Energy Options in Chile

Very interesting article from the Patagonia Times. I had no idea that the NRDC worked in other countries.

NRDC: Nuclear Power Makes No Sense for Chile - Patagonia Times - 28 Aug 08

"According to Christopher E. Paine, nuclear program director for the Natural Resources Defense Council (NRDC), the costs of nuclear power far outweigh its benefits. Though it is an admittedly reliable and low carbon-producing source of energy, nuclear power is dangerous and extremely capital intensive, he said. In fact, the cost of building nuclear power plants is so high that it is almost impossible for countries to do so without substantial state investment.

“There isn’t a single country anywhere that has developed nuclear power purely on a private basis,” said Paine. 'It is basically a state run industry everywhere. Even in the United States, where it pretends it’s a private industry, actually there are very very large federal subsidies.' That’s especially true, he said, of countries like Chile that seek nuclear power for the first time. 'Nuclear energy would not be competitive in Chile’s power market without massive government subsides,' said Paine.

In addition to the high costs of building nuclear power plants, Chile – should it pursue the nuclear option – would have to create an expensive nuclear waste disposal program or 'pay the French or the Russians to take it away for you,' he said. 'And they will charge a great deal for the privilege of doing that.' Paine estimates nuclear energy could cost the Chilean government upwards of US$575 million per year."

"But Chile does have other choices, especially when it comes to non-conventional, renewable sources of energy, said Paine. Chile’s irrigation system alone could be harnessed to generate some 800 MW of electricity, he pointed out. The country boasts an even greater source of potential energy in its vast northern desert region, which according to the NRDC official could – through solar-thermal plants – power the entire country and 'beyond.'

'Even if you converted a very small part of the Atacama (desert) to solar-thermal generation, an area I calculate at about 36 square kilometers, you could entirely replace the energy from HidroAysen,' said Paine, referring to a highly controversial plan to build hydroelectric dams in far southern Chile’s Region XI."

Energy Options in Chile

Very interesting article from the Patagonia Times. I had no idea that the NRDC worked in other countries.

NRDC: Nuclear Power Makes No Sense for Chile - Patagonia Times - 28 Aug 08

"According to Christopher E. Paine, nuclear program director for the Natural Resources Defense Council (NRDC), the costs of nuclear power far outweigh its benefits. Though it is an admittedly reliable and low carbon-producing source of energy, nuclear power is dangerous and extremely capital intensive, he said. In fact, the cost of building nuclear power plants is so high that it is almost impossible for countries to do so without substantial state investment.

“There isn’t a single country anywhere that has developed nuclear power purely on a private basis,” said Paine. 'It is basically a state run industry everywhere. Even in the United States, where it pretends it’s a private industry, actually there are very very large federal subsidies.' That’s especially true, he said, of countries like Chile that seek nuclear power for the first time. 'Nuclear energy would not be competitive in Chile’s power market without massive government subsides,' said Paine.

In addition to the high costs of building nuclear power plants, Chile – should it pursue the nuclear option – would have to create an expensive nuclear waste disposal program or 'pay the French or the Russians to take it away for you,' he said. 'And they will charge a great deal for the privilege of doing that.' Paine estimates nuclear energy could cost the Chilean government upwards of US$575 million per year."

"But Chile does have other choices, especially when it comes to non-conventional, renewable sources of energy, said Paine. Chile’s irrigation system alone could be harnessed to generate some 800 MW of electricity, he pointed out. The country boasts an even greater source of potential energy in its vast northern desert region, which according to the NRDC official could – through solar-thermal plants – power the entire country and 'beyond.'

'Even if you converted a very small part of the Atacama (desert) to solar-thermal generation, an area I calculate at about 36 square kilometers, you could entirely replace the energy from HidroAysen,' said Paine, referring to a highly controversial plan to build hydroelectric dams in far southern Chile’s Region XI."

Small Wind Power for Ghana

Stories like these make my day. Hugh Piggott's homebuilt wind turbines don't get enough copy as a cost-effective way for small wind applications.

Local Artisans Manufacture Wind Turbine - Ghana News - 29 Aug 08

"A group of local craftsmen and technicians have manufactured a wind turbine, capable of generating 500 watts of electricity. Named 'Volta Breeze', the turbine, when erected, can power a table-top fridge, a television set, a blender, a radio set and about five Compact Fluorescent Lights (CFL) at the same time.

The artisans were brought together by Rural Energy and Environment Systems (REES), a local organisation that aims at providing cheap sources of power to rural folk, and Enterprise Works, an international non-governmental organisation."

"The Head of the Renewable Energy Unit of the Ministry of Energy, Mr Wisdom Ahiataku-Togobo, told the Daily Graphic that the 17 artisans used local materials to manufacture the turbine.

He said they were offered some training by Mr Hugh Piggot of Scoraig Wind Electric of the United Kingdom [link includes lots of photos] and added that in preparation for the training, Enterprise Works and Scoraig Wind Electric visited local markets to purchase the materials needed to manufacture the turbine. He said aside from high-strength magnets, which are imported from China, all other components were local."

Small Wind Power for Ghana

Stories like these make my day. Hugh Piggott's homebuilt wind turbines don't get enough copy as a cost-effective way for small wind applications.

Local Artisans Manufacture Wind Turbine - Ghana News - 29 Aug 08

"A group of local craftsmen and technicians have manufactured a wind turbine, capable of generating 500 watts of electricity. Named 'Volta Breeze', the turbine, when erected, can power a table-top fridge, a television set, a blender, a radio set and about five Compact Fluorescent Lights (CFL) at the same time.

The artisans were brought together by Rural Energy and Environment Systems (REES), a local organisation that aims at providing cheap sources of power to rural folk, and Enterprise Works, an international non-governmental organisation."

"The Head of the Renewable Energy Unit of the Ministry of Energy, Mr Wisdom Ahiataku-Togobo, told the Daily Graphic that the 17 artisans used local materials to manufacture the turbine.

He said they were offered some training by Mr Hugh Piggot of Scoraig Wind Electric of the United Kingdom [link includes lots of photos] and added that in preparation for the training, Enterprise Works and Scoraig Wind Electric visited local markets to purchase the materials needed to manufacture the turbine. He said aside from high-strength magnets, which are imported from China, all other components were local."