The Little Earth, an environment organization which is implementing a program on energy conservation and renewable energy sources has decided to set an example of utilizing the solar energy. Last week the Little Earth staff finished installation of solar panels that will supply their office with energy in case of power outages.
Two solar photo panels manufactured in France (50-watts each) were connected through a charge controller to a battery were the energy is accumulated. The energy generated by the solar panels and stored in the battery is sufficient to run two desktop computers with LCD monitors for 4 hours. If need be the energy may be used for emergency or stand-by lighting. The energy generated by the solar photo panels can be applied to recharge small electric appliances: torch lights, MP3 players, and radios using 12v DC input.
The installed equipment has already aroused some interest on the part of local residents and staff of other organizations. In this connection the Little Earth developed a small booklet which describes the installation and operational principles of the system. The booklet will be distributed to anyone who needs it. Moreover there are plans to organize small excursions for school children and a number of non-governmental environmental organizations.
Let us not forget that Tajikistan is one of the countries located in the so-called Sunbelt. We have bright sunny days for the better part of the year. The solar radiation intensity can be as high as 1kWt/m2. This is why the solar energy can be used across-the-board for different purposes. Our scientists estimate that Tajikistan can meet up to 20% of its electricity demand by using the clean and safe solar energy. Nowadays, in many countries they use galvanic photocells to transform solar energy in electricity, solar collectors for heating water and also passive solar heat for warming buildings and apartments.
Switch on the Sun!
Renewable energy sources – is it high time?
Local and international non-governmental organizations have been showing increased interest in development and introduction of renewable energy sources in Tajikistan.
Thus, on January 22, 2009, a small-scale round table was held to demonstrate various examples of utilization of renewable energy sources. The event was organized by GOPA, a German consulting company.
Solar panel on the office of Little EarthRepresentatives of environmental and other non-governmental organizations, institutions of higher education and international organizations attended the round table to discuss issues of utilization of renewable energy sources.
Speaking at the round table Mr.Gerald Yagoda (GOPA) made a general presentation on RES and indicated that GOPA intended to carry out installation of heat pump units in three social facilities within the framework of the projects implemented by NSIFT (National social investment fund of Tajikistan). “As far as I am aware this will be the first instance of introducing heat pumps in Tajikistan”, - said Gerald Yagoda.
Timur Idrisov representing the environmental organization Little Earth described to the participants the modest experience his organization had gained in installation of the solar panels. Specifically, he gave the example of the school in Labijai village where the installed solar panels provided for establishment of the lighting system (the village itself has no access to power supply) and the Little Earth office which receives its electricity partly due to solar photocells.
Within the frame of discussions that took place after the presentations the following issues were raised: need for closer coordination between organizations working in the sphere of RES, information exchanges about the existing experiences (both positive and negative) and also possibility of establishment of a database on projects and organizations interested in development and promotion of RES in the republic.
Another round table on alternative energy sources was organized on January 24, 2009 by the Youth environmental center with support from the Little Earth and the Center for study and use of renewable energy sources.
The key objective of the round table “Current status and prospects of use of alternative energy in Tajikistan” was to raise awareness about use of alternative energy sources, show examples of RES use practices, and discuss problems and prospects of their introduction.
The event was attended by representatives of local and some international non-governmental organization, academics and researchers studying renewable energy sources, representatives of local communities and journalists from local information agencies.
At the round table, the participants could listen to presentations on introduction of various stakeholders in the public program of integrated use of renewable energy sources (K.Kabutov, Center for study and use of renewable energy sources), prospects of utilization of alternative energy sources in Tajikistan (Y.V.Skochilov, Youth Environmental Center). Also delivered were presentations devoted to examples of mini-HPP construction in Rasht and Shikent (A.O.Latifi, NGO “Barsconsulting” and U.Kh.Karimov, Hydrometeorologic agency) and use of renewable energy sources in other countries (T.Idrisov, the Little Earth).
Having discussed the issues raised in the round table the participants agreed that introduction of renewable energy sources in the Tajikistan of today is just starting and is rather patchy in nature. Projects for installation of solar panels, solar collectors, micro and mini-HPPs and also a number of windmill generators are segmented and often unsustainable due to various reasons. Nevertheless, they pointed out that the existing huge potential of using RES in the country and also the emerging market for their introduction alongside with the constant shortage of energy resources and increases electricity prices would be conductive to gradual development of environmentally friendly and autonomous energy sources.
The participants reiterated once again that a law on renewable energy sources needs to be adopted in Tajikistan that would lay down the legal, institutional, economic and financial groundwork and establish mechanisms of regulating relationships between the state, producers, suppliers and consumers of renewable energy sources.
