Renewables 2004 Conference, Bonn, Germany -- overview, links, and "best practice examples"
Renewable Energy Publications by Eric Martinot -- global renewable energy markets and policies
Selected References Updates -- new IEA pubications and statistics, renewable energy policy, new books for 2004
Organization Updates -- market facilitation organizations, degree-granting university programs, renewable energy networks, organizational initiatives supporting corporate use of renewable energy, research programs
Case Studies Updates -- GEF projects for 2004, other selected cases

RENEWABLES 2004 CONFERENCE, BONN, GERMANY, JUNE 1-4

Renewables 2004 was the largest renewable energy conference ever held. Attended by over 3000 participants from 150 countries and hundreds of non-governmental and intergovernmental organizations, the conference led to formal commitments by countries and organizations to renewable energy targets, programs, and initiatives. These are encapsulated in the major outcome of the conference, the Action Plan. The Action Plan contains about 200 individual commitments/activities declared by participants. The meeting also produced a short Political Declaration and a Recommeneded Policies document.

For a day-by-day report of the meeting and a final summary, see the International Institute for Sustainable Development's Renewables 2004 Bulletin.

There was also a pre-conference event, the Second World Renewable Energy Forum May 29-31. Copies of presentations for that event should be available shortly on-line. The Renewables 2004 conference plenary included presentations on a number of case studies:

Africa rural/renewable energy enterprise development
Bangladesh Grameen Shakti rural solar energy service
Brazil ethanol program for transport fuels
China "Brightness" and "Township Electrification" programs (see also the NREL brochure)
Czech republic energy efficiency and renewables project
Global best practice in solar incentive programs
Nepal biogas support program
South Africa SADC programm for biomass energy conservation
Sri Lanka Energy Services Delivery Project
Switzerland (Basil) municipal policies for promotion of renewable energy

RENEWABLE ENERGY PUBLICATIONS BY ERIC MARTINOT

"Indicators of investment and capacity for renewable energy," Eric Martinot, Renewable Energy World 7(5): 35-37 (2004). Provides total annual investment in renewable energy worldwide, plus capacities for electric power, solar hot water, and biofuels.

"Global renewable energy markets and policies," Eric Martinot, New Academy Review 3(1):56-67 (2004). Surveys existing markets for renewable energy, past and existing policies that have facilitated those markets, and implications of electric power sector restructuring for renewable energy. Considers future prospects from economic and policy perspectives. Copyright 2004 Eric Martinot.

SELECTED REFERENCES UPDATES

New IEA Publications

The IEA Renewable Energy Unit has been very busy these past few years creating a whole series of high-quality publications on renewable energy markets and policies:

Biofuels for Transport: An International Perspective, Lew Fulton, Tom Howes, and Jeffrey Hardy (International Energy Agency, Paris, 2004), 216pp. Excellent treatment of biofuels technologies, costs, market issues, and existing and past policies from around the world. Bibliography of more than 150 references.

Renewables for Power Generation (2003), 189 pp. Technology descriptions, detailed cost analyses, market overviews, and future prospects for all renewable energy power generation technologies--small hydro, solar PV, concentrating solar, biopower, geothermal, and wind.

Renewable Energy: Market and Policy Trends in IEA Countries (2004), 668 pp. This reference compendium is the most comprehensive view of renewable energy ever produced for the 26 IEA member countries. For each country, it provides a summary of renewable energy market status, energy supply contribution, R&D trends, market and policy trends, and a chronological description of the policies that have affected renewable energy. Also contains a 60-page overview of these same topics for the group of IEA countries as a whole.

Renewables Information (2003), 188 pp (data for 2002). The second annual statistical bulletin of generation capacity, electricity generation, heat production, and primary energy from renewable energy for the 26 IEA member countries. Does not break down hydro into large and small, but does separate biomass and muncipal waste.

Renewable Energy Policy...into the Mainstream (2002), 53 pp [free PDF download]. Basic introduction to renewable energy and its benefits.

Renewables in Russia (2003), 116 pp. Renewable energy market opportunities, prospects, benefits, and overall context.

Energy to 2050: Scenarios for a Sustainable Future (2003), 224 pp. Scenarios based on possible technology and policy developments, as well as desirable futures.

New IEA Energy Statistics

Energy Statistics of OECD Countries, 2001-2002 (2003)
Energy Statistics of Non-OECD Countries, 2000-2001 (2003)
Electricity Information (2003)
World Energy Statistics (2003)
Renewable Statistics Database

Renewable Energy Policy

The Database of (U.S.) State Incentives for Renewable Energy (DSIRE) is a comprehensive source of information on the status of state programs and incentives promoting renewable energy, including information on financial incentives, regulatory policies, and awareness and investment programs.

"Review of renewable energy development in Europe and the US," T. Stenzel, T. Foxon, and R. Gross (UK Department of Trade and Industry, 2003). A report for the DTI Renewables Innovation Review October 2003, ICCEPT.

Renewable Energy Policies and Measures Database (IEA countries). Expanded and updated.

Renewable Energy Policies and Measures Database (JREC countries). JREC is the Johanessberg Renewable Energy Coalition formed in 2002 at the World Summit for Sustainable Development.

Reforming Energy Subsidies, UN Environment Program and International Energy Agency (Paris, 2002), 31 pp. Subtitle: "An explanatory summary of the issues and challenges in removing or modifying subsidies on energy that undermine the pursuit of sustainable development." Describes the different types of energy subsidies and recommendations for reform. Total energy subsidies for fossil fuels on a global basis are suggested in the range of $150-250 billion per year.

"Energy subsidies in the European Union: A Brief Overview," European Environment Agency (Copenhagen, Denmark, 2004), 20 pp. Includes overview of renewable energy policies and subsidies.

New Renewable Energy Books for 2004

Renewable Energy in Europe: Building Markets and Capacity, European Renewable Energy Council EREC, Brussels (James and James, London, 2004), 202 pp. Technology developments, R&D, markets, costs, employment, and industry, sorted by technology.

World Energy Assessment: 2004 Update, Jose Goldemberg and Thomas B. Johansson, editors (UN Development Programme, New York, 2004), 85 pp. An update to the 2000 edition.

The End of Oil, Paul Roberts (Houghton Mifflin, New York 2004), 389 pp. A comprehensive and multi-sided treatment of our current energy predicament and possible ways forward. Includes material on renewables and energy futures.

Solar Photovoltaics in Africa: Experiences with Financing and Delivery Models, Martin Krause and Sara Nordstrom, editors (UN Development Programme, New York, 2004), 96 pp. Lays out the different financing and delivery models for rual solar systems, and provides case studies and analyses addressing the pros and cons of different models.

Renewable Energy: Power for a Sustainable Future (Second Edition), Godfrey Boyle, editor (Oxford University Press and the Open University, 2004), 464 pp. Updated from the 1996 edition. Undergraduate course textbook on renewable energy technologies, science, economics, environmental impacts, and market issues. Used by the Open University for distance learning. The most solid book on the subject since the 1993 "Renewable Energy: Sources for Fuels and Electricity" by Thomas Johansson et al.

Energy Systems and Sustainability, Godfrey Boyle, Bob Everett, and Janet Ramage, editors ((Oxford University Press and the Open University, 2004), 638 pp. Undergraduate course textbook on energy supply and demand patterns, science, technologies, costs, environmental impacts, and social issues. Used by the Open University for distance learning.

Renewable Energy Policy, Paul Komar (Diebold Institute for Public Policy Studies, New York, 2004), 182 pp. Policies in the EU and US and analysis of what has worked and what hasn't.

Electricity Reform: Social and Environmental Challenges, Njeri Wamukonya, editor (United Nations Environment Programme, UNEP Risoe Centre, Roskilde, Denmark, 2003), 256 pp.

Magazines and Journals

Bioenergy International
INFORSE Sustainable Energy News

ORGANIZATION UPDATES

Market Facilitation Organizations

Brazilian Renewable Energy Companies Association
e7 Network of Expertise for the Global Environment
European Biomass Industry Association (EUBIA)
European Geothermal Energy Council (EGEC)
European Solar Thermal Industry Federation (ESTIF)
German Industry Association for the Promotion of Rural Electrification by Renewable Energies
India (Kerala) Renewable Energy Center (Mithradham)
Mali Folkecenter
MicroEnergy International
World Wind Energy Association

Degree-Granting University Programs

An old but still usable resource is the 1992 Directory of Energy-Related Graduate Programs in U.S. Universities by the Energy Foundation.

European Master in Renewable Energy offered by the European Renewable Energy Research Centers (EUREC Agency) is a 12-month program focused on technology and engineering, also including socio-economic aspects. Theoretical and practical courses along with a 5-month company placement. Offered through nine different European Universities in English, French, and Spanish.

Indiana University School of Public and Environmental Affairs. Offers degrees in public affairs with concentrations in environmental policy.

Stanford University Program on Energy and Sustainable Development. Research and courses on electric power policy, natural gas, energy and development, and climate change policy.

TERI School of Advanced Studies. This new institution in New Delhi, India offers advanced degrees in energy, environment, and regulatory and policy studies. It is affiliated with the Tata Energy Research Institute (TERI).

University of Flensburg (Germany) Sustainable Energy Systems and Management offered in the International Institute of Management. MSc degrees features research with partner organizations such as UNDP and rotations to different countries.

University of Oldenburg (Germany) Postgraduate Programme in Renewable Energy offered through the , Faculty of Physics, Department of Energy and Semiconductor Research. MSc degrees on science, technology and applications, particularly in developing countries.

Yale School of Forestry and Environmental Studies has courses and research on renewable energy. This school also sponsors the Yale Center for Environmental Law and Policy, which includes renewable energy policy research.

Renewable Energy Networks

Networks bring large numbers of participants together for the purpose of exchanging information, facilitating new contacts, collaborating on joint publications and projects, and connecting individual projects and programs to a wider whole. Networks sometimes "take credit" for the work of participants, which may be partly justified from their facilitative roles. In recent years there has been an explosion of renewable energy networks, each with different emphasis and focus.

African Energy Policy Research Network (AFREPREN). Policy research studies and connections between reseachers and policy-makers.

European Renewable Energy Research Centers (EUREC) Agency. A network of about 40 research centers throughout Europe for renewable energy technology, industry support, and policy. Complete descriptions of each center, including contact information, is available from EUREC.

Global Network on Energy for Sustainable Development (GNESD). Knowledge and experience sharing and research on energy and development issues.

Global Village Energy Partnership (GVEP). Organizations working to promote sustainable energy in rural communities in developing countries.

International Network for Sustainable Energy (INFORSE). A network of NGOs working on sustainable energy, with publications, information and news, advocacy, and visions to 2050.

International Solar Cities Initiative. Partnership between city governments and researchers to address climate change, energy policy and urban design based on renewable energy and the idea of a universal per-capita greenhouse-gas emissions target. See also the Solar Cities website.

Renewable Energy and Energy Efficiency Partnership (REEEP). Organizations conducting energy efficiency and renewable energy projects and working on policy and finance.

UNEP Sustainable Energy Finance Initiative. Information for financiers, along with support for financial innovation. Connects financiers with developers and conducts investment forums.

World Council on Renewable Energy (WCRE). Regional councils established around the world to address policy, finance, education, and other topics.

World Renewable Energy Network (WREN). Informational sharing, biannual congresses, and regional meetings and networking.

Organizational Initiatives Supporting Corporate Use of Renewable Energy

EPA Green Power Partnership
World Business Council for Sustainable Development member companies
Business Council for Sustainable Energy member companies
Pew Center for Climate Change, Business Environmental Leadership Council
World Resources Institute corporate partners
Green Power Market Development Group

Research Programs

Center for Resource Solutions. Research on renewable energy policies and regulation, with emphasis on green power marketing, public benefits funds, renewable energy in China, and state-level utility regulation in the United States.

Institute for Sustainable Energy Policies. Research, information and advocacy for renewable energy and climate change policies in Japan and worldwide, including local initiatives.

IEA PVPS programme. This collaborative research program coordinated by the International Energy Agency produces a wealth of market data and technical information on applications of solar PV around the world. Offers publications, case studies, country information, information on research programs, etc.

European Renewable Energy Research Centers (EUREC) Agency. A network of about 40 research centers throughout Europe for renewable energy technology, industry support, and policy.

CASE STUDIES UPDATES

New GEF Projects Approved in 2004 (as of June)

Botswana: Renewable Energy-based Electrification Program
Egypt Solar Thermal Hybrid
Lesotho Renewable Energy-based Rural Electrification
Malaysia Building Integrated Photovoltaic Technology Application
Russia Developing the Legal and Regulatory Framework for Wind Power (MSP) (was missing from 2003 list)
Swaziland Energizing Rural Transformation
Zambia Renewable Energy-based Electricity Generation for Isolated Mini-grids

Other Selected Case Studies

China Township Electrification Program. A thousand rural villages were electrified with small wind, solar, and small hydro over the course of 20 months in 2002-2003.

IEA PVPS programme. Case studies of PV applications in IEA countries.

" Renewable energy technology diffusion: final report 2003". Analyzes seven case studies and lessons from renewable energy technology diffusion projects in developing and developed countries. Report by the E7 group of international electricity companies.

E7 "Energy in Action" case studies, including Bhutan Micro Hydro Power, Bhutan and Galapagos (Ecuador) Micro-Solar Distance Learning Program, Galapagos (Ecuador) San Cristobal Wind Repowering Project, and Indonesia Sustainable Rural Electrification.

Biogas Nepal 2003. Achievements under the Nepal Biogas Sector Partnership from 1992 to 2003.

Open for Business: Entrepreneurs, Clean Energy, and Sustainable Development, UN Environment Program and UN Foundation (Paris, 2003), 28 pp. Background, concept, and results from the "Renewable Energy Enterprise Development" (REED) programs in El Salvador, Ghana, Mali, Morocco, Senegal, Tanzania, and Zambia. These programs take an innovative approach to supporting rural entrepreneurship. See also the AREED web site.

Page updated December 13, 2004
Photo credits C. Babcock, W. Gretz and DOE/NREL Photo Information Exchange