Energy short Chile looks for potential alternative sources

As global temperatures and energy prices soar, scientists, policymakers and environmentalists throughout the world are scrambling for solutions. For its part, Chile could meet as much as half its electricity demands with clean energy, according to a report released Friday by energy experts from the Universidad de Chile and Universidad Tecnica Federico Santa Maria.

Professor Jorge Pontt

“The reality is that Chile is growing economically, and we must determine how to support that without risking our natural heritage,” said report co-author Jorge Pontt.As much as 40% of Chile’s electricity demand could be met by environmentally friendly energy sources by 2025, according to the study, funded by the two universities and several national and international nonprofit foundations and environmental groups.Pontt, a professor of electrical engineering at the Universidad Technica Federico Santa María, said Chile is far behind where it should be in regard to technological innovations in the realm of energy development.“The prevailing policy in Chile has always been to wait for foreigners to do the research, and then to copy it,” Pontt said on Friday. “But now, we’re seeing where that gets us. If we had seized on the opportunities to enter into the renewable energy field years ago, we wouldn’t be paying such a high price for energy today.”The study’s results estimate that Chile could generate anywhere from 39.8 to 56.5 gigawatt-hours (GWh) per year with renewables such as wind, solar and geothermal energy. And in doing so, the authors say, the country would make substantial gains in the sustainability and security of its electricity supply. Such a scenario is compelling in light of Argentina’s reluctance to deliver natural gas to Chile in recent years.Furthermore, concerted expansion in the use of renewable energy and energy efficiency measures could reduce Chile’s greenhouse gas emissions by 16-22 million tons per year, the researchers found.The report asserts that realizing the potential of renewables and energy efficiency requires that Chile overcome significant political, economic and technical obstacles. It calls for a proactive national policy and the creation of a new agency within the Energy Ministry charged with managing progress in both areas.The findings serve as an important first step in the development of such a policy, according to Juan Pablo Orrega, of the environmental group Ecosistemas. They also buttress arguments that his group and others make against HydroAysén, a massive hydroelectric dam project proposed for the Baker and Pascua Rivers in Patagonia.Orrega served as a consultant for the study.“Since the 1990s, we have been saying that Chile needs an energy policy that includes renewables,” Orrega said. “Our whole country is a fragile ecosystem, and we need to reorient energy development in a more sustainable direction.”The report has already garnered attention from leaders in Chile’s public and private sectors. Energy Minister Marcelo Tokman was on hand Friday at the report’s release, as was Bernardo Larraín, manager of Chilean energy company Colbún, a partner in the HydroAysén proposal.“It was very significant that the energy minister was here,” said Miriam Chible of Patagonian environmental group Codesa. “Informed citizens have to push the government to make progress in this area, no matter who is in power”.

Source:MercoPress, Wednesday, August 13, 2008

Brazil invests in research for bio-fuels from micro-algae

Brazil is eager to fund the development of seaweed-based biodiesel production

Brazil will allocate 4.5 million Reais (approx. 2.8 million US dollars) in non-refundable credits to research projects exploring the use of aquaculture or micro-algae products in biodiesel production.

According to a decree signed by the Ministries of Environment, and Science and Technology, research centres interested in the field of study have until September 25th to present their proposals to the National Council of Scientific and Technological Development. The Brazilian government is willing to finance projects based on the following:• The development of low-cost micro-algae farming techniques that may be used in oil production as a raw material for biodiesel production; • Studies assessing the potential of different micro-algae types; • Studies on the economic feasibility of farmed micro algae processes for biodiesel production; • Research of cost-effective and efficient micro-algae collection and subsequent oil extraction processes. The selected projects will be announced in October and financing will be released for the projects in December. Brazil already obtains bio-diesel from oil-producing plants such as castor, sunflower, soy, and palm and is a world leader in ethanol from sugar cane.The government managed oil and gas corporation Petrobras recently inaugurated the first of its three vegetable fuel processing industrial plants. The Brazilian Government intends to incorporate new raw materials, such as seaweed, that today already function as an experimental source for biodiesel production in various countries including the United States, Japan, and Argentina. The State of Rio Grande do Norte Agricultural Research Company (EMPARN) to the north east of the country is already developing large-scale seaweed-based biodiesel production techniques. According to company studies, seaweed's bio-fuel production capacity is 25 times that of any other vegetable. (FIS)

Source:MercoPress, Thursday, August 14, 2008