REGIONAL DIALOGUE

1. REGIONAL DIALOGUE Promoting Off-grid Renewable Energy Technologies for Enhancing Energy Security in the Asia-Pacific Region 4 – 5 October 2012Chennai, India Promoting Regional Cooperation on Off-grid Renewable Energy for Sustainable and Inclusive Development in the Asia-Pacific Region: The Role of APCTT’s Renewable Energy Cooperation-Network in the Asia-Pacific (RECAP) Dr. Krishnan S. Raghavan In-Charge, Technology Transfer Services Asian and Pacific Centre for Transfer of Technology (APCTT)

2. Plan of Presentation • Introduction • Need for Renewable Energy • Status of Renewable Energy Utilization in the Asia-Pacific Region • Need for an Institutional Cooperation Mechanism for Promoting Regional Cooperation in the Renewable Energy Sector • The Renewable Energy Cooperation-Network for the Asia-Pacific (RECAP) • The Road Ahead

3. INTRODUCTION • Energy is the key to the economic development and social progress of nations around the world. • An estimated 2.4 billion people rely on traditional biomass fuels for cooking and heating and another 1.6 billion people do not have access to electricity. • The world energy market is completely dependant on fossil fuels. • Unfortunately, the global reserves of these scarce and non-renewable sources are very limited.

4. About 70 per cent of total greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions are related to energy, mainly from the combustion of fossil fuels for heat, electricity generation and transport. • The most rapid growth is from the energy supply sector which between 1970 and 2004 increased GHG emissions by 145 per cent. • The very high rate of GHG emissions is one of the causes of serious concerns over environmental sustainability and particularly about the global climate. • However, the lack of access to energy services aggravates many social concerns, including poverty, ill-health, unemployment and inequity.

5. Global energy needs are likely to grow for at least 25 years, and by 2030 will be about 50 per cent higher than today. More than two-thirds of the growth will come from developing countries. • Between 2006 and 2030 energy demand in the Asia-Pacific region, is projected to grow by about 2.75 per cent per year, with 45 per cent of this increase in demand coming from China and India. • Although the region as a whole is richly endowed with energy resources, many individual countries are increasingly facing shortages and have to rely mostly on imports. • The region’s economies have been faced with high and often volatile prices for energy, particularly for oil and gas, combined with supply disruptions caused by political instability in some main supplier countries.

6. Need for Renewable Energy • The rapid industrialization and impressive economic growth of developing countries in the region is a key reason for the increased use of fossil fuels. To sustain economic growth and raise living standards, energy shortages could be met by increasing supplies. • The widespread adoption and utilization of renewable energy has the potential to create new markets, provide employment, and provide a boost to important economic sectors. • Diversifying the energy portfolio of nations by increasing the share of RE can lead to greater energy security, poverty reduction, improved health conditions and promote socio-economic growth through innovation, market expansion and employment generation.

7. Status of Renewable Energy Utilization in the Asia-Pacific Region • Of the total global RE usage, in 2006, Asia accounted for only about 24% of which China and India contributed about 63%. • Asia and the Pacific is rich in energy resources—with more than 50 per cent of the world’s proven resources of natural gas and coal, 25 per cent of oil reserves, and close to 60 per cent of uranium reserves. • The region is also well-endowed with renewable energy resources. It has 40 per cent of the world’s total hydroelectric technical potential, and about 35 per cent of its annual solar and high temperature geothermal energy potential. It also has substantial potentials of biomass and wind energy.

8. In 2005, renewable energy accounted for 9 per cent of primary energy production in the Asia-Pacific region, excluding Western Asia. A high proportion of this, equivalent to 6 per cent of the region’s total primary production, is heat energy produced from biogas, biomass, and wastes, together called combustible renewables and wastes”(CRW).

9. If countries in the Asia-Pacific region are to significantly reduce their reliance on fossil fuel imports, they will also need to scale up to larger renewable energy systems to produce electricity for grids. In addition, they would need to promote non-electrical energy applications, such as solar water heating. • The reliability and quality of electricity supply in rural areas in many countries in the AP region, which are located at the far end of the distribution network, is generally poor due to ageing power plants and unreliable electricity transmission and distribution network. • “Off-grid renewable energy solutions are increasingly acknowledged to be the cheapest and most sustainable options for rural areas in much of the developing world”. - Renewable Energy Policy Network (REN21, 2011)

10. Need for an Institutional Cooperation Mechanism for Promoting Regional Cooperation in the Renewable Energy Sector • to share information, knowledge, best practices, standards for benchmarking and so on. • to build capacities in RE data collection and analysis, resource assessment, design and development of RE systems, RE project development, market development. • to conduct collaborative research for development of cost-effective, efficient RE technologies with huge market potential. • to encourage interested business firms from different countries to exchange information and set up joint ventures through mutual cooperation • to exchange information on a regular basis on RE related news and events, policy changes, market information, incentives for RE in respective countries

11. APCTT’s Renewable Energy Cooperation-Network for the Asia-Pacific (RECAP) Mechanism • The United Nations Economic and Social Commission for Asia and the Pacific (UNESCAP) at its 64th Commission Session held in Bangkok during April 24-30, 2008 focused on “Energy security and sustainable development in Asia and the Pacific”. • A resolution to promote renewable energy for energy security and sustainable development in Asia and the Pacific (Resolution E/ESCAP/64/L.13/Rev. 1 dated. 29 April 2008) was proposed during the Commission Session by ESCAP which was adopted by the member countries. • APCTT, as a Regional Institution of ESCAP, was mandated by this resolution to establish an institutional cooperation mechanism for enhancing the development, transfer and adoption of renewable energy technologies in the Asia-Pacific region.

12. APCTT’s RECAP Mechanism (Contd.) In responding to ESCAP resolution, APCTT implemented a project during 2009, entitled “Supporting the Development of an Institutional Cooperation Mechanism to Promote Renewable Energy”to strengthen the capacity of member countries to promote the utilization of renewable energy resources to meet their energy needs. Major Outcomes • Development of an information infrastructure to facilitate the institutional cooperation mechanism known as “Renewable Energy Cooperation-Network for the Asia-Pacific (RECAP)” website • A survey to assess the status of renewable energy utilization in 12 countries in the Asia-Pacific region was carried out. • Guidebooks on renewable energy resource assessment and planning with respect to solar, biomass, wind, and micro-hydropower energy were developed along with another one on intellectual property issues, for buyers and sellers of RETs. Athree-day regional training programme entitled, “Renewable Energy Technology Resource Assessment and Planning” was organized in New Delhi, India during 2009 for26 participants from 14 member countries of RECAP network.

13. APCTT’s RECAP Mechanism (Contd.) • As a follow up to the previous project that established an information infrastructure to facilitate institutional cooperation mechanism, APCTT is currently working towards establishing and operationalizing the institutional cooperation mechanism with financial support from Ministry of New and Renewable Energy, Government of India. • The main objective of this project is to promote knowledge sharing, networking, and facilitating the development and application of renewable energy resources at the national level through technology transfer and South-South cooperation among RECAP member countries.

14. APCTT’s RECAP Mechanism (Contd.) RECAP Programmes (2009-2011) • Expert Group Meeting on Supporting the Development of an Institutional Cooperation Mechanism to Promote Renewable Energy in the Asia-Pacific, 20-21 July Bangkok, 2009 Thailand • Training Programme on "Renewable Energy Technology Resource Assessment and Planning“, 26-28 October 2009, New Delhi, India • South-South Cooperation Initiative: Seminar on “Buildings Integrated with Solar Energy Technology Systems: Research and Applications, 19-21 April 2010 in Kunming, China • Workshop and Field Trip to Promote Commercialization of Technology in the Areas of Jatropha Oil and Wood Pellet Machines and Tools, 28-30 April 2010, Bangkok

15. APCTT’s RECAP Mechanism (Contd.) • Consultative Meeting on Establishing an Institutional Cooperation Mechanism to Promote Renewable Energy, 7-8 October 2010, Bangkok • Business to Business Forum on “Regional Cooperation in the Renewable Energy Sector - Challenges and Opportunities for Business Firms in the Asia-Pacific Region, November 14, 2010, Nanjing, China. • Business-to-Business Forum on “Fostering Business Partnerships to Promote the Adoption and Utilization of Renewable Energy Technologies”, 22 – 23 September 2011 Colombo, Sri Lanka. • Consultative Forum for Research Managers on “Promoting R&D Collaboration in the Development of Renewable Energy Micro-systems for Rural Applications”, 30 November – 1 December 2011, Guangzhou, China

16. APCTT’s Renewable Energy Cooperation-Network for the Asia-Pacific (RECAP) Mechanism… RECAP Member Countries Malaysia Mongolia Nepal Pakistan Philippines Republic of Korea Bangladesh China Fiji Islands India Indonesia Islamic Republic of Iran Sri Lanka Thailand Vanuatu Vietnam

17. Renewable Energy Cooperation-Network for the Asia-Pacific (RECAP) Website • Facilitating exchange of ideas, experiences and best practices and sharing expertise and know-how • Information on legal, institutional and policy frameworks in the member countries for promoting renewable energy • Promoting sub-regional and regional cooperation on renewable energy programmes and projects • Linking markets: product demand and manufacturing capability • Information on RE technologies and the contact details of the firms offering those technologies • Information on events of interest to member countries such as exhibitions, business to business meetings, seminars and conferences on renewable energy

18. Renewable Energy Cooperation-Network for the Asia-Pacific (RECAP) Website Resources for Policy-Makers

19. KEY SERVICES OFFERED THROUGH RECAP WEBSITE Renewable Energy Cooperation-Network for the Asia-Pacific (RECAP) Website

22. Renewable Energy Technology Bank (RET-Bank) • The primary objective of RECAP network is to facilitate technology transfer cooperation among countries in the Asia-Pacific region in the area of renewable energy • APCTT is currently building a “Renewable Energy Technology Bank” (RET-Bank) of tested and proven renewable energy technologies (RETs) initially in the areas of solar, biomass, wind and mini-hydro power as an online repository of information, freely accessible by member countries. • RECAP member countries have so far, submitted about 50 tested and proven, pro-poor renewable energy technologies with potential rural applications to the RET-Bank. (Ex. Micro-hydroelectric power equipment that produces up to 500 kW of electricity (Vietnam); Foldable Solar Modules (India).

23. Partnership with Renewable Energy Institutions in RECAP Member Countries • APCTT has so far finalized Letter of Agreement (LoA) partnership arrangements with selected RE institutions in China, India, Nepal, Pakistan, Sri Lanka, Philippines, Indonesia and Vietnam. • LoA with Fiji Islands and Malaysia is currently under consideration by both parties.

24. The Way Ahead RECAP will continue to focus on • Collection and dissemination of information on renewable energy technologies (RET), financing mechanisms, national policies and other relevant information • Sharing of best practices on renewable energy (RE) promotion and utilization • Technology transfer and cross-border business cooperation among business firms, intermediaries, R&D institutions and entrepreneurs. • Research and development (R&D) collaboration in the region on renewable energy technologies • Capacity building of institutions, researchers, SMEs, business intermediaries, policy makers and government nodal agencies involved in promoting in the development, adoption and utilization of renewable energy technologies

25. Thank you Reach us at UNESCAP-APCTT P.O. Box 4575, C-2, Qutab Institutional Area, New Delhi – 110 016, India Tel : 91-11-3097-3758| Fax : 91-11-26856274 Email :srinivasaraghavan@un.org | Website : www.apctt.org

26. Disclaimer The views expressed in this session are those of the author and do not necessarily reflect the views of the Secretariat of the United Nations Economic and Social Commission for Asia and the Pacific. The description and classification of countries and territories used, and the arrangements of the material, do not imply the expression of any opinion whatsoever on the part of the Secretariat concerning the legal status of any country, territory, city or area, of its authorities, concerning the delineation of its frontiers or boundaries, or regarding its economic system or degree of development. Designations such as ‘developed’, ‘industrialised’ and ‘developing’ are intended for convenience and do not necessarily express a judgement about the stage reached by a particular country or area in the development process. Mention of firm names, commercial products and/or technologies does not imply the endorsement of the United Nations Economic and Social Commission for Asia and the Pacific.