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Climate Action Accelerator > Solution Areas > Renewable energy

Renewable energy

80% of the world’s energy comes from fossil fuels, which are very large contributors of greenhouse gases (GHG) emissions. Other energy sources exist which produce much less GHG: the decarbonised and the renewable energies. That is why they are an essential part of any climate action plan, and must be developed and used in priority.

What is the solution?

Switching to solar photovoltaic energy, or other renewable energies such as solar thermal, wind or hydroelectricity, reduces the dependence on fossil fuels and generators. Auto-production of electricity (mainly photovoltaic) is now facilitated by companies offering both a technical support to install solar panels in your facility and a Power Purchase Agreement whereby they buy the surplus of electricity you produce. The other solution of to buy electricity from green electricity suppliers (when available). However, the transition towards renewable energy must include the promotion of energy sobriety. The greenest energy remains the energy we do not consume.

Why is it important?

Whether it is for headquarters, field infrastructure or emergency operations, aid organisations consume energy mainly from fossil fuels. However, low-carbon energy alternatives exist in many cases.

To cover the needs in the field, organisations often use diesel generators, which are high emitters of CO2. Replacing those generators by renewable energy production, significantly reduces the carbon footprint.

© Andreas Gucklhorn/Unsplash.

Points of attention

The installation and operation of a renewable energy production initially requires a good knowledge of the current energy consumption and an accurate dimensioning of the whole system.

The equipment chosen should be robust and, as much as possible, repairable locally or regionally.

The equipment should be installed in such a way that operating, maintaining and servicing can be carried out easily and safely (ex. cleaning of solar panels on roofs).

Good to know

An energy is said to be renewable when its source is renewed or replenished faster than it is consumed. Historically, it was the case of  the first energies used by humanity (wind, sun, water, tides). Some renewable energies cannot produce electricity continuously; they are called intermittent (wind, solar). Others are said to be controllable because it is possible to adjust their production to consumption (hydroelectricity, biomass, wood if trees are re-planted).

Decarbonised energy is an energy that does not emit carbon dioxide (CO2) (or equivalent greenhouse gases) in the process of converting primary energy into final energy. This is the case of nuclear power since it does not produce CO2, although it depends on uranium, which is a non-renewable resource.

However, it is important to bear in mind that all kinds of energy production emit some greenhouse gases, especially if we take into account the energy needed to mine, produce, and transport materials, then build converters or power plants (wind turbines, solar panels, nuclear and other power plants).

No energy is clean, and every machine needs raw materials. To be rigorous, we should use the term “low-carbon” energy.

Key facts

80%

of the world’s energy comes from fossil fuels (1)

11%

of the world’s electricity could come from solar photovoltaics by 2050 (2)

  • Greenhouse gas emissions per 1 kWh of electricity produced

    • Nuclear → 6 g CO2-eq / kWh
    • Hydropower → 12 g CO2-eq / kWH
    • Wind power → 15 g CO2-eq / kWh
    • Solar photovoltaic energy → 44 g CO2-eq / kWh
    • Natural gas → 418g CO2-eq / kWh
    • Fuel oil → 730g CO2-eq / kWh
    • Coal → 1058g CO2-eq / kWh (3)

To ponder

The Global Platform for Action (GPA), is the global initiative to promote actions that enable sustainable energy access in displacement settings. The initiative consulted energy experts in the humanitarian sectors to estimate the number of diesel and petrol generators used to generate electricity in humanitarian operations, in order to propose a possible transition towards solar solutions. Based on responses from six UN organisations and the ICRC, it is estimated that there are currently 11,365 generators in use. This represents approximately $108 million spent by humanitarian agencies on fuel every year, and 194,000 tons of CO2 emitted. Furthermore, it is estimated that a total investment of $236 million would be needed to set up viable photovoltaic installations, saving $70 million in fuel and 126,000 tons of CO2 per year. (4)

Key solutions

  • #1 Diagnosis & monitoring

    Carry out an energy diagnosis and regular monitoring of electrical installations in order to gain a better understanding of the electricity consumption, and propose more appropriate equipment. Connected electrical boxes, placed on the electricity meter, easy to install and inexpensive, provide all the necessary information for a good understanding of the real energy needs and a correct dimensioning of the equipment.

  • #2 Sobriety, the number one priority

    Develop and implement internal policies and “best practices” to promote energy efficiency and reduce energy consumption. Reduce heating and cooling and set temperature standards for offices, homes, shops and warehouses. Inform all users and/or stakeholders and communicate the results.

  • #3 Solar photovoltaic energy

    Photovoltaic (PV) energy is an electrical energy produced from solar radiation by means of photovoltaic panels or plants. The vast majority of photovoltaic panels are made from silicon, which has the property of transforming solar radiation into electricity.

  • #4 Direct solar thermal energy

    Solar thermal energy is usually heat produced from solar radiation by means of solar thermal panels. It is used to directly heat premises or domestic water (greenhouses, bioclimatic architecture, solar heating panels, solar water heaters).

  • #5 Wind energy

    Wind energy is the kinetic energy of the wind, transformed by a wind generator into electrical energy (wind turbine coupled to a generator) or mechanical energy (direct pumping wind turbine, water mill, sailboat, etc.).

  • #6 Hydroelectricity

    Hydraulic energy is the kinetic energy produced by the movement of large amount of water: waterfalls, rivers, tides, waves, etc. This energy can be used directly (water mills) or transformed into electrical energy (hydroelectric power station or micropower station for domestic use).

  • #7 Geothermal

    Simple surface geothermal systems, such as climatic wells (canadian or provencal wells), allow the passive use of the ground temperature to heat or cool premises. The air or liquid circulating in a buried pipe network captures the constant temperature of the ground which is then redistributed inside the building.

  • #8 Switch to a green electricity supplier

    Switch from a fossil fuel electricity supplier to a low-carbon electricity supplier. An offer is only “green” if the electricity supplier injects the same amount of renewable energy into the grid as its customers consume.

  • #9 Power purchase agreement

    In some countries, specialised companies propose their technical support to install an independent power production in a private, independent client’s facility (e.g. photovoltaic panels to cover the roof of an hospital) and offer a power purchase agreement (PPA) to buy the surplus of electricity they produce, before re-injecting it in the network. They are able to cover all technical aspects of a PV installation, including dimensioning, construction, maintenance and operation.

  • #10 Passive measures

    The switch to renewable energy should preferably be accompanied by an improvement in the energy performance of the buildings. Various passive measures to reduce energy consumption, mainly air conditioning or heating, can be applied: white reflective paint on roofs, insulation of the external envelope, installation of solar shading.

Success stories

A solar-powered hospital in Haiti

The Mirebalais Hospital in Haiti is powered by solar energy, combining innovative design and healthcare. It is said to be the largest hospital in the world to be powered primarily by solar energy. In a region where power outages average 3 hours a day, the sun is a more reliable and cost-effective source of energy. The 1800 solar panels on the hospital’s roof produce up to 140 megawatt hours (MWh) of electricity on a clear day. This represents more than 100% of the hospital’s daily energy needs, with the surplus being fed into Haiti’s severely inadequate national power grid.

According to Jim Ansara, construction manager, “The challenge was in the design and engineering, and in integrating the solar power produced into the often unstable grids and backup generators. At every stage, we tried things that had never been done before…” (5)

Babilonia favela in Rio de Janeiro runs on solar energy

The favela has 104 photovoltaic panels, with four installations, one on the roof of a youth hostel, another on the roof of a neighbourhood association (60 panels to provide energy for 34 families). The production is connected to the local electricity network and the distributor takes into account this solar energy contribution to reduce the amount of the bills, with a variable tariff according to the production. The result is an electricity about 50% cheaper. (6)

Solvatten solar safe water heater in Kenya

Solvatten is a dual water treatment and solar water heating system. The device harnesses the power of the sun to treat and heat water, reducing the need to heat and boil water by burning firewood or charcoal. The units are capable of rendering highly contaminated water drinkable in a few hours, provided there is sufficient sunlight. A combination of UV rays and heat warms and eliminates all pathogenic material in 10 litres of water within 2-3 hours, allowing for multiple batches of water to be treated in a given day. The system is maintenance free and can be used more than seven years. 2592 Solvatten systems have been distributed and sold at a subsidized price in Kenya, benefitting 12900 people in Nairobi’s urban slums. Almost 62 million litres of water have been treated since 2012. Solvatten is highly replicable as the project methodology and process are successful and sound and can be replicated to other cities in other countries. (7)

Cleaner and more economical cooking and lighting equipment with Entrepreneurs of the World

Entrepreneurs of the World facilitates access to cleaner and more economical cooking and lighting equipment to improve the living conditions of vulnerable populations and help them develop income-generating activities. These solutions are accessible through financial services and disseminated through local distribution networks offering good after-sales service. In Cambodia, Entrepreneurs du Monde created the social enterprise Pteah Baitong in 2015 to provide quality solar lighting kits to the most vulnerable families in rural areas. Since 2018, they have been running solar micro-grids that provide cheap and reliable green electricity with enough power to develop income-generating activities. (8)

Electricians Without Borders supports renewable energy

Electriciens Sans Frontières, an international solidarity NGO, fights against inequalities in access to electricity and water in the world. 97% of their development projects use renewable energies and are based on the following two aspects: mitigation and adaptation. (9)

Tools and good practices

To go further

Sources

(1) IEA, World Energy Balances. Read here.

(2) IEA, World Energy Balances. Read here.

(3) ADEME, Base carbone ®. Discover here.
Trajectoires, Les énergies décarbonées. Read here.

(4) UNITAR, Global Platform for Action (GPA) on Sustainable Energy in Deplacement Settings. Read here.

(5) PIH’s Solar-Powered Mirebalais Hospital Opens in Haiti, Merging Innovative Design and Healthcare. Read here.

(6) Au Brésil, une favela de Rio tourne à l’énergie solaire. Read here.

(7) Solvatten Solar Safe Water Heater in Kenya, Read here.

(8) Entrepreneurs du Monde, Accès à l’énergie. Read here.

(9) Electriciens Sans Frontières, L’accès  à l’électricité et à l’eau. Read here.

 

Cover photo © Nadeem Jafar/Pexels.

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