Strong government support and surging clean fuel acceptance will drive ethanol production in Asia Pacific region to reach a record height by 2012, according to a new report by market researchers, RNCOS.
Global Biofuel Market Analysis details the "promising growth pattern" in the region's ethanol production over the last few years. For example, China registered over 21.1% CAGR in ethanol production during 2005-2008 and is expected to grow rapidly in coming years. Similarly, India has also exhibited even more rapid developments in ethanol production. The country is anticipated to see some important growth reforms in ethanol production during 2009-2012.
Apart from China and India, countries like Australia, Thailand, South Korea and Japan will provide significant boost to the overall ethanol industry in the region. The prime reason for encouraging ethanol production in most of the Asia Pacific countries is their dependence on imported oil. They allocate a huge reserve for oil purchase in order to meet their energy requirements. Under such scenario, the use of biofuel will certainly help them to cut their dependence on imported oil with added benefit of energy security.
The report has also found that developed economies like the US and European countries are not showing any sign of saturation although the global economic slowdown has had severe impact on their development programs. The study has shown that both ethanol production and consumption in the region are expected to bear post-reversionary effects without any significant dent.
The report provides statistics and non- manipulative information about the biofuel industry current status and its future prospects with a deep focus on regional level developments. It also contains details of government supports, Kyoto Protocol, second-generation biofuel production, cost analysis and several other aspects of the industry.
Showing posts with label clean energy. Show all posts
Showing posts with label clean energy. Show all posts
Wednesday, February 3, 2010
Thursday, January 21, 2010
Delhi to shut down coal power plants
India's capital city, Delhi, will shut all its coal-fired power plants over the next four years and replace them with plants that use environment-friendly natural gas as fuel. The shift to cleaner power will result in higher power bills for end- users, but Delhi’s chief secretary Rakesh Mehta is hopeful that citizens will pay the bill.
“Consumers would be willing to pay more for cleaner atmosphere,” he told the Hindustan Times. “It is weighing cheap and dirty fuel power versus health of the citizens. In the longer run, health will surely weight out costs.”
According to Delhi’s power secretary Rajendra Kumar, the per unit cost of power from a new gas-based power plant would be around Rs 3.50 per unit as against the average cost of Rs 2 per unit from a coal-based plant. However, “it is too early to comment on the exact cost of power for the end user,” Kumar said.
Officials say the biggest challenge ahead lies in making the coal-based Badarpur plant, operated by the National Thermal Power Corporation (NTPC) Ltd, switch to gas. The plant accounts for as much as 57% of the capital’s power-driven air pollution.
“Consumers would be willing to pay more for cleaner atmosphere,” he told the Hindustan Times. “It is weighing cheap and dirty fuel power versus health of the citizens. In the longer run, health will surely weight out costs.”
According to Delhi’s power secretary Rajendra Kumar, the per unit cost of power from a new gas-based power plant would be around Rs 3.50 per unit as against the average cost of Rs 2 per unit from a coal-based plant. However, “it is too early to comment on the exact cost of power for the end user,” Kumar said.
Officials say the biggest challenge ahead lies in making the coal-based Badarpur plant, operated by the National Thermal Power Corporation (NTPC) Ltd, switch to gas. The plant accounts for as much as 57% of the capital’s power-driven air pollution.
Sunday, January 17, 2010
Five ASEAN countries fast-track nuclear power
During its summit in Cebu, Philippines, in 2007, the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) reported on its member nations' plans to include nuclear power in the mix of energies required to sustain fast development. Philippines president Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo said at the time that the ASEAN leaders underscored the need to improve energy-use efficiency and diversify energy supply through the development of alternative-energy sources, such as biofuels and “civilian nuclear power.”
Speaking at the recent Public Seminar on Nuclear Energy at the Philippine Nuclear Research Institute (PNRI), visiting nuclear expert Dr Sueo Machi said Indonesia, Malaysia, the Philippines, Thailand and Vietnam are now moving up construction of nuclear power plants in their respective countries to 2015-2021.
Their use of nuclear power “is very significant, very important in terms of energy security because it contributes to diverse energy sources,” Machi, a former deputy director general of the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA), told the BusinessMirror's Science Editor, Lyn Resurreccion. “It will be very important for their economic development because it enhances competitiveness,” he pointed out.
Machi said that nuclear power is suited to developing countries because it is around 14 times cheaper than solar power. “Solar energy is very expensive; you need a big area for the panel. In Japan, if you have a 1-gigawatt [GW] power plant using solar [energy], you need the whole area of [34.5 km circular] Yamanote [railway] line covered by solar panel. And in case of wind power, you need three times more area.” He added that it is also “very important in terms of mitigation of carbon-dioxide [CO2] emission.”
Indonesia: Machi said ASEAN's largest member is planning to put up its first two nuclear power plants of 1-GW capacity each in 2015 and 2017 but is waiting for the signing by president Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono of a law that will provide for the establishment of a company to bukd and operate the plants.
Thailand: Thai officials plan to construct two power plants—1 GW in 2020 and 1 GW in 2021 but are waiting for Cabinet approval. Machi said documents are ing prepared, “like a feasibility study,” to be submitted to the Cabinet in the first half of 2011. He said nuclear experts in Thailand have already identified some “candidate sites” for the power plants.
Vietnam: The National Assembly approved in early December 2009, Machi said, the plan to have four nuclear power plants constructed in the socialist country at 1GW each in 2020 and 2021. Experts have identified two sites with two power plants to be constructed on each site. He said it took Vietnam almost five years before it was able to finally approve its plan. “Now they will make a full feasibility study and design, including what type of reactor they will use—the pressurized-water reactor, boiling-water reactor, or Candu [Canada Deuterium Uranium] reactor. They will do detailed analysis of design in connection with costs and many other [concerns],” he said.
Malaysia: This country “is a little bit behind,” Machi said. It is still in the stage of doing a feasibility study, which will have to be approved by the Cabinet. “[However], there are newspaper [reports] saying the [Malaysian] government is very positive on nuclear power. The public already knows it, but the Cabinet and Congress still have [to make the] final decision,” he said.
Philippines: Two decades after the 600-megawatt Bataan Nuclear Power Plant (BNPP) was mothballed, the Philippine government announced in July 2006, through its Science and Technology department, that nuclear energy is included in the long-term energy-development program. This led to the National Power Corp (Napocor) asking the Korea Electric Power Corp (Kepco) to conduct a feasibility study on the BNPP last year. Napocor announced in December that Kepco has recommended that the BNPP could be rehabilitated.
Last week Napocor said it would decide on whether it would recommend the recommissioning of the 600-megawatt BNPP after Kepco has submitted this month the cost estimate and time frame needed to rehabilitate the power plant. At the same time, Napocor president Froilan Tampinco said the state power agency is yet to decide on whether it will take part in the rehabilitation of the mothballed BNPP, which was never operated since its construction was finished in 1986.
The IAEA website on 2 December 2009, stated there are 436 operational nuclear power reactors and 53 are under construction.
South Korea now has 20 nuclear power plants with six new ones being constructed. Japan has 53 operational nuclear power plants and two are being constructed. China has 11 nuclear power plants, with 16 more being constructed. India has 17 nuclear power plants, with six more under construction. Bangladesh, one of the poor Asian countries, is in the early implementation of its planned two 600 MW nuclear power plant project.
Speaking at the recent Public Seminar on Nuclear Energy at the Philippine Nuclear Research Institute (PNRI), visiting nuclear expert Dr Sueo Machi said Indonesia, Malaysia, the Philippines, Thailand and Vietnam are now moving up construction of nuclear power plants in their respective countries to 2015-2021.
Their use of nuclear power “is very significant, very important in terms of energy security because it contributes to diverse energy sources,” Machi, a former deputy director general of the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA), told the BusinessMirror's Science Editor, Lyn Resurreccion. “It will be very important for their economic development because it enhances competitiveness,” he pointed out.
Machi said that nuclear power is suited to developing countries because it is around 14 times cheaper than solar power. “Solar energy is very expensive; you need a big area for the panel. In Japan, if you have a 1-gigawatt [GW] power plant using solar [energy], you need the whole area of [34.5 km circular] Yamanote [railway] line covered by solar panel. And in case of wind power, you need three times more area.” He added that it is also “very important in terms of mitigation of carbon-dioxide [CO2] emission.”
Indonesia: Machi said ASEAN's largest member is planning to put up its first two nuclear power plants of 1-GW capacity each in 2015 and 2017 but is waiting for the signing by president Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono of a law that will provide for the establishment of a company to bukd and operate the plants.
Thailand: Thai officials plan to construct two power plants—1 GW in 2020 and 1 GW in 2021 but are waiting for Cabinet approval. Machi said documents are ing prepared, “like a feasibility study,” to be submitted to the Cabinet in the first half of 2011. He said nuclear experts in Thailand have already identified some “candidate sites” for the power plants.
Vietnam: The National Assembly approved in early December 2009, Machi said, the plan to have four nuclear power plants constructed in the socialist country at 1GW each in 2020 and 2021. Experts have identified two sites with two power plants to be constructed on each site. He said it took Vietnam almost five years before it was able to finally approve its plan. “Now they will make a full feasibility study and design, including what type of reactor they will use—the pressurized-water reactor, boiling-water reactor, or Candu [Canada Deuterium Uranium] reactor. They will do detailed analysis of design in connection with costs and many other [concerns],” he said.
Malaysia: This country “is a little bit behind,” Machi said. It is still in the stage of doing a feasibility study, which will have to be approved by the Cabinet. “[However], there are newspaper [reports] saying the [Malaysian] government is very positive on nuclear power. The public already knows it, but the Cabinet and Congress still have [to make the] final decision,” he said.
Philippines: Two decades after the 600-megawatt Bataan Nuclear Power Plant (BNPP) was mothballed, the Philippine government announced in July 2006, through its Science and Technology department, that nuclear energy is included in the long-term energy-development program. This led to the National Power Corp (Napocor) asking the Korea Electric Power Corp (Kepco) to conduct a feasibility study on the BNPP last year. Napocor announced in December that Kepco has recommended that the BNPP could be rehabilitated.
Last week Napocor said it would decide on whether it would recommend the recommissioning of the 600-megawatt BNPP after Kepco has submitted this month the cost estimate and time frame needed to rehabilitate the power plant. At the same time, Napocor president Froilan Tampinco said the state power agency is yet to decide on whether it will take part in the rehabilitation of the mothballed BNPP, which was never operated since its construction was finished in 1986.
The IAEA website on 2 December 2009, stated there are 436 operational nuclear power reactors and 53 are under construction.
South Korea now has 20 nuclear power plants with six new ones being constructed. Japan has 53 operational nuclear power plants and two are being constructed. China has 11 nuclear power plants, with 16 more being constructed. India has 17 nuclear power plants, with six more under construction. Bangladesh, one of the poor Asian countries, is in the early implementation of its planned two 600 MW nuclear power plant project.
Thursday, January 14, 2010
Wind, solar expected to gain momentum in 2010
Renewable energy sectors in several countries in the Asia Pacific region hold considerable growth potential this 2010, as the effects of an unprecedented rush to develop the sector in the past year begin to be felt. In a new report, market analyst Frost & Sullivan expects that there would not only be large-scale adoption of clean energy technologies this year in some countries; there will also be considerable investment in research, development and manufacturing capacity.
Another trend Frost & Sullivan sees is increased activity not only from private developers, but also from utilities keen on diversifying their energy portfolio. Frost & Sullivan based this assertion on several developments in 2009, when governments rushed to stimulate their economies to counteract the global economic recession. Frost & Sullivan said the payback for those efforts will be reaped this year.
Citing countries such as South Korea and Malaysia, Frost & Sullivan said financial stimulus packages introduced in the first half of 2009 were largely meant for the renewable energy industry. Governments subsequently introduced new policies to promote the sector.
Malaysia will introduce its feed-in tariff in early 2010 that would likely promote grid-connected solar photovoltaic systems. South Korea will provide tax incentives to alternative energy companies.
"Countries like Japan that is offering zero-interest loans to green energy companies plan to generate 20 percent of its electricity from [renewable energy] by 2020 while Australia with its new legislation passed in 2009 aims to achieve 12,500 gigawatt-hours of power generation from [renewable energy] in 2010 from the existing 9,500 GWh," said Suchitra Sriram, Frost & Sullivan’s energy analyst for the region.
Japan, South Korea, Australia, Taiwan, Malaysia and Thailand are expected to see solar growth potential in 2010. Meanwhile, there is likely to be “pockets of interest” in Vietnam, Philippines, Taiwan, Thailand, Japan and Australia for wind. "Growth opportunities in these two sectors are likely to attract new entrants, such as small and medium enterprises, supplying components as well as companies that undertake system integration and installation," said Ms. Sriram.
Frost & Sullivan cited other countries where renewable energy adoption is likely to boom – Indonesia with the government's flagship geothermal power projects; Taiwan with the passage of the Renewable Energy Development Act; and Thailand where the National Plan for solar energy aims to increase 36-megawatt installed solar photovoltaic capacity in 2008 to 550 MW by 2022.
Another trend Frost & Sullivan sees is increased activity not only from private developers, but also from utilities keen on diversifying their energy portfolio. Frost & Sullivan based this assertion on several developments in 2009, when governments rushed to stimulate their economies to counteract the global economic recession. Frost & Sullivan said the payback for those efforts will be reaped this year.
Citing countries such as South Korea and Malaysia, Frost & Sullivan said financial stimulus packages introduced in the first half of 2009 were largely meant for the renewable energy industry. Governments subsequently introduced new policies to promote the sector.
Malaysia will introduce its feed-in tariff in early 2010 that would likely promote grid-connected solar photovoltaic systems. South Korea will provide tax incentives to alternative energy companies.
"Countries like Japan that is offering zero-interest loans to green energy companies plan to generate 20 percent of its electricity from [renewable energy] by 2020 while Australia with its new legislation passed in 2009 aims to achieve 12,500 gigawatt-hours of power generation from [renewable energy] in 2010 from the existing 9,500 GWh," said Suchitra Sriram, Frost & Sullivan’s energy analyst for the region.
Japan, South Korea, Australia, Taiwan, Malaysia and Thailand are expected to see solar growth potential in 2010. Meanwhile, there is likely to be “pockets of interest” in Vietnam, Philippines, Taiwan, Thailand, Japan and Australia for wind. "Growth opportunities in these two sectors are likely to attract new entrants, such as small and medium enterprises, supplying components as well as companies that undertake system integration and installation," said Ms. Sriram.
Frost & Sullivan cited other countries where renewable energy adoption is likely to boom – Indonesia with the government's flagship geothermal power projects; Taiwan with the passage of the Renewable Energy Development Act; and Thailand where the National Plan for solar energy aims to increase 36-megawatt installed solar photovoltaic capacity in 2008 to 550 MW by 2022.
Saturday, January 9, 2010
Asian clean-energy investment exceeds the Americas'
Clean-energy investment in Asia rose during the global recession in 2009, surpassing the Americas for the first time as China installed wind turbines and solar panels to replace coal-burning power plants. Energy systems using the sun, wind and biofuels in the Asia-Pacific region attracted $37.3 billion, up 25% from 2008, according to data from Bloomberg New Energy Finance. Spending fell by the same rate in North and South America to $32 billion.
Chinese asset-finance investment in wind turbines rose 27% to $21.8 billion and in solar almost doubled to $1.9 billion, according to Bloomberg New Energy Finance.
The biggest producer of greenhouse gases from burning fossil fuels hosted the largest renewable-energy initial public offering last year as China Longyuan Power Group Corp. raised more than $2 billion.
Chinese asset-finance investment in wind turbines rose 27% to $21.8 billion and in solar almost doubled to $1.9 billion, according to Bloomberg New Energy Finance.
The biggest producer of greenhouse gases from burning fossil fuels hosted the largest renewable-energy initial public offering last year as China Longyuan Power Group Corp. raised more than $2 billion.
Friday, January 8, 2010
New Indonesian stove fueled by used cooking oil
Indonesian scientists say a new stove fueled by used cooking oil may be an environmentally friendly way to reduce kerosene use. Safriadi, a researcher from the Agency for the Assessment and Application of Technology (BPPT), said in a presentation posted on the website of the State Ministry of Research and Technology that the used cooking oil, commonly known as jelantah, can be used as a source of biodiesel fuel to power cooking stoves to substitute for kerosene and liquefied petroleum gas.
“We hope that the public can take advantage of it even though this is not a new technology and BPPT only modified the stove’s burner,” Safriadi told The Jakarta Globe, adding that the modification was necessary to ensure that the used cooking oil, which has a high viscosity, will burn well.
BPPT has been trying to find a substitute for kerosene since 2004 when world oil prices soared. The research is part of an Indonesian government program launched in 2006 to encourage the use of vegetable oil as an eco-friendly fuel.
“We hope that the public can take advantage of it even though this is not a new technology and BPPT only modified the stove’s burner,” Safriadi told The Jakarta Globe, adding that the modification was necessary to ensure that the used cooking oil, which has a high viscosity, will burn well.
BPPT has been trying to find a substitute for kerosene since 2004 when world oil prices soared. The research is part of an Indonesian government program launched in 2006 to encourage the use of vegetable oil as an eco-friendly fuel.
China stresses development of energy-saving
China's Vice Premier, Li Keqiang, has stressed the importance of improving energy technology and energy equipment development. "We should step up innovation and grab the commanding height in energy development and international competition," he said while visiting the China Shipbuilding Industry Corporation, one of the country's major ship manufacturers.
Li urged further efforts to develop renewable and clean energy and to establish a stable, safe and clean energy supply system. He also called for the wide application of energy-saving technologies and products, as well as expanding energy technology consultations to foster new economic growth.
China recently opened the first of 16 national energy development and research centers to study technologies of nuclear power equipment, wind power, and smart grid, among others. Zhang Guobao, head of the National Administration of Energy, said these research centers will play important an role in establishing the country's energy technology system and meeting China's demand to upgrade energy consumption structure, Xinhua newsagency reported.
Li urged further efforts to develop renewable and clean energy and to establish a stable, safe and clean energy supply system. He also called for the wide application of energy-saving technologies and products, as well as expanding energy technology consultations to foster new economic growth.
China recently opened the first of 16 national energy development and research centers to study technologies of nuclear power equipment, wind power, and smart grid, among others. Zhang Guobao, head of the National Administration of Energy, said these research centers will play important an role in establishing the country's energy technology system and meeting China's demand to upgrade energy consumption structure, Xinhua newsagency reported.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)