MAKE CLEAN ENERGY COUNT IN DURBAN

Transcription

1 MAKE CLEAN ENERGY COUNT IN DURBAN

2 BCSE Views on COP-17 Outcomes Clean energy industries renewable energy, energy efficiency and natural gas can deliver immediate reductions in global greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions and help governments meet their adaptation needs. The members of the Business Council for Sustainable Energy (BCSE) call upon governments at the 17th Conference of the Parties (COP) / 7th Meeting of the Parties in Durban, South Africa to move forward with critical elements of the multilateral climate change regime that were established under the Cancún Agreements. The climate talks in Durban need to affirm a shared commitment to a global low-carbon future and provide the business community with market signals to further drive investment into clean energy technologies, resources and services. Together, business and governments can adopt an integrated approach to tackle both mitigation and adaptation challenges and plan for a low-carbon, energy efficient and resilient Governments in Durban should: Adopt decisions that support the implementation of the Cancun Agreements and set a clear mandate for the path ahead; Emphasize the critical role of clean energy solutions in the development and implementation of nationally appropriate mitigation actions (NAMAs) and low-emissions development strategies (LEDs); Operationalize the Climate Technology Center and Network (CTC&N) and create a clear channel for private sector engagement; Respect and protect intellectual property rights to guarantee existing solutions and encourage the creation of future, low-carbon innovations; Establish the structure of the Green Climate Fund and recognize the vital role of private sector finance in meeting long-term objectives; and Continue the incorporation and advancement of market-mechanisms post-2012.

3 Powering a Low-Carbon Future A low-carbon future depends on our ability to diversify the sources of energy that generate electricity and fuel transportation. To do so will require significant and sustained investment in the power sector and the infrastructure that supports the delivery of electricity. The International Energy Agency estimates this need to be over $40 trillion in global investment between now and 2035, two-thirds of which must be in emerging economies to meet growing energy demand.1 It is critical that these investments be directed towards energy sources and technologies that reduce or avoid GHG emissions. Promoting Renewable Energy in Africa Distributed generation through on-site production of renewable energy can help lift communities out of energy poverty and broaden the possibilities for economic development. Over 1.3 billion of the world s population is still without access to electricity.3 In the greater Timbavati region of South Africa, First Solar4 supplied its thin-film photovoltaic (PV) panels to the Global White Lion Protection Trust s conservation project and its eco-village. This decentralized solar power project provides clean energy and Diversifying Delivery Low-Carbon Natural Gas supports the community efforts to protect biodiversity in Africa. To deliver high-value, low-carbon energy to its people, governments will need to build and improve existing infrastructure, as people often live where the energy resource is not. In July 2011, El Paso s Pipeline Group placed in service the Ruby Pipeline2, which connects clean-burning and competitively priced natural gas reserves in the Rocky Mountain region with growing markets in the western United States. Ruby Pipeline is the first interstate natural gas pipeline in U.S. history to be carbon-neutral for construction and operations-related GHG emissions. First Solar is also working to deliver The Ruby Pipeline is a 680-mile, 42-inch interstate natural gas pipeline. Photo: El Paso Corporation. Kigali Solaire is the first independent solar power plant in Rwanda.5 Photo: juwi solar GmbH. cleaner electricity at a utility scale. In Kigali, Rwanda, 4,000 First Solar thin-film PV panels have been used by juwi solar GmbH to build the 250kW solar PV power plant. The power plant produces some 325,000 kilowatt-hours of electricity annually, displacing about 300 metric tonnes of CO2 emissions every year. The clean electricity produced is fed into the grid of the state-owned utility, Electrogaz, and used to power the water pumps in the town of Kigali.

4 Maximizing Business Innovation & Investment Climate change is a comprehensive challenge that requires a partnership between business and governments. Policy-makers can maximize the potential innovation and investment of the private sector through their decisions both under the UNFCCC and at the national and local levels. A partnership with the private sector, especially at these early stages in the design and implementation of the Climate Technology Center & Network (CTC&N) and the Green Climate Fund (GCF), will help identify and overcome the existing barriers to investment and technology deployment and will enable maximum efficiency gains and GHG emission reductions to be achieved. Policy-makers can maximize the potential innovation and investment of the private sector through their decisions both under the UNFCCC and at the national and local levels. At the country level, the development of nationally appropriate mitigation actions (NAMAs) that focus on energy efficiency in the built environment or on the setting of renewable energy targets will create market signals that companies will respond to. Other essential elements in attracting private sector investment include the establishment of a national framework that adheres to the rule of law, protects intellectual property rights and provides a reliable infrastructure for doing business. For over a decade, the BCSE has been facilitating dialogue between governments and the business community. More recently these efforts have focused on creating channels for the private sector to engage the CTC&N and the GCF. A Smarter Electricity Grid, A Smarter Future As governments think about ways to meet increasing energy demand, we first must think of ways to be smarter with our existing resources. To incentivize the development of new technologies that will transform how we deliver and consume electricity, strong intellectual property protection regimes are essential. A leader in innovating tomorrow s solutions, Qualcomm s 3G and next-generation cellular technology, mobile computing and networking technologies are allowing utility and telecommunications companies to enable smarter grids today by dramatically improving system reliability, energy efficiency, management and cost-effectiveness. 6 The use of 3G and next generation cellular technology for smart grid applications is now more compelling than ever, as demonstrated by various utility deployments enabled by Qualcomm technology. Qualcomm Atheros (QCA) also offers a portfolio of low-power Wi-Fi and HomePlug powerline products that connect smart meters, thermostats, EV chargers and appliances in the home network. These smart grid technologies have an immense potential to help economies around the world mitigate and adapt to the effects of climate change.

5 Cultivating Resiliency and Adaptation to a Changing Climate Communities, governments and companies are beginning to recognize the linkages between reducing greenhouse gas emissions and adapting to the impacts of climate change, and are developing integrated approaches to both. The World Bank estimates that the cost between 2010 and 2050 of adapting to an approximately 2 o C warmer world by 2050 is in the range of $70 billion to $100 billion a year. 7 The private sector in partnership with governments can provide the technical expertise and technology to adapt to extreme weather events, to cultivate the more efficient use of scarce resources such as water, and to generate electricity from more sustainable, low-carbon sources. As cities continue to grow and the climate changes, vital urban infrastructure must become more resilient. Existing buildings need to become more energy efficient and new buildings must anticipate a varied local climate. Transportation systems have to be able to withstand disruption due to extreme weather events. Water resources must be strategically and efficiently used in our wastewater, drinking and industrial applications. The private sector, in partnership with governments, can provide the technical expertise and technology to adapt to extreme weather events. In addition, power systems must also adapt and prepare for the impacts of climate change. The decentralized generation of electricity, which includes high-efficiency cogeneration, on-site renewable energy, industrial energy recycling and on-site power, 8 can reduce the vulnerabilities of a grid system exposed to extreme climate events while also providing energy to communities that are currently not grid connected. Surviving a Crisis, Ensuring a Way to Travel Extreme weather events floods, hurricanes, blizzards are leading policy-makers to plan for a changing climate differently, so that they can provide the needed services to their citizens. For New Jersey Transit the largest statewide transit system in the United States providing bus, rail and light rail transportation First Environment, Inc. 9 is assessing potential impacts of climate change on vulnerable, at-risk infrastructure and developing cost-effective strategies for the implementation of measures to adapt to a changing climate. Intense hurricanes recently damaged railways and disrupted service, exemplifying the need for the state to re-think its planning approach. The results of First Environment, Inc. s work will enable transit managers to identify facilities and infrastructure facing high climaterelated risks. This work will allow for adjustments needed to maintain service and operations over the next twenty years. In August, 2011, Hurricane Irene impaired rail service throughout the northeastern U.S. Photo: NYS Metropolitan Transportation Authority.

6 About the BCSE The Business Council for Sustainable Energy (BCSE) represents a broad portfolio of existing clean energy business sectors, including renewable energy, supplyside and demand-side energy efficiency, natural gas and electric utilities in North America. The Council has represented the views of clean energy industries in the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) process since For more information, please visit REFERENCES 1,3 World Energy Outlook International Energy Agency. November For more information, please see: 4 For more information, please see: 5 The project was commissioned by Stadtwerke Mainz AG, designed and realized by juwi solar GmbH. Panels were supplied by First Solar. 6 For more information, please see 7 The World Bank. 8 For more information, please see: 9 For more information, please see: