W.Samoa views
p. 66 · Read in the full issue
new energy
Alternative energy sources, and energy conservation methods appropriate to the South Pacific have been the focus of techni cal discussion in the area for some time under the joint au spices of SPEC and the SPC.
Now, however, the importance of the study has been raised by what is seen as quite urgent need among many of the island nations to conserve their fore ign exchange by finding alternatives to expensive pet roleum.
The latest meeting aimed at finding viable alternatives was held in Apia, Western Samoa, early in May, following on the South Pacific Commission con ference in Papeete in 1982, and the review of the Pacific energy program held last year in Raro tonga.
A total of 19 countries and territories attended the Apia conference as well as repre sentatives from 10 organisa tions including UNDP, CHOGRM, and ESCAP. Seve ral companies in the energy field were also on site showing their latest products in the solar, wave-motion, wind-powered, and other fields, including the use of vegetable oils as pet roleum substitutes.
Since the 1982 conference the Pacific energy program has focused on three broad strategies: better terms from petroleum supplies, better man agement of energy use, and better use of local resources.
Four systems, growing in favor around the world were discussed. These were, bio mass, solar, wind and wave energy sources. Some of the Pacific countries already use such installations.
Western Samoa, American Samoa, French Polynesia, Fiji and Vanuatu, all are experi menting with the use of solar photo-voltaic cells as sources of power for installations such as radio-telephones. All said they had had good results in the applications so far tried. Recent research has improved the electrical output of such units and also, in effect, reduced their cost. Modem units can store enough power in batteries,
charged by the solar units, to provide power for communica tions and other systems for as long as five days without sun.
Maintenance is low and the life of modem unit is gauged to be about 20 years. Larger units are used for pumping water and for essential power in, for example, hospitals. Their outlook in the Pacific is seen as good.
Bio-mass energy also seems to be finding favor and prom ises to be the cheapest source for island countries. Bio-Energy (Australia), Ltd., one of the exhibitors at the conference, has won world-wide attention for its catalytic process of tur ning vegetable oils, such as coconut and palm oil, into clean, efficient, diesel fuel. All manner of oil seeds, and pulses have been shown as suitable sources of oil to feed the pro cess. Bio-Energy’s equipment is fairly small, and portable, and priced within the reach of most island communities. Meal left over from the oil-crushing pro cess also makes a useful feed for cattle, poultry or pigs. Bio- Energy units are estimated to have a life of 10 to 15 years, with a pay-back period of four to five years, depending upon the cost of petroleum oil re placed, and the price of the vegetable oil-source.
Bio-Energy Ltd., has outlets in China, Fiji, New Zealand, PNG, and the Philippines.
These are joint ventures with local companies in each coun try. Interest has also been shown in France, Africa and the U.S. and the shares gained widespread interest when the company recently floated on the Sydney Stock Exchange.
Suitable sites for wave ener gy power stations have been found in Western Samoa at the Blowhole sites in Savaii. So far no equipment has been set up in the Pacific, but installations have been planned for Tonga, the Cook Islands and Western Samoa.
Delegates at the conference agreed that the examples of alternative energy discussed offered very good prospects for the small countries of the Paci fic. Lee Anderson in Apia.