Investment In Wind Power Blows Into Chile

2009 Nov 21

By Alternative Latin Investor -- The combination of pro-renewable energy legislation, economic stability and industrial demand are fuelling a vibrant wind power sector in Chile.

The Latin American nation has limited indigenous energy resources, with the exception of hydropower. As a result, the country must import the bulk of its energy needs. Up until 2004 Chile met most of its demand for energy by importing natural gas through an agreement signed in 1995 with neighboring Argentina, which had agreed to supply 22 million cubic meters a day. However, subsidized energy prices in Argentina boosted domestic demand in that country, which consequently saw exports to Chile fall drastically.

Currently Argentina is only sending 10% of the agreed quantity of natural gas to its Andean neighbor. Faced with an energy crisis that was beginning to impact economic growth, Chile was forced to scour the globe for energy sources says Eugenio Chinchon, a Chilean business development manager specializing in renewable energy.

“Chile provides most of the copper in the world. As China has been booming and asking for a lot of minerals, the price of copper has gone up. So they want to produce more but because there is a shortage of energy, they couldn’t produce,” says Chinchon. “Also because of historical reasons we don’t have natural resources to produce energy in the north, and the only way to [run the copper mines] has been gas. But we don’t have gas, so we must buy it from other countries. Our neighbors like Peru and Bolivia have a lot of gas, but because of historical reasons, there is a lot of rivalry and they don’t want to sell us gas. So Chile has to buy liquid gas from the Far East and it’s very expensive. So the prices are going very high and the Chilean government wants to have wind energy.”

Read more: http://cleantechbrief.com/node/1108

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Kenya bets big on clean energy

2009 Dec 5

By Erick Wamanji

Plagued by incessant power shortages due to unreliable rainfall that feeds the country’s hydropower plants, the Government is turning to alternative sources of power production.

Ahead of the UN’s climate change summit in Copenhagen, many believe power shortages are more than an immediate crisis.

Even the current rains have not eased the burden off Kenyans’ shoulders as electricity bills continue to soar.

But this may soon change as the newly created Geothermal Development Company (GDC) — a parastatal in the Ministry of Energy — is promising to turn the energy sector around as early as next December.

Energy Minister Kiraitu Murungi says the country’s electricity base load will shift from hydro-based to geothermal in the next 10 years.

"With 7,000 MW geothermal potential, why should Kenya not be a leading producer of geothermal electricity?" poses Kirairu.

His sentiments are echoed by Energy PS Patrick Nyoike.

A break with the past

"We are at the tail end of hydropower production. We can only add another 75 MW from this source to the national grid and it is important to explore alternative sources," says Nyoike.

Already GDC has mapped out potential areas to drill for geothermal steam. Last week, it signed a contract to sink about 10 wells at Olkaria Domes in Naivasha beginning January, next year.

The 10-month project is expected to supply electricity equivalent of 140 MW to the Olkaria IV power plant.

GDC Managing Director Silas Simiyu says once this resource is tapped, the cost of electricity is expected to reduce by about half.

Read more: http://www.eastandard.net/InsidePage.php?id=1144029679&cid=4

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Ethiopia sees power production up 900 pct in 10 yrs

2009 Nov 24

By Barry Malone

ADDIS ABABA (Reuters) - Ethiopia will start exporting power to neighbouring Sudan and Djibouti in 2010 and plans to produce 15,000 MW of power within 10 years, its mines and energy minister said on Tuesday.

Power shortages are common in Africa and have put off investors and shut down industries, even though the world's most underpowered continent has abundant potential resources of solar, hydro, oil, gas, coal and geothermal power.

Minister Alemayehu Tegenu told Reuters the government had identified the potential for specific hydro, wind, geothermal and solar projects over the next 10 years.

"Once all of those resources are exploited we can become a major power exporter, generating 15,000 MW," Alemayehu said. "Foreign companies are welcome to explore investment potential."

Ethiopia now generates about 1,500 MW and that will rise to almost 2,000 MW when a new hydropower dam opens in 2010, Alemayehu said, adding the country will export to her neighbours once the project is complete.

"We are working on interconnection infrastructure between Ethiopia and Sudan and Ethiopia and Djibouti so we can beat our shortages and export," he said in an interview. "We will finish the work by 2010 and will have sufficient power to export."

Read more: http://af.reuters.com/article/investingNews/idAFJOE5AN0N720091124

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