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World Energy Leaders Launch Energy-efficiency Initiative

June 12, 2008 | 7 Comments

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Washington, DC United States [RenewableEnergyWorld.com] On Monday, U.S. Secretary of Energy Samuel W. Bodman concluded his weekend visit to Aomori, Japan where the energy ministers from the Group of Eight industrialized countries (G8) and from China, India and South Korea met to discuss ways to enhance global energy security while simultaneously combating global climate change. The G8 includes Canada, Russia, France, Germany, Italy, Japan, the United Kingdom and the United States.

The high-ranking officials agreed to establish the International Partnership for Energy Efficiency Cooperation (IPEEC).

The IPEEC will serve as a forum for facilitating a broad range of actions that yield high efficiency gains. The partnership will support on-going work of the participating countries and relevant organizations, exchanging information of best practices, policies and measures and developing public-private partnership programs in key energy consuming sectors as well as on a cross-sectoral basis.

The IPEEC members will also develop public-private partnerships for improving energy efficiency, participate in joint research and development efforts and facilitate the dissemination of energy-related products and services. The energy ministers plan to hold the first IPEEC meeting before the end of the year.

In their joint statement, the ministers committed to "enhance vigorously" their efforts to address any supply disruption risks, to improve energy efficiency, to promote non-conventional oil and alternative energy resources and to diversify supply routes. They also noted that developing alternative transport and fuel technologies is essential to reduce the oil dependence of transportation throughout the world.

On the topic of renewable energy, the ministers indicated that they will "promote research, development and demonstration of new and renewable energy technologies and will facilitate financing for them."

They also noted that appropriate regulation, incentives and/or market mechanisms were necessary in promoting renewable energy technologies and pledged to "accelerate enhanced deployment especially by improvement of grid integration in the field of electricity generated from renewable energy."

The IPEEC declaration also stated that energy efficiency is one of the quickest, greenest and most cost-effective ways to address energy security and climate change while ensuring economic growth, a conclusion supported by a recent study from the American Council for an Energy Efficient Economy (ACEEE). The report, released last week, notes that a 20% efficiency gain in the U.S. economy by 2030 could provide an estimated 800,000 net jobs while contributing to a slight increase in the nation's gross domestic product. ACEEE said that most national energy modeling efforts fail to account for energy efficiency's contribution. According to ACEEE, if the energy efficiency resource were properly characterized by these models, the estimated costs of energy security and climate change policies would fall, while the benefits, net job creation and consumer savings would rise.

"Energy efficiency can provide a significantly large contribution toward stabilizing energy prices and limiting emissions of greenhouse gases," said John A. "Skip" Laitner, ACEEE Director of Economic Analysis and lead author of the report. "It is important for policymakers to realize both the scale of this opportunity and the positive economic benefits provided by an emphasis on greater energy productivity."

The G8 leaders received an International Energy Agency analysis outlining the progress of G8 members adhering to the St. Petersburg Energy Security Principles. Established at the 2006 St. Petersburg G8 Summit, the principles exemplify the shared interest of the G8 nations in promoting global energy security. The principles commit the G8 nations to abide by effective market and investment mechanisms and to embrace transparent legal and regulatory frameworks. Secretary Bodman and his counterparts reiterated their commitment to these principles and encouraged other countries around the world to also embrace the principles.

"To meet our global energy challenges, each nation represented at this weekend's meetings must be an active participant in developing energy solutions that not only address future growth in energy demand, but do so in a way that reduces our impact on the earth's environment," Secretary Bodman said. "This has been a productive series of meetings, and I'm pleased that my G8+3 colleagues have agreed to take steps to achieve a more secure, clean and diverse energy future."

Bioenergy, Hydrogen - Fuel Cells, Ocean Energy, Solar Energy, Wind Power, Energy Efficiency

7 Reader Comments

Comment
1 of 7

gene-schroeder-147801

June 13, 2008

With nine new and unprecedented "GEO Power Plants" – each with an electric capacity of 2,000 [ MW ] and one offers even 8,000 [ MW ] for 2,o [ cents/kWh ] !!! - the marketing and sales company TIC is starting to establish a new era this year in SEA and Europe to supply in five years - without competition - the most inexpensive eco-electricity on our planet and this on a large scale.

This environmental safe - literally offering unlimited resources and established at every and all requested locations on earth – and unmatched clean energy solution has the greatest potential to change and end the worldwide artificial pollution and man-made global warming with lowest energy costs with more help and understanding of these facts.

"Compressed air" generated by low cost eco-electricity allows together with a special photovoltaic system to operate more inexpensive cars with a fraction of the current costs without loosing the comfort and the acceleration !

"New ram-jet systems" together with some advanced innovations offer new transportation opportunities and benefits without pollution or any need for fossil fuel !
Not even a contrail is visible ! Is this not something for the DoD ?

All these innovations exist and are looking for more intelligent people and smarter entrepreneurs, who have a vision for a "clean energy future" and can earn highest profits at the same time !

Sincerely,
Dr. G. Schroeder.
2008-06-13

Comment
2 of 7

gene-schroeder-147801

June 13, 2008

It sounds not real, when U.S. Secretary of Energy Samuel W. Bodman is talking and discussing about import energy issues and at the same time not answering to realistic geothermic solutions several time proposed to him and his professional advisers.
As long as the Government and the DoE administration - especially also their leader Mr. Caruso - is telling the American public, that "not the resources of oil, but the investments are the problems", I may ask politely, how stupid must he and his believers are to accept this nonsense.
In 2005 the three biggest US-oil companies received $ 5 billion subsidies from the Government and in the same year their oil profits exceeded $ 65 billion.
This failed energy policy we can and must change.

There is no doubt at all, that in future rapidly accelerating energy costs are not slowing down.
These are the best signs of a neglected and breaking down energy system, which was and still is the life-line of our population and economies.

Only one source of unlimited, inexpensive and environmental safe base load energy exists.
The internal heat of our planet we can now - for the first time (!) - harvest with high temperatures and high production rates from deeper regions of the earth crust – our lithosphere - with new "SVTs" { SIREX Vertical Tunnels }.
This advanced technology to accomplish deep-earth-crust-penetration was developed with 14 innovations by company SIREX, the global leader in "Pulse Power Technology", within the last 35 years. You can get a glimpse into one of these innovations the "TurboJack" - as a new attachment application in the construction industry -, if you enter google.com and look into the 12-minutes video at
http://turbojack.blogspot.com
or
enter yahoo.com and please, have a look into the websites turbojack.com or GESO.biz.

With nine new and unprecedented GEO Power Plants – each with an electric capacity of 2,000 [ MW ] - the marketing and sales company TIC is starting in 2008

Comment
3 of 7

phil-manke-79191

June 13, 2008

Supply assurance is not what we need our glorious leaders to ensure, but rather enabling the demand side to be educated and able to finance renewable technology. Where our energy comes from is the key to sustainability. Zero interest loan assurances would be a good start. Of course frugality and efficiency are all important parts, but if we don't change our sources we are consuming our future space in space. Consider how much solar energy the costs of a gulf war would finance. Would we need oil as much? Consider sound income tax policies that should tax those that leverage the work of many and take advantage of the hierarchical capitalist system and don't pay for the privilege because the elitists in government are in the league. Consider a financially solvent SOCIAL security system that caps payouts and removes caps on payins. It isn't intended to be a FINANCIAL security system. A world of people that favors and fears the wealthy and greedy will have to learn otherwise or perish.

Comment
4 of 7

paul-johnson-34828

June 13, 2008

I don't suppose you could take your own advice and turn your computer off?

Comment
5 of 7

thomas-schmidt-36371

June 13, 2008

World Energy Leaders Launch Energy-efficiency Initiative.

New title.
Same old song and dance.

In their joint statement, the ministers committed to "enhance vigorously" their efforts to address any supply disruption risks, to improve energy efficiency, to promote non-conventional oil and alternative energy resources and to diversify supply routes. They also noted that developing alternative transport and fuel technologies is essential to reduce the oil dependence of transportation throughout the world.

There is a device, and it can save more energy than anyone could possibly imagine. The problem is, the majority of the human race will not use it. The people that supply energy, including RE, do not want the human race to use this device. Even the governments of the nations of the world do not want this device used.
I can easily assume that government fears a loss of revenues. Industry fears the loss of profit, if this device is used, but what puzzles me is why the majority of the human race on the planet Earth is reluctant to use it.

It, is called, an off switch.

I think that some how, we all know. Its, as if, there is a place in our brains that tells us what would happen if we were to just turn the energy off one day, but we turn away from that massage and ignore it. We would rather give up the entire planet Earth as a whole, than give up our energy.

Pity about Earth.

Earth is trapped inside a bubble of air floatting in the cold, hard, vacum, of space. If we could get in our cars and drive to that cold, hard, vacum, of space, it would take less than an hour to get there. Where will you be, when the bubble POPS!
"Impossible" you say? We will see.

Comment
6 of 7

omar-mardambey-125100

June 14, 2008

It is interesting to hear that the BIG 8 and the three new commers (who represent about 40% of the world's population) are discussing such an important issue in a "serious" way. The question remains: Will they abide by what they have decided? I have my doubts, at least on some of them if not all.

The race for "grabing" the oil of the world and burning it is on. Today I heard on the news that those attending want the oil producing countries to increase production and lower prices. Is this the way to ensure energy efficiency?

I think that the BIG 8, and those attending their meetings, should invest in planting various regions in the world that promise to produce food for those who cannot find it or pay for it. This can create even bigger job opportunities, but for the poor rather that for those who can produce equipment that generates Renewable Energy.

I ask those who read my comment not to think that I am against Renewable Energy or Energy Efficiency. I am not. In fact, I am working through the institute I founded, The Arab Research Institute for Science & Engineering (www.arabrise.org), on projects with universities that target Renewable Energy and Energy Efficiency.

However, I cannot really understand the hypocricy of the BIG 8 in giving advise to oil producing countries to increase their production and lower their prices so they, the BIG 8 can consume more energy without doing their share in supporting the world hungry or saving the globe from the adverse environmental aspects of their energy consuption patterns.

Comment
7 of 7

frank-grassi-74064

June 15, 2008

I am the inventor of a wind power system using static airfoils. Power Towers can demonstrate that wind power is the way forward.

I envision these twin slender skyscrapers size towers that can used as both habitable structures and power generating towers. They would have a kidney airfoil shape and produce 50 MW of power. These slender towers would be wild life friendly and will use 1/10 the land needed by horizontal turbines.

I have discovered a means of producing electric power from the wind that is many times more efficient then the horizontal turbines now in use. My patent pending wind machine will power the 21st. Century! Imagine a 50 MW wind power plant that is operational 100% of the time.

The cost of wind electric energy must be reduced to below $.03/ kWh. and made more reliable in order for wind power to become competitive with coal.

My discovery is an innovative machine using static airfoils. Rotors produce power proportional to the diameter squared. My patent pending invention produces power from the wind not by increasing rotor diameter to immense sizes but by increasing the wind velocity, and since power is proportional to the cube of the velocity you immediately see the advantage.

A wind tunnel test is planed for this fall semester at University of Michigan. This test will confirm my calculations, and provide data to direct my next steps. The importance of this project can not be minimized.

Imagine how the world will change if the world knew what I know about wind power and its abundance.

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