Bridging the Nigeria Energy Divide with Alternative Energy Option

Abuja- Nigeria -- The First Nigeria Alternative Energy Expo was well attended by companies from 16 Countries including US, UK, China, India, Iran, South Africa,Denmark, Australia, Germany, Lebanon, Kenya, and Uganda. NAEE 2011 featured world leading manufacturers like Schneider Electric, Simba Group, D.light, LightingAfrica, Suntech, Pax South Africa, Dasol, Solarlec, Greenage Africa and stakeholders including the World Bank, Energy Commission of Nigeria, IFC, Ministry of Environment, National Electric Regulatory Commission, African Development Bank, PHCN, Council of Renewable Energy of Nigeria, Academia and Researchers  from Universities met in Abuja to discuss  the way forward on increasing power supply in Nigeria.

Nigeria Alternative Energy Expo is a key milestone to the Goodluck Jonathan Administration's roadmap for Power in response to the call by the government and private sector on the need to look for alternative sources of power to tackle the energy problems at the grassroots. The aim of the Expo was to create a platform to showcase sustainable, safe, affordable and alternative modern off-grid power sources to the country. Nigeria is one of the nine countries that Exim Bank has identified as offering US companies good opportunities for sales and it is on this basis that analysts have welcomed the initiative as a "no strings attached", low interest financing option to the benefit of Nigerian power sector. It is indeed a fine high point for the power sector in line with President Goodluck’s roadmap for power- Mr. Chris Edeh, Business Development Director EMEA of Mathesis Consulting said in Abuja. The next expo will take place on the 17^th to 19 of September 2012.

The NAEE 2011 showcased new products and technologies that would improve lives by extending the working hours of small businesses and also give children a chance to study longer in the evening in a safe and smoke-free environment as well as reduce in-door air pollution.  Stakeholders argued that would make the Power Holding Company of Nigeria (PHCN) effective and make its management to be on their toes. Nigerian minister of power Barth Nnaji says there has been a significant increase in power generation and supply in the country, and predicts that Nigerians can expect much more in the near future.

5 Easy Ways to go Green at Home

Being green is actually easier than one may think. You don't have to have a high-tech house to be eco-friendly. An environmentally responsible lifestyle doesn't need to be so difficult or expensive. Just keep these 5 tips in mind always and you'll find out that you are on to becoming a green ambassador.

  

1.     Use Energy Efficient Bulbs

Saving energy is not only good for the environment but also your pocket. The new breeds of modern light bulbs typically use about 80% less electricity than normal bulbs. Although, they cost a bit more, they last about 15 times longer. So do the math!

2.     Switch your Light Bulbs

Always switch off lights when they are not in use. It makes sense to switch them off when you leave a room, even if it’s for a few minutes. Did I hear you ask “why?”?? OK, I’ll try to make this as simple as possible: A normal bulb uses up 60 watts of power in one hour. This implies that if you switch off your light bulb for one hour everyday, you’ll end up saving 21900 watts of energy in 1 year. This means more saving in your energy consumptions (and bills!!!).

3.     Use Multiple Power Stripes

With the use of power stripes, multiple devices can be plugged into one electrical socket. Rather than having to unplug several gadgets, you will only need to unplug one point. This is an obvious convenient way to control the use of energy.

4.     Save Water

Save water, save energy. Did you know that much of your water use at home contributes to your energy bills? Moving water from storage through pipes to your taps takes a lot of energy especially when it’s heated up. So invariably, using less water can save energy. You can also make a huge difference at home by using water efficient appliances, reduced-capacity baths, lower flow taps and hose trigger control.

5.     Reduce Junk Mails

Junk mail is a pest. It’s an environmentally damaging and rude way of advertising and one that’s surprisingly difficult to eradicate. It isn’t impossible to get off junk mail lists. It’s definitely going to take time and effort. Remove yourself from junk mail lists at every opportunity. Each person will receive almost 560 pieces of junk mail this year, which adds up nationally to 4.5 million tons, according to the United State's Native Forest Network. About 44% of all junk mail is thrown in the trash, unopened and unread, and ends up in a landfill.

World’s Cheapest Light Bulb Made from a Plastic Bottle

A plastic bottle stuck in the roof can light up a room for over 2 years!


An extremely cheap alternative to other light source options has been introduced in Brazil and the Philippines using basic everyday materials to create light which can last for over 2 years for domestic use. This very plain and simple bright concept is bringing light to many poor people without access to electricity. The idea generates light from solar energy equivalent to a 55 watt bulb from a single plastic bottle!!


The materials needed are 1.5 litre plastic bottle, clean water, 3 table spoons of common bleach and a rubber seal. Its working principle is dumb simple: The water defracts (scatters in different directions) the individual rays of sunlight allowing it spread throughout the house instead of focusing on one point. The common bleach keeps the water pure and free from microorganisms.

OMG! Leonardo dicaprio buys a $100,000 Super "Green" Car

Superstar and environmentalist, Leonardo Dicaprio, took delivery of his $100,000 luxury plug in hybrid 2012 Fisker Karma ride and became the first celebrity to nab one. He bought the eco-friendly spectacle about 2 weeks ago but the gist is still gracing news pages worldwide. I just thought I should share so you don't miss out on this.

Solar Panels to Power Juno Spacecraft to Jupiter

By Lanre Okanlawon

History was made last Friday as the first solar-powered spacecraft was launched into space  to Jupiter using solar panels instead of radioisotope generators. NASA’s Juno is presently on its way to Jupiter where there is an ongoing quest to unlock the largest known planet’s mysteries. The $1.1 billion voyager was launched from an Air Force Station in Florida, USA . The entirely “green” spacecraft will carry the 1.5-inch figurines of the Roman god Jupiter Galileo and his wife, Juno. These were designed and constructed by LEGO to inspire and encourage young kids to explore science and technology. Juno will be making a 5-year cruise and is expected to land on Jupiter in July, 2016.

Its name, Juno, is derived from the Greek-Roman myth where god Jupiter covered himself with a large amount of clouds to conceal himself in order to hide his mischief. It was his wife, Juno, who found a way into the clouds to see his true nature. Interesting, right??? J

Another Bright Way to Save Money ...and Energy!

By `Lanre Okanlawon
The last few years has witnessed a gradual phasing out of inefficient light bulbs and the emergence of new and improved energy efficient light bulbs. This has been a worldwide trend and proven to be very worthwhile and practical as its positive impacts have been recorded globally. The gesture has been highly appreciated due to its tremendous impacts on numerous pockets, energy consumption and the environment. In other words, they can help you save money, energy and the environment..

Governments all over the world have realized the extent to which these new products of technological evolution can benefit their economy and the environment. In fact, many have taken practical steps to phase out traditional bulbs for general lighting purposes. Brazil and Venezuela initiated this in 2005. Australia, Switzerland and the European Union started the phase-out in 2009. Similarly, other countries already have future phase-out plans; Argentina, Canada and Russia in 2012 and Malaysia in 2014.  

Along the way, several myths have been shattered establishing the fact that energy saving light bulbs actually do us and the environment a lot of good. These new breeds of bulbs, by contrast, use the same efficient technology as fluorescent lights but are more compact and use far more less energy to light up an area. Voluntary initiatives have been on course in different parts of the world to phase out traditional light bulbs where there is a suitable low energy replacement. Advantages such as better quality of light, longer durability (they last 12 times longer than traditional light bulbs), more energy savings, cost effectiveness, recyclability and their brilliant aesthetic designs justify the switch.

In terms of quantifiable attributes these new class of light bulbs use up to 70% less electricity than traditional light bulbs but emit the same amount of energy. This means that you get to pay 70% less than you are currently paying for your light bulbs electricity bills if you use them. Good news, isn’t it?

But the news gets even better! Over the years, there have been tremendous improvements since energy saving light bulbs were commercially introduced, so has the way they look. As a matter of fact, there are varieties of stylish designs available to suit your aesthetic demands.

Energy saving light bulbs- these cleverly modified light sources may be rather modest, everyday objects, but there’s certainly more to them that meet the eye!

What a bright idea!!! J

The Making of the New Energy World Order

By `Lanre Okanlawon

At the fore front of the renewable energy technology development are committed men and women who are relentlessly seeking for the possibility of a world with an infinite, sustainable and ultimate energy solution to the pertinent energy crisis faced by mankind. In this clearly emerging new world order, the outcomes of several researches and technological developments all point to one obvious fact- that renewable energy is here to stay because it is safe, environmental friendly, feasible and worth investing in.

After spending over £1 billion in financing clean and sustainable energy technologies in the past 3 years, the UK government still sees the need to inject another £100 billion described as a “surge of investment in new energy sources” in the final version of the UK government’s Energy National Policy Statement published yesterday ahead of the much anticipated energy debate at the parliament. This is not because the governments of the 8 major economies of the world are pro-renewable energy. It is simply because the whole world has realized that we cannot continue to generate energy in the conventional manner (the business as usual approach) if we intend to tackle the present issues associated with energy supply, demand, pricing and, most importantly, energy security. The need for secure, low carbon and cost effective energy sources cannot be over emphasized at the moment.

Since the early 90s when the energy revolution actively “re-started”, the cost of renewable energy systems have been reducing as extensive research and development have contributed to increasing the efficiency and performances of different green energy technologies particularly solar, wind, geothermal, biomass, tidal and wave energy systems. The gospel of this new energy order has also been spreading like wild fire to the corners of the earth. All of this has been made very possible by scientists, engineers, investors, politicians, environmental activists and energy enthusiasts like you and I who understand the key role energy security and sustainability will play in the rest of the 21st century.

I really can’t describe the progress being made so far better than the International Energy Outlook 2010 which stated that renewable energy has the highest development indices in terms of electricity generation. It also states that the global energy generation from all sources will increase by 2.3% per year from 2007 to 2035 (the highest rate ever). These statistics indicate that renewable energy is significantly contributing to meeting the ever increasing global demand for energy. It is a common knowledge that the demand for oil will be surpassing the capacity for oil producing countries to supply oil resources on a long term basis. This simply means that the world is consuming oil quicker than it is producing. Since 1970, every global recession recorded has been characterized by dramatic increases in the prices of oil. This is should be a source of concern.

At present, it is quite hard to overstate the need for more hands on deck to spur the realization of a global sustainable and affordable energy system. As the story of the making of a new energy world unfolds, we can be sure that the solution to the world’s pertinent energy crisis rests our ability to emerge with efficient, secure and affordable energy resources to compete with oil.

Let’s bring it on!

Energy... Be the Difference!!!

By `Lanre Okanlawon


Loyal readers, it has been a full month since any update on this blog. My overloaded schedule is to blame and the fact that I have been spending a large amount of my time off the internet.

Last weekend, I thought to myself, “There’s so much fuss about the need for people to use energy considerably and “wisely”. But the truth is that most people are not bothered especially because they don’t realize the consequences of their actions when they use energy irrationally.

Our everyday activities often consist of the use of every appliance around us without considering the possibilities of any adverse effects on the national energy supply and demand system. Right from the minute you wake up in the morning, a lot of energy is used. Your typical morning routine is probably similar to this; wake up with the air conditioner (or heater) on, turn on the TV to listen to some morning news or cool music, do some laundry, grab some breakfast from the refrigerator, heat some water for tea, make sure your mobile phones are fully charged and check your email before heading off to start your day.

Have you ever wondered about the impact of your appliances on the country’s energy needs? For example, the number of refrigerators in America is estimated at 152 million units. An average refrigerator consumes 0.14kWh per hour. Following this, the total power consumption of American refrigerators is about 21,280,000kWh. Interestingly, the amount of energy these refrigerators consume is more than the same amount that could power more than 22,000 households in one month.

A universally established unexploited solution to the current issues of energy security, fossil fuel diminution, climate change and environmental pollution is making residential homes, offices, factories and our different means of transportation more energy efficient. Recent energy-efficient appliances such as refrigerators, laundry machines, fridges, ovens, kitchen cookers and dishwashers utilize notably less energy than older electronic appliances. Modern energy efficient refrigerators, for example, use 40 percent less power than conventional models did in 2001. As a result of this, if all households in Europe changed their more than ten year old appliances into new ones, 20 billion kWh of electricity would be saved annually, hence reducing CO₂ emissions by almost 18 billion kg. The impact of energy efficiency on peak demand depends on when the appliance is used. For example, an air conditioner uses more energy during the afternoon when it is hot. Therefore, an energy efficient air conditioner will have a larger impact on peak demand than off-peak demand. An energy efficient dishwasher, on the other hand, uses more energy during the late evening when people do their dishes. This appliance may have little to no impact on peak demand.

The gospel of energy efficiency goes beyond creating a justification for people to reduce the burden on existing power generation facilities and energy sources at any given time. It is actually more of a campaign for a responsible cultural paradigm shift towards reducing the amount of energy needed to meet our everyday power needs. Efficient (consequently cheaper) and responsible daily energy use invariably translates to more rapid economic growth and development. We all want to see positive changes and experience better living conditions. This is not impossible, let the positive change start with you and spread this gospel. I’m doing exactly the same thing! 

Towards a 'Green Grid' for Delivering Solar and Wind-Based Electricity

After years of neglect, scientists and policy makers are focusing more attention on developing technologies needed to make the so-called "green grid" possible, according to an article in ACS' Chemical Reviews. That's the much-needed future electrical grid, an interconnected network for delivering solar and wind-based electricity from suppliers to consumers.

Electricity Network Grid

Zhenguo (Gary) Yang and colleagues point out that concerns over the use of coal, oil, and other fuels that contribute to global warming and are in limited supply, have spurred interest in generating electrical energy from clean, renewable resources such as solar and wind power. But solar and wind are not constant and reliable sources of 
power, since wind power fluctuates from moment to moment and solar power is generated only in the daytime.
This situation poses a significant challenge for electrical grid operators because other power plants need to compensate for this variability and the U.S. power grid currently has little energy storage capability. To enable a significant level of penetration and effective use of renewable energy sources amid growing energy demands, electrical grids of the future will need a low-cost, efficient way to integrate and store this electrical energy, the scientists note.

The scientists analysed the conclusions of more than 300 scientific studies and identified several technologies that can be used for energy storage for the green grid. These include high-tech batteries now in development that can efficiently store electricity in the form of chemicals and reversible release it on demand. Among the promising technologies are so-called redox flow and sodium-ion batteries, which could provide a low cost, high efficiency way to store energy. In addition to the United States, several other countries such as China and countries in Europe are planning to increase research activities related to energy storage and development.

"The growing interests as well as worldwide research and development activities suggest a bright outlook for developing stationary energy storage technologies for the future electric grid," the article concludes.

Source: http://www.sciencedaily.com

Celebrate the Royal Wedding

By Vicki Felgate, Freinds of the Earth (Publishing & New Media Team)

I blogged about the royal wedding last month, speculating about how green it will be.

A few things have happened since then.

William and Kate announced an alternative wedding list, asking people to donate to charity instead of giving presents. 26 charities will benefit. Sadly Friends of the Earth didn't make the cut. But loads of great charities did.

And we're all being encouraged to organise street parties to celebrate the wedding. Now I like a good party as much as the next person. But I keep thinking about all the plastic cups and plates that will get used once and then thrown in the bin. And most of it will end up in landfill.

I'm not organising a party. But if I was, I'd make it a green one:

Ask people to bring their own crockery, cutlery and glasses.
Use cloth table covers instead of paper ones.
Serve tap water not bottled.
Buy local, organic food and fair-trade chocolate for the cakes.
Make decorations from old paper and fabric.
Use biodegradable balloons.
I might even go the extra mile and hire in a cycle-powered sound system.

Whatever you decide to do for the royal wedding, have fun and keep it green.

Earth Day 2011... Celebrate!!!

For over four decades, Earth Day—April 22—has inspired and mobilized individuals and organizations worldwide to demonstrate their commitment to environmental protection and sustainability. This year's celebrations will be marked by thousands of the planet's loyalists from every continent who continue to discuss and search for solutions in the fight to save the planet from environmental issues.

Save the Planet

Global warming, climate change, large scale pollution and deforestation (to mention a few) have plagued the Earth at alarming rates for decades but there is great hope as environmental awareness by seem to be gaining grounds. Today, the Earth Day, is a time for celebration and appreciation for the great environmental work that have been done so far. Earth Day is an opportunity for people around the world to rejoice in the beauty of our wondrous planet.

I have made a commitment to the 3 R's; Reduce, Re-use and Recycle.

Millions of people have also pledged to help our planet. What will YOU do??? I hope the list below helps...

1 Slow down. Driving at 50mph uses 25% less fuel than 70mph.

2 Wash your clothes with your flatmates' instead of wasting water on half-empty loads.

3 Turn down your central heating and put on a jumper.

4 Take a brisk shower, not a leisurely bath, to save water.

5 Hold a Tupperware party. Airtight food containers can be reused; sandwich bags and plastic wrap cannot.

6 Choose energy-efficient appliances when you replace old ones.

7 Buy compact fluorescent light bulbs. They last eight times as long and use a fraction of the energy.

8 Join a library instead of buying books.

9 Get to know your neighbours; they are more likely to keep your home safe than energy-guzzling security lamps.

10 Recycle your car oil at a recycling depot or petrol station; it contains lead, nickel and cadmium.

Apple Named Least 'Green' Tech Company

While Apple celebrates a surge in profits, a report by Greenpeace has ranked it as least ethical among tech companies.
Apple's quarterly earnings have grown 95% to $6bn, but the company has also been accused of heavily relying on pollution-inducing coal power to support its banks of data servers.
The report, How Dirty is Your Data?, highlights the company's investment in a new North Carolina facility which will triple its electricity consumption, using up the same electricity required for 80,000 average U.S. homes.

Apple

North Carolina is known as the "dirty data triangle" used by Apple, Google and Facebook. And they are likely to use it because it's cheap and offers tax incentives. But it comes at a high price: only 4% of its energy comes from renewable sources; 61 percent comes from coal.
"Consumers want to know that when they upload a video or change their Facebook status that they are not contributing to global warming or future Fukushimas," said Gary Cook, Greenpeace's IT policy analyst and lead author of the report.
Apple's data centers' dependence on coal is estimated to be at 54.5%, followed by Facebook at 53.2%, IBM at 51.6%, HP at 49.4%, and Twitter at 42.5%. On the report's good books are Yahoo, Google and Amazon for their use of clean energy; however Google and Amazon both scored an F for transparency.
Greenpeace was able to do its research for the report by relying on publicly accessible data, but there are concerns that tech companies aren't transparent enough. In the US, companies are not required to disclose their energy use.
The authors emphasize that the internet needs growing amounts of energy, but secrecy in the IT industry means that it's difficult for us to know how it is affecting the world.
Greenpeace predicts shocking figures; the electricity demand of the web is estimated to be greater than the total electricity demands of France, Germany, Canada and Brazil put together.
Now doesn't that make you feel like switching off your broadband?
Correction appended: The original version of the article incorrectly placed quotes around the words "least ethical" in the first sentence.


Read more: http://techland.time.com/2011/04/21/apple-named-least-green-company/#ixzz1KBjtwcbw

ENERCON E126 - The World's Largest Capacity Wind Turbine

This is the Enercon E-126, the first wind turbine with 7.58MW rated power, rotor diameter: 126m (413ft), hub height: 135m(450ft). Two of these giant wind power units have been built for testing at an onshore location, Rysumer Nacken, near Emden, in the northwest of Germany.

Here each WPU is expected to produce about 18 Mio kWh per year, enough for more than 4,500 homes.

These turbines are equipped with a number of new features: an optimized blade design with a spoiler extending down to the hub, and a pre-cast concrete base. Due to the elevated hub height and the new blade profile, the performance of the E-126 is expected to by far surpass that of the E-112  (the world’s former  largest wind turbine rated at 6 megawatts).

Source:www.youtube.com, http://www.enercon.de/p/downloads/EN_Produktuebersicht_0710.pdf


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India... Moving to the Next Level

As renewable energy technologies move to the forefront, the energy sphere in the 21st century is set for a major overhaul. Worldwide, studies predict that solar and wind energy will address more than 60% of the future energy needs. Countries, including India, are taking concrete steps to ensure a stable and secure future in energy generation; renewables such as solar, wind, biomass and geothermal energy are the key to this. Of all, solar energy is the most widely available renewable energy source in the world. It is clean and it integrates high technology manufacturing into electronics and other aspects of BoS (balance-of-systems) into the value chain.

Indian Rural Residents Checking Out Installed Solar Panels in their Neighbourhood

The government has launched the Jawaharlal Nehru National Solar Mission (JNNSM) to tap the country's solar energy resources. However, in the Indian solar market, only a few companies manufacture solar PV cells or modules, since the field involves hi-tech processes. Most players are focused on developing end products and appliances like solar lanterns, street lights and water heaters. Such manufacturing installations are most often supported through government or NGO financial assistance, and fall under the off-grid sector.

10 Stories That Could Have Been April Fools... But Weren't

It's here again, the day when jokers set out to make fools of the rest of us. But not every bizarre story is a hoax. Here is a round-up of some past seemingly spoof news stories which were actually true (and one that wasn't).

1. A new pay-per-view funeral service scheme is being launched today. The Daily Mail says the scheme at Southampton Crematorium allows mourners to grieve from home by watching proceedings online.

Fool: Flying penguins

2. A turtle is addicted to nicotine. He became addicted after picking up the smouldering butts in his owner's garden, in Kouqian, China, and sulks if he doesn't get his fix. The Daily Express, which picked up the story from Chinese news agency Xinhua, includes a gob-smacking picture of the turtle doing a rather good impression of Dot Cotton.

3. The menopause is caused by the age-old battle between wives and mothers-in-law, reports the Times. As long as 50,000 to 300,000 years ago, competition for food in a family unit was a battle won by the younger women who fed their offspring, which led to the older women losing their ability to breed. With food hard to find, mothers-in-law tended to help rear the grandchildren rather than have more children themselves.

4. Wind turbines or solar panels built by UK companies anywhere in the world could count towards Britain's renewable energy targets under controversial government proposals, according to the Financial Times.

5. School desks and chairs are to be enlarged to meet the needs of the UK's ever-heavier schoolchildren, reports the Express. On average British children are a centimetre taller than they were 10 years ago, and there are more obese youngsters, so desks supplied to UK schools will reflect this.

New Record for German Renewable Energy in 2010

As the nuclear reactor accident at the Fukushima Daiichi plant continues to dominate the world's attention, Germany has quietly broken more renewable energy records.

The conservative government of Chancellor Angela Merkel, struggling to stay ahead of public attitudes toward nuclear power in the run-up to regional elections, issued its annual report on the contribution of renewable energy to the German energy market in 2010.

Germany... a Force to Reckon with in Wind Energy Technologies

Wind turbines, hydroelectric plants, solar cells, and biogas digesters now provide nearly 17% of Germany's electricity.

Meanwhile, the German network agency (Bundesnetzagentur) issued its final update on the installation of solar photovoltaics (solar PV) in 2010.

The results are nothing short of startling and will add fuel to the heated debate about how countries such as Japan can meet their electricity needs without reliance on nuclear power.

German Federal Council Clears Renewable Energies Package, including 2011 Solar Feed-In Tariff Reduction

The Bundesrat (Federal Council) today cleared the European Law Alignment Act for Renewable Energies (EAG EE). the act transposes Directive 2009/28/EC on the promotion of the use of energy from renewable sources, but most importantly cuts solar feed-in tariffs and the so-called green power privilege pursuant to the Renewable Energy Sources Act (EEG).

In its 881st plenary session the Bundesrat, the legislative body that represents the Länder (German states) on the federal level, did not object to the EAG EE, which theGerman Bundestag (Parliament) had recently passed. The EAG EE can therefore now be signed by the Federal President and published to become legally effective.

Parts of the regular solar feed-in tariff cuts previously scheduled for the beginning of 2012 are brought forward to 1 July, or 1 September 2011 for freestanding installations. The July/September reductions of up to 15% shall depend on PV capacity installed in March, April and May 2011. As of 1 January 2012 the EEG reallocation charge exemption (so-called green power privilege) for utilities supplying mainly green power will be capped at 2.0 Cent/kWh. The exemption will therefore no longer cover the full EEG  surcharge (presently 3.53 Cent/kWh). Thus even utilities covered by the green power privilege will have to partly pay for the difference between market prices for renewable energy and the feed-in tariffs pursuant to the EEG.

For further EAG EE amendments please see here.

South Africa Sets the Pace for Africa: 42% of Power Output from Renewables

South Africa has joined the league of countries with a strong political will and practical plan to achieve a realistic target for the use of renewable sources of energy to meet the energy needs of her population. Earlier today, the South African government announced its plan to produce 42% of the country's total power output from renewable energy technologies in the next two decades.

This Friday, Deputy President Kgalema Motlanthe will be kicking off a “Let’s Save Energy” campaign to enlighten the general public on government plans.

Nigeria to Increase Solar Energy Awareness via 40 Households

“Access to Electricty in Odighi Community in Edo State using PV” is getting underway with the collaborative efforts of the Community Research and Development Centre (CREDC), Global Greengrants Fund (GGF), and the Environmental Rights Action/Friends of the Earth Nigeria (ERA/FoEN).

The project hopes to increase access to electricity in Odighi using PV to build capacity in the community to install and maintain solar systems, and to create awareness in Edo State on the potential for renewable energy technologies. In the project, a total of 40 households will be provided with electricity using solar generators and 50 youths from the community would be trained on installation and maintenance of solar system.

Source: http://www.ae-africa.com

Rio Ferdinand Swaps Man United Red for Green Goals

Rio Ferdinand is well known for his backing of anti-racism and other causes, such as encouraging youngsters from deprived communities who are seeking a career in sport.

Green Ambassador Rio Ferdinand

Now the Manchester United star and England captain has been doing his best to promote green and energy-efficient living, in his role as an ambassador for FA Cup sponsor E.On.

China Congress Pushes Gas, Renewable Energy Plans

China, the world’s biggest polluter, said it would accelerate its use of renewable energy and cleaner-burning fuels including natural gas over the next five years to cut pollution and reduce reliance on coal, which generates about 80 percent of the nation’s electricity.

Source: www.bloomberg.com

Selling the Sun... and the Wind

There's an old joke in Brazil that it is the nation of the future--and always will be. For decades the same has been said of the renewable-energy industry. Someday soon, its promoters kept promising, solar cells and wind turbines would produce electricity more cheaply than would traditional plants burning coal and oil and natural gas. There have been many false dawns, as fossil-fuel prices soared and then swooned. But the promised day appears finally to have arrived at, among other places, windswept hilltops in Texas and Colorado. 

On King Mountain, near McCamey, Texas, Renewable Energy Systems has teamed with Cielo Wind Power to build one of the world's largest wind-powered generating facilities, with a capacity to light as many as 139,000 homes. This was no feel-good exercise. Wind power was chosen according to the cold calculus of business. It will produce electricity over the 20-year life of the facility for an estimated 3[cents] to 6[cents] a kilowatt-hour (kw-h). That compares with a recent average of 7.6[cents] a kw-h charged by Texas utilities. Using a similar calculation in late March of this year, the Public Utility Commission in Colorado chose wind over gas to power a new generating station built by Excel in Lamar. Brian Evans of Renewable Energy Systems expects that wind power could explode to supply 20% of America's electricity within 20 years. Exults Hal Harvey, president of the Energy Foundation, based in San Francisco: "We've found the holy grail: wind is now cheaper than any fossil fuel-based power source.

"Since 1998, wind power has been the fastest-growing new source of electricity in the world, expanding an average of 30% a year. Sales of photovoltaic panels (also known as solar cells), which convert the sun's energy directly into electricity, grew by 37% last year. At high-tech companies and hospitals, executives with a special concern about power disruptions are looking at fuel cells to supply clean and reliable power on site (albeit at prices that currently remain higher on average than those charged by the big utilities).

Getting Paid to Produce Renewable Energy

In the current economic climate the ability to earn extra income, become self-sufficient and reduce your carbon footprint and energy bills could appear to be a contradiction in terms. Surely installing solar panels, for example, on the roof of your house is going to cost, not make money?

This is where the government's Feed-In Tariffs (FITs) are designed to make it worth your while to produce renewable electricity.

Selling excess energy from your solar panels into the UK National Grid could net you as much as £1,000. 

Essentially the FIT system is designed as an incentive for energy producers to move away from conventional fossil fuels to renewable energy sources.

Essentially, it is government legislation which guarantees a fixed, premium rate for renewable electricity fed into the national grid. The power companies are obliged by government legislation to buy the renewable electricity, with additional costs passed onto the customers.

As many as half of Britain's homes could earn around £600 a year from roof top solar panels and some as much as £1000, according to Britain's biggest energy supplier, British Gas.

The Oscar Buzz...

Today, from green to screen, we are taking a peek into this year’s biggest annual Hollywood film event; the 83^rd Oscar Awards. This edition is billed to take place later today and is to be hosted by James Franco (Spider Man 3, The Green Hornet, 127 hours) and Anna Hathaway (Love and other Drugs, Glee, Rio). Ten movies are eligible for best picture award with King’s Speech and Social Network going head to head.

The organizers have promised to stage the most glamorous and memorable film event of all times. Join film lovers over the world as they count down to the yet another breath-taking experience and find out who on earth wins the highest film honours.

For the full list of categories and nominees, check out the official oscar awards website: www.oscar.com

And the Winner is... 

Are you a fan of a football club, its business model or both?

Are you a fan of a football club, its business model or both? Today, I would like to briefly offer some degree of insight into a relatively new business line of one of England’s most successful football clubs- Arsenal FC.

You will find that the price of Arsenal shares have risen significantly over the past decades = good returns on investments. This is because the club has diverse lines of booming businesses apart from its controversially successful football team. Arsenal’s Chief Executive Ivan Gazidiz has always maintained that the self sustaining business model of the club is very much on track.

For me, it was very interesting to know that the club is presently planning to join the green revolution as its management is considering proposals on green energy investments in the UK. This is coming as a result of previous successes recorded in similar renewable energy projects embarked upon. In October 2008, the club installed and commissioned a solar thermal preheat system to support 711 apartments

Will Events In The Middle East Spark A Renewable Energy Revolution?

One area of the financial markets most impacted by recent events in the Middle East and North Africa is the price of crude oil.  Since the majority of global crude reserves are concentrated in this part of the world, political unrest or disruption to production can often send prices soaring.

While the unrest was originally isolated to Tunisia and then Egypt (two countries with limited oil reserves), the resulting domino effect has inspired public uprisings in many other countries in the region, including Libya, which sits on the largest oil reserves in Africa.  As the citizens of these nations continue to take to the streets and topple the autocratic governments once in control, investors are bracing for a period of widespread political turmoil not seen for decades in this part of the world.