Mark Diesendorf

Model for empowering rural poor through renewable energy technologies in Bangladesh

Abstract This paper proposes an integrated ecological, economic and social model to assist sustainable rural development in villages in Bangladesh. In the model, renewable energy technologies (RETs) create income-generating activities for male landless and marginal farmers and for women from such households, while reducing environmental problems, like deforestation and indoor air pollution from cooking with poor-quality fuels. Because of the high capital costs of RETs, the model proposes an extension of the well-known micro-credit approach developed by such NGOs as the Grameen Bank and BRAC. With the assistance of an External Agency composed of NGO, business, government and university representatives, such groups of villagers would form Village Organizations, comprising cooperatives or other forms of business, borrow money from a bank or large NGO, and purchase a RET based on biogas, solar or wind, depending upon location. By selling energy to wealthier members of the village, the Village Organizations would repay their loans, thus gaining direct ownership and control over the technology and its applications.

Financial subsidies to the Australian fossil fuel industry

Abstract A common claim during international greenhouse gas reduction negotiations has been that domestic emissions cuts will harm national economies. This argument fails to consider the distorting effect of existing financial subsidies and associated incentives to fossil fuel production and consumption provided by governments in most developed countries. These subsidies support a fossil fuel energy sector that is the major contributor to global greenhouse gas emissions and conflict with attempts to expand the role of sustainable energy technologies. Reform of these types of subsidies has the potential to provide substantial gains in economic efficiency as well as reductions in carbon dioxide emissions—a ‘no regrets’ outcome for the economy and the environment. This paper examines financial subsidies to fossil fuel production and consumption in Australia and estimates the magnitude of the subsidies. Subsidies and associated incentives to fossil fuel production and consumption in Australia are similar to those in the United States and the other countries that have pushed for increased ‘flexibility’ during international negotiations.

The capacity credit of wind power: A theoretical analysis

Abstract A probabilistic model of capacity credit (or value) is constructed for wind power in an electricity grid, The model-which is initially based on the assumptions that electricity supply, electricity demand and the output of a system of aerogenerators are Normally distributed and that the conventional power plant in the grid comprises units of identical capacity—provides simple analytical expressions for four different concepts of capacity credit and elucidates the qualitative differences between them. Two of these concepts of wind power capacity credit, the “equivalent conventional capacity” and the “equivalent firm capacity”, are then studied in more detail by introducing a much more realistic probability distribution of wind power output than the Normal distribution and by calculating the Loss of Load Probability. For small penetrations of wind power into the grid, the capacity credit is approximately equal to the average wind power output, while for large penetrations the credit tends to a limit which is determined by the probability of zero wind power and the conventional plant characteristics.

Can photovoltaic technologies help attain sustainable rural development in Bangladesh

The paper explores a model of sustainable rural development and poverty alleviation in Bangladesh, based on the creation of village businesses that sell solar electricity generated from the photovoltaic (PV) technologies. The model shows that the solar electricity business model is in principle economically viable up to the maximum investment available from a micro-credit organisation. Furthermore, the transfer of the existing subsidy from the centralised power system to these businesses would create significant additional income for one-third of the total landless and marginal farmers (LMFs) to meet their income deficits for basic needs. It would also electrify all rural wealthier households. From this additional income, the LMF households employed by the scheme would be able to conserve their environmental resources of animals, land and trees that otherwise are being lost. Appropriate government policies are proposed to disseminate PV technologies.

New evidence on fluoridation

Abstract: A review of recent scientific literature reveals a consistent pattern of evidence– hip fractures, skeletal fluorosis, the effect of fluoride on bone structure, fluoride levels in bones and osteosarcomas–pointing to the existence of causal mechanisms by which fluoride damages bones. In addition, there is evidence, accepted by some eminent dental researchers and at least one leading United States proponent of fluoridation, that there is negligible benefit from ingesting fluoride, and that any (small) benefit from fluoridation comes from the action of fluoride at the surface of the teeth before fluoridated water is swallowed. Public health authorities in Australia and New Zealand have appeared reluctant to consider openly and frankly the implications of this and earlier scientific evidence unfavourable to the continuation of the fluoridation of drinking water supplies.

The response of the honeybee antennal CO2-receptors to N2O and Xe

SummaryThe response properties of the antennal CO2-receptors in workers ofApis mellifera L. were studied electrophysiologically by extracellular recordings from single cells.1.For a proportion (>50%) of the receptors, the absolute sensitivities to CO2 are higher than previously observed.2.The spontaneous spike discharge and the response to C02 are reversibly inhibited by the inert gases N2O and Xe; N2O has a marginally stronger effect than Xe.3.For a gas mixture containing a given CO2-concentration above threshold the inhibition consists primarily of an increase in the response latency which is found to be proportional to the inhibitor concentration.4.For a given concentration of N2O or Xe, the magnitude of this effect decreases proportionally with an increase in CO2-concentration.5.A simple empirical equation for the latency as a function of the concentrations of excitatory stimulus and inhibitor is derived from the data.6.It is investigated to what extent the experimental findings are consistent with kinetic models based on the law of mass-action.7.It is suggested that the inhibition occurs via molecular ordering effects in the aqueous or lipid phases of either the cell membrane or the surrounding medium.

The economics of large-scale wind power in the UK A model of an optimally mixed CEGB electricity grid

Abstract Previous calculations of the economics of large-scale wind power have been generally limited to the evaluation of the marginal cost of energy, assuming that the addition of a wind farm to an electricity grid does not change the mix of base, intermediate and peak load plant in that grid. Here a simple but powerful numerical generation planning model has been constructed for grids containing wind farms and three classes of thermal power station, but no storage. Electricity demand and available power are specified by empirically based probability distribution functions and the plant mix which minimizes the total annualized costs of the generating system is determined. Capacity credit of wind power is automatically taken into account in the optimization. Using the model, the breakeven costs of wind energy in a model British CEGB grid, containing coal, nuclear, oil and wind driven power plant, are evaluated under various conditions. For a wide range of parameter values, large-scale wind power is likely to be economically competitive in this grid.

Quantum Corrections to the Pair Distribution Function of a Classical Plasma

Quantum‐mechanical corrections to the pair distribution function of a plasma at high temperature and low density are calculated to order e2 in the interaction, using standard diagram perturbation techniques. Both the effects due to quantum statistics (exchange) and the finite size of a wave packet (dynamic screening), are considered.

How can a “competitive” market for electricity be made compatible with the reduction of greenhouse gas emissions?

Abstract Under what conditions can the creation of a competitive market for electricity allow the efficient use of energy to compete on an equal basis with electricity supply, thus providing both economic benefits to consumers and reductions in greenhouse gas emissions? In this paper the current micro-economic “reforms” to the Australian electricity industry are taken as a case study to investigate this question. It is found that the proposed “competitive” market for electricity contains barriers to the wider implementation of efficient energy use and renewable energy which are additional to those already existing in a highly regulated market. In order to allow efficient energy use to compete on an equal basis with electricity supply, it is necessary to create a market for energy services, not electricity, at the retail level. To do this requires institutional changes. Correct pricing is not sufficient.

Australian economic models of greenhouse abatement

Abstract A critical examination is offered of the assumptions underlying Australian computer models of the economic impact of greenhouse abatement in the energy sector, notably ‘top–down’ models which estimate the impact on the whole economy instead of just the energy sector. Such an examination is needed because the Australian government and resource industries are using results obtained from these models as a basis for opposing international greenhouse targets. This examination aims to assist in demystifying the models for policy analysts, political scientists and environmental managers. It is argued that ‘top–down’ models used in Australia have fundamental flaws. For instance, most assume, contrary to much empirical evidence, that markets for energy services are competitive and that there are no costless energy efficiency options still to be implemented; they estimate costs but rarely benefits; they substitute dubiously derived parameters for specifications of technologies; and they often fail to perform sensitivity analyses.