Experts:

• Kirsty Hamilton: Associate Fellow, Renewable Energy Finance-Policy Project, Chatham House, and United Kingdom Business Council
• Amy Kean: Regional Manager, South East Asia and Pacific, Renewable Energy and Energy Efficiency Partnership (REEEP)
• Dr. Gerhard Knies: Coordinator Trans-Mediterranean Renewable Energy Cooperation
• Philippe Lempp: Renewable Energy Policy Network for the 21st century (REN21), and German Technical Cooperation (GTZ)
• Tri Mumpuni: Executive Director, People Centred Economic and Business Institute (IBEKA)
• Stefan Schurig: Director, Climate and Energy, World Future Council

Secretariat:

• Andri Akbar, Legal Specialist, Government Of Indonesia Delegation to the COP, and Legal Specialist for Carbon and Environmental Research Indonesia (CER Indonesia)
• Prasertsuk Chamornmarn, SecretaryDirector, National Environment Board of Thailand, and acting Executive Director of Thailand Greenhouse Gas Organization
• Nicholas Dunlop, Secretary-General, e-Parliament
• Hilary Francis, Programme Officer, e-Parliament
• Sally Garden, Programme Officer, e-Parliament
• Maja Göpel, Campaign Manager, World Future Council
• Jesper Grolin, Executive Director, e-Parliament
• Bianca Jagger, Chair, Executive Committee World Future Council
• Benjamin Sovacool, Research Fellow, Energy Governance Program at the National University of Singapore, and Adjunct Assistant Professor, Government and International Affairs Program, Virginia Tech
• Robert Turner, Media and Communications Officer, World Future Council
• Dr. Natarika Vayuparb Cooper, Senior Environmental Officer, Office of National Environment Board, Thailand

2. Action ideas discussed

Each expert gave a detailed presentation highlighting at least one or two steps which legislators could promote in their national parliaments. Here are just some of the policy ideas which were discussed.

Delegates participating in the Hearing.

The potential for solar thermal power plants in deserts and drylands

Dr. Gerhard Knies discussed in detail the potential for Concentrating Solar Power (CSP) to provide huge amounts of clean energy to countries around the world.

CSP uses mirrors to concentrate sunlight, heat water or other liquids in order to produce high-temperature steam that can drive turbines and thereby power conventional electricity generators. Among solar technologies, CSP is the cheapest, and also the largest bulk producer of solar electricity, and because CSP uses a thermal phase the energy generated can be stored. This energy can then be transmitted through modern high- voltage DC transmission lines (HVDC). With HVDC lines, only about 3% of the power is lost for each 1000 km, and this created the potential to transport energy generated though CSP across huge distances with only very small amounts of wastage. Dr. Knies highlighted, as an example, the potential for CSP generated in the deserts of North Africa to be transported to Europe to meet growing energy demands, while preserving fossil fuels for future generations.

Dr. Knies emphasised the need to encourage production of energy from a range renewable energy sources to provide well-balanced mix, but stated that fluctuations in the production of wind, photovoltaic and hydropower electricity can be compensated by CSP, which can provide power on demand, and which is potentially the largest renewable energy resource in many countries around the world – including in Southern Europe, North Africa, The Middle East, and Australia.

The required mix of CSP and other renewable technologies cannot be fully developed under current policy conditions, however. Dr. Knies argues that initial public start-up investment is needed, but not long-term subsidies - such as have been applied to fossil and nuclear energies - since the market shares of renewable energies will steadily grow and become cheaper due to learning and economies of scale.

From left: Suresh Prabhu MP (India), Dr. Gerhard Knies, and Rep. Teddy Casino (Philippines) discuss Dr. Knies’ presentation during the break.

The potential for importing CSP generated power into Europe from the North Africa/Middle East region is a focus of Dr. Knies’work, and this generated a lot of interest among the European Parliamentarians participating in the Hearing. Several European delegates expressed an interest in continuing discussions and dissemation of information about CSP in the European Parliament upon their return home. Much interest was also generated, among Parliamentarians from other parts of the world, including Indonesian, Indian and Australian delegates.

Establish renewable energy feed-in tariffs

There was detailed discussion following Stefan Schurig’s presentation, of the feed-in-tariff approach taken in Germany, among other countries, to encourage investment in renewable energy. Feed-in-tariffs guarantee renewable energy producers a favourable and stable price for the electricity they feed into to the national grid.

Parliamentarians in session, from left: Barry Haase MP (Australia), Nyimas Ena MP (Indonesia), Nathan Cullen MP (Canada), Rep. Teddy Casino (Philippines), Ida Ayu Agung Mas MP (Indonesia), Dr. Kwame Ampofo MP (Ghana), and Senator Lyn Allison (Australia).

German legislation has encouraged a rapid build-up of its wind and solar power industries by means of feed-in tariffs set at levels that make these renewable sources of energy economically attractive. The German law is already available in a number of languages (contact info@e-parl.net), and has already lead to similar initiatives in other countries. The World Future Council can also provide more information on Feed-in legislation (www. worldfuturecouncil.org), including the internet portal for climate protection laws (PACT).

Increase funding for Research and Development

Several expert presenters emphasised the need for more funds to be allocated to Research and Development (R&D) in the renewables field. Several parliamentarians voiced their frustration at the huge amount of funds going to R&D in the nuclear sector, while renewable technologies receive very little R&D funding. It was agreed that clean energy, R&D and technical training need to receive far greater support from governments in both South and North. Since parliamentarians approve national budgets, they have many opportunities to press for more resources in these areas.

Coffee break discussion: Anne-Grete Holmsgaard MP (Denmark) and Senator Lyn Allison (Australia).

Attract finance to the Renewable Energy Sector

During her presentation, Kirsty Hamilton emphasised the role of Government in attracting finance to the renewable energy sector. She highlighted the importance of integrating renewable technologies into wider energy policy, and encouraged delegates to look at renewable energy in an investment context and create a policy environment that is attractive to mobilising private sector investment. Policy stability is extremely important in encouraging investment, as investor need to be sure that they can rely on government policy not to be too changeable and uncertain.

Kirsty Hamilton used the phrase ’Loud, Long and Legal’ to illustrate the policy environment that parliamentarians should create in order to encourage private investment in renewables. Loud because measures need to effect the bottom line and make a measurable business difference; Long because they must reflect the length of term investments that are being made; and Legal because the measures need to be backed up with legal targets, support mechanisms and a structure that will reduce the perception of regulatory risk. Investors themselves will not lead the charge towards renewables, it is up to parliamentarians and governments to create a robust policy environment that supports and encourages investment in renewable technologies.

There was a great deal of interest among the parliamentarians, regarding how best to create such a policy environment in their own countries. In response, Kirsty emphasised the need to act on a case-by-case basis, and to very clearly identify the particular issues involved in each case before proceeding.

Discussion, from left: Michael Johnson MP (Australia), Marian Hobbs MP (New Zealand), Anne-Grete Holmsgaard MP (Denmark), Nicholas Dunlop, Chiu-Chin Tien MP (Taiwan).

Provide renewable energy to off-grid rural areas

Providing energy to off-grid rural communities can help to significantly poverty, and to encourage development. During her presentation, Tri Mumpuni emphasised the importance of community ownership if rural electrification schemes are to be successful. Raising local equity, encouraging local participation in the electrification project, as well as utilising local wisdom and respecting local political and cultures can all help to ensure that such projects are successful and have maximum impact on the development of a community. Tri Mumpuni highlighted the importance of ensuring that there is sufficient will within a particular community for an off-grid electrification project to take place before beginning a project. The Parliamentarians heard about the success which Tri Mumpuni and IBEKA have had in electrifying rural communities around Indonesia through off-grid micro-hydro systems. Tri Mumpuni works closely with local communities to ensure that the projects are sustainable in the long term, and that electrification will have maximum impact on the development of the communities.

There was a great deal of interest among the parliamentarians regarding IBEKA’s electrification projects, and the Indonesian delegates expressed a desire to support IBEKA’s projects, asking her to make a presentation to the Indonesian Parliament.

Tri Mumpuni addressing the delegates. In the background, from left to right: Nathan Cullen MP (Canada), Rep. Lorenzo Tañada (Philippines), Jesper Grolin, Rebecca Harms MEP (Germany), Amy Kean, Maja Göpel.

Raise awareness among parliamentarians and citizens

The point was raised time and again by participating legislators that increasing public awareness of the threat of climate change as well as the many opportunities for shifting to sustainable energy, is vital. Although awareness about the issue is slowly increasing, it is still not an issue that citizens usually base their vote on. It is necessary to raise the public consciousness on the issue of climate and renewable energy solutions, so that governments and parliamentarians are compelled to act. Unless the polls reflect a public concern for the issue, it will continue to be dealt with inadequately on a policy level. Parliamentarians have the opportunity to help educate their colleagues and their constituents about this issue, and this needs to be encouraged.

Keep parliamentarians in touch with each other

The participating parliamentarians expressed a keen interest in maintaining contact with each other following the Hearing, and in establishing contact with other colleagues around the world who are interested in, and working on, similar issues in their own parliaments. Delegates agreed that the e-Parliament should help to keep them in touch through the website, an electronic newsletter, and occasional conference calls and/or meetings to allow them to learn from each other's experience as they move ahead.