 Identifying, developing and acting upon critical energy industry issues is fundamental to the Forum’s drive to deliver sustainable social development, founded upon economic progress.
Shaping the Future of the Energy Industry
The energy industry is facing a series of challenges that no one company can address on its own. It is critical for the industry to both understand and prevent potential risks and prepare to respond to problems as they arise in addition to creating infrastructures and policies for development and a positive future.
Christoph Frei, Senior Director, Head of Energy Industries & PACI, talks about the partnership with the World Energy Council and how it targets energy poverty.
Agenda
1) Energy Security
- The New Energy Security Paradigm
(40 pgs, 6.5 MB)
A report and agenda-setting outline for forthcoming meetings of the World Economic Forum’s Energy Industry Partnership in collaboration with Cambridge Energy Research Associates (CERA).
Executive summary (2 pgs, 50 KB)
Download images of the report and Cristoph Frei.
2) Carbon Economy
3) Energy Poverty Action (see below)
4) Partnering Against Corruption
5) The Gulf and the World: Scenarios to 2025
Energy Poverty Action
The World Economic Forum and partner companies from the energy sector are working to address energy poverty in the developing world by implementing electrification schemes that are sustainable, replicable and scalable.
Two pilot projects will be implemented in Lesotho and Democratic Republic of the Congo.
Press release (14 November 2007)
1. Rural, off-grid pilot project in Lesotho
A community of 1,150 households has been identified for the implementation of the off-grid system using a two-stage approach of hydro and solar power. Preliminary research indicates that approximately US$ 2.5 million will be needed. This includes a network, hydro power station, solar home system, engineering and support.
2. Peri-urban, grid extension pilot project in Democratic Republic of the Congo
An underdeveloped community of 10,000 households has been identified for implementation. The capital cost for the project, including transmission, distribution, reticulation and revenue management is estimated at US$ 13.5 million for 10,000 connections. The initiative has gained much support from the governments concerned as well as from utilities and local power companies. Now, support is sought with a view to a major roll-out of further electricity projects.
Participating organizations:
BC Hydro (Canada)
Eskom (South Africa)
Vattenfall (Sweden)
Key features of the electrification model developed by the Energy Poverty Action task force are:
Establishing a management structure that ensures sustainability in terms of long-term technical, operational, commercial and financial management capacity;
Developing local capacity in construction, operation, maintenance and revenue management;
Ensuring the participation of local communities. The greatest use of local resources, both with respect to labour and material, will maximize development gains;
Promoting a culture of payment for electricity through the delivery of high-quality services;
Promoting investment in the power sector across the developing world through the efficient delivery of rural electrification systems and revenue management;
Promoting a market within governments, utilities, commercial companies, communities, donors, banks or NGOs which have a mandate or interest in rural electrification and have the means to pay for the necessary investment.
Key deliverables of the model include:
Assessing and analysing local conditions to determine needs, opportunities, community and institutional capacity, and available energy resources;
Considering the environmental and social impact;
Designing and installing the energy system, including considering the full range of potential solutions (e.g.biomass, hydro, solar, wind and inductive power, low-cost grid connections, pre-payment systems, etc.);
Empowering/training local organizations in charge of the operation and maintenance of the system;
Guaranteeing financial sustainability by designing the system such that the end users pay all costs required for the ongoing operation and maintenance. Social and environmental sustainability will also be included.
An increasing number of large energy companies are involved in the World Economic Forum's Anti-Corruption, Health and Climate Change activities.
Contact Information
For more information on Energy Poverty Action, please contact energy@weforum.org
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