RENEWABLE ENERGY: BRAZIL: Greenpeace use Crowdfunding to Finance Solar Systems for Schools in São Paulo

They also selected 30 people from 2,000 applicants to train as “solar multipliers.” These people got 3 days of training on “how to cook using solar energy, how to produce electricity with it, how to install a PV system, how to lobby, and how to do creative interventions to better spread this knowledge.”
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Bárbara Rubim, a lawyer and a climate and energy campaigner at Greenpeace Brazil, gave a truly inspiring presentation during the opening night of the Renewable Cities Global Learning Forum. It was moving, informative, and highlighted great initiatives that could be replicated around the world. You may remember that she made a comment during my workshop on “communicating renewable energy” that prompted me to write this piece on the importance of the human side of cleantech… and that’s something she nailed in her presentation. I’ll summarize and discuss it a bit below, but if you want to jump straight to the chase, here’s the presentation: Bárbara started out by discussing the critical issue of our time, and perhaps the critical issue of all of human history — global climate change. As part of that, she noted that the last 3 years “held 25% of all the extreme weather events” in Brazil’s recorded history, the kind of thing we are seeing in all corners of the world. (I know, the world is round, but whatev.) Bárbara also mentioned absurd solar taxes in Brazil, which increase the cost of rooftop solar by 30–40%. That’s something that deserves a story of its own!
But the highlight of her presentation concerned children and schools, where Greenpeace has worked to get solar power systems installed via quite innovative and empowering means. Bárbara and other visionaries at

©Greenpeace/Caio Paganotti

One month after the 3-day training, Greenpeace took these solar multipliers to the two schools initially selected to receive PV systems, where they helped to install the systems and also engaged with the communities there to educate them about solar energy and climate change.
In total, after 4 days in each of the schools, they had worked with 1,800 children, 125 parents, and 20 teachers, informing them about the many benefits of solar energy.
But that’s not the end of this inspirational story. The Greenpeace crew also trained four youth from a community known for crime and drugs to help install the system, one of which was later hired by the solar company that was overseeing the installations. That provided the young man, who had already lived through more than his fair share of prejudice, with his first job.
The solar systems will produce approximately $10,000 a year at each school, with all of this money going back to the schools for the next 10 years to give students more of what they want and need…

As if that wasn’t enough… through this work, Greenpeace got the state of São Paulo to implement a tax exemption for solar, something that is now influencing the whole country.

The wonderful Bárbara Rubim is 4th from the left in the 2nd row here.

The overall campaign reached about 15 million people, surely inspiring similar action and progress elsewhere. Four people initially had the idea for the solar multipliers, with the number working on it reaching 34 in March, and then nearly 2,000 in May!

Read article at: http://cleantechnica.com/2015/07/18/story-of-solar-social-inspiration-from-brazil-video/. Story Of Solar & Social Inspiration From Brazil (Video) July 18th, 2015 by Zachary Shahan

UPDATE: JAPAN to slash its Greenhouse Gas Emissions by 26 percent by 2030

The plan to be submitted to the United Nations as its contribution to a global summit on climate change in Paris in November. The target is based on the government's power generation plan for 2030 that the Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry (METI) finalised on Thursday. The plan calls for relying slightly less on nuclear power than on renewable energy following the 2011 Fukushima disaster.Using 2013 as a baseline, Japan's 26 percent cut would be higher than an 18 to 21 percent cut by the United States by 2025 and a 24 percent cut by the European Union by 2030. Japan - the world's fifth largest emitter of greenhouse gases - saw its emissions rise to 1.41 billion metric tonnes of carbon dioxide (CO2) equivalent, the second-highest on record, in the year through March 2014. That was up 10.8 percent from 1990, reflecting a rise in coal-fired power after the indefinite closure of nuclear power plants.Green activists and some other countries that are calling for even bigger cuts say Japan will be blamed by global communities not only for a low target, but also for plans to build more coal-fired plants at home.The trade ministry said the government would plan to make nuclear energy account for 20 to 22 percent of Japan's electricity mix in 2030, versus 30 percent before Fukushima. It set the target for renewable energy at 22 to 24 percent of the mix, liquefied natural gas at 27 percent and coal at 26 percent. Japan's Federation of Electric Power Companies, whose members include the 10 main power monopolies, and 25 other firms said they had voluntarily set a goal to curb CO2 emissions per 1 kilowatt of power by 35 percent from 2013 levels to around 0.37 kg in 2030.By installing fossil fuel-fired plants using the best available technology, the power companies see a potential to reduce CO2 emissions by as much as 11 million tonnes a year, they said.The Paris summit in November aims to finalize an agreement as part of efforts to limit the global average temperature rise to 2 degrees Celsius (3.6 degrees Fahrenheit) above pre-industrial levels.(Reporting by Osamu Tsukimori; Editing by Tom Hogue)http://www.reuters.com/article/2015/07/17/us-japan-carbon-idUSKCN0PR0A220150717

RENEWABLE ENERGY: ISRAEL to build $1.1 billion Thermo-Solar Power Plant to be financed by EIB & US OPIC

Thermo-solar plants differ from photovoltaic plants because they do not convert sunlight into electricity. Instead, they focus on the sun's rays to produce heat and drive a conventional generator.  Israel signed a deal to build a 4 billion shekel ($1.05 billion) thermo-solar power plant in the country's south, aimed at boosting electricity production from renewable energy sources, the Finance Ministry said on Sunday. The 121 megawatt plant, which will also be able to store electricity, will be built by a consortium of Israel's Shikun & Binui and Spain's Abengoa in Ashalim in Israel's southern Negev desert near another solar plant.The plant, to be built under a build, operate and transfer program, is expected to come online in the first half of 2018, the ministry said.Both plants - along with a planned photovoltaic power plant nearby - will provide 2 percent of total electricity production in Israel, which has a target of 10 percent coming from renewable sources by 2020.They will be financed by the European Investment Bank and the U.S. Overseas Private Investment Corp.The ministry said it plans to publish a tender for another plant to help it meet its renewable energy goal. (Reporting by Steven Scheer; editing by Susan Thomas) http://www.reuters.com/article/2015/07/19/us-israel-energy-solar-idUSKCN0PT09S20150719

UPDATE: Future Solar panels will be transparent, lightweight, flexible, and ultra-efficient

It’ll be as cheap as putting up wallpaper.” One principal advantage they have over conventional solar technology is that they can be engineered to react to many different wavelengths of light. That lets them convert more of the sunlight that strikes them into electricity.
Wow! That is some pretty exciting stuff. Why don’t we have perovskite solar panels right now? One answer is, there is often a huge difference between performance in the lab and performance in the real world. Another thing is that many perovskite solar cells use lead as a principal ingredient. And they deteriorate rapidly in the presence of moisture. Silicon solar cells may be clunky, but they last 25 years or more.

Siravam says that very few scientists are working on solutions to these problems. Instead, they are devoting their efforts to establishing new solar cell efficiency records in the lab. Read more: http://cleantechnica.com/2015/07/05/perovskite-solar-cells-what-this-breakthrough-needs-to-get-to-market/

CARBON CREDIT: Allianz has committed to a carbon reduction strategy and has for the first time fully neutralized carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions

Roderick MacDonald and his team have developed the co-financing strategy for carbon projects. As Allianz said,  Karsten Löffler directs climate-related strategies. In Kenya, they invested in a company that undertakes forest conservation in combination with development initiatives for the local population. The first project will prevent the emission of 36 million metric tons of CO2 – about 100 times the annual emissions of the entire Allianz Group. In India, we co-finance a set of energy-efficient lighting projects. They will help reduce residential energy consumption and avoid the annual equivalent emissions of 1 million cars in Germany.

What are the critical emission sources within Allianz and what do you do to reduce them in an efficient manner?

Löffler: 98 percent of the Group's emissions come from energy, travel and paper, so the focus of our carbon reduction activities is on these areas. We have developed global policies to manage and reduce consumption, which in turn support the avoidance, reduction and substitution of emissions. For instance, our Green IT Hardware Purchasing Policy ensures that we purchase energy-efficient devices and that “Energy Star” and “EPEAT” are Group-wide standards for all IT purchases. We also have put efforts in raising awareness among our employees through interactive and engaging campaigns.

Does this also bring advantages for Allianz customers?

Löffler: We believe climate change is providing opportunities and threats at the same time. We capitalize on the first, for instance by being one of the largest renewable energy investors and through our carbon projects, and strive to protect our clients against the latter. We offer our customers over 130 green products and services across the entire business spectrum, e.g. green building insurance to cover facilities or offices that have been built or refurbished to be more energy-efficient.

What is going to be the future focus of Allianz’ climate engagement?

Löffler: Despite the lack of progress in international climate change negotiations, we see evidence of increasing regional, national and sub-national efforts towards introducing climate change legislation. This is particularly striking in Europe, but also in countries like China. There is a general sentiment that the economic costs of non- or delayed-action outweigh by far the costs of taking the necessary measures today.

MacDonald: The striking impact of climate change on weather patterns, biodiversity or water supply means that there is a strong economic rationale to be at the forefront of efforts in this area for an insurance and asset management company like Allianz. This is also the reason why we find it worthwhile to pursue direct carbon investments in key areas of climate protection. At Allianz, we seek to meet the rewarding challenges of the future today.http://www.finchannel.com/index.php/editorial-2/item/34590-

RENEWABLE ENERGY: Solar plane lands in Hawaii after record-breaking flight

Pilot Andre Borschberg and his single-seat aircraft landed at Kalaeloa, a small airport outside Honolulu. His nearly 118-hour voyage from Nagoya broke the record for the world's longest nonstop solo flight, his team said. The late US adventurer Steve Fossett set the previous record of 76 hours when he flew a specially-designed jet around the globe in 2006.
But Borschberg flew the Solar Impulse 2 without fuel. Instead, its wings were equipped with 17,000 solar cells that powered propellers and charged batteries. The plane ran on stored energy at night.
The trans-Pacific leg was the riskiest of the plane's global travels as there was nowhere for it to land in an emergency..........................The plane's ideal flight speed is about 28 mph though that can double during the day when sun's rays are strongest. The carbon-fiber aircraft weighs over 5,000 pounds or about as much as a minivan or mid-sized truck. Borschberg and Piccard have been taking turns flying the plane on an around-the-world trip since taking off from Abu Dhabi in March. After Hawaii, the plane will head to Phoenix and then New York. Piccard will make the flight to Phoenix, organizers said in a press release.
The project, which began in 2002 and is estimated to cost more than $100 million, is meant to highlight the importance of renewable energy and the spirit of innovation. Solar-powered air travel is not yet commercially practical, however, given the slow travel time, weather and weight constraints of the aircraft.
The plane is visiting Hawaii just as the state has embarked on its own ambitious clean energy project. Gov. David Ige last month signed legislation directing Hawaii's utilities to generate 100 percent of their electricity from renewable energy resources by 2045. The utilities currently get 21 percent of their power from renewable sources. Read more: http://www.philstar.com/world/2015/07/05/1473534/solar-plane-lands-hawaii-after-record-breaking-flight

UPDATE: World Bank Report: Brick fields across Bangladesh expel more than 9.8 million tons of greenhouse gases each year

"due to a combination of old technology, weak environmental legislation and enforcement and lack of corporate responsibility." The website of the Bangladesh Ministry of Environment and Forests outlines plans to cut the fumes emitted from brick fields by introducing cleaner technology and practices, as well as closer monitoring, through the Clean Air and Sustainable Environment Project.  

The pollution is causing serious health hazards. The brick kilns spew out vapor that is harmful to eyes, lungs and throats. These pollutants pose a risk to children's physical and mental development.There's also a heavy environmental cost beyond the air pollution the brick kilns cause, particularly since forests are cut down to provide fuel for the furnaces.Meanwhile, the brick workers serve the rapid development of Bangladesh's cities. But what, Petralla asks, do they gain from such growth? "They are only slaves of it, and they cannot use their production," he said. "It's pure injustice." - Raffaele Petralla is an Italian photographer. You can follow him on Facebook and Twitter.

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