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How Renewable Energy in Croatia Can Reduce Energy Poverty

Renewable Energy in CroatiaSprawling across the Adriatic Sea, Croatia comprises more than 1,200 islands – 48 of which are inhabited. Currently, the country imports much of its energy needs in the form of fossil fuels. National Energy and Climate Plan outlines the efforts to expand renewable energy in Croatia: by 2030, Croatia aims to have a 36.4% renewable energy share and a 45% reduction in total emissions. At the end of last year, Croatia recorded four days powered fully by renewable energy sources.

Politics and Renewable Energy

Recent and upcoming political changes could impact the renewable energy share in Croatia and have important impacts on those living in energy poverty. The 2024 election year has been deemed a “super-election.” In April, the country’s long-dominating center-right party, Croatian Democratic Union (HDZ), won the Parliamentary Election on April 17, but change could still occur with the European Parliament Election taking place in June and the Presidential seat being up for reelection at the end of the year. 

In a recent survey conducted for Croatia’s 2024 election, 70% of people expressed concerns about rising costs of living accompanying inflation. While the focus of this year’s election is economic, discussions surrounding renewable energy initiatives play a role in growing Croatia’s economy and helping those living in energy poverty. Making investments in renewable energy is an economic endeavor.

This is important because typically, renewable energy discussions are pushed to the side in Croatia in favor of issues the population finds more pressing such as food safety, economic growth and youth unemployment, Clean Energy Wire reports. Renewable energy in Croatia only enters the political discourse when severe weather events occur and brings attention to the impacts of changing weather patterns. Bringing attention to the economic advantages of independent renewable energy in the election will bolster initiatives for renewable energy in Croatia and benefit initiatives targeting energy poverty.

Economic Opportunity

Currently, Croatia imports the majority of fossil fuels it uses: 100% of coal, 80% of oil and 40% of gas, according to Clean Energy Wire.

Dependency on importation makes Croatia “particularly vulnerable to the rise in fossil fuel prices” contributing to the country’s high energy prices, Clean Energy Wire stats. This shows that developing renewable energy sources could help stabilize energy prices and allow more people access to consistent energy.

Renewable energy is growing as the cheapest option for electricity. The cost of solar power electricity has been declining – falling 85% from 2010 to 2020. Similarly, wind energy has seen dramatic declines in cost. Expanding renewable energy sources in Croatia could offer cheaper energy to more people, allowing those who cannot afford the high and volatile fossil fuel prices to access this essential resource.

Renewable Energy Policy

Initiatives to combat energy poverty in Croatia are underway in legislation through the expansion of renewable energies.

New drafts of Croatia’s National Energy and Climate Plan (NECP) include language targeting energy poverty in the country. Under this Plan, an Energy Poverty Program aims at achieving the following objectives from 2021 to 2030 with an overall goal to define criteria for energy poverty:

  • Incorporation of energy education for citizens living in energy poverty
  • Creation of national standards and key identifiers describing energy poverty as a system for measurement and monitoring
  • Creation of programming will likely effectively increase energy efficiency for those in and at risk of living in energy-poverty households

Currently, 9.4% of the population cannot heat their homes adequately and is living in energy poverty. NECP plans to implement monitoring and allow the Country to identify at-risk populations, target policy accordingly, and ultimately lead to effective structural policy combating energy poverty.

Closely tied with the Energy Poverty Program, a 2020 initiative targeting energy poverty through the expansion of renewable energy use assists in renovating homes. The Program for Renovation of Family Houses has provided 100% funding for these renovations for qualifying houses in addition to free energy auditing. As of summer 2020, the program received more than $4 million.

The upcoming 2024 elections could spur change in Croatia’s priority on renewable energy and help to drive out investments in fossil fuel. This, in accordance the ongoing renewable energy initiatives, give hope to decreasing the levels on energy poverty in Croatia. 

– Carlee Unger

Carlee is based in Pembroke, NC, USA and focuses on Politics and Good News for The Borgen Project.

Photo: Flickr

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Renewable Energy in Sudan

Renewable Energy in SudanSudan is a developing nation in Northeast Africa with a population of around 47 million people. The World Bank report from 2023 shows 15.3% of the population living under the international poverty rate ($2.15), 49.7% living under the lower middle-income poverty rate ($3.65) and 86.2% living under the upper middle-income rate ($6.85). While these figures make for grim reading, there are many positives that things are and could continue to get better soon for people due to the further incorporation of renewable energy in Sudan. Renewable energy resources are already improving people’s lives by helping to bring clean water and solar-powered energy to towns and villages.

Providing Clean Water

Renewable energy is energy from natural resources which are “replenished at a higher rate than consumed” such as wind, solar and geothermal. These types of resources are also currently playing a major role in helping to improve people’s lives in Sudan and will play an even bigger role in the future. 

Through improved technology and investment, renewable energy in Sudan is improving people’s lives and lifting many out of poverty. UNICEF highlighted how in 2023, funding built a solar-powered mini water yard for a small, remote village Gelhanty in eastern Sudan giving communities a safe water source. The water source brought reliable and clean water to around 1,500 people, meaning that women and children in this area no longer had to trek long distances to collect water from unsafe streams.   

The new source allows villages water for domestic use such as drinking, cleaning and agricultural purposes. The water yard also prevents women and children from carrying the burden of long trips for unclean water that can cause water-borne diseases. 

Solar Panel System for a Hospital

Another success story of renewable energy in Sudan comes from a UNFPA program that piloted a renewable energy program in Abu Jebiha. Partnering with global aid, the program installed a solar panel system at Abu Jebiha Hospital. 

Before the installation of the solar panels, the hospitals’ electricity would often be cut out, meaning people could not get the treatment they needed, including women in the maternal ward, which decreased the chances of babies surviving. Now, however, this renewable-powered electricity is seeing great results. Hospital facilities now operate 24/7 including in the maternity ward, operation rooms, blood bank refrigerators, administration offices, incubators and medicine storage. 

Previously due to the lack of electricity, the hospital could not operate at capacity as the power would only last for two to three hours a day and patients often had to provide their power source. This successful solar power story means the project is expanding to cover more health facilities. 

The Future

These examples show the great work that aid agencies are doing in Sudan to bring essential resources such as water and health care to the communities in the country. However, despite all the successful work, there is a lot more to do and this is just the start of Sudan’s renewable energy program. 

Sudan is a country with plenty of renewable and natural energy resources. According to AFSIC, “Sudan has abundant resources for renewable energy, including solar, wind and hydro power. The country has one of the highest solar radiation rates in the world, with the potential to generate up to 15 GW of solar energy.” For reference, 1 GW of energy, equivalent to 1 billion watts, is enough to power up to 750,000 homes. 

Sudan has already made major progress towards its renewable energy program, with many large-scale projects to bring a better life for communities already under way. One example of this is government’s plans for the building of a 100 MW solar panel farm in the city of Dongola and a 50 MW wind farm in the Red Sea state, according to AFSIC. The Sudanese government also aims to achieve a total of 5 GW of renewable energy by 2030. 

Sudan’s blessing of renewable energy is good news for a country that is still struggling with poverty, however, for things to further improve more investment is needed to put new infrastructure in place so that success stories such as clean water yard and solar power supplying a hospital with reliable electricity becomes more commonplace and widespread throughout the country. 

– Lachlan Wellington

Lachlan is based in Fareham, UK and focuses on Technology and Global Health for The Borgen Project.

Photo: Unsplash

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Updates on SDG 7 in Lebanon

Updates on SDG 7 in LebanonThe country of Lebanon is engaged in a war which the actual state of Lebanon has neither the power to begin or end, and has been suffering from the same financial crisis since 2019. In addition to a refugee crisis that has heightened sectarian strife to unprecedented levels, an energy shortage seems to be a little more than the country can handle. The United Nations’ Sustainable Development Goals, however, have halted much of the damage of these issues, and in some areas such as renewable energy has begun reversing them. Here are the updates on SDG 7 in Lebanon.

What Is Wrong With Lebanon’s Energy Sector?

Since the Lebanese Civil War (1975-1990), the Lebanese people have been suffering from an electricity shortage, forcing the state-owned electricity company Électricité du Liban (EDL) to ration out its supply, ranging from three to six hours every day.

For the rest of the day, Lebanese people have to manage their own energy source, with most of the population renting out private generators and hooking them directly to their house supplies. The hyperinflation of the Lebanese Lira (145%) meant that fossil fuels were up to six times more expensive. Up to 90% of households cut back on their energy costs to afford basic services. Also, 20% of low-income households were not able to afford generators at all. 

U.N.’s “Lebanon Green Investment Facility”

As a result of Lebanon’s inefficient, expensive and polluting electrical infrastructure, there has been an interesting pivot toward renewable energy, namely solar. However, because of poor toxic waste management and the lack of trust the Lebanese people have toward private initiatives, the “solar revolution” has yet to take off. 

The United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) saw the potential of this nascent revolution. In collaboration with Cedar Oxygen SAS and the Ministry of Environment, it created the “Lebanon Green Investment Facility.”  

This private investment impact fund aims to help Lebanon decrease its greenhouse gas emissions by 20%, with an emphasis on “renewable energy, sustainable agriculture, water conservation, and climate-smart infrastructure […].”

Today’s Updates on SDG 7 in Lebanon

Since the initiation of the Sustainable Development Program in 2015, the United Nations has facilitated the entry of almost $60 million into Lebanon towards building the necessary infrastructure for renewable energy. 

The America Near East Refugee Aid (ANERA), which is partnered with the UNHCR and UNICEF, is an example of one of these businesses that is seeking to revolutionize Lebanon’s renewable energy sector. Along with Direct Relief, ANERA has, since 2022, begun funding solar panel installation in medical centers, successfully increasing patient capacity by 32%. 

Since 90% of Lebanon’s population lives in urban areas, ANERA has shifted its focus to some of the country’s most underserved areas. This includes Akkar, Tripoli and Saida. The installation of solar arrays at centers there will provide uninterrupted electricity to more than 100,000 people.

The United Nations’ updates on SDG 7 in Lebanon have shown some improvement in the energy sector. We now know that not only is this feat possible, but that it will create hundreds of thousands of jobs, positively impacting most if not all of Lebanon’s Sustainable Development Goals. 

– Carl Massad

Carl is based in Chandler, AZ, USA and focuses on Technology and Solutions for The Borgen Project.

Photo: Flickr

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Renewable Energy in Monaco  

Renewable Energy in MonacoRenewable energy in Monaco is becoming more common today. From seawater heat pumps to solar power, these are resources that are not easily depleted within our lifetime and Monaco looks to become a more green country. Renewable energy allows for better energy efficiency and reduces greenhouse gas emissions, which in turn helps with combating changing weather patterns. 

Types of Renewable Energy

The most common types of renewable energy in Monaco come from sunlight and wind power. The country is utilizing these two resources in many places. There are also other types of renewable resources, such as hydropower and geothermal energy. 

Solar panels take energy from the sun and transfer it into usable energy for the building or space that the solar panels are connected to. There are two types of solar panels used in Monaco today: solar photovoltaic panels and solar thermal panels. 

Solar photovoltaic panels are used to take energy from the sun and transfer it into electricity. Most of these panels are found on top of buildings, such as schools and office buildings. There are also some residential buildings that use solar panels. All of these buildings use this energy to meet their needs for electricity, such as lighting. One of the most well-known projects in Monaco for solar panels has been the installation at École des Revoires School. These panels allow for optimal capture of sunlight and allow the school to be self-sufficient in heating water. 

Thermal panels, on the other hand, use energy to heat water areas. Currently, many swimming pools, such as the pool in the Ecole St Charles building, are being heated by these panels but there are other uses for this type of solar panel. 

Seawater Heat Pumps

Seawater heat pumps take energy from the sea and transform it into energy to heat or cool buildings. These pumps are able to extract either warm or cold water from the sea, in Monaco’s case that sea being the Mediterranean. 

Seawater heat pumps are currently being used to produce almost 20% of Monaco’s energy. The pumps are a much more sustainable solution to the world’s energy problems, as they produce energy three to four times more than they consume. 

Green Transportation

Monaco offers many accommodations to eliminate carbon-burning transportation. The principality has a public bus system, electric bikes, electric car-sharing services and even a solar-powered water bus. 

Monaco has implemented incentives for citizens to use green transportation. Parking passes have reduced fees for those traveling in electric or hybrid vehicles. There is also a discounted price for car sharing, helping struggling families. 

Financial Incentives

The government is offering financial incentives to property owners for the implementation of renewable energy resources. These incentives help with financial burdens for struggling owners. There is another benefit of using renewable energy: the buyback of excess power produced from solar panels. Homeowners are able to sell this excess power for a guaranteed price. 

Another incentive for citizens is to practice proper waste management techniques. Monaco implemented a rewards system where recycling earns points to use for goods and services. Many benefits stem from this system, including revenue for citizens who might be struggling financially. 

Monaco’s Goals for the Future

Monaco’s aim is to reduce its greenhouse gas emissions by 55% by 2030. These reductions are coming from the three highest areas of emissions: transportation, waste treatment and energy consumption. These areas take up around 90% of the principalities’ emissions. Renewable energy in Monaco is just the beginning of a transition to a new era of sustainability. 

– Dorothy Howard

Dorothy is based in Greensboro, NC, USA and focuses on Technology and Solutions for The Borgen Project.

Photo: Wikimedia Commons

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Solar Power Innovations Fuel Poverty Reduction in Libya

Solar Power in LibyaLibya is at large a topographically desert-arid country located in North Africa. It is the fourth largest country in Africa by surface area but has a population of more than 7 million people making it extraordinarily diffusely populous. Despite its controllable population, Poverty in Libya is a concern and a third of Libya’s citizens live below the poverty line. Political instability is the direct catalyst of socioeconomic inequality. Libya was once one of Africa’s wealthiest and most developed nations as recently as last decade, but unfortunately for Libyans, it feels like a whole lifetime ago. The 2011 revolution that resulted in a government overthrow has imparted an unrelenting vacuum of civil unrest, stunted economic growth and failed political transitions. For the average Libyan it has meant brooding over the most essential hygiene factors such as employment, nourishment, access to education and electricity.

Poverty in Libya and Access to Electricity

Before 2011, Libya possessed one of the highest electrification rates in Africa, however, the opposite is true now. About one-third of Libyans do not have access to electricity. The issue becomes extra fatal during the hot summer months as the “country can only meet two-thirds of peak summer demand,” causing heat strokes and a plethora of other medical emergencies to many Libyan citizens. No power means no air conditioning, a macabre combination for a country that regularly sees temperatures exceeding 40 degrees Celsius.

No air conditioning pillages small businesses in Libya too, the lifeline to every economy. For example, butchers have to dispose of meat for sale by the masses because of spoiling without electricity for freezers. No electricity increases food waste because people cannot refrigerate their food. Energy insecurity also contracts agricultural output. That issue only worsens multidimensional poverty because it increases food insecurity, with more than 38% of Libyan children under the age of 5 suffering from chronic malnutrition. 

Solar Energy Potential: A Solution to Poverty in Libya

Libya’s instabilities are comprehensive and wide-ranging. However, thanks to the country’s natural geographic state, installing solar panels could solve the issue of energy insecurity. According to Forbes, “1.2% of the Sahara desert is sufficient to cover all of the energy needs of the world.” Leveraging the Sahara desert for energy supply on an international cross-border scale is far more difficult than doing so on a national level.

Libya has the second largest share of the Sahara in Africa after Algeria and the desert covers more than 90% of Libya’s total land. Only a small fraction of that 90% could generate a surfeit of solar electric power that would provide light to 100% of Libya’s population. These stats make solar power an efficacious proposition for Libya’s energy poverty to say the absolute least. The rapid increase of solar power could rapidly decrease food poverty in Libya because it is a ubiquitously accessible and more cost-effective means to electrify homes. Higher electrification means less food waste. Solar energy is a prodigious innovation to poverty reduction in Libya.

Photovoltaic Technology in Libya

The U.S. Department of Technology explains the photovoltaic technology (PV) behind solar panel energy as follows, “When the sun shines onto a solar panel, energy from the sunlight is absorbed by the PV cells in the panel. This energy creates electrical charges that move in response to an internal electrical field in the cell, causing electricity to flow… Concentrating solar-thermal power (CSP) systems use mirrors to reflect and concentrate sunlight onto receivers that collect solar energy and convert it to heat, which can then be used to produce electricity or stored for later use. It is used primarily in very large power plants.”

Engineering solar farms to reach home electricity is not a pure plug-and-play though. “Solar energy technology does not end with electricity generation by PV or CSP systems. These solar energy systems must be integrated into homes, businesses and existing electrical grids with varying mixtures of traditional and other renewable energy sources.” Therefore, solar energy is not a replacement innovation for poverty eradication in Libya, but rather a complimentary upgrade.

According to the International Renewable Energy Agency (IRENA), the cost of solar PV technology has decreased by roughly 90% since 2009. That is a massive reduction, but the arduous cost driver for Libya could probably lie in rebuilding its electrical grid supply. Libya has spun back into its low development phase in the past 13 years. Different militant organized crime units regularly damage electricity lines in their fighting. In January 2016, an armed attack near a Benghazi power plant left five of the city’s six transformed damaged.

Positive Examples

Organizations like the Rockefeller Foundation have recently committed $10 billion for solar power energy projects in Sierra Leone. Libya’s geographical position could help the country with its solar energy projects more than any other country in the world because it is 90% desert. Another advantage Libya has over every other developing country is its rich oil reserve supply that once exported 1.6 million barrels of oil a day. Foreign governments and private companies can certainly have a financial interest in investing in Libya’s solar farm infrastructure in exchange for a reasonable oil trade deal.

The Renewable Energy Authority of Libya (REAoL) has launched multiple solar energy projects and aims to complete them in the next few years. Energy Capital & Power reports that “UAE-based Alpha Dhabi Holding and GECOL aims to construct two additional solar plants in Libya, with a target capacity of 2 GW.” Given the fact solar energy projects in Libya are still in progress without full completion, conclusions on the impact they have had on poverty eradication in Libya cannot be made yet. The caveat all boils down to Libya establishing a firm grasp of law and order, so its infrastructure remains safe from tampering. One cannot say Libya’s energy crisis is without hope. The country’s solution is under the sun and above the soil. 

The Future of Libya

Libya is still very much in the midst of an overhaul and rebuild in the aftermath of a civil war that commenced over a decade ago. Energy poverty is a societal ailment that trickles down as a contributor to Libya’s food insecurity and children’s malnutrition. Poverty comes in many forms, hence why the term multidimensional poverty exists. Every type of poverty is intersectional. Solar power is a viable solution to widespread inaccessible electrification in Libya. Once Libya makes big strides in expanding its domestic solar power network, it could have a domino effect in reducing many other forms of poverty, especially food insecurity. 

– Danial Osmani
Photo: Flickr

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Improving Access to Electricity in Liberia

Electricity in LiberiaLiberia, a low-income country in West Africa, has an estimated population of 5 million people, of which only “34% have access to electricity.” Electricity is an important resource for many reasons, such as operating home appliances and powering technology used within health care and education facilities to enhance fundamental services. Therefore, access to electricity is an essential factor in reducing poverty because it develops these basic services, which (in different ways) improve the lives of individuals. This is why the work of the international nongovernmental organization (NGO) Sustainable Energy for All (SEforALL) is so important, as it aims to improve access to electricity in Liberia, allowing the country to foster a better quality of life for its population.

The Work of SEforALL

SEforALL was established by the former United Nations (U.N.) Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon in 2011. It is an important organization that creates multifaceted approaches to improving access to African countries, tailoring it to each country’s specific needs. This means that the charity also aims to improve the energy sector of other African countries, such as Nigeria and Zimbabwe. In the case of Liberia, which has “limited electricity generation,” the organization’s strategy to increase access to electricity revolves around utilizing renewable energy sources, such as hydro biomass and solar energy.

These plans are projected to have positive knock-on effects, benefit individuals by making day-to-day tasks easier and providing access to sanitary and more convenient home appliances. In addition, electricity in Liberia will have positive implications for businesses that manufacture exportable materials. For instance, industries with access to electricity in Liberia will allow them to make goods faster, positively affecting the economy and workers.

Sustainability

SEforALL highlights the importance of sustainability in its public statement (as well as its name), emphasizing the importance of improving Africa’s energy sector while acknowledging environmental considerations. Central to the efforts of SEforALL is its mission to provide specialist support, expertise and technology to “accelerate action on Sustainable Development Goal (SDG) 7.” Adequate electricity generation cultivates a higher standard of living for Liberian individuals and the NGO is committed to achieving this sustainably.

This is primarily done by utilizing renewable sources instead of exploiting damaging non-renewable sources because “there is unequivocally no sustainable future in fossil fuel-based power generation.” This is because fossil fuels are enormous contributors to climate change. Liberia is already vulnerable to the adverse effects of global warming due to the country’s “high dependence on climate change sensitive sectors, such as agriculture, fisheries, mining and forestry.”

Recording Positive Changes

Research has shown that Liberian land possesses natural energy sources, such as hydro biomass, which needs to be more effectively harvested. Therefore, the efforts of SEforAll, which plans to improve access to electricity in Liberia and aims for “electricity production to reach 5000 GWh by 2030,” are creating better lives in West Africa. This is because the organization acknowledges the need for electricity in Liberia to meet the population’s needs, especially in the digital age, which is driven by technology and powered by electricity.

– Amelie Bunce
Photo: Flickr

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The Future of Renewable Energy in Kosovo

Renewable energy in KosovoIn 2024, Kosovo is at a crossroads. Its antique coal power plants cannot meet demand and need refurbishment. Many people see this as the perfect opportunity to expand the use of renewable energy in Kosovo. However, any renewable future in Kosovo has to contend with the state’s large coal reserves.  

The Current Energy Situation

Europe’s newest country is ranked 166th by size. But, within its 4,203 square miles, there are 12.44 Megatons of lignite coal. Kosovo has the world’s fifth-largest proven reserve of this type of coal. Kosovars have been dependent on this lignite coal since Yugoslav times. Even today, two lignite coal power plants – Kosova A and Kosova B – produce over 90% of Kosovo’s electricity. This current setup is facing problems in 2024. 

Ageing Infrastructure and Energy Importation

Yugoslavia built Kosova A in 1962 and B in 1983, respectively. Today, the plants are inefficient and in need of modernization. There are frequent blackouts at the two plants as they struggle with demand. 

The power grid is also in bad condition. Some rural villages report that they do not receive electricity for six months of the year. Two-thirds of people in poverty in Kosovo live in the countryside. Economic growth is nearly impossible without a reliable energy supply. Kosovo’s current energy problems are trapping people in the cycle of poverty. 

Kosovo has had to import energy as the power plants cannot provide the required levels in their current state. In 2022, Kosovo spent 12.5% of its GDP on importing energy, according to the International Monetary Fund (IMF) paper. This is a high percentage for a growing economy like Kosovo. It harms their ability to provide basic services for their citizens. For example, Kosovo only spends 3.5% of its GDP on health care while the EU average is 19.5%. Energy importation is a large burden on the Kosovo economy. 

Furthermore, expensive energy importation is having a subsequent effect on citizens as well. Many reports estimate that 40% of Kosovars live in energy poverty, according to a 2022 article by Ana Krstinovska. Energy importation drives the price of energy up in Kosovo and leads to locals not being able to afford basic energy necessities. 

Poor Air Quality

Kosovo has some of the most polluted air in Europe. Kosovo’s carbon intensity – CO2 emissions released per unit of electricity- is four times the rest of Europe, according to the IMF paper. The consensus is that Kosova A and B are the sources of this poor air quality. Their inefficiency and high usage make them two of Europe’s most polluting power plants, according to Intellinews.

Next to these coal power plants is the town of Obiliq. The citizens here suffer due to bad air quality. In 2020, environmental NGO Bankwatch studied dust concentration in Obiliq. The level of harmful toxins in the air surpassed the EU-required limit in 17 of the 26 days of the study.

Bankwatch specifically measured dangerous particulate matter (PM2.5) in the air. Long-term exposure to PM2.5 can lead to respiratory, pulmonary and heart diseases. In 2019, long-term PM2.5 exposure caused 4.14 million deaths worldwide.   

In 2024, Kosovo has made some steps towards a more sustainable energy grid already. Two years ago, Kosovo opened its biggest wind farm. The Selac Wind Farm has 27 turbines and provides electricity for around 10% of Kosovars. 

The project employed mostly workers from the local communities around the wind farm site. Contractors were contractually obliged to limit the amount of foreign workers during the project and the project brought much-needed jobs to this region. 

The Future of Energy in Kosovo

The Kosovo leadership has provided mixed messages on its commitment to a renewable future. The current government wants to modernize Kosova B and two units of Kosova A. A refurbishment would make the plants less polluting and increase energy production. This plan would allow Kosovo to be less reliant on importing energy. Bankwatch says the plans “would be an improvement, though less optimal than investment into renewable,” Intellinews reports.

The refusal to phase out coal is a controversial decision. In 2023, an environmental watchdog called it a “critical gap in Kosovo’s commitment to decarbonization,” according to Reuters. Kosova A and B are likely to remain in use beyond 2040.  

The strategy, whilst controversial for what it does not include, does provide proof of plans for a more renewable future. The Kosovo government set out these targets for 2031:

  • Reduce greenhouse gas emissions in the energy sector by 32%
  • Increase the share of renewable energy sources up to 35% 
  • Develop new solar, wind and biomass energy infrastructure.

The World Bank describes this strategy as “laying the foundations for greener growth in Kosovo,” Intellinews reports. Renewable energy in Kosovo could provide a safer and healthier environment. A renewable future in Kosovo could have a lower level of PM2.5 in the air than any future with fossil fuels. 

The refurbishment of Kosova A and B means they could become less polluting and produce more energy. This could mean better air quality and less energy imports. However, it could keep coal part of Kosovo’s energy production for the foreseeable future. The emergence of renewable energy in Kosovo is exciting but could continue to be alongside coal instead of replacing it.  

– Richard Sartor
Photo: Flickr

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Renewable Energy in Liberia

Renewable Energy in LiberiaRenewable energy is any form of energy that comes from natural resources. An important component of renewable energy is its source. For energy to be renewable, it must come from a place that replenishes. Some examples of renewable energy include the sun and wind.

It is now a common trend for new and developing countries to adopt renewable energy as their main energy source, with Liberia currently working to incorporate more renewable energy into its energy sector. The country’s plans for renewable energy seek to rectify its inadequate power situation. According to a study by the International Energy Agency in 2019, only 3% of the population had access to the electrical grid.

What Is the Issue?

Like many other countries in the world, Liberia mostly relies on common forms of energy. Its major source of energy is biomass fuel, which includes firewood and charcoal. Another important source of electricity for the country is the combination of hydroelectric power and diesel generators. These sources are only available to a limited portion of the population, as the more remote the area, the lower the probability of electricity being produced in the area.

Renewable energy usage in Liberia is low, with hydroelectric power accounting for just 6% of energy consumption. This is due to a reliance on traditional sources of electricity and energy. Liberia has great potential to harness renewable energy from sources such as solar energy and hydro biomass (a combination of energy from dead animals/plants and water). However, the main challenge in Liberia’s adoption of renewable energy is obtaining the necessary resources to do so.

The Goal

In 2024, Liberia announced in the National Determined Contribution Document that it plans to reduce greenhouse gas emissions by at least 64%. The goal is to reach this number by 2030. The country also wants to use around 30% renewable energy after 2030. To achieve these goals, Liberia is looking for monetary help from countries and organizations abroad.

The help from other organizations began in 2017 when the Climate Investment Fund Awarded the country around $23 million to help remodel the country’s energy sector. Further, the Green Climate Fund aims to help with climate change around the world. Since 2017, the fund has donated $44 million to help reach the country’s energy goals.

How Is It Going?

Renewable energy is slowly becoming a reality in Liberia. Starting in 2018, Sun Star Green Energy, a renewable energy company, installed more than 10,000 solar-powered homes and solar lamps in the country’s rural areas. Implementing these homes is helping the residents in the area immensely, giving residents a chance to have electricity.

In that same year, the Millennium Challenge Corporation fixed the Mount Coffee hydropower plant in the country. As of now, the new plant produces 88 watts of power, which is twice as much as the country used to produce. Ultimately, renewable energy in Liberia is on track to have a bright future with the help and resources of others to facilitate it.

– Madison McCray

Madison is based in Rockhill, SC, USA and focuses on Good News and Global Health for The Borgen Project.

Photo: Pixabay

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Renewable Energy in Gabon

Renewable Energy in GabonGabon, a small country in Africa, has had limited electricity access for its citizens, particularly in rural areas. Conventional sources of energy have proven unsustainable in the past and thus the country of Gabon has sought a better alternative. With 98.6% of Gabon’s urban population having access to clean electricity by 2021, here is how the government managed to implement renewable energy in Gabon.

Natural Resources

Gabon is home to an ample amount of natural resources that act as renewable resources. The biggest one in particular is water. With a vast network of rivers and streams flowing through the country, Gabon can produce 51% of its energy through hydroelectricity in 2022. Unlike other renewable resources, hydroelectricity provides a consistent supply of energy throughout the day and night. Additionally, its lower setup set-up cost and maintenance made it the perfect choice for Gabon. Many hydropower projects are starting up in both the private and government sector such as the Kinguélé Aval Hydropower Plant which will produce a massive 35 MW of renewable energy.

However, Gabon is also investing in other renewable energy sources such as solar. New initiatives such as the Ayémé Plaine solar plant can drastically transform the energy landscape by producing massive amounts of energy. In the case of this plant, it would produce a tremendous 120 MW of power and provide many skilled jobs to the nearby population.

Another resource that Gabon has is labour. Some projects like hydropower dams require hundreds of workers. With more than a third of Gabon’s population living in poverty, any type of governmental project that requires jobs could directly help provide jobs to the people of Gabon whilst helping the economy and the environment.

Governmental Action

Gabon’s government has shown a strong commitment to renewable energy in its policies and initiatives. By 2025, the government hopes that renewable energy in Gabon will account for 100% of the country’s energy. Gabon plans to boost this with major infrastructure projects such as the Grand Poubara Dam, at a cost of more than $190 million.

Renewable energy in Gabon is not the only thing that has set this country on the green path. With delicate preservation of the 88% forest landscape, Gabon can absorb up to 200 million tonnes of carbon dioxide from the air. This also serves as another source of income for the country that they can sell in open through sales in carbon markets. Gabon has also made commitments to reducing half of its greenhouse gas emissions by 2025 as well.

The Future

While it has a unique geographical advantage and a strong commitment to renewable energy, Gabon could face challenges in achieving its renewable goals. One of the biggest challenges that Gabon faces is the extension of green energy to Gabon’s rural areas. While 80% of the population lives in urban cities, the other 20% is dispersed throughout the country. While creating a system that can reach the rural regions may not only be challenging but also financially demanding, Gabon has begun working on several solutions such as a new grid and smaller plants to help address the concerns of energy poverty while also preserving its green initiative. Examples of the commitment to combatting access inequality are the construction of 163 km of 63-KV lines linking Mitzic via Oyem to Bitam and the 1-MW plant in Lambaréné.

Despite these challenges, Gabon has demonstrated the feasibility of shifting towards renewable energy on a massive scale. Gabon’s struggle to provide electricity to now having a 97% access rate to electricity highlights how a strong geological advantage and proactive governmental action can transform a country.

– Aman Chaudhary
Photo: Wikimedia Commons

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Energy in Suriname: Reducing Energy Poverty

SurinameSuriname may be the smallest country in Latin America in terms of population and area. However, it is the largest in terms of natural resources. The government has a rich history of gold and bauxite mining. However, the recent discovery of vast offshore oil fields has the potential to bring prosperity from a new resource.

The Surinamese government has been in conversations with global oil companies that could fetch as much as $9 billion for rights to develop the area. This income could provide an instrumental opportunity for the country as 26% of its population lives in extreme poverty. Suriname President Chandrikapersad Santokhi added that this opportunity could “end global energy poverty.”

However, a lack of energy and power severely challenges poverty reduction as services like health care and education become limited. Nonetheless, Suriname has had some successful ventures in combating energy poverty and the current situation can provide the opportunity to make an impact on a larger level.

Overview of Energy in Suriname

Suriname is one of three net-zero countries in the world. Its expanse of dense forests helps it absorb more carbon than it emits, but it has also made progress in using green energy, with 38% of its overall electricity coming from hydropower. The use of multiple energy sources has helped Suriname provide power to 98% of its population. However, there are still challenges for those living in dense forest areas, primarily indigenous communities. Historically, these people relied upon old gas-powered generators for electricity, which could limit power to only four hours per day.

To address this, the government, the International Development Bank and the Caribbean Investment Facility rolled out a Sustainable Energy Framework in Suriname. This program helped bring more than 20,000 people reliable electricity through sustainable methods, including mini solar grids. The increase in power access is a key advantage for these populations in improving living conditions.

In Suriname, most of the energy is still produced from oil. Staatsolie, a state-owned organization, manages the majority of oil and gas operations in the country. It has collaborated with the government to establish sustainable standards and practices that aim to maintain its net-zero rating. The company also hosts the Suriname Energy Oil and Gas Summit and donates the event’s revenues to communities in need. This includes renovating schools for children living in poverty. Despite these positives, inequitable energy, inflation and government subsidies contribute to high power and fuel prices. The impending oil boom can address this key area.

Opportunities With Oil and Gas

Staatsolie has recently signed an agreement with two other companies to increase production in offshore oil fields. This increase is expected to begin later this year and continue until 2025. Government officials have previously declared their commitment to utilizing the influx of oil and its respective revenue for economic development.

There is an increased demand for various goods and services associated with the impending production, which will benefit Surinamese businesses and citizens. Rather than outsourcing employment, Suriname can award opportunities to its vulnerable populations and empower entrepreneurs. Investing in economic development is the key to addressing the challenges of inflation and insurmountable energy costs. In addition to employment, this is a perfect driver for organizations like Staatsolie to increase their humanitarian work to address poverty in the nation.

– William Galante

William is based in Southbury, CT, USA  and focuses on Good News for The Borgen Project.

Photo: Wikimedia Commons