Wealthy Commonwealth countries urged to help improve vital infrastructure facilities in poorer member countries
A new report by the University of Nottingham now points at this core issue and urges wealthy Commonwealth nations such as the UK, Australia and Canada to help poorer member states improve these vital infrastructure facilities - it is, the researchers say, one of thes single best ways to lift them out of poverty and to turn them from a status of food and fuel importers into one of food and fuel exporters.
The report, Trading on Commonwealth Ties [*.pdf], produced by the Globalisation and Economic Policy Centre (GEP), which is based at the University of Nottingham, argues that investment in ports, rail and road facilities would make a substantial impact on exports and the strength of the economy in poorer countries: the economic model shows that in a country like Uganda, a 10 per cent improvement in trade-related infrastructure would raise the volume of exports to other Commonwealth countries by about 62 per cent. These are very large effects.
Arguably improving infrastructure is the most significant thing the Commonwealth can do to increase exports and imports between the partner nations. If you look at the roads and rail networks in many African countries you can see where the real barriers to trade lie. - professor Chris Milner, lead author, Globalisation and Economic Policy CentreIt is a true scandal that developing countries with a vast agricultural potential are food importers or rely on food aid, while in fact they should be major food and bioenergy exporters. The factors explaining this scandal, besides decrepit infrastructures, are multiple: unfair trade regimes with regions like the EU and the US subsidizing and protecting their farm sector, bad governance on the part of developing country governments (more here), the existence of a food aid industry and NGOs who thrive on it, lack of science and technology (S&T) capacity (previous post on the UNCTAD's call), and a general climate of political, financial and economic instability, to name but a few.
Researchers have found that if investments were made into modern agriculture and land in a single Commonwealth country like Zambia, all of Africa's food needs could be met. Projections about the sustainable biofuels and bioenergy potential have to be seen in this context: with basic investments in key infrastructures, agricultural science and modern inputs, Africa alone can produce more than 300 Exajoules worth of sustainable bioenergy for exports by 2050, after meeting all the food, feed, and fuel needs of its own growing populations (previous post and especially here). The entire world currently consumes around 200 Exajoules of oil.
In short, the problem of underdevelopment, food and energy insecurity or lack of agricultural expansion has no ground in a lack of carrying capacity, but is a purely man-made, economic and infrastructural problem. This also means we can change the situation. Biopact thinks that Africa's comparative advantages (land, climate, labor) and its vast scope for agricultural growth will make it the continent of the future. It will take time to develop the region's potential, but those not afraid to venture into this 'problematic' region - like China - are exactly undertaking one of the critical issues needed to unlock it: investing in infrastructures. The EU too has seen the need and recently proposed the creation of a €5 billion infrastructure fund for Africa.
The GEP report now urges highly Commonwealth countries to do the same. It was commissioned by the Commonwealth Secretariat's Economic Affairs Division to suggest ways to boost trade between Commonwealth nations. The 53 countries that make up the Commonwealth represent nearly one-third of the world's population, a quarter of the world's governments and one-fifth of all global trade. A quick list of selected African member states and their potential arable land, shows what the future may hold in store for food and bioenergy production if it can be exploited through upgraded infrastructures (graph, click to enlarge):
energy :: sustainability :: biomass :: bioenergy :: biofuels :: agriculture :: infrastructure :: trade :: Africa :: Commonwealth ::
The GEP report values current annual intra-Commonwealth exports of goods at more than $US225 billion. It estimates that the UK exports $31.7bn (£15.5bn) of goods a year to Commonwealth countries.
Professor Milner, who is also the Head of the School of Economics at the University of Nottingham said the volume of trade taking place between Commonwealth nations shows that its value extends far beyond friendships and the Commonwealth Games. This trade is substantial. For a significant number of low-income and island economies, the Commonwealth is of considerable economic importance — for some countries, like Botswana, Namibia, Papua New Guinea and Samoa, around three-quarters of their international trade is with fellow Commonwealth nations.
The report further recommends that individual Commonwealth countries should negotiate favourable bi-lateral tariff deals between themselves, but warns against introducing a Commonwealth-wide free trade agreement in the near future.
Ransford Smith, the Commonwealth Deputy Secretary-General thinks this is a timely and significant study. While the Commonwealth comprises some of the major global trading partners from both developed and developing countries, a large number of countries from Africa, Caribbean and Pacific regions have lagged behind in trade growth and haven't benefited as might have been expected from the robust trends of recent years. The situation, he said, calls for measures to address this challenge. This study provides important information and perceptive analyses as well as practical recommendations, such as the call to invest massively in infrastructures.
The Globalisation and Economic Policy Centre – is the major centre in Europe studying the impacts of globalisation and economic policy. One of the biggest of its kind in the world, the centre has an impressive international reputation, with its academics advising the Treasury, the OECD, the World Bank and the WTO. GEP is based at the University of Nottingham, and is substantially funded by grants from the Leverhulme Trust. In 2008 a branch of GEP will open at the University of Nottingham's Malaysia campus.
References:
Globalisation and Economic Policy Centre: Trading on Commonwealth ties: Review of the structure of Commonwealth trade and the scope for developing linkages and trade in the Commonwealth [*.pdf] - media release, November 2007.
University of Nottingham: Wealthy Commonwealth countries urged to help improve vital infrastructure facilities in poorer member countries — November 22 2007
Biopact: UNCTAD: poorest countries need investments in science and technology - July 19, 2007
Biopact: EU proposes €uro 5 billion aid for African infrastructure - July 16, 2006
Biopact: Opinion: the leading cause of hunger? Bad regimes - October 25, 2007
Biopact: IEA report: bioenergy can meet 20 to 50% of world's future energy demand - September 12, 2007
Biopact: A look at Africa's biofuels potential - July 30, 2006
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Friday, November 30, 2007
EU makes available €1.75 billion for new research under 7th Framework Programme - emphasis on bioenergy and biofuels
The FP7 calls for renewables seek to promote:
- new methods for the analysis of supply chains and the production of the full range of clean and carbon-efficient biofuels - gaseous, liquid and solid
- research into next-generation fuels from biomass such as lignocellulosic ethanol, syngas gas based fuels, pyrolysis-oil based biofuels and others
- improved systems to generate electricity from biomass, currently the most cost-effective form of renewable energy
- under the Collaborative Projects there are funds for joint research with Russia on biomass energy, and with Latin America on next-generation liquid biofuels
Further funds will be made available for the Marie Curie International Staff Exchange scheme, which will strengthen the relationships of European research organisations with their international counterparts, and there are specific calls for proposals working with researchers in India on materials and Russia on energy.There is a strong emphasis on international scientific collaboration in FP7, with all areas of research being open to partnerships including countries from outside the European Research Area. In addition there are some specific activities identified, such as joint research with India on materials science and with Russia on power generation from biomass and tools for large power systems. The sustainable production and analysis of supply chains of solid, liquid and gaseous fuels from biomass, especially next-generation fuels, is also a key research area to be funded.
Electricity from biomass
In the field of energy research there is the call for the development of improved biomass electricity generation systems (FP7-ENERGY-2008-1). Current costs of electricity from biomass are in the range of €0.05 – €0.08 /kWh. Development should aim at extending applications to a wider range of biomass materials by (1) solving specific problems hindering the use of biomass in direct co-firing and (2) addressing technical challenges for advanced biomass gasification systems for efficient power production.
Demonstrations should aim at medium to large scale bio-electricity systems, covering the whole process chain from sustainable feedstock supply over energy conversion to the recovery of by-products. Preference will be given to the ambitious use of biofuels with still high exploitation potentials such as forest residues, energy crops, agricultural residues including straw, refuse derived fuels etc. Medium-to-large scale power generation from organic waste also comprises mass burning of solid municipal waste as well as the separate use of pretreated and pre-separated municipal waste fractions.
Emphasis is put on innovations with high penetration potential throughout Europe while also paying due attention to overall sustainability aspects. Stakeholders relevant for the commercialisation of the innovation are expected to participate.
Proposals with bioenergy plants operating (at least partially) in combined heat and power (CHP) or combined heat, cooling and power (CCHP) will be preferred in case of similar performances in all other criteria.
The overall expected impact can be summarized thus: increased electricity production from biomass through the development and demonstration of improved biomass power generation and CHP plants which allow power generation costs below EUR 0.04 /kWh in 2020 whilst operating on a variety of sustainably produced biomass feedstocks.
Collaboration with Russia
A call for collaboration with Russia on research and technology development in the field of power generation from biomass is included as well. This collaborative research activity should be based on an assessment of ongoing research, the identification of best practices, gaps in knowledge, and barriers to implementation in both the EU and Russia. Expected impacts are an effective cooperation between key researchers and industries in the field of power generation from biomass, so as to foster the development and uptake of innovative methods and technologies to expand the use of biomass in power generation:
energy :: sustainability :: biobutanol :: biomass :: bioenergy :: biofuels :: biogas :: gasification :: co-firing :: cogeneration :: CCS :: smart energy networks :: R&D :: FP7 :: European Union ::
The typical consortium should be a partnership between EU and Russian teams. In order to ensure a balance between EU and Russian participants a minimum number of two participants established in Russia is requested. This is an eligibility criterion. The funding of all participants will follow the rules established for the Energy EU-Russia Call. Participants being established in the EU or in an associated country may jointly receive up to EUR 2 million from the European Commission and the Russian partners may jointly receive up to EUR 2 million from the Federal Agency for Science and Innovation. The project duration is normally 3 years.
Cooperation is encouraged between academic and industrial organisations from the EU and Russia which are actively involved in research and development on power generation from biomass.
Biofuel production and supply chains
Research into, development and demonstration of improved biofuel production systems and conversion technologies for the sustainable production and supply chains of solid, liquid and gaseous fuels from biomass (incl. biodegradable fraction of waste) receives funding. Emphasis should be on new types of biofuels in particular for transport and electricity as well as on new production, storage and distribution routes for existing biofuels, including the integrated production of energy and other added-value products through biorefineries.
Aiming to deliver ‘source to user’ carbon benefits, research will focus on improving energy efficiency, enhancing technology integration and use of feedstock. Issues such as feedstock logistics, pre-normative research and standardisation for safe and reliable use in transport and stationary applications will be included. To exploit the potential for renewable hydrogen production, biomass, renewable electricity and solar energy driven processes will be supported.
The structure and content of this Activity takes into consideration the Strategic Research Agenda (SRA) of the Biofuels Technology Platform.
This research activity would facilitate the actual implementation of the Directive on the promotion of the use of biofuels or other renewable fuels for transport (2003/30/EC, O.J. L125, 17.05.2003).
Second generation biofuels from biomass
Second generation biofuels comprise a range of alternatives such as lignocellulosic ethanol, syngas gas based fuels, pyrolysis-oil based biofuels and others. Activities will cover process development and system integration focusing on the conversion process, with a view to improve cost-competitiveness of biofuels while minimising the environmental impact of biofuel production.
Results are expected to expand the biomass feedstock available for biofuel production, assisting the take-off of a large biofuel industry while helping to avoid food/fuel competition for the land use.
Technology developments should bring about substantial cost reduction to pave the way for large scale production of second generation biofuels by 2020, while improving the energy balance and environmental impact of biofuel production.
Enhancing international cooperation between the EU and Latin America in the field of biofuels
Proposals could address the characterisation of feedstock and pre-treatment technology, optimisation of the production processes for 1st and 2nd generation biofuels, sustainability issues and coproduction of biofuels and bioproducts (Open in call: FP7-ENERGY-2008-1)
This Collaborative Project with a predominant research component has the following expected impacts: the significant enhancement of the cooperation between key researchers and industries from the EU and Latin America in the field of biofuels.
This is a Specific International Cooperation Action. At least four legal entities must participate, two from EU Member States or Associated Countries, and two from Latin America. The consortium should include in a balanced way both Latin American and European partners with solid experience and competence in the field and strong project management skills. Key players in the consortium should have a proven track record of EU-LA collaboration. The partnership should demonstrate the added value of EU-LA collaboration in the proposed action. Expertise in the international context and knowledge of Latin America for European partners and vice-versa is important. Preference will be given to actions involving countries having a S&T bilateral agreement with the EU and/or specific arrangements.
CCS, smart energy networks
The new FP7 calls also focus on research into carbon capture and storage (CCS), and the wide range of issues that form part of this field: CO2 capture, CO2 transport and storage infrastructure development, public acceptance, the development of a suitable methodology for the qualification of deep saline aquifers for CO2 storage,
Further funds are available for research into smart energy networks, the development of interactive distribution energy networks, pan-European energy networks and infrastructures (gas), as well as into energy saving and efficiency in both the domestic as well as the industrial sector.
Under the grant scheme, the European Research Council will also be unveiling its new funding initiative, the Advanced Grant Scheme, opening the ERC for the first time to established researchers. Other areas covered are: research infrastructures; regions of knowledge; the role of science in society; and support to small and medium-sized companies.
A network of national contact points is availableto help researchers identify areas of interest and to help create the partnerships that are generally required for accessing European funding.
References:
European Commission, CORDIS: Seventh Research Framework Programme - Calls.
European Commission: Work Programme 2008, Cooperation Theme 5: Energy [*.pdf, manual download]- European Commission C(2007)5765 of 29 November 2007
AlphaGallileo: €1.75 billion of new research money available for European projects - November 30, 2007.
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