Transcript CLIMATE CHANGE MITIGATION

CLIMATE CHANGE MITIGATION THE ROLE OF RENEWABLE ENERGY
BY
WISDOM AHIATAKU-TOGOBO
Ministry of Energy
Accra
[email protected]
Climate Change
• Composition of the Earth's atmosphere
plays a major role in establishing surface
temperature and climate of the earth.
• The earth’s temperature is maintained by a
balance between
- heating from Solar Radiation by the sun and
- cooling from infra-red radiation emitted by the
earth’s surface.
• Movement of these radiation occurs through
the atmosphere.
– Solar radiation (Visible sunlight) readily
penetrates the atmosphere to warm the earth.
– Infra-red radiation (invisible) on the other hand
is trapped by Greenhouse Gases (GHG) which
acts as blankets in the atmosphere to keep the
heat in.
Greenhouse Gases
These GHG are necessary to maintain the temperature of
the earth in other to be habitable by mankind, animals and
plants. The main GHG and their concentrations are detailed
below
GREENHOUSE GAS
Carbon dioxide CO2
Methane CH4
Chloroflorocarbons (CFCs)
Nitrous oxide N2O
% CONCENTRATION
55
15
24
6
• Also in the upper atmosphere is the Atmospheric Ozone
(O3) which plays a crucial role to absorb solar ultra-violent
radiation from the sun, preventing it from reaching the
earth’s surface where it is harmful to life.
• However, since the industrial revolution in the 19th century
coupled with increasing deforestation, the concentration of
these gases have been increasing resulting in a change in
climate called global warming.
• CO2 which was balanced by its uptake by plants during
photosynthesis is now increasing by about 4% due to
– Extraction and burning of fossil fuels (petroleum, coal,
oil and gas)
– Destruction of tropical forest for energy, timber and
other landuses.
• CH4 is increasing by 1%/year as a result of anaerobic
fermentation of organic matter due to
– Changing agricultural practises
– Waste disposals and
– Mining
• N2O is increasing by 0.3% mainly from agriculture and
biomass burning
• CFCs are increasing due to production of aerosol
propellants, refrigerants and insulators.
Environmental consequences of
Climate Change
• Rise in sea level due to melting of glacier and land
ice sheet
– Low lands are taken over by sea eg. Keta
• Change in composition of plant communities
– Indigenous plants are becoming difficult to find
• Change in temperature and rainfall makes changes
in crop type necessary
• Land is becoming less suitable for Agric
– frequent drought and change in rainfall pattern
• Addition stress on plant communities presently affected by
air pollution and acid disposition
• Significant climate change could modify the occurrence of
disease and pest
• Change in ocean current could alter fish population by
verifying temperature salinity and availability of nutrients
• River flow and ground water storage.
• Negative impact on urban environment and infrastructure
KYOTO PROTOCOL
• The central feature is its requirement that countries limit or
reduce their greenhouse gas emissions.
• By setting such targets, emission reductions took on
economic value.
• Three market-based mechanisms to help countries meet
their emission targets, and to encourage the private sector
and developing countries to contribute to emission
reduction efforts,
– Emissions Trading,
– the Clean Development Mechanism
– Joint Implementation
Clean Development Mechanism
• The CDM allows emission-reduction (or emission
removal) projects in developing countries to earn certified
emission reduction (CER) credits, each equivalent to one
tonne of CO2.
• These CERs can be traded and sold, and used by
industrialized countries to a meet a part of their emission
reduction targets under the Kyoto Protocol.
• The mechanism is expected to stimulate sustainable
development in developing countries through emission
reductions, while giving industrialized countries some
flexibility in how they meet their emission reduction
limitation targets.
• The mechanism is overseen by the CDM
Executive Board, answerable ultimately to
the countries that have ratified the Kyoto
Protocol.
CDM PROJECTS
• Projects must qualify through a rigorous
and public registration and issuance process
designed to ensure real, measurable and
verifiable emission reductions that are
additional to what would have occurred
without the project.
• In order to be considered for registration, a
project must first be approved by the
Designated National Authority (DNA).
CDM
• Operational since the beginning of 2006, the
mechanism has already registered more than
1,000 projects and is anticipated to produce
CERs amounting to more than 2.7 billion
tonnes of CO2 equivalent in the first
commitment period of the Kyoto Protocol,
2008–2012.
RENEWABLE ENERGY
PROSPECTS FOR REDUCING GHS EMISSIONS
• Increase availability of plants to absorb more CO2
– Forestry and Agroforestry
• Minimise destruction of forest
– bushfire, timber fuelwood collection, agric etc.
• Effective utilization of biomass resources
– Promotion of Improved charcoal & firewood stoves
– Promotion of improved charcoal production techniques
– Use of biomass waste such as sawdust timber residues
and off cuts for energy.
• Use of alternatives for fossil fuel that emits
little or no GHG but could provide energy for
transport, Agric, Heat and Electricity
– Energy crop such as Jatropha, sugarcane, vegetable oil
as fuel for engines
– Draught animal power such as bullocks, Donkeys etc
for transport and agric
– Biogas production from municipal & animal waste for
heat and electricity.
– Small scale hydro-power for electricity
– Wind power, wind pumps and hand pumps
– Solar Water Heating to replace firewood,
Charcoal & LPG
– Solar PV electricity to replace kerosene, diesel
& petrol for lighting, water pumping, health
stations etc.
– Solar dryers
– Solar Cookers
Solar PV
Solar Panel
DC/AC
Electricity
Regulator
Battery
Lamp,
TV, Fan
Fridge
• Solar Water Heater
– Hospitals, hotels, homes etc.
• Solar Crop Dryer
RE Application - Wind
• Off-Grid
– Demonstrated of small wind turbines for
electricity production in rural homes,
– Battery charging
– Water pumping
• Isolated-Grid
– Working with the private sector to
develop wind hybrid systems for isolated
mini-grid systems
• Central-Grid
– Efforts are currently underway to
develop wind farms along the costal line
of the country.
•
Biomass Energy
- to power generation
Municipal solid and liquid Waste
technology.
• Fuelwood plantation for cogeneration
• Energy Crop Plantations (Jatropha) for bio diesel production
• Biogas technology for processed heat and power.
• Briquette of sawdust and agricultural residues for fuel.
• Efficient charcoal production techniques
.
• Improved woodstoves for fuel efficiency and smoke reduction