Análisis del Mercado de Estufas y Combustibles de Guatemala: situación del sector / Analysis of the Stove and Fuel Market of Guatemala: situation of the sector

El Mercado de Estufas y Combustibles fue realizado por Energía Sin Fronteras, Fundación Solar y la Universidad Politécnica de Madrid, en colaboración con ONGAWA Ingeniería para el Desarrollo Humano, en nombre de la Alianza Global para Estufas Limpias.

The role of biochemical engineering in the production of biofuels from microalgae.

Environmental changes that have occurred due to the use of fossil fuels have driven the search for alternative sources that have a lower environmental impact. First-generation biofuels were derived from crops such as sugar cane, corn and soybean, which contribute to water scarcity and deforestation. Second-generation biofuels originated from lignocellulose agriculture and forest residues, however these needed large areas of land that could be used for food production. Based on technology projections, the third generation of biofuels will be derived from microalgae. Microalgae are considered to be an alternative energy source without the drawbacks of the first- and second-generation biofuels. Depending upon the growing conditions, microalgae can produce biocompounds that are easily converted into biofuels. The biofuels from microalgae are an alternative that can keep the development of human activity in harmony with the environment. This study aimed to present the main biofuels that can be derived from microalgae.

Running on empty: health care energy use in a developing country.

Health care systems require reliable energy for high-quality services. Rising fossil fuel prices globally limit the capacity of developing countries to provide continuous and essential health care services. Global health care projects should focus on energy innovation for health care use.

Costo efectividad del gas natural domiciliario como tecnología sanitaria en localidades rurales del Caribe Colombiano / The cost-effectiveness of installing natural gas as a sanitary alternative for rural communities on the Colombian Caribbean coast burning biomass fuels

Objetivo Valorar el impacto económico del Gas Natural Domiciliario -GND- como tecnología sanitaria sobre la enfermedad respiratoria asociada al humo de biomasa en localidades del caribe colombiano. Métodos Tres estudios combinados: a) carga de enfermedad respiratoria asociada al uso de combustibles de biomasa; b) costos de la enfermedad (Infección Respiratoria Aguda -IRA- y Enfermedad Pulmonar Obstructiva Crónica-EPOC); y c) análisis de costo efectividad del GND para reducir morbilidad por enfermedades respiratorias. Resultados En las localidades se esperarían anualmente 498 (477-560) casos de IRA que generaría 149 (119-196) hospitalizaciones, 6 (4-10) muertes y 7 291 (5 746 -9 696) AVAD. También se esperarían 459 (372-684) casos de EPOC, 138 (93- 239) hospitalizaciones, 11 (5-26) muertes y 1 500 (973-2 711) AVAD. Los costos de esta carga de enfermedad en ausencia del GND son anualmente de 5,2 (3,8-8,3) millones de dólares. De éstos, la mayoría son costos de EPOC (cerca del 85 por ciento). Los costos por IRA y EPOC, luego de instalado el GND, ascienden a 3,5 (2,5-5,7) millones de dólares. Los costos evitados serían 1,6 (1,2-2,6) millones de dólares, (30 por ciento de los costos de la carga). El costo efectividad incremental de introducir el GND sería un poco más de 56 (22-74) mil dólares por muerte evitada y entre 43 y 66 dólares evitar un AVAD. Conclusiones Frente a la no intervención, la instalación del GND resulta ser una tecnología costo efectiva para la reducción de las enfermedades respiratorias asociadas al consumo de combustibles de biomasa.

Objective Evaluating the economic impact of natural gas as a sanitary technology regarding respiratory disease associated with indoor air pollution in rural localities on the Colombian Caribbean coast. Methods Three studies were carried out: the burden of respiratory disease was evaluated (acute lower respiratory infection-ALRI and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease - COPD), disease costs were studied and the cost effectiveness of natural gas was analysed in terms of reducing indoor air pollution. Results Without natural gas in these localities, it would be expected that 498 (477-560) cases of ALRI per year would lead to 149 (119-196) hospitalisations, 6 (4-10) deaths and 7 291 (5,746-9,696) disability adjusted life years (DALY) annually. Furthermore, it is expected that 459 (372-684) cases of COPD per year would lead to 138 (93-239), hospitalisations, 11 deaths (5-26) and 1 500 (973-2 711) DALY annually. Annual disease burden cost was 5,2 (3,8-8,3) million dollars before installing domiciliary natural gas (DNG); most of such cost arose from COPD (around 85 percent). ARI and COPD costs after installing DNG would rise to 3,5 (2,5-5,7) million dollars; avoided costs would be 1,6 (1,2-2,6) million dollars, (30 percent of disease burden cost without DNG). The incremental cost-effectiveness (ICER) of installing DNG would be 56 (22-74) thousand dollars per life saved and ICER per DALY saved would be 43-66 dollars. Conclusion DNG is a sanitary technology which reduces the burden of indoor air pollution-associated respiratory diseases arising from burning biomass fuel in rural localities in a cost-effective way.

[The cost-effectiveness of installing natural gas as a sanitary alternative for rural communities on the Colombian Caribbean coast burning biomass fuels]. / Costo efectividad del gas natural domiciliario como tecnología sanitaria en localidades rurales del Caribe Colombiano.

OBJECTIVE: Evaluating the economic impact of natural gas as a sanitary technology regarding respiratory disease associated with indoor air pollution in rural localities on the Colombian Caribbean coast. METHODS: Three studies were carried out: the burden of respiratory disease was evaluated (acute lower respiratory infection-ALRI and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease - COPD), disease costs were studied and the cost effectiveness of natural gas was analysed in terms of reducing indoor air pollution. RESULTS: Without natural gas in these localities, it would be expected that 498 (477-560) cases of ALRI per year would lead to 149 (119-196) hospitalisations, 6 (4-10) deaths and 7 291 (5,746-9,696) disability adjusted life years (DALY) annually. Furthermore, it is expected that 459 (372-684) cases of COPD per year would lead to 138 (93-239), hospitalisations, 11 deaths (5-26) and 1 500 (973-2 711) DALY annually. Annual disease burden cost was 5,2 (3,8-8,3) million dollars before installing domiciliary natural gas (DNG); most of such cost arose from COPD (around 85 %). ARI and COPD costs after installing DNG would rise to 3,5 (2,5-5,7) million dollars; avoided costs would be 1,6 (1,2-2,6) million dollars, (30 % of disease burden cost without DNG). The incremental cost-effectiveness (ICER) of installing DNG would be 56 (22-74) thousand dollars per life saved and ICER per DALY saved would be 43-66 dollars. CONCLUSION: DNG is a sanitary technology which reduces the burden of indoor air pollution-associated respiratory diseases arising from burning biomass fuel in rural localities in a cost-effective way.

Potential of carbon accumulation in no-till soils with intensive use and cover crops in southern Brazil.

The area under no-till (NT) in Brazil reached 22 million ha in 2004-2005, of which approximately 45% was located in the southern states. From the 1970s to the mid-1980s, this region was a source of carbon dioxide to the atmosphere due to decrease of soil carbon (C) stocks and high consumption of fuel by intensive tillage. Since then, NT has partially restored the soil C lost and reduced the consumption of fossil fuels. To assess the potential of C accumulation in NT soils, four long-term experiments (7-19 yr) in subtropical soils (Paleudult, Paleudalf, and Hapludox) varying in soil texture (87-760 g kg(-1) of clay) in agroecologic southern Brazil zones (central region, northwest basaltic plateau in Rio Grande Sul, and west basaltic plateau in Santa Catarina) and with different cropping systems (soybean and maize) were investigated. The lability of soil organic matter (SOM) was calculated as the ratio of total organic carbon (TOC) to particulate organic carbon (POC), and the role of physical protection on stability of SOM was evaluated. In general, TOC and POC stocks in native grass correlated closely with clay content. Conversely, there was no clear effect of soil texture on C accumulation rates in NT soils, which ranged from 0.12 to 0.59 Mg ha(-1) yr(-1). The C accumulation was higher in NT than in conventional-till (CT) soils. The legume cover crops pigeon pea [Cajanus cajan (L.) Millsp] and velvet beans (Stizolobium cinereum Piper & Tracy) in NT maize cropping systems had the highest C accumulation rates (0.38-0.59 Mg ha(-1) yr(-1)). The intensive cropping systems also were effective in increasing the C accumulation rates in NT soils (0.25-0.34 Mg ha(-1) yr(-1)) when compared to the double-crop system used by farmers. These results stress the role of N fixation in improving the tropical and subtropical cropping systems. The physical protection of SOM within soil aggregates was an important mechanism of C accumulation in the sandy clay loam Paleudult under NT. The cropping system and NT effects on C stocks were attributed to an increase in the lability of SOM, as evidenced by the higher POC to TOC ratio, which is very important to C and energy flux through the soil.

Antecedentes para una política gubernamental de energía que favorezca la salud, el ambiente, la economía y la soberanía nacional / Basis for a government policy on energy that may sustain health, the environment, the economy and national autonomy: use of non conventional renewable sources

Se presentan los peligros que las energías convencionales y la nuclear significan para la salud humana, el desarrollo económico y la sustentabilidad de la vida. Se ha calculado que la única solución efectiva es el pronto y definitivo cese del uso de combustibles fósiles, los cuales pueden y deben ser sustituidos por energías renovables no convencionales (ERNC): eólica, solar, geotermia y mareas. Son limpias, económicas e inagotables. Se describen algunas medidas complementarias útiles, pero que de por sí no solucionan la crisis. En Chile las ERNC son conocidas y se están ensayando. Pero el gobierno sigue otros caminos, que aquí se discuten por ser inefectivos y nocivos. Se propone aprovechar las oportunidades actuales para que se acuerde una política energética nacional moderna, bien informada e integral, con participación de la ciudadanía, de las profesiones de la salud y de todas las instituciones involucradas.

A corporate approach to social monitoring and assessment for development in a fragile environment.

The prevailing corporate trend regarding development of energy resources in the tropics emphasizes financial gain over long-term societal benefits. Some corporations are beginning to find a competitive advantage linked to proactive relations with host communities and adequate protection of fragile ecosystems. Herein, we describe a case study where an international energy production company worked with stakeholders to achieve social capital and sustainable development. The strategies aimed to strengthen local capacity to improve social welfare and to ensure conservation and wise use of biodiversity. We provide examples, discuss lessons learned and make recommendations for future development projects.

The corporate impact of addressing social issues: a financial case study of a project in Peru.

Large, multinational resource development projects can affect many aspects, including social, economic and ecological realities, in the regions where they operate. Social and environmental issues that are usually ignored in such projects are increasingly affecting the financial future of multinational corporations in negative ways. In this article, we advance the argument that corporations can successfully manage these issues and that if they choose to view these management efforts as an investment rather than an expense, they may well acquire a competitive advantage over companies that do not. We describe as a case study the Camisea natural gas and condensates development project in Peru, operated by Shell Prospecting and Development Peru (SPDP). Camisea is one of the first projects anywhere in the world to conduct a detailed analysis of key industry-related social issues and the processes, required investment and financial impact of managing them. The Camisea example supports the argument that addressing social and environmental concerns makes financial sense. In present value terms, the benefit of managing these concerns was expected to surpass the cost investment by approximately US$50 million.

What are the forests worth?

PIP: The Earth is a finite environment, thus growth cannot occur indefinitely. Eventually we will run out of space, resources, or anything else that is also finite. Once this fact is recognized, it becomes clear that we must develop in a sustainable way so that we can endure into the future. Overpopulation, vegetation destruction, and pollution are all serious threats to our finite environment. Traditionally, change has been to expensive and politically destabilizing. However, extensive changes in our modes of living must be made so that they become sustainable. In both developed and developing countries, consumptive growth must be replaced with sustainable development. Many developing countries are currently selling their natural resources to the developed countries. When they run out of resources, they will be truly poor. All governments must recognize the value of forests. It is estimated that in terms of medical uses for forest products alone, they will be worth US$11-12 billion (1990 dollars) by 2050. This constitutes a large portion of developing countries economies. Also, 80% of the population of developing countries rely on natural, traditional medicines made from forest products. Even in the US 25% of prescription drugs are based on phytochemicals. Now the drug companies are actively pursuing these resources for their products. It is estimated that 95% of the world species have not been assayed for their chemical value. Technology and money are not the obstacles to sustainable development and forest conservation. It is will and attitude that must be radically changed in order to protect the forests for the ecological and economic value.^ieng