Sea transport is the lifeline of Pacific countries and communities, moving the majority of people... more Sea transport is the lifeline of Pacific countries and communities, moving the majority of people, goods and resources. It is crucial for trade, economic development and impacts upon virtually every development initiative. Yet for many Pacific countries, existing maritime transport services are increasingly unaffordable and unsustainable. Ships are often old, poorly maintained and inefficient, and there is a vicious cycle of old ships being replaced with old ships. Fossil fuel is often the largest single operating cost for shipping operators.
This book provides current research on the sources, applications and emerging technologies of ren... more This book provides current research on the sources, applications and emerging technologies of renewable energy. Chapter One explores which policy strategies could be successful for the large-scale deployment of renewable energies. Chapter Two discusses green nanotechnology in bioenergy. Chapter Three explores the position of waste-to-energy in the UK, as one key part of the UK's response to the wide range of energy, sustainability and climate change challenges it is facing. Chapter Four proposes a methodology that includes tangible and concrete steps, customized in a region/country’s specific energy profile, characteristics and objectives, towards the formulation of an optimal strategy for the promotion of renewable energy. Chapter Five explores the history and implications of the use(s) of solar power at a time of limited natural resources and the threat of climate change. Chapter Six offers a comprehensive and consistent overview of solar-assisted heat pump (SAHP) systems. Cha...
This module has been prepared to provide background and lessons learnt from the reef of experienc... more This module has been prepared to provide background and lessons learnt from the reef of experience for decision and policy makers developing strategies for Small Island Developing States (SIDS), seeking to transition their sea transport to low carbon options. We have focused on the situation as it exists for Pacific Island Countries but the information in this module has direct relevance to all SIDS and many Less Developed Countries (LDCs). This module contains eight chapters, each covering a separate theme. There are additional resource materials including PowerPoint presentations for each section, fact sheets which summarize key information and provide case examples, a glossary and list of acronyms, a reference list and bibliography, and links to useful websites. You can access all chapters including additional resource materials by clicking on the chapters below. Alternatively, you can download the full module and the full appendix further down.
The International Renewable Energy Agency (IRENA) is an intergovernmental organisation that suppo... more The International Renewable Energy Agency (IRENA) is an intergovernmental organisation that supports countries in their transition to a sustainable energy future, and serves as the principal platform for international cooperation , a centre of excellence, and a repository of policy, technology, resource and financial knowledge on renewable energy. IRENA promotes the widespread adoption and sustainable use of all forms of renewable energy, including bioenergy, geothermal, hydropower, ocean, solar and wind energy, in the pursuit of sustainable development, energy access, energy security and low-carbon economic growth and prosperity. www.irena.org
Domestic sea transport is critical to all aspects of life in the Pacific, providing access to mar... more Domestic sea transport is critical to all aspects of life in the Pacific, providing access to markets and health and education services, as well as enabling cultural and social connectivity. Current sea transport services are entirely dependent upon use of increasingly expensive fossil fuels. Whilst there has been increasing research on international shipping, very little focus has been given to date to domestic shipping in the Pacific, and in particular at the local, village level. Recent studies have highlighted lack of data, particularly at a village level, as being a major impediment to progressing a shift to more sustainable transport. The importance of transport in achieving sustainable development and "green growth" is being increasingly highlighted by Pacific Leaders as a key priority, and particularly the need to find alternatives to reduce the region's crippling dependency on imported fossil fuels. Small Island Developing States (SIDS) in other regions also face similar challenges. This paper provides a summary of the findings of a village-based assessment of transport and fossil fuel use in Solodamu village, Kadavu, Fiji carried out in 2009 and 2011. The objectives of the surveys were to gauge the overall sea, land and air transport use by the village and the fossil fuel footprint of the village by collecting data on a household by household basis. We then go on to outline how this assessment methodology has been expanded for an island group and highlight the potential of using this in other SIDS, so building the data sets available for more accurate analysis of both transport need and fossil fuel use to better address the issues of fossil fuel dependency and sustainable transport for the Pacific.
This paper sets out the background, rationale and aims of a newly-established University of the S... more This paper sets out the background, rationale and aims of a newly-established University of the South Pacific (USP) research cluster programme investigating the role that renewable energy might play for sustainable sea transport in the region. Immediate and pressing challenges besetting Pacific Islands Countries (PICs) include the effects of climate change and high dependency on imported fossil fuels. Despite transport being the region’s single largest user of imported fossil fuels by sector, the focus of programmes within the region to date to reduce such dependency has been on the use of renewable energy for electricity generation. Global interest in alternative energy technologies for shipping is growing, but renewable energy–powered sea transport at the small-scale level appropriate to the domestic needs of PICs has not yet been seriously explored. Past lessons and recent research indicate strong potential for such technology to provide practical and multiple benefits to PICs as...
The role of financing and policy in research, development, trialing and introduction of renewable... more The role of financing and policy in research, development, trialing and introduction of renewable energy technologies in the Pacific maritime sector is considered. Key research and trials of renewable energy technologies for sea transport in the Pacific from the 1980s and the critical role played by agencies such as the United Nations in leveraging support from funders such as the Asian Development Bank and European Union are reviewed. The lack of current policy on potential renewable energy technology use in sea transport at national, regional, and development agency levels is discussed with the Asian Development Bank used as a case study. The urgent need for such technology to be commercially trialed as a means of reducing the region's dependency on fossil fuels given the importance of sea transport to socioeconomic development in the Pacific is outlined in light of the proportion of fossil fuel currently used by the maritime sector. The paper concludes that review of current funding strategies and policies to include both sea transport and the potential for use of renewable energy technologies in the maritime sector in the Pacific is a priority and current reliance on the private sector acting alone needs review.
ABSTRACT This paper summarises research and options for sustainable sea transport in Oceania with... more ABSTRACT This paper summarises research and options for sustainable sea transport in Oceania with a focus on domestic shipping. This debate is situated initially within the context of the current Pacific domestic shipping scenario, a region of minute economies connected by some of the longest sea transport routes in the world. All current options are fossil fuel powered and increasingly uneconomic and unsustainable. Many routes are marginal or unviable and a vicious cycle of old ships replaced with old ships prevails. Although a central and essential issue of many Pacific communities, the option of pursuing sustainable sea transport is currently invisible within the policy space at all levels. Various renewable energy options are possible and increasingly available. Recent research finds that these have strong potential for providing benefits across multiple wellbeings. The barriers to pursing this agenda are complex and poorly understood but are perceptual and institutional more than technological. A small number of critical experiments during the last oil crisis provide critical lessons and direction.
Sea transport is the lifeline of Pacific countries and communities, moving the majority of people... more Sea transport is the lifeline of Pacific countries and communities, moving the majority of people, goods and resources. It is crucial for trade, economic development and impacts upon virtually every development initiative. Yet for many Pacific countries, existing maritime transport services are increasingly unaffordable and unsustainable. Ships are often old, poorly maintained and inefficient, and there is a vicious cycle of old ships being replaced with old ships. Fossil fuel is often the largest single operating cost for shipping operators.
This book provides current research on the sources, applications and emerging technologies of ren... more This book provides current research on the sources, applications and emerging technologies of renewable energy. Chapter One explores which policy strategies could be successful for the large-scale deployment of renewable energies. Chapter Two discusses green nanotechnology in bioenergy. Chapter Three explores the position of waste-to-energy in the UK, as one key part of the UK's response to the wide range of energy, sustainability and climate change challenges it is facing. Chapter Four proposes a methodology that includes tangible and concrete steps, customized in a region/country’s specific energy profile, characteristics and objectives, towards the formulation of an optimal strategy for the promotion of renewable energy. Chapter Five explores the history and implications of the use(s) of solar power at a time of limited natural resources and the threat of climate change. Chapter Six offers a comprehensive and consistent overview of solar-assisted heat pump (SAHP) systems. Cha...
This module has been prepared to provide background and lessons learnt from the reef of experienc... more This module has been prepared to provide background and lessons learnt from the reef of experience for decision and policy makers developing strategies for Small Island Developing States (SIDS), seeking to transition their sea transport to low carbon options. We have focused on the situation as it exists for Pacific Island Countries but the information in this module has direct relevance to all SIDS and many Less Developed Countries (LDCs). This module contains eight chapters, each covering a separate theme. There are additional resource materials including PowerPoint presentations for each section, fact sheets which summarize key information and provide case examples, a glossary and list of acronyms, a reference list and bibliography, and links to useful websites. You can access all chapters including additional resource materials by clicking on the chapters below. Alternatively, you can download the full module and the full appendix further down.
The International Renewable Energy Agency (IRENA) is an intergovernmental organisation that suppo... more The International Renewable Energy Agency (IRENA) is an intergovernmental organisation that supports countries in their transition to a sustainable energy future, and serves as the principal platform for international cooperation , a centre of excellence, and a repository of policy, technology, resource and financial knowledge on renewable energy. IRENA promotes the widespread adoption and sustainable use of all forms of renewable energy, including bioenergy, geothermal, hydropower, ocean, solar and wind energy, in the pursuit of sustainable development, energy access, energy security and low-carbon economic growth and prosperity. www.irena.org
Domestic sea transport is critical to all aspects of life in the Pacific, providing access to mar... more Domestic sea transport is critical to all aspects of life in the Pacific, providing access to markets and health and education services, as well as enabling cultural and social connectivity. Current sea transport services are entirely dependent upon use of increasingly expensive fossil fuels. Whilst there has been increasing research on international shipping, very little focus has been given to date to domestic shipping in the Pacific, and in particular at the local, village level. Recent studies have highlighted lack of data, particularly at a village level, as being a major impediment to progressing a shift to more sustainable transport. The importance of transport in achieving sustainable development and "green growth" is being increasingly highlighted by Pacific Leaders as a key priority, and particularly the need to find alternatives to reduce the region's crippling dependency on imported fossil fuels. Small Island Developing States (SIDS) in other regions also face similar challenges. This paper provides a summary of the findings of a village-based assessment of transport and fossil fuel use in Solodamu village, Kadavu, Fiji carried out in 2009 and 2011. The objectives of the surveys were to gauge the overall sea, land and air transport use by the village and the fossil fuel footprint of the village by collecting data on a household by household basis. We then go on to outline how this assessment methodology has been expanded for an island group and highlight the potential of using this in other SIDS, so building the data sets available for more accurate analysis of both transport need and fossil fuel use to better address the issues of fossil fuel dependency and sustainable transport for the Pacific.
This paper sets out the background, rationale and aims of a newly-established University of the S... more This paper sets out the background, rationale and aims of a newly-established University of the South Pacific (USP) research cluster programme investigating the role that renewable energy might play for sustainable sea transport in the region. Immediate and pressing challenges besetting Pacific Islands Countries (PICs) include the effects of climate change and high dependency on imported fossil fuels. Despite transport being the region’s single largest user of imported fossil fuels by sector, the focus of programmes within the region to date to reduce such dependency has been on the use of renewable energy for electricity generation. Global interest in alternative energy technologies for shipping is growing, but renewable energy–powered sea transport at the small-scale level appropriate to the domestic needs of PICs has not yet been seriously explored. Past lessons and recent research indicate strong potential for such technology to provide practical and multiple benefits to PICs as...
The role of financing and policy in research, development, trialing and introduction of renewable... more The role of financing and policy in research, development, trialing and introduction of renewable energy technologies in the Pacific maritime sector is considered. Key research and trials of renewable energy technologies for sea transport in the Pacific from the 1980s and the critical role played by agencies such as the United Nations in leveraging support from funders such as the Asian Development Bank and European Union are reviewed. The lack of current policy on potential renewable energy technology use in sea transport at national, regional, and development agency levels is discussed with the Asian Development Bank used as a case study. The urgent need for such technology to be commercially trialed as a means of reducing the region's dependency on fossil fuels given the importance of sea transport to socioeconomic development in the Pacific is outlined in light of the proportion of fossil fuel currently used by the maritime sector. The paper concludes that review of current funding strategies and policies to include both sea transport and the potential for use of renewable energy technologies in the maritime sector in the Pacific is a priority and current reliance on the private sector acting alone needs review.
ABSTRACT This paper summarises research and options for sustainable sea transport in Oceania with... more ABSTRACT This paper summarises research and options for sustainable sea transport in Oceania with a focus on domestic shipping. This debate is situated initially within the context of the current Pacific domestic shipping scenario, a region of minute economies connected by some of the longest sea transport routes in the world. All current options are fossil fuel powered and increasingly uneconomic and unsustainable. Many routes are marginal or unviable and a vicious cycle of old ships replaced with old ships prevails. Although a central and essential issue of many Pacific communities, the option of pursuing sustainable sea transport is currently invisible within the policy space at all levels. Various renewable energy options are possible and increasingly available. Recent research finds that these have strong potential for providing benefits across multiple wellbeings. The barriers to pursing this agenda are complex and poorly understood but are perceptual and institutional more than technological. A small number of critical experiments during the last oil crisis provide critical lessons and direction.
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Papers by Alison Newell