Bringing affordable, high-quality solar lighting to rural China

The Rural Energy Development Project has boosted the use of photovoltaic (PV) solar-home systems in off-grid areas in western China. This has been achieved through support to the industry to improve the quality of PV modules and other components; technical and management assistance to local installation companies; and subsidies to sales. Since 2001 the REDP has enabled sales of over 402,000 systems, which improve quality of life through better light, communications and entertainment. Sales now continue without subsidies, because the benefits of PV are widely known, and the systems are reliable and accessible.

Rural Energy Foundation (REF), Sub-Saharan Africa

More than 70% of sub-Saharan Africa has no access to electricity. In rural areas this often exceeds 95%. REF has met this need by turning local communities on to solar. Recognising that the products are nothing without the local entrepreneurs to promote and install them, REF has trained local networks of budding entrepreneurs. As a result, in only three years 300,000 people in nine countries have gained access to solar energy. And better quality light gives opportunities for study, income-generation and leisure activities as well as vital access to radio and mobile phones.

Energy crises badly affecting social, economic sectors

Punjab Chief Minister Muhammad Shahbaz Sharif said energy crisis was adversely affecting social and economic sectors. He said thr government is working on various projects of power generation through alternative sources for overcoming thecrisis. He said investment by Omani entrepreneurs in Punjab will be welcomed and all out facilities will be provided.This was stated by him during a meeting with Ambassadorof Oman Mohamed Said Al-Lawati at Chief Minister’s Secretariat here Thursday.
Cooperation in various sectors and matters of mutual interest were discussed in the meeting. The Chief Minister said process of development is beingbadly affected by power shortage and measures are being taken by the government for overcoming the crisis. He said that energy conservation conferences were organized in Islamabad and Lahore and invaluable proposals were given by the experts for power generation. He said Pakistan has vast coal reserves and energy could be generated through windmills. He said electricity could also be produced through sugarcane waste and government is working on these lines as well.
The Chief Minister said exchange of delegations between Punjab province and Oman has vital importance for the promotion of investment and cooperation in various sectors. The Chief Minister said he will send a delegation from Punjab to Oman to negotiate with various companies and investors for investment in the province.Ambassador of Oman Mohamed Said Al-Lawati said thereare historic relations between Pakistan and Oman. He said that Pakistan was a peaceful country having vast opportunities of investment. He said that there was a need to dispel the negative image of Pakistan as it is contrary to the facts. He said that law and order situation was improving in Pakistan while a conducive atmosphere for investment exists in the country. He said Oman will cooperate with Punjab for the development of various sectors. He invited the Chief Minister Punjab to visit Oman.

Solar energy can help in easing energy crisis

Solar energy can help Pakistan in easing its energy crisis and also curb prolonged power outages. This was stated by the President Rawalpindi Chamber of Commerce . He demanded of the government that solar energy is the need of hour and can help overcome energy crisis.
He said Pakistan is one of the lucky countries in the world where the sun shines 17 to 18 hours. He said that this is blessing, We should use all available resources to exploit solar energy.” Expressing keen interest in alternative energy solutions as a remedy to prolonged power failures, which are adversely affecting life of the common people, he added. “For the progress of country, we need to focus on solar energy which will also help in trade sector,” he said.

Converting BTS (Base transceiver station) to Solar Energy, Solar Powered BTS

The row between Punjab government & Telecoms operators for shifting of cellular cell-phone towers to solar energy has taken a new turn as the high ups of the Ministry of info tech (MoIT) are on a visit abroad.
After being asked by the Punjab government to shift a11 the transmission towers of cellular cell-phone companies from electricity to solar energy, the telecoms industry has filed a joint respond to the MoIT, seeking its intervention ovr the issue.

However, things are getting jittery, as number high-ranked official is their to negotiate between telecoms industry & Punjab Government.
An official of IT ministry informed dis agency dat Secretary of info tech Naghibullah Malik waz on a visit to USA along with Joint Secretary of the ministry. He a1so stated the secretary cabinet waz looking aftr the affairs of the ministry while secretary IT wou1d return home on June 29.

China takes lead in clean-power investment

Reporting from Washington — China overtook the United States for the first time last year in the race to invest in wind, solar and other sources of clean energy, according to a comprehensive new report that raises questions about American competitiveness in a booming global market.

U.S. clean energy investments hit $18.6 billion last year, a report from the Pew Charitable Trusts said, a little more than half the Chinese total of $34.6 billion. Five years ago, China's investments in clean energy totaled just $2.5 billion.

China to step up solar energy research, development

The Chinese Academy of Sciences (CAS) has launched an initiative to boost the development of solar energy technology, in a bid to turn it into a major energy source in China by 2050.

A CAS official said that the academy had organized academicians and experts to make an action plan and will set up a platform to support scientific innovations involving solar energy.

The plan will be carried out in three phases, including "distributed utilization" by 2015, "alternative utilization" by 2025 and "large-scale utilization" by 2035, respectively.

This action plan aims to form value chain on technological innovation including basic studies, application studies and market research.

CAS experts said that China has a big potential for solar energy development. The duration of sunshine for two-thirds of its territory is more than 2,200 hours a year. It also has vast desertareas, where solar energy could be "harvested".

They said that the use of solar energy could effectively reduce the discharge of green-house gases.

The United States, Japan and European countries began to develop solar energy in the 1970s. Government investment has greatly promoted solar energy research and development, especially in Japan, Germany and Australia.

Germany had promoted the solar energy "family program", and fixed solar energy facilities on the roofs of a large number of homes. Japan launched a program to polarize the use of solar energy, and to cut the price of solar energy by half within three to five years.

CAS's advanced energy scientific and technological innovation center invited experts and scholars to carry out investigation and research on China's energy industry.

Experts said that lowering the costs for using solar energy would be the key for stepping up the use of this renewable energy in China.