Hydro-power for Guyana?

A panel discussion on the topic was recently held, sponsored by the EU and occasioned by the visit of a delegation in regarding preparations for the 2015 Paris Climate Conference, COP21.

Reports were seen at Demerara Waves and Guyana Times.

The experts on the panel differed regarding the urgency of using hydro-power but were agreed on the need to do so.

It seems to me that hydro-power is a resource we absolutely must make use of whether multiple small installations or several large ones. It should have been done decades ago - a start was made but not followed up. It takes years for any such project to be planned, funded and built. It is not rocket science and there is abundant expertise available. We need to get over our political infighting, work together and do some long-term planning.

In the short-term we need to continue expanding the use of other alternatives such as bio-fuel and solar.

Climate change - what to do?

The Wall Street Journal has an interesting article on 5 technologies which could provide a breakthrough:

"Over the next few decades, the world will need to wean itself from dependence on fossil fuels and drastically reduce greenhouse gases. Current technology will take us only so far; major breakthroughs are required.

What might those breakthroughs be? Here's a look at five technologies that, if successful, could radically change the world energy picture."

The technologies referred to are:

* Space based solar power
* Utility scale energy storage to enable a high percentage of solar and wind
* Next Generation Biofuels
* Carbon capture and storage
* Advanced Car Batteries

Also very interesting is a critique of this article at Next Big Future which puts these new technologies too far in the future and gives some alternatives which will impact sooner.

While most technologies above are nothing that we can implement or research here there are exceptions. Of particular interest, it seems to me, is that of biochar. Basically this means growing wood or woody material, charing it (making charcoal out of it) and burying it. This takes carbon out of the atmosphere and also can have a beneficial effect on the soil.

I should also mention that I saw no mention of the role of forests.

President Bharrat Jagdeo on BBC

See here where "President Jagdeo sets out his views on how to reduce the 18% of greenhouse gas emissions caused by tropical deforestation."

More on biofuel

Two conflicting news items prompted me to blog this. On the BBC news site there is an item about the Indian Finance Minister criticizing the conversion of crops into biofuel by developing countries. I can see his point of view but ...

Here in Guyana I heard comments by Dr Narine of IAST pointing out the advantages of biofuels for Guyana where uncultivated land (not forest) and plenty of water are waiting to be put to use. The only thing missing is the expertise.

I trust that the international media will give a balanced picture. It is surely a case of 'horses for courses' - each country needs its own mix of solutions. No blanket remedies please. We need to exploit all resources wisely to meet world energy needs.

Biofuels Potential in Guyana

See the GyDG for details about the ECLAC report on biofuels in Guyana... here
From the abstract:
"Present conditions of the energy and the agro-industrial sector of Guyana provide an excellent opportunity for the production and use of ethanol as a source of fuel in the country. Furthermore, in addition to price considerations, it is important to be able to produce locally part of the national energy demand, using available natural resources and proven technologies. This would also stimulate diversification in the sugarcane industry which is currently exposed to well known challenges. Moreover, the use of ethanol as a source of energy would have significant environmental advantages. All together, these conditions make a decidedly sufficient and robust case to promote the use of ethanol for energy security in Guyana."

Ethanol for fuel

Bio-ethanol has been in the news lately and has acquired politicial overtones. Does it make sense for Guyana? It would certainly seem to given the urgent need to diversify the sugar industry here in view of increasingly tough competition in selling sugar internationally and the importance of the industry to the country both economically and socially.

Without making changes to existing car engines about 10% ethanol could be added to gasolene. This would reduce the gasolene import requirement. It would also reduce Guyana's carbon emissions since ethanol is replaceable from natural sources and not a fossil fuel. Higher percentages of ethanol require some slight modification to existing vehicles.

Using some rough figures Guyana uses about 50,000 hectares of land for growing sugar cane and produces around 300,000 (metric) tonnes of sugar.

Using figures from Brazil if one tenth this land were used to produce sugar cane for ethanol production then it could yield about 30 million litres of ethanol. I am told we import around 120 million litres of gasolene. This much ethanol would be sufficient to replace 10% of gasolene used as a fuel in all cars and still leave a large quantity for export.

A look at the cost benefits of using ethanol as a fuel proved a bit difficult as I could not find current data and prices have changed so much recently but it looks favourable and sugar prices are likely to fall while gasolene prices may go up further.

Judging from recent press reports it would seem that one or more investors may be coming in to set up new canefields specifically for ethanol production and export. I see no reason not to move rapidly to 10% ethanol in all gasolene as a first step.

Links
Statistics on sugar to 2001
Wikipedia on ethanol for fuel