ENERGY FOR THE POOR

1. ENERGY FOR THE POOR

2. ENERGY FOR THE POOR When energy is in short supply The radio alarm-clock didn’t go off this morning, no light in the bathroom, the coffee machine isn’t working – power failure. In Germany an annoying but rare occurrence. For two billion people in some other parts of the world an everyday problem, as they simply have no access to electricity. Apart from the impact on individuals, the wider consequences of energy shortfalls can be disastrous: Without electricity, health centres cannot provide proper medical care for the population, schoolrooms remain unlit, machinery in small artisanal workshops lies idle, and there is no contact to the outside world because the radio, television and telephone don’t work without electricity. Cooking, heating, transporting goods and people – impossible without oil or fuelwood as a source of energy. Energy is crucial to development. If we want to combat poverty on a sustainable basis, poor population groups must have access to energy. In the geopolitical context, energy sources, especially oil, are at the root of recurring political conflicts and crises. Some developing countries export energy, while many industrialised countries consume more energy than they themselves produce. This dependence on imports can trigger international and national conflicts and wars – the Iraq conflict is just one of many examples.

3. ENERGY FOR THE POOR The growing demand for energy Energy consumption levels vary greatly throughout the world. The industrialised countries, where only a quarter of the world population live, consume almost three quarters of all energy. A large part of their energy requirements are met by burning fossil fuels – coal, oil and natural gas. This releases carbon dioxide, which is responsible for the greenhouse effect. Since the mid-60s, global CO2 emissions have more than doubled as a direct result of meeting energy needs, and industrialised countries bear most of the responsibility. Each US citizen produces roughly twice as much CO2 as the average German and twenty times as much as the average Indian. According to current forecasts, the world’s energy requirement could as much as double over the next 25 years. The major part of this enormous increase will be in developing countries, in particular in threshold countries in Latin America and South-East Asia, as well as in China and India. The reasons for the significant increase in energy requirements there are popula­tion growth and the need to catch up in the areas of economic and social development.

4. ENERGY FOR THE POOR The threat of climate change If developing countries are to find their way out of poverty, they will have no option in future but to consume more energy. At the same time, this must not be allowed to exacerbate the threat of impending climate change. Climate researchers at the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) believe that average temperatures could rise by between 1.4 oC and 5.8 oC by the year 2100. The consequences would be dramatic: expanding desert regions, drought, storms and catastrophic floods. Global poverty would become more acute as such changes hit people in developing countries hardest. On the one hand, they depend to a large extent on agriculture for their livelihoods, and on the other, natural disasters destroy at a stroke hard-won development gains that took decades to achieve. Researchers also fear that greenhouse gases will impair the filter function of the air layers in the atmosphere and lead to an increased incidence of illness. To save future generations from having to suffer preventable disasters and illnesses, there is no alternative: the industrialised nations have to make massive cuts in their CO2 emissions.

5. ENERGY FOR THE POOR Energy is scarce It is not just the threat of climate change which makes a U-turn in energy policies an urgent requirement. A fundamental reorientation is indispensable also because worldwide energy resources in terms of fossil fuels such as coal, gas and oil are of course limited. Independent studies have shown that on the basis of current rates of output, global oil reserves would last around 40 years, natural gas reserves c. 65 years, and coal deposits some 200 years. Embarking on renewable energy and energy saving – this is the double strategy to cope with diminishing energy reserves and the growing demand for energy without having to burden the environment even more. Improving building insulation, using energy-saving light bulbs, and reducing stand-by energy consumption of electrical equipment – this is what people in our country can do to save energy. In developing countries, energy efficiency could be increased substantially, e.g. by using improved stoves and jikos which need up to two-thirds less energy in the cooking process, or making sure that motors are serviced well, and tuned to run as economically as possible. The building sector, too, holds considerable potential for savings: while the burning of bricks, for example, requires huge amounts of firewood, using earth as a building material requires virtually no energy except human muscle power.

6. ENERGY FOR THE POOR Energy in abundance While reserves of fossil fuels, such as coal, oil and natural gas are limited, renewable energies – biomass, wind power, hydropower and solar power – are inexhaustible. As yet, renewable energies supply only a small portion of Germany’s energy requirements and account for around one tenth of the electricity generated. Here, developing countries can show industrialised nations the way. A large proportion of the energy requirement in these nations is met through renewables. Due to their particular geographical features, for example high levels of solar radiation, volcanic zones with great geothermal potential, or a climate that sustains rapid plant growth, many developing countries are ideally placed to exploit renewable forms of energy. Deserts, no matter how remote, have sunshine in abundance. Perfect conditions then for generating electricity. At first sight this would seem to make sense. But photovoltaics, although unquestionably the most popular form of renewable energy, are not a substitute for being hooked up to the grid. Solar cells yield only small quantities of energy, sufficient to power lights but not the machines with which people could earn incomes and work their way out of poverty.

7. ENERGY FOR THE POOR Energy from wind and water In developing countries, water is the most important and cost-effective renewable used in power generation. In eleven African nations, hydropower accounts for over 96% of all electricity generated; in South America this figure varies between 40% and 100% depending on the region. There is still considerable potential for increasing the use of hydropower on all continents. One enormous drawback, however, is that the construction of large dams is linked to a variety of social and environmental problems. To cite just one example, between 40 and 80 million people have been displaced or resettled due to the construction of artificial lakes. But dams are not always necessary. By taking advantage of natural geological conditions, electricity can be generated using hydropower without the need for major landscape changes. And small local hydropower stations are perfectly capable of providing a reliable and environmentally sound electricity supply in rural areas. There is considerable scope for expanding hydropower capacity in all parts of the world. To date, only around one quarter of the technically and economically viable potential has been tapped. From the global perspective, wind energy shows great promise, especially for generating electricity and powering pump-driven water supply systems. Wind power is of course feasible only in areas with reliable winds, such as coastal and mountain regions.

8. ENERGY FOR THE POOR Biomass and geothermal energy In the form of fuelwood, charcoal or organic waste such as cow dung, biomass still delivers around 80% of all household energy in developing countries. However, its overuse can cause considerable problems: excessive logging leads to soil erosion and falling groundwater tables, and cooking in rooms without smoke outlets gives rise to chronic bronchial disorders. In the future, biomass will continue to be the main source of energy for the poor. But the use of biomass must go hand in hand with sustainable forestry practices, increased fuel efficiency achieved by burning dried wood, smoke extractors/outlets, and the increasing use of agricultural waste. By fermenting waste to produce biogas we can recover considerable amounts of energy. Another promising source of biomass energy is vegetable oil, which can be used for both lighting and fuel. However, this must not be to the detriment of small farmers and the cultivation of staple crops. The earth’s core is exceedingly hot, with temperatures of between 4,500 oC and 6,500 oC. And this heat energy can be harnessed, especially in areas where the geothermal energy sources are close to the earth’s surface, for example in the East African rift valley, in Central America or in the Pacific region. Geothermal energy is the third largest source of clean electrical power in the world today.

9. ENERGY FOR THE POOR Energy: What MISEREOR demands and what it promotes Under the motto “Sustainable Germany”, MISEREOR has for years been calling on industrialised nations like Germany to initiate a radical change of direction on energy policy. To give the countries of the South a fair chance of development, the industrialised nations must make sizeable cuts in their energy consumption and greatly expand the use of renewables. At the same time, in the countries of the South, MISEREOR is pressing for fair access to energy for the poor. After all, energy is indispensable to development and in the fight against poverty. For the poor, energy must be affordable and accessible, and at the same time it should not impact negatively on the environment. Promoting renewable energies and energy supply is an integral part of many of MISEREOR’s projects. MISEREOR also supports energy projects in which power from the sun, water and biomass is harnessed specifically with poverty reduction and energy-efficient building in mind. Many projects focus more on setting up distribution networks and supporting the poor in forming their own organisations than on the purely technical aspects. It is most of all the poor rural population and urban slum-dwellers who are denied access to energy. The first step is often to encourage these groups to assert their rights.

10. ENERGY FOR THE POOR The next step in many cases is to initiate civil society dialogue in order to explore how the state, private power utilities and the poor themselves can contribute to improving their access to energy. But in poor regions, the economics are difficult: it is hard to recoup high investment costs when purchasing power is limited and profit margins are meagre. The poor are granted access to the electricity grid only when the power utilities are sure that electricity charges will be paid. One payment system which was developed in South Africa and has been the subject of international discussion is the ‘pre-paid card’. It will be necessary to find appropriate forms of payment corresponding to the financial resources of the poor, while providing security for the power utilities. Educational measures too are a core component of energy supply projects promoted by MISEREOR: technicians are trained so that the energy supply systems in the future can be maintained and repaired by local experts, and social workers upgraded so that they can support the poor in claiming their right to energy. The Stewardship of Creation and environ­mental awareness-raising are important aspects of youth and adult education activities. The following project examples illustrate how MISEREOR and its partner organisations help the poor gain access to energy.

11. ENERGY FOR THE POOR Haiti: Reafforestation instead of solar cookers – soil protection through agricultural extension services Haiti is one of the world’s poorest countries. Over half of the population earn their living as small farmers in mountain villages, where fuelwood and charcoal provide over 70% of their energy needs. Forest stands are decimated by uncontrolled logging, and the consequences are disastrous: rainwater washes away the fertile humus layer and with it the farmers’ livelihoods. Despite a variety of promotional programmes, solar energy has not managed to replace fuelwood for cooking purposes: solar cookers are too expensive, they are of limited use in the mornings and evenings – the main mealtimes, and they are unsuited for the preparation of many staple foods. So traditional cooking stoves have to stay. But how can the farmers get fuelwood without destroying the environment? Working together with the local population, MISEREOR’s partner organisations came up with a solution: the farmers plant tree gardens on terraces. Around their small fields, on which they grow manioc, maize and beans, the farmers now plant fruit trees and trees that yield animal feed, firewood and wood for building. The trees prevent erosion and enhance soil fertility. The farmers can increase their yields and grow a greater variety of crops; they improve their diets and earn money by selling their produce – and they are protecting the environment.

12. ENERGY FOR THE POOR Indonesia: Wastewater treatment combined with biogas production St. Antonius Hospital in Ampenan had to solve a pressing problem: how to treat the 20 cubic metres of wastewater produced daily by 150 staff and patients? The existing catch pit was too small, and untreated wastewater sometimes even managed to enter the water supply and was used for washing or for drinking. The unhygienic water supply was responsible for spreading disease. A new wastewater treatment plant was needed, and it had to satisfy a number of require­ments. Firstly, it had to meet national standards. It also had to be suitable for operation by local staff. It had to function without an external energy supply and mechanical parts. And finally, it should not be troublesome in terms of odour, nor should it attract flies and mosquitoes. The best option was found to be an anaerobic wastewater treatment system. And this offers an additional advantage: the wastewater fermentation process in biodigestors releases energy in the form of biogas. This can be collected and used for heating water and for cooking. The fermented, odourless and germ-free solid residue is a high-quality fertiliser; the treated wastewater can be used for irrigation. With MISEREOR’s support, plants similar to the one in St. Antonius Hospital have been built for other Indonesian hospitals and for hospitals and boarding schools in Africa.

13. ENERGY FOR THE POOR Democratic Republic of Congo: Electricity supply for a poor quarter in Kinshasa Clean electricity generated by hydropower is indeed available in the Democratic Republic of Congo - but not everywhere. Many poor suburbs in the capital Kinshasa are woefully undersupplied or not connected to the electricity grid at all. In 2002, after many years of tough negotiations with the state power utility SNEL, the ecumenical self-help initiative Entraide oecuménique de développement succeeded in getting the Mbanza-Lemba quarter hooked up to the grid. SNEL provided the underground cable, the transformer and the electricity meters, while the local inhabitants themselves did all the earth-moving work. MISEREOR covered the costs of installation materials, connecting cables, technicians’ wages and transport. The power supply has decisively improved quality of life in the area. Hundreds of households now have light, and small companies can operate machinery, such as maize mills, planing and welding machines. Children born at night no longer come into the world by the light of petroleum lamps. And even the sports ground, which is a very important social meeting place, is now lit up in the evenings.

14. ENERGY FOR THE POOR MISEREOR: The poor first MISEREOR is the German Catholic Bishops’ Organisation for Development Cooperation, a charity and non-governmental organisation (NGO) through which people in Germany can stand up for justice and solidarity with the oppressed and poor in Africa, Asia and Latin America. Through projects, MISEREOR supports and promotes initiatives conceived and shaped by its partners in the South, irrespective of nationality, religion and sex. Within Germany itself, MISEREOR is mandated by the Catholic Church to draw attention to the global causes and structures of poverty and to fight them by means of educational work, information and awareness campaigns, and political lobbying. Please contact us if you would like to ·support our campaign work; ·initiate a project yourself; ·receive more information; ·make a donation in support of our work. Contacts Thomas Gerhards Herbert Mathissen Steffen Ulrich koettgen@misereor.de mathiss@misereor.de ulrich@misereor.de Bischöfliches Hilfswerk MISEREOR e.V. Mozartstr. 9 52064 Aachen Germany Phone + 49 241 442-0 www.misereor.org Authors of the German text: MISEREOR Project Group on access to energy for the poor Editing of the german text : Bergmoser + Höller Agentur, Julia Brombach Translation: J Q Phillips, Frankfurt/Main / MISEREOR Sprachendienst Eb 11/05 Picture credits: MISEREOR