BCSEA.org

NEW SOCIETY TAKES ON BIG NEW CHALLENGE
"We need sustainable solutions for all of BC's energy needs"

Do you want to see more use of sustainable energy in BC? Are you concerned about the effects of global climate change?

The BC Sustainable Energy Association (BC SEA) is a new and ambitious organization with a vision in which all of BC's energy comes from clean, renewable, efficient sources.

This energetic crew of sustainable energy activists, business-people, and representatives from environmental organizations will:

These goals can be accomplished with your support. So become a member! Contact the BC SEA for details.

In May 2004 the federal environment minister, David Anderson released Biodiesel in British Columbia: Feasibility Study Report. (available at www.citygreen.ca).

"This study is indicative of the environmental and commercial potential of alternative fuel sources," said Minister Anderson.

"Through research, development and commercialization of alternative energy supplies like biodiesel, we can develop innovative and sustainable communities while preserving our natural resources."

The study, prepared by WISE Energy, outlines the significant market potential for biodiesel products in B.C., including the ability to fuel B.C. Transit buses and private diesel-run automobiles.

Biodiesel technology also has the potential to significantly reduce B.C.’s greenhouse gas emissions while supporting Canada’s commitment to the Kyoto Accord and the Climate Change Action Plan.

"This study provides critical information to businesses exploring biodiesel production in British Columbia," said Jeff Bray, MLA. "Biodiesel is a safe, non-toxic, biodegradable and renewable fuel. It can be used today in trucks, buses and other heavy equipment."

The feasibility study was funded by Western Economic Diversification Canada; the Province of British Columbia; VanCity Credit Union; and the Community Economic Development Technical Assistance Program.

Biodiesel is a non-toxic, biodegradable, renewable fuel produced from recycled bio-oils that can be used in any unmodified diesel engine to replace conventional petroleum diesel.

Because of its extensive economic development opportunities, and human and environmental health benefits, biodiesel manufacturing is escalating rapidly around the world.

For several years, people have been talking about the compressed air car which the French racing car test driver Guy Negre has been developing (www.theaircar.com).

The car uses compressed air at 5000 lbs per square inch to drive its pistons, using a small amount of electricity to refill it. The prototype CityCAT has been on the road, and investors have put up $13 million US to build 35 manufacturing plants around the world.

It sounds exciting, but in real life, the car only goes 37 miles before it runs out of air. For local city use, 37 miles would be just fine, and a recharge could be done commercially in 3-4 minutes (3-4 hours at home), but the limitation is enough to put a hold on production.

Voila-vent!
The Quebec government has made a commitment to install 1000 MW of new wind energy in the province. A recent study showed that they have the capacity for 100,000 MW.

Anne of Even Greener Gables.
Prince Edward Island has made the commitment to obtain 15% of its electrical power from renewable sources by 2010, and will evaluate the opportunities to obtain 100% from renewables by 2015.

Who’s driving on Biodiesel?
At least four BC SEA members, maybe more. Kees Schaddelee (in Victoria) and Terry Esch and Pam and Jerome Webster (in Cobble Hill) are fueling up on home-brewed biodiesel, made from waste restaurant fats. In a future issue, we’ll explain how they do it.

Underground Jacuzzi?
Western Geopower has the go-ahead to proceed with a feasibility study for a 200 MW geothermal energy plant at South Meager, north of Whistler, using the heat from hot water, 2.5 km underground. If all goes well, they should be producing power by 2008.

Around the World on 20 Acres?
In 1994, the Sunrider, a 24ft, 27hp Zodiac Hurricane rigid inflatable boat, did a round-the-world voyage fueled with soya-based biodiesel. That’s 40,000 km, at a guessed fuel efficiency of 2100 kilometres per acre.

Riding the Gigawind.
In its May 2004 feasibility study Wind Force 12, the European Wind Energy Association shows that there are no practical constraints to the world obtaining 12% of its electricity supply (1200 GW) from wind energy by 2020. Just policy constraints, and the odd coal-minded politician. By the beginning of 2004, we had reached 40 GW. See www.ewea.org/03publications/WindForce12.htm

What’s a milli-joule?
It’s a very small amount of energy. About 1 two millionth of a watt-hour. That’s the amount of power used by a1-watt LED light bulb if it burns for 1/555 of a second.

The world is full of hopeful people, ready to believe in a new invention that will save our woes.

This is probably more true in the sustainable energy sector than anywhere else. So whenever someone comes up with a new technology which they say will save the world, we need to ask serious questions.

A Scottish company, Windsave, says it has developed a small 750 watt rooftop wind turbine that can operate in winds as low as 5 mph, which sells for £750. They say it can generate 43 kWh a week in Britain, where electricity sells for 8p/kWh (20 cents CAN).

On this basis, the turbine earns £3.44 a week, and will pay for itself in four years. In B.C., where we pay close to 6 cents/kWh, it would pay for itself in 12 years.

But can it really deliver? Stewart Russell, a Scots Canadian who is a Director of Windshare, the Toronto windpower cooperative, is very sceptical. He says, "they're claiming efficiencies that cannot be attained….five minutes with a calculator and a wind energy primer shows that these things are too good to be true."

But maybe we don’t need to go to Scotland to find the perfect rooftop turbine. Maybe it’s being made right here in BC.

In Kelowna, WestTech Energy is developing a 1 kW and a 3 kW horizontal axis rooftop turbine that will operate in 18 mph winds, as well as a 10 kW turbine for use in remote locations. WestTech is also developing 1 kW and 3 kW vertical axis turbines.

There’s an interesting project being proposed for Ned’s Corner, just west of Mildura (Victoria State), in Australia’s outback. It consists of an enormous tower, a kilometre high, surrounded by 30 square kilometres of glass.

As the sun beats down on the glass, the super-heated air will rise up the tower and drive 32 turbines, producing 200 MW of power – enough for 200,000 homes. (The tallest World Trade Center tower was 417 metres).

The tower follows a successful prototype that operated in Spain for several years. The energy will cost 4.5 cents/kwh US, just 20% more than coal-fired energy.

Enviromission is purchasing the 10,000 hectare site In July 2004, and hope to deliver power by 2009. Who knows? Maybe we’ll see similar towers being proposed for Canada’s prairies, surrounded by rings of wind turbines.

We urgently need some adventurous solar dreaming to rescue us from the dull mental sludge of Canada’s coal and oil barons. See www.enviromission.com.au

How much green, sustainable energy could BC produce? Here are some quick numbers that show the rough size of the resource. BC Hydro produces 43,000 gigawatt hours of electricity a year for its 1.5 million customers.

90% comes from BC hydro dams; the rest from natural gas, and imported coal-fired energy from Alberta. BC has the following potentials:

Additional Efficiency & Demand Side Management: 2,750 MW (10,750 GWh) (assumes a 25% increase in overall efficiency)
Wind Energy: 15,000 MW (32,850 GWh) (World Energy Council)
Tidal Energy: 2,225 MW (13,000 GWh) (Triton Consultants study for BC Hydro)
Microhydro: 2,454 MW (10,700 GWh) (BC Hydro study of mainland potential)
Geothermal (Meager Creek): 100 - 250 MW (1,000 GWh)

Plus energy from solar hot water, ground-source, water-source and air-source heat, biomass, and solar PV.

On June 10^th, 2004, 300 delegates from the big Renewables 2004 conference held in Bonn, Germany, went home feeling very satisfied.

Among 165 commitments they had made, China pledged to provide 10% of its electricity capacity from renewables by 2010, and Germany pledged to provide 20% from renewables by 2020.

According to the Worldwatch Institute, the Saudi Arabian delegate, on the other hand, said that his government saw no problem with dependence on fossil fuels, and recommended reducing taxes on oil in industrial countries.

A member of the California Energy Commission told the conference he was embarrassed by the US delegation’s performance, but delegates from other countries said the US was actually more constructive and less obstructionist than it had been in the lead-up to the conference.

In a report prepared specially for the conference, the European Renewable Energy Council said that if governments from all the world were willing to bring in some minimum basic policy measures, the world could obtain 50% of is entire primary energy needs from renewable energy by 2040.

We’d love it if there were five local Chapters up and running around BC by the end of the year.

There are strongs group in Kamloops and Kelowna that want to form Chapters. How about Vancouver, Prince George, Burns Lake, Nelson, Salt Spring, Pender Island, or the Sunshine Coast?

The huge transition that we are envisioning for BC - from fossil fuels to sustainable energy - requires a strong, committed community.

If you enjoy organizing, and think it would be fun to pull together a local group that met regularly to undertake projects or organize speakers, please contact us.

The skills that are involved are more about leadership, persistence, and connecting with your community, than needing to know a gigawatt from a gibberwatt, or the ins and outs of a wind turbine.

For our part, we are preparing a document that will define the relationship between a Chapter and the Board, so that we can grow as an organization.

And remember the Fifth Law of Ecology whenever you are organizing anything: "If it’s not fun, it’s not sustainable!"