RENEWABLE ENERGY TECHNOLOGIES IN ASIA:
A REGIONAL RESEARCH AND DISSEMINATION PROGRAMME
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FUNDED BY
SWEDISH INTERNATIONAL
DEVELOPMENT COOPERATION
AGENCY (Sida)
INTRODUCTION
Many developing countries of Asia are currently poised for
economic growth and industrialization. The energy demand of these
countries are therefore expected to start to increase rather
significantly in the near future. In fact, the future growth of
global energy demand is expected to be mostly from
industrialization of the presently developing countries. So far,
industrialization of nations has always been accompanied by an
increased demand for fossil fuels. However, the finiteness of
fossil fuel reserves and large scale environmental impacts
caused by their widespread use, particularly global warming,
urban air pollution and acid rain, strongly suggest that
harnessing of non-fossil energy resources is vital for steering
the global energy supplies towards a sustainable path. Also,
promoting renewable energy in developing countries would be much
easier compared to the developed countries where fossil fuel
based energy infrastructures are already in place.
Attempts to introduce renewable energy technologies (RETs) were
undertaken in most developing countries after the energy crisis
of 1973. Most of these attempts were later abandoned because of a
variety of reasons, e.g. the crash of oil price in 1986,
teething problems inevitably encountered in developing new
technologies, lack of trained manpower, lack of coordination
among various agencies involved (government agencies, R&D
institutions, entrepreneurs and users), lack of consistent
government policies, etc. The mid-1990s appear to be a much
better time to promote RETs because of realization of the gross
environmental problems associated with use of fossil fuels and
possibility of joint implementation of renewable energy projects
in the near future.
The Asian Institute of Technology is currently executing the
Renewable Energy Technologies in Asia: A Regional Research and
Dissemination Programme (RETs in Asia), funded by the Swedish
International Development Cooperation Agency (Sida).
OBJECTIVE
The overall objective of the Regional Research & Dissemination
Programme is to promote the diffusion of selected mature/nearly
mature Renewable Energy technologies in a number of selected Asian
countries through the adaptation of the technologies to the local
conditions.
In order to achieve the above objective, the project will involve a
wide range of activities to be carried out at AIT and in target
countries of the project.
TARGET COUNTRIES
Bangladesh
Cambodia
Laos
Nepal
Philippines
Vietnam
COUNTRY ORGANIZATIONS TO BE INVOLVED
Research Institutes
Energy Agencies
Government Organizations
Financial Institutions
Entrepreneurs
RENEWABLE ENERGY TECHNOLOGIES (Tentative)
Mostly (but not limited to) solar and biomass
METHODOLOGY/ACTIVITIES
Depending on the RETs, different methodologies will be employed
for realizing their adaptation and diffusion.
For each of the RETs, the main project activities will be initial
design of the RET device to overcome recognized technical problems
and to suit local conditions, and its fabrication, testing and
further modification, if necessary. Attempts will be made to
associate entrepreneurs from the very beginning of RET adaptation
efforts. The final product will be disseminated during different
workshops of the regional programme, country workshops/ training
programs/ demonstration and through renewable energy newsletters.
Apart from the selected RETs mentioned above, an attempt will be
made to diffuse additional RETs by organizing training workshop for
entrepreneurs from the selected countries. Different RETs will be
discussed in these workshops so that the entrepreneurs would be
exposed to and have an opportunity to pursue a few additional RETs
by themselves without significant support from the Programme.
Finally, a Regional Technology Transfer Forum will be organized to bring
together INTERNATIONAL manufacturers/developers and entrepreneurs of the
selected countries in order to facilitate transfer of some of these
additional RETs judged to be promising by the entrepreneurs.
AN INVITATION FOR COLLABORATION
The Renewable Energy Technologies in Asia (RETs in Asia) Programme
would be eager to consider proposals for collaboration from
international manufacturers/developers for jointly promoting
renewable energy in Asia.
EXPECTED OUTCOME
The expected outputs of the Programme are as follows:
1.A set of RETs adapted to suit the local conditions of the
selected countries.
2.Transfer of RETs to selected countries.
3.Development/strengthening of the capability of the National Research
Institutes in the field of RETs.
RESEARCH TEAM
The Principal Investigators of the project being executed by the
Asian Institute of Technology (AIT) are:
Prof. S.C. Bhattacharya
Energy Program, AIT
Dr. S. Kumar
Energy Program, AIT
For further details, please contact:
Prof. S.C. Bhattacharya
Project Coordinator
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S. C. Bhattacharya Voice : (66-2) 524 5403 (Off)
Professor 524 5913 (Res)
Asian Institute of Technology Fax : (66-2) 524 5439
GPO Box 2754, Bangkok 10501 516 2126
Thailand e-mail: bhatta@ait.ac.th
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