Renewable Energy Franchise Network Partnership Program
When I added Langton Makoni to my LinkedIn network, he wrote:
Thanks for the add. I have been following 2GreenEnergy for a while now. I must say, the expansive pool of vital information you provide has greatly assisted us in promoting the Renewable Energy Franchise Network Partnership Program (an initiative we developed and have been working on in developing countries in a bid to facilitate the extensive transfer of renewable energy technology).
What you guys are advocating has brought a lot of significance. Keep up the great work!
And thank you for the kind words, Langton. I’m happy to do what I can. Ironically, renewable energy may be of more significance to the developing world than anywhere else. That’s because:
• On a per kilowatt-hour basis, the energy consumed in the developing world is more damaging ecologically than anywhere else on Earth (largely burning wood from forests), and
• The absense of rural electrification means reducing the reach and quality of education. This is a huge issue that affects population growth, as educated women tend to have smaller, stronger families.
Keep plugging!
In rural areas in developing countries, even the small amount of not totally reliable power from renewable sources would greatly improve the quality of life. Currently, they usually use kerosene for lighting. Even an inexpensive 2-watt LED lamp would provide better light than a kerosene light and, in addition, would be less expensive, safer, and would not emit health-damaging fumes. Two or three 2-watt LED lamps in a house would use little power and that could be easily provided via a PV panel and a small rechargeable battery. It would make reading easier and help the children do their school work. They also need power to recharge cell ‘phones, but that also can easily be provided by a PV panel.
What is more difficult is providing environmentally benign cooking methods. Currently wood is the most common fuel, although kerosene is also used. Solar cookers can help to some degree but cannot do the entire job. Many people have found ways to use wood more efficiently. The ultimate solution would be inexpensive electricity which could be used for electric stoves and hot plates, but that will be a long time in coming.
Frank, you are quite right and if I can further add, as long as the “true facts” on sustainability are inaccessible to change organs, and there is no paradigm shift on an personal, individual level the change(adoption and embracing renewable energy technology) in itself will take longer to effect. You’ll be surprised there are some agents who occupy the public office who still think and view “climate change” as taboo when there are consistent drought seasons especially in the sub-sahara region. I wont quote names but it’s a fact! I did give some considerable thought on the process of change in an article I contributed towards Energy Manager-India “How can renewable energy be extensively adopted in developing nations”. Here is an excerpt -http://www.renewableenergyworld.com/rea/blog/post/2012/02/how-can-renewable-energy-technology-be-extensively-adopted-in-developing-nations
Thanks again Craig!