Energy Solutions

Building Sustainability into the East African Power Pool

Solar Energy International installs a solar system in Ethiopia.
Tuesday, March 10, 2015
UC Berkeley’s Renewable and Appropriate Energy Laboratory and International Rivers have co-published a review of the energy planning and resource assessment efforts being done by the East African Power Pool, and recommendations for its improvement.

Power 4 People

Community-based solar power in Orissa/India (Dipti Vaghela)
Despite billions invested in the energy sector, 1.3 billion people still do not have access to electricity. The World Bank and other international finance institutions continue to invest in large hydropower and fossil fuels despite a history of environmental devastation, destroyed livelihoods and economic boondoggles. International Rivers is working to pressure institutions to invest in decentralized energy solutions that increase access for the poor.

World Rivers Review – September 2012: Focus on Community Energy

A number of the challenges the world faces over the use of electricity can be better addressed by bringing the sources of energy back to the community level. Community-generated energy not only enables communities to make choices about how they get their electricity, but also has the potential to bridge the planet’s horrendous energy divide. At least 1.5 billion people have no access to electricity, and many live in remote communities that may never be connected to a national grid. This special issue of World Rivers Review looks at ways that towns and villages around the globe are turning

Energy Solutions for Africa

Access to modern energy services is an important element for reducing poverty and improving the lives of the world’s poorest. Africa has the lowest electrification rate in the world: nearly half a billion people – almost 70% of the population – are without access to electricity. The key challenge is not merely to increase energy consumption, but to also ensure access to cleaner energy services and sustainable consumption so that future generations will not pay the price for poorly planned energy developments.

An Alternative Power Development Plan for Guatemala

Energize Guatemala: Proposal for a Sustainable Energy Plan
Thursday, June 28, 2012
The purpose of this study is to critically examine the government’s electricity development plans and to determine if there is a more sustainable and economically efficient solution to meet the country’s future electricity needs.

World Rivers Review: Focus on Renewable Energy - March 2010

The Future of Energy is Getting Greener (And Closer) A quiet revolution is taking place in the world of hydropower. Our cover story looks at the emerging non-dam hydro industry, which holds the promise of economically viable technologies that do not deplete resources or warm the planet, and do not wipe out species, ecosystems and cultures. Read the full story. This special issue also looks at an ambitious new solar plan for India, China's burgeoning energy efficiency efforts, community-driven power projects in Africa and Latin America, and a host of science-fiction-like technology developments

A Green Energy Plan for Mozambique

Cahora Bassa power lines bypass Zambezi villagers
Thursday, October 1, 2009
Cahora Bassa power lines bypass Zambezi villagers Lori Pottinger Mozambique has among the lowest uses of electricity in the world. Yet virtually all of the electricity it does produce from Cahora Bassa Dam on the Zambezi is shipped to its wealthy neighbor, South Africa. As the government prepares to build another costly large dam on the Zambezi that will also power South Africa rather than homes and businesses in Mozambique, a new report lays out a saner plan for developing renewable energy sources across the nation that would share the energy wealth more equitably; diversify the national ele

Energy Efficiency

Monday, March 2, 2009
Reducing the impact of our use of energy is one of the key technical, political, and even moral challenges facing human society in this century. While our sources of energy have to be made cleaner, our first priority must be to use energy more efficiently. The good news is that efficiency measures are cheaper, cleaner and faster to install than any other energy option. And we lose nothing in the bargain – the point of efficiency is to allow us the same levels of productivity or comfort, but with less power.

Energy Solutions

Photo: Shannon Graham
Millions of people globally live without the benefit of modern energy services. Renewable energy technologies produce clean energy, can be better scaled to meet demand than large dams, reduce dependence on problematic energy sources such as fossil fuels and large hydro, and can be used in rural areas far from the grid, where most of the world’s un-electrified communities are located.

Beyond Dams: Options & Alternatives

Saturday, May 1, 2004
By design, dams alter the natural flow regime, and with it virtually every aspect of a river ecosystem, including water quality, sediment transport and deposition, fish migrations and reproduction, and riparian and floodplain habitat and the organisms that rely on this habitat. The purpose of this report is to provide stakeholders and decision–makers with an overview of low–impact and non–structural alternatives to dams. It is designed as a reference for anyone interested in exploring options for replacing a function served by an existing dam or replacing a function to be served by a dam
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