The Future of Renewable Infrastructure is Uncertain Without Good Planning: Op-ed by IRES PhD Students, Vikas Menghwani and Sandeep Pai, and IRES Associate Faculty Member, Hisham Zerriffi

The Future of Renewable Infrastructure is Uncertain Without Good Planning: Op-ed by IRES PhD Students, Vikas Menghwani and Sandeep Pai, and IRES Associate Faculty Member, Hisham Zerriffi

File 20190326 36270 1wn7c5r.jpg?ixlib=rb 1.1
These photovoltaics panels provide this village with energy now, but they could become obsolete when the main grid arrives.
(Shutterstock)

Vikas Menghwani, University of British Columbia; Hisham Zerriffi, University of British Columbia, and Sandeep Pai, University of British Columbia

In 2005, a small hydropower plant was installed in the Sukajaya district of West Java, Indonesia. This was an off-the-grid project, owned by the community, that provided electricity locally through a mini-grid to about 150 households mainly for lighting. But after 10 years the plant was discontinued when the community was connected to the recently expanded central grid.

This is the story for many such projects in the region, including solar-powered residential systems. Over and over again, the value of renewable energy investments is lost as the installations are left abandoned as the grid arrives. In Indonesia alone, more than 150 villages have abandoned mini-grid projects since late 2000s.

While investing in fossil fuel-based energy has become riskier, there are also unique investment risks with small-scale renewable systems. In developing countries, in many sites relying on off-grid or mini-grid electricity, this infrastructure faces the risk of becoming a “stranded asset” — abandoned infrastructure that no longer holds value — which may work against efforts to limit climate change.

This is a significant issue for the 1.1 billion people that still do not have access to any electricity globally. According to the International Energy Agency, to achieve 100 per cent electrification by 2030, we need to rely heavily on solutions that do not depend on a central electrical grid. In highly unelectrified regions like sub-Saharan Africa, nearly three-quarters of the new connections must come from off-grid and mini-grid systems.

Threatened renewables

Traditionally, the dominant approach to electrifying regions without electricity has been to extend the centralized grid into those regions. Most of these grids are run on fossil fuels such as coal, which still remains the dominant electricity fuel source globally.

A wind farm in the Seychelles.
IRENA/flickr, CC BY-NC-ND

However, in recent decades, off-grid technologies based on renewable energy such as solar photovoltaics, wind power or hydropower have received a lot of attention for their ability to easily electrify remote communities. This has happened in the form of mini-grids, smaller versions of a large transmission grid, that connect tens or hundreds of households, or off-grid standalone systems for a single or a few households.

But mini-grid and off-grid developments are threatened by the arrival of the main grid, because customers will readily defect to the main grid. This compromises the expectations of the mini-grid developers and sellers of standalone systems.

A study of mini-grids in three developing countries in Asia shows that this phenomenon is widespread. In another study, one mini-grid investor in India noted that the government did not give him:

“…the assurance that if you do these projects is the grid going to reach there in one year, three years, five years? So there is no solidity in all of that.”

In fact, in a recent report by the UN Development Program (UNDP), grid expansion has been identified as one of the key barriers facing off-grid and mini-grid development.

Options for developers

There are two options for developers to partially save their assets, when the grid arrives.

Off-grid and mini-grid developers can partially protect their investments by letting go of the electricity generation related assets — like the power plant or generator, but keep the distribution power lines in place.

In Cambodia, for example, which had mainly diesel-based mini-grid systems, when the main electrical grid was expanded, larger mini-grids were integrated into it. This allowed the mini-grid developers to change their business model and become small-scale power distributors. Unfortunately, this approach often eliminates the clean-energy benefits that come from mini-grids running on renewable energy.

In September 2015, the town of Les Côteaux in the south of Haiti switched on its lights for the first time after a mini-grid was installed.
UNEP/Marc Lee Steed

Another option is to abandon the distribution network and use the generation system to feed power back to the main grid. For example, in Sri Lanka, three hydropower projects became small-scale power producers. These are low success rates, however, and an NGO had to do significant work to convert the three projects.

Policy fixes

But these courses of action cannot happen in the absence of appropriate regulations. Competition from a future centralized grid can be avoided through integrated planning for electrification.

Both grid and decentralized systems (off-grid and mini-grid) can be used together successfully if governments work towards the twin imperatives of universal electricity access and emissions reductions. By creating off-grid zones and non-overlapping service areas, they can reduce the investment risk for decentralized solutions. They can then focus on enhancing the operation and maintenance capacity of local systems.

Decentralized energy has been hailed in many developed countries as the harbinger of democratization of energy. But the picture is very different in developing countries.

Electrification using conventional means, growing consumption levels and simultaneous reliance on decentralized solutions without planning, may mean many small-scale low-carbon projects get discarded, and leave consumers, investors and governments in a fix.

Since deploying renewables is considered one of the most important ways to mitigate the climate change crisis, understanding their vulnerability and mitigating these vulnerabilities are indispensable for any bold climate action.The Conversation

Vikas Menghwani, PhD Candidate, University of British Columbia; Hisham Zerriffi, Associate Professor, Forest Resources Management, University of British Columbia, and Sandeep Pai, Ph.D. Student & Public Scholar, Institute for Resources, Environment and Sustainability, University of British Columbia

This article is republished from The Conversation under a Creative Commons license. Read the original article.

March 21, 2019: IRES Faculty Seminar with Dr. Ron Stewart (University of Manitoba)

IRES Seminar Series

Time: 12:30pm to 1:30pm (every Thursday)

Location: AERL Theatre (room 120), 2202 Main Mall

*********************************************************************************

*** VIEW SEMINAR RECORDING (Begins at 3:17 min)***

Near 0°C Temperature and Precipitation Characteristics across Canada

Temperatures and associated precipitation (including freezing rain and wet snow) near 0°C lead to many impacts on society and ecosystems. This presentation provides a Canada-wide perspective on near 0°C conditions (-2°C ≤ T ≤ 2°C) using 92 hourly reporting stations over the 1981-2011 period.  The average number of days per year experiencing such temperatures varies widely from approximately 20 in the Arctic to 200 in interior British Columbia, whereas the associated number of hours varies from 600 in the Arctic and southwestern British Columbia to almost 1800 in Newfoundland.  In southern Canada, associated precipitation often occurs near mid-winter but it typically does not occur near summer. The development of these and numerous other characteristics is establishing a solid foundation for understanding near 0°C patterns; this is needed for best adapting to their future shifts driven by our changing climate.

 

Dr. Ron Stewart

Department of Environment and Geography, University of Manitoba

Bio:

Ronald Stewart is a professor of atmospheric science at the University of Manitoba. Previously, he was a professor at McGill University and a senior scientist with Environment and Climate Change Canada.  Professor Stewart’s research focuses on extreme weather, precipitation and regional climate; current research topics include winter precipitation formation and its occurrence as well as recent and future droughts, forest fires and flooding over Canada.  He is a Fellow of the Royal Society of Canada and the Canadian Meteorological and Oceanographic Society and he has been awarded the Patterson Medal by the Meteorological Service of Canada.

 

March 14, 2019: IRES Student Seminar with Marco Vázquez Pérez and Alejandra Echeverri

IRES Seminar Series

Time: 12:30pm to 1:30pm (every Thursday)

Location: AERL Theatre (room 120), 2202 Main Mall

*********************************************************************************

*** Due to technical difficulties, this seminar was not recorded***

Exploring values in scientists’ perspectives on the relationship between nature and humans in the case of the wastewater controversy in the CRD, BC, Canada.

Values are held to be a central reason why more research does not solve scientific controversies around complex societal issues. In Victoria, BC, Canada, scientists have positioned themselves for and against building a wastewater treatment plant in a debate framed as purely technical. This study aims to investigate if the scientists’ positions are linked to their perspective on nature and its relationship with humans. We analyze peer-reviewed publications from scientists with a public position on both sides of the controversy. Those against treatment frame nature as a source of knowledge and human impact as one factor among many. In contrast, those pro-treatment portray nature as something humans can and should aid, while also being its major threat. Our study suggests that value-laden perspectives are present in scientific publications and impact scientists’ position in a seemingly technical issue.

 

Marco Vázquez Pérez

IRES MSc Program

Bio:

Marco started his MSc student at IRES in 2017. He is currently working under the supervision of Dr. Gunilla Öberg. Marco studied at UNAM in Mexico, receiving his Bachelor of Science in Chemistry in 2016. His interest in science and the best use of scientific knowledge in environmental issues drove him to expand the focus of his studies and explore the intersection between the environment, science, and policy. The project he is working on for his master thesis focuses on the decisions and judgments that scientists make when considering uncertainties and risks in their own research. The case study that he will be using is the Victoria wastewater treatment controversy.

 

Iconic Manakins and Despicable Grackles: Understanding Human-Bird Relationships in Costa Rica

Despite the great cultural and economic benefits associated with birdwatching, little is known about other kinds of benefits that people derive from and construct with birds. My research explores how birdwatchers, farmers, and urbanites perceive and value birds in Guanacaste, Costa Rica. Additionally, I evaluate which characteristics of birds (e.g., species traits) make them prone to be liked or disliked by different groups of people. I surveyed 404 people and asked them to rate their perceptions of birds for the whole bird community (n=199 species). I further evaluated which among 20 traits were shaping people’s perceptions of birds. In this talk I will discuss, among other things, why Long-tailed Manakins are loved while Great-tailed Grackles are despised.

Alejandra Echeverri

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

IRES PhD Program

Bio:

Alejandra Echeverri is a PhD Candidate in Resources, Environment, and Sustainability at the University of British Columbia (UBC). Alejandra’s research focuses on integrating the ecological and the social dimensions of bird conservation. She holds a B.Sc in Biology from the Universidad de los Andes (Bogotá, Colombia), and an M.Sc in Resource Management and Environmental Studies from UBC. Aside from her academic work, Alejandra is an environmental consultant for infrastructure projects in Colombia and advocates for youth engagement in the United Nations Convention of Biological Diversity.

 

 

 

Photo Credit: Rocio Lopez, IRES PhD Student

Congratulations to Megan Peloso (IRES and EDGES Alumna) on her new job!

EDGES alumna Megan Peloso is based in Smithers, BC and works as a Land and Resource Coordinator with the Ministry of Forests, Lands, Natural Resource Operations and Rural Development. In her role with the Skeena Regional Initiatives team, Megan applies her background in watershed sustainability and governance to modernized land use planning.

Megan graduated in May 2014 with an MA in Resource Management and Environmental Studies at IRES, University of British Columbia. She also holds certification as Program Manager and Field Technician in CABIN (Canadian Aquatic Biomonitoring Network) from the University of New Brunswick, and a Bachelors of Social Sciences in International Development and Globalization from the University of Ottawa.

March 7, 2019: IRES Professional Development Seminar with Nafiza Ali

IRES Seminar Series

Time: 12:30pm to 1:30pm (every Thursday)

Location: AERL Theatre (room 120), 2202 Main Mall

*********************************************************************************

*** Video recording unavailable due to microphone issues***

 

Stress and Mental Health in Academia

Nafiza Ali

UBC Wellness Advisor

Join Nafiza Ali from UBC Wellness to learn about stress and mental health:

  • Understand what mental health means and when to get help
  • Learn about and practice strategies you can use to manage distress at any time
  • Get info and ask questions about different mental health resources on and off campus

 

 

 

 

 

Royal Society of Canada Lecture: Negotiations over Groundwater Contamination

Learn more about Negotiations over Groundwater Contamination in a special Royal Society of Canada lecture with Dr. Keith W. Hipel, University Professor of Systems Design Engineering at the University of Waterloo.

National Geographic Young Explorers Award Recipient: Helina Jolly

 

Congratulation to IRES’ very own Helina Jolly for receiving the prestigious National Geographic Young Explorers award! This award is in support of Helina’s proposed project, “De-mystifying the Adivasi knowledge of forest and wildlife in India,” which will be used to help her conduct her field study on the Kattunayakar communities of the Western Ghats and their relationship with forest ecosystem services.

Read more

 

February 28, 2019: IRES Student Seminar with Sahir Advani & Sean Smillie

IRES Seminar Series

Time: 12:30pm to 1:30pm (every Thursday)

Location: AERL Theatre (room 120), 2202 Main Mall

*********************************************************************************

*** CLICK HERE TO VIEW RECORDING (Sahir 5:31-30:30) (Sean 31:00-55:00)***

Using cross-cultural and locally-contextualized values to understand the priorities of fishing communities in the Andaman and Nicobar Islands, India

Sahir Advani

IRES & IOF PhD Candidate

Bio:

I am a PhD Candidate at IRES and the Institute for the Oceans and Fisheries (IOF), University of British Columbia. I’m interested in determining sustainable solutions for small-scale fisheries through interdisciplinary research. My PhD research intends to understand how cultural differences, settlement history and involvement in fishing 1) affect the values that communities ascribe to marine resources, 2) influence resource sustainability, and 3) impact vulnerability of social-ecological systems to globalization and commoditization. I have worked with fishing communities in the Andaman and Nicobar Islands since 2012 while working with Dakshin Foundation, where I am a Junior Adjunct Research Fellow. This research was funded through a UBC Four-Year Fellowship, an International Development Research Centre (IDRC) Doctoral Fellowship, the Cecil and Kathleen Morrow Scholarship, and the Robin Rigby Trust.

Abstract:

Effective fisheries policies should incorporate the diversity of socio-cultural values of fishery stakeholders. This involves designing tools that identify diverse local needs and contexts and translating them into accessible formats. In this talk I will describe the creation of a set of 12 value cards to depict values associated with fishing in the Andaman and Nicobar Islands, India, using cross-cultural and locally-contextualised value phrases together with locally produced artwork. I will then describe communities’ value priorities, that were understood through ranking exercises amongst 101 respondents from four cultural groups, spanning various roles in the fishery value chain. I conclude with a discussion of how understanding the values of fishery stakeholders can lead to effective and equitable fisheries policy and management.

********************************************************************

Assessing waste-heat-to-power potential in the natural gas transmission industry

Sean Smillie

IRES MSc Student

Bio:

Sean is pursuing a MSc with Hadi Dowlatabadi. He is a professional engineer with a mechanical engineering degree from the University of Alberta. After graduating, he worked in the pipeline industry in both technical and project management roles. Working in this industry during the various pipeline controversies fostered his interest in the relationship between our energy system and the environment. Sean strives to take an interdisciplinary approach to energy and environmental issues, engaging in practical, objective, and technically-informed energy policy analysis.

Abstract:

Natural gas transmission accounts for 1% to 2% of all CO2 emissions in Canada. To significantly improve the efficiency of this system, electricity can be generated from otherwise wasted heat energy. This electricity has an incremental emissions factor similar to wind and solar generation. The technical potential of this resource is approximately 1.2 GW, slightly larger than the Site C dam and over 10% of the Canadian coal capacity to be phased out by 2030. However, despite pilot installations in the 1990s and late 2000s, waste heat to power installations have not achieved significant market penetration. This study aims to reassess the technical, economic, and regulatory limitations of this option in light of improved technologies, market dynamics, energy prices and climate policies.

 

Photo Credit: Madison Stevens, IRES PhD Student

February 26, 2019: A la Mar: a Documentary Film About Wave Protection in Peru

 

Description

Join us for a screening of A la Mar, a Peruvian documentary film. Following the film, we will have a facilitated discussion and Q&A with a few experts and a short reception.

About the film:

In the eighties, La Herradura beach in Peru was destroyed. In the nineties, the wave of Cabo Blanco was in danger of disappearing so a group of surfers got together to protect these places and got the State to approve the Law of Rompientes in the year 2000, the first law in the world for the protection of the waves.

This is the story that the documentary A La Mar narrates. Produced by Conservamos por Naturaleza, and presented by Patagonia, it was released yesterday in the French Alliance in Miraflores, Lima.

Watch the trailer: https://www.livinginperu.com/a-la-mar-documentary-about-wave-protection-in-peru/

RSVP Here

Issue of Human Rights Obligations Relating to the Enjoyment of a Safe, Clean, Healthy and Sustainable Environment

 

David Boyd is an Associate Professor of Law, Policy and Sustainability, as well as a Special Rapporteur on Human Rights and Environment for the United Nations. His first report to the UN Human Rights Council is now public and available in the six official UN languages here.

 

Summary
In the present report, the Special Rapporteur recalls that the right to a healthy environment has been recognized by a majority of States in their constitutions, legislation, and various regional treaties to which they are parties. However, in spite of the wide recognition of its crucial importance, the right to a healthy environment has not yet been recognized as such at the global level. The Special Rapporteur focuses on the right to breathe clean air as one of its component and describes the negative impact of air pollution  on the enjoyment of many human rights, in particular the right to life and the right to health, in particular by vulnerable groups. He highlights the different State obligations in relation to the right to breathe clean air, which are both procedural and substantive, as well as the specific obligation to protect people and groups in vulnerable situations. He identifies several good practices implemented worldwide that have helped to improve air quality. Finally, the Special Rapporteur offers a number of recommendations to States for actions they should consider as part of a national air quality action plan and urges businesses, in order to fulfil their responsibility in this regard, to contribute to and support efforts to reduce air pollution.