On a barren lake-bed in central Djibouti, engineers are preparing to drill deep into the earth in search of subterranean heat that could cut the country's power bill by as much as two thirds.
For a total cost of about US$170 million (Dh624.4m), the African country will finally harness a source of energy to produce electricity that it has eyed for decades. It will also swap a decrepit power generation system that burns oil and diesel and charges one of the highest rates for power in the world. International donors have lined up behind the project and the Abu Dhabi Fund for Development is considering a loan of "a few million" dollars to top up the project's financing, says Helene Pelosse, the interim director general of the International Renewable Energy Agency (IRENA), which is based in the emirates' capital.
Renewable energy is sometimes considered a rich country's extravagance, a step that governments take to reduce their impact on the global community after they have first taken care of the needs of their own people. Even with significant technological advances in recent years, most wind farms, geothermal plants and solar arrays still produce electricity at a higher cost than the cheapest fossil fuels.
A growing number of poor, developing states, however, are choosing to invest in renewable energy projects as their primary source of electricity, either because they have an extraordinary natural resource or because they have no other choice. About 22 per cent of the world's population, or 1.5 billion people, now live without access to electricity, according to the International Energy Agency (IEA) based in Paris.
"[Last year], some of the most vibrant wind-power markets were in Latin America and Africa, which saw significant growth rates," the Renewable Energy Policy Action Network for the 21st Century (REN21) reported last month. "Developing countries now make up more than half of all countries with policy targets (45 out of 85 countries) and also make up half of all countries with some type of renewable energy promotion policy (42 out of 83 countries)," it said.
With the right levels of funding, many developing countries that are just starting to build up energy infrastructure could leap-frog the use of fossil fuels to produce electricity, says Ms Pelosse. "I think we should look at the potential much better than we have been doing now," she says. "If that project in Djibouti goes through, for example, it's a revolution. Instead of getting a kilowatt-hour for $0.30, they're going to get it for $0.10, and they're going to move to 100 per cent renewable energy at some point."
IRENA has made a mission of encouraging renewable energy in developing countries, with a special focus on states looking to wean themselves off the most expensive means of producing electricity: diesel or fuel oil. Earlier this year IRENA helped the Pacific island kingdom of Tonga complete a 10-year energy plan that will see it build up wind capacity and turn waste gas from landfills into an energy source.
IRENA can draw on funds donated by the Abu Dhabi Government to help meet those goals, she says, if a project is recommended by IRENA's member states. As part of its bid to host IRENA's headquarters last year, the Government pledged to make up to $50m of "soft loans" available to support renewable energy projects in developing countries. But the need for financing from all sources has outstripped the supply of loans and held up progress, she says. Kenya, for example, could become the first country in the world to depend 100 per cent on renewable energy but had been unable to line up lenders, she says.
Kenya has already built up geothermal plants and hyrdoelectric dams. For years, it has been looking to secure loans to build a $600m wind farm in the country's north west with capacity of 300 megawatts, and has gone from lender to lender. It secured some $150m from the Asian Development Bank and contributions from French and Danish lenders, but is still looking for more loans. Kenyan officials have been remarkably persistent, Ms Pelosse says, but their difficulty has illustrated the patchwork nature of renewable energy financing in developing countries, which carry too much risk for traditional commercial lenders.
"Kenya is a great example because they have the potential, they're a country that wants to go for it and they've got the dedication of the government," she says. "They're just searching for credit." IRENA needs a sister organisation with the resources to fund such large-scale projects, Ms Pelosse says. "We need public money, public credit. The next step for me is to really build up an international bank, then you could really give a bigger amount of credit and you could go for larger projects."
Once you start looking at the potential in the developing world, she says, staggering opportunities abound. Kenya and other east African states could produce 7,000mw of electricity from geothermal, but to date they generate only 200mw. Nepal could generate 200,000mw of electricity by damming the great rivers that flow down from the Himalayas, but to date they have developed only 700mw. "Look at the impact on the country, I'm not talking about 10mw," Ms Pelosse says of Kenya's project. "There's really not much subsidy, it's already competitive. Here it's more a question of how do you get the financing right."
cstanton@thenational.ae
The bio
Studied up to grade 12 in Vatanappally, a village in India’s southern Thrissur district
Was a middle distance state athletics champion in school
Enjoys driving to Fujairah and Ras Al Khaimah with family
His dream is to continue working as a social worker and help people
Has seven diaries in which he has jotted down notes about his work and money he earned
Keeps the diaries in his car to remember his journey in the Emirates
The biog
Hobbies: Salsa dancing “It's in my blood” and listening to music in different languages
Favourite place to travel to: “Thailand, as it's gorgeous, food is delicious, their massages are to die for!”
Favourite food: “I'm a vegetarian, so I can't get enough of salad.”
Favourite film: “I love watching documentaries, and am fascinated by nature, animals, human anatomy. I love watching to learn!”
Best spot in the UAE: “I fell in love with Fujairah and anywhere outside the big cities, where I can get some peace and get a break from the busy lifestyle”
The biog
Name: Samar Frost
Born: Abu Dhabi
Hobbies: Singing, music and socialising with friends
Favourite singer: Adele
Tips to keep your car cool
- Place a sun reflector in your windshield when not driving
- Park in shaded or covered areas
- Add tint to windows
- Wrap your car to change the exterior colour
- Pick light interiors - choose colours such as beige and cream for seats and dashboard furniture
- Avoid leather interiors as these absorb more heat
Heavily-sugared soft drinks slip through the tax net
Some popular drinks with high levels of sugar and caffeine have slipped through the fizz drink tax loophole, as they are not carbonated or classed as an energy drink.
Arizona Iced Tea with lemon is one of those beverages, with one 240 millilitre serving offering up 23 grams of sugar - about six teaspoons.
A 680ml can of Arizona Iced Tea costs just Dh6.
Most sports drinks sold in supermarkets were found to contain, on average, five teaspoons of sugar in a 500ml bottle.
Europe’s rearming plan
- Suspend strict budget rules to allow member countries to step up defence spending
- Create new "instrument" providing €150 billion of loans to member countries for defence investment
- Use the existing EU budget to direct more funds towards defence-related investment
- Engage the bloc's European Investment Bank to drop limits on lending to defence firms
- Create a savings and investments union to help companies access capital
2025 Fifa Club World Cup groups
Group A: Palmeiras, Porto, Al Ahly, Inter Miami.
Group B: Paris Saint-Germain, Atletico Madrid, Botafogo, Seattle.
Group C: Bayern Munich, Auckland City, Boca Juniors, Benfica.
Group D: Flamengo, ES Tunis, Chelsea, Leon.
Group E: River Plate, Urawa, Monterrey, Inter Milan.
Group F: Fluminense, Borussia Dortmund, Ulsan, Mamelodi Sundowns.
Group G: Manchester City, Wydad, Al Ain, Juventus.
Group H: Real Madrid, Al Hilal, Pachuca, Salzburg.
Manikarnika: The Queen of Jhansi
Director: Kangana Ranaut, Krish Jagarlamudi
Producer: Zee Studios, Kamal Jain
Cast: Kangana Ranaut, Ankita Lokhande, Danny Denzongpa, Atul Kulkarni
Rating: 2.5/5
Wednesday's results
Finland 3-0 Armenia
Faroes Islands 1-0 Malta
Sweden 1-1 Spain
Gibraltar 2-3 Georgia
Romania 1-1 Norway
Greece 2-1 Bosnia and Herzegovina
Liechtenstein 0-5 Italy
Switzerland 2-0 Rep of Ireland
Israel 3-1 Latvia
MATCH INFO
Inter Milan 2 (Vecino 65', Barella 83')
Verona 1 (Verre 19' pen)
A State of Passion
Directors: Carol Mansour and Muna Khalidi
Stars: Dr Ghassan Abu-Sittah
Rating: 4/5
The specs: Volvo XC40
Price: base / as tested: Dh185,000
Engine: 2.0-litre, turbocharged in-line four-cylinder
Gearbox: Eight-speed automatic
Power: 250hp @ 5,500rpm
Torque: 350Nm @ 1,500rpm
Fuel economy, combined: 10.4L / 100km
BOSH!'s pantry essentials
Nutritional yeast
This is Firth's pick and an ingredient he says, "gives you an instant cheesy flavour". He advises making your own cream cheese with it or simply using it to whip up a mac and cheese or wholesome lasagne. It's available in organic and specialist grocery stores across the UAE.
Seeds
"We've got a big jar of mixed seeds in our kitchen," Theasby explains. "That's what you use to make a bolognese or pie or salad: just grab a handful of seeds and sprinkle them over the top. It's a really good way to make sure you're getting your omegas."
Umami flavours
"I could say soya sauce, but I'll say all umami-makers and have them in the same batch," says Firth. He suggests having items such as Marmite, balsamic vinegar and other general, dark, umami-tasting products in your cupboard "to make your bolognese a little bit more 'umptious'".
Onions and garlic
"If you've got them, you can cook basically anything from that base," says Theasby. "These ingredients are so prevalent in every world cuisine and if you've got them in your cupboard, then you know you've got the foundation of a really nice meal."
Your grain of choice
Whether rice, quinoa, pasta or buckwheat, Firth advises always having a stock of your favourite grains in the cupboard. "That you, you have an instant meal and all you have to do is just chuck a bit of veg in."
Overview
Cricket World Cup League Two: Nepal, Oman, United States tri-series, Tribhuvan University, Kathmandu
Fixtures
Wednesday February 5, Oman v Nepal
Thursday, February 6, Oman v United States
Saturday, February 8, United States v Nepal
Sunday, February 9, Oman v Nepal
Tuesday, February 11, Oman v United States
Wednesday, February 12, United States v Nepal
RESULTS
6.30pm: Longines Conquest Classic Dh150,000 Maiden 1,200m.
Winner: Halima Hatun, Antonio Fresu (jockey), Ismail Mohammed (trainer).
7.05pm: Longines Gents La Grande Classique Dh155,000 Handicap 1,200m.
Winner: Moosir, Dane O’Neill, Doug Watson.
7.40pm: Longines Equestrian Collection Dh150,000 Maiden 1,600m.
Winner: Mazeed, Richard Mullen, Satish Seemar.
8.15pm: Longines Gents Master Collection Dh175,000 Handicap.
Winner: Thegreatcollection, Pat Dobbs, Doug Watson.
8.50pm: Longines Ladies Master Collection Dh225,000 Conditions 1,600m.
Winner: Cosmo Charlie, Pat Dobbs, Doug Watson.
9.25pm: Longines Ladies La Grande Classique Dh155,000 Handicap 1,600m.
Winner: Secret Trade, Tadhg O’Shea, Ali Rashid Al Raihe.
10pm: Longines Moon Phase Master Collection Dh170,000 Handicap 2,000m.
Winner:
Match info:
Burnley 0
Manchester United 2
Lukaku (22', 44')
Red card: Marcus Rashford (Man United)
Man of the match: Romelu Lukaku (Manchester United)
Isle of Dogs
Director: Wes Anderson
Starring: Bryan Cranston, Liev Schreiber, Ed Norton, Greta Gerwig, Bill Murray, Jeff Goldblum, Scarlett Johansson
Three stars
The details
Colette
Director: Wash Westmoreland
Starring: Keira Knightley, Dominic West
Our take: 3/5