A ‘Canada-Chile Program to reduce emissions from the waste sector to support Nationally Determined Contributions implementation’ supports capacity building for innovations that reduce methane and provide co-benefits for health and the environment.
The world’s first combined hydroelectric and solar power plant on Alto Rabagao dam in Portugal, equipped with floating solar panels, aims to produce energy while simultaneously generating profits through maximizing the use of the dams.
Senegal has been increasing the uptake of biomass combustors.
18 July 2017: The past weeks’ project news reveals technology and innovation initiatives seeking to use renewable and alternative energy sources. Spanning the gamut of hydroelectric to solar to methane to biomass, the projects contribute to the implementation of countries’ energy goals as reflected in their Technology Needs Assessments (TNAs) and Nationally Determined Contributions (NDCs), as well as to the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).
Canada and Chile have been collaborating on environmental issues for two decades under the 1997 Canada-Chile Agreement on Environmental Cooperation (CCAEC). The latest project under CCAEC aims to tackle both climate action (SDG 13) as well as improved access to clean and affordable energy (SDG 7) by reducing methane emissions from the municipal waste sector. Landfills are an important source of methane emitted from decomposing organic matter in municipal waste streams. The project will explore both approaches to divert organic matter from municipal waste to reduce methane production as well as ways to capture methane generated in landfills and make it available as a source of energy. Titled ‘Canada-Chile Program to reduce emissions from the waste sector to support Nationally Determined Contributions implementation,’ the partnership will support capacity building for innovation for solutions that reduce methane and provide co-benefits for health and the environment. [CCAC Press Release]
A Portuguese project combining hydro and solar energy production could benefit multiple countries, if proven successful. The world’s first combined hydroelectric and solar power plant on Alto Rabagao dam in Portugal, equipped with floating solar panels, has gone live. It aims to produce energy while simultaneously generating profits through maximizing the use of the dams. Economizing on land space usage as the panels are installed on large banks of water, the power plant is expected to produce enough energy to power the equivalent of 100 homes for a year. [Climate Action Press Release]
India launched its first solar-powered local train.
India launched its first solar-powered local train, looking to increase the use of renewable and alternative energy in the transport sector. Powered entirely by the solar panels installed on its roof, the train is also equipped with bio-toilets and a water recycling system. The train is expected to be put in commercial service in the Delhi area. [Climate Action Press Release]
Senegal’s TNA identified direct combustion of biomass as a priority technology for electricity generation, prompting the government to establish a feed-in tariff system for renewable energy technologies. Senegal has been increasing the uptake of biomass combustors through a number of public and private projects, thereby contributing to its Energy Transition Program as well as the energy goals set out in its NDC. [UNEP DTU Partnership Press Release]