No coin nor oath required. For personal study only.
As a result of the Second World Renewable Energy Congress held last September in Reading, the World Renewable Energy Network (WREN) has been formed. WREN is dedicated to promoting renewable energy throughout the world. The headquarters of WREN are in the U.K. but the Network is under the auspices of UNESCO.
Professor Ali Sayigh, Secretary General of WREN, said: "Recent events highlight the need for all countries to have coherent energy policies. For long term success such policies must include provision for renewable energy. Through WREN we intend not only to promote collaboration and communication among scientists and others concerned with renewable energy, but also to increase public awareness of the issues involved".
About 600 people attended the Congress from 130 different countries. The Congress included plenary sessions and panel discussions on all renewable energies (including Solar Thermal, Wind, Biomass, Wave, Tidal, Hydro, Geothermal, Ocean Thermal, Photovoltaic and Materials Technology, Hydrogen Production, and it also dealt with Climatology and Meteorology) global warming, the greenhouse effect and the replacement of green gases with ozone friendly ones in order to save the ozone layer from depletion : Architecture and Building taking account of Solar and Low Energy Factors ; and Economic, Political and Educational issues, including Taxation in relation to energy use and design for energy efficiency.
Considerable progress was reported in scientific and technological developments which increase the viability of renewable energy as compared with fossil fuels. Some of these were summarised by the Chairman in his concluding remarks. Particularly notable are advances in photovoltaic technology (producing direct electricity from sunlight) using cadmium-telleride cells and polycrystalline silicon cells ; reductions in the cost of electricity generated by wind power to a figure below that of fossil fuel generation in the U.S.A. ; and the success of biogas technology in Asia.
However, great disappointment was expressed over the reluctance of governments to give wholehearted support for renewable energy projects. It is hoped that WREN under the umbrella of UNESCO will be able to increase public awareness and political support.
The Third World Renewable Energy Congress will be held from 11 to 16 September 1994, again in Reading, U.K. The Congress and the establishment of WREN have highlighted the crucial role which renewable energy can play both in developing and developed countries. Moreover, they have indicated that production of renewable energy devices based on new technologies developed over the last few years, could be a route out of recession for the industrial nations of the world.
๐ SIMILAR VOLUMES