about one month, several contractors are in place. The Master Planner, HR & A Advisors of New York is already in Place.  A Swedish government firm has bagged the tender to develop the science park and market the project among investors.

The BPO park

Also on the queue for various segments of the project are other experienced developers such as Egypt’s Smart Villages and the Korea Business Centre. The intense interest in the project is not surprising, returns on investment are mouth-watering. Return on leasing ranges between 12 and 15 per cent while capital gains rate is estimated at 20 per cent.

Konza City located only 60 KM south west of Nairobi aims to catapult Kenya into an ICT giant by 2030. It will place Kenya firmly on the competition seat with such global BPO, KPO and ITO giants as India and China. Dubbed the  silicon Savannah of Africa, Konza ICT City is a green field project that will be home of Africa's Computerisation drive–something similar to Silicon Valley in the US.