Shining examples of green energy making a difference

Solar power is making a difference to Great Britain in many areas of life including transport, lighting, heating and cooking.

“Although this is vital in our country, green energy can have an even greater impact in Third World countries,” said Midlands energy expert Ron Fox.

The latest figures from the United Nations show that 790 million people – about one in ten of the world’s population – are still living without electricity. Hundreds of millions more have a limited or unreliable supply.

In addition, almost half the world uses wood, charcoal or crop residues as cooking fuel which result in the loss of forests.

The World Health Organisation estimates also that smoke in homes causes up to 4 million premature deaths each year, largely from pneumonia in children, but also from lung diseases in adults.

However, despite significant progress, Sustainable Development Goal 7, which is one of 17 targets established by the United Nations General Assembly in 2015 to ‘ensure access to affordable, reliable, sustainable and modern energy for all’, is a long way from being achieved by the target year of 2030.

“This week I read of three projects that are helping to change these places,” said Ron.

Firstly, in Yemen where diesel and petrol supplies have been hit by the nine-year civil war, people have been turning to solar power at unprecedented rates to get electricity.

The international Christian relief charity and development agency Tearfund, through their partner in the Middle East, have provided training to remote urban and rural areas there to help them access green energy.

Yemen needs fuel for cooking, but firewood is scarce and bottled gas is expensive and difficult to get hold of. So Tearfund’s partner has provided ten days of hands-on training in designing, installing and maintaining battery based solar power systems.

It has led to cooking fuel costs being cut by 30 per cent for just one meal a day.

Secondly, Lucas in Tanzania can now keep his shop open after dark because of the solar panel and light that he was able to buy using a low-interest loan from his self-help group (SHG).

Together with the Anglican Church of Tanzania (ACT), Tearfund is working in the Rift Valley to improve household incomes for the poorest of the poor. Each SHG has 15-20 members who meet weekly, encouraging and supporting each other financially. They begin by saving small amounts which enable them to have loans to start new businesses in areas including conservation agriculture, irrigation, animal husbandry, deforestation and using solar power.

Finally, Feba Radio in the UK, which works worldwide to enable local partners and communities to use radio and audio media, is helping Radio T in Mali in West Africa. Local power was unreliable but with a new solar-powered system it will help provide stability and continuity for the radio programmes to educate its listeners, save on power costs and extend the station’s broadcasting hours.

“These are all encouraging signs worldwide,” said Ron, of Noreus Ltd on the University of Keele Science Innovation Park, “and show how everyone can play their part in cutting the earth’s carbon footprint.”

For more information on solar panels and green energy call Ron on 01782 756995.

 

Picture: Lucas in Tanzania can now keep his shop open after dark because of the solar panel and light that he was able to buy using a low-interest loan from his self-help group. Photo: Tom Price – Ecce Opus/Tearfund