Latest News

5^th call for SEPS applications is now closed! (deadline 22nd August 08)

The new WISIONS technology radar will be launched in Autumn 2008.

The 12 PREP brochures with more than 50 good practice examples can still be downloaded.

The latest brochure is on "Water for Energy and Energy for Water". You can read more on good practices from Guatemala, Tunisia, Peru, the Philippines and Tanzania on this webpage or download the brochure. For hardcover issues please contact us.

ITDG-Perú

WISIONS – New Directions for the Future

Background

The current debate on the future perspectives of the energy system, energy security, climate change as well as reduction of energy poverty means that interest in sustainable energy technologies is increasing and will persist in the future.

On one hand, some future technologies are not yet established, or are still at the R&D stage. On the other hand, those technologies that are fully developed face a number of barriers to their dissemination.

Actually various studies on the potential of renewable energy technologies do exist, describing successfully implemented options, trends, barriers and key drivers. On the other hand comprehensive overviews of promising technologies and their future potential are few and far between.

There is, therefore, an acute need for additional detailed and quality information to be available to the public, the media and in the financial sector. Short, transparent and customised pieces of information, as well as examples of successfully implemented technologies, are essential but often lacking. This holds true for the technology portfolio in both industrialised and developing countries.

However, when considering developing countries, such information needs to take the differences into account. Sophisticated technologies with high standards of delivery, as used in the developed world, do not necessarily satisfy the needs of countries with low-electrification and off-grid regions. In addition, the demand for energy services is often quite different in developing countries.

Radar for Sustainable Energy Technologies

In response to these issues, WISIONS is taking a new direction. In future, in addition to continuing with SEPS, WISIONS will complement the existing overviews of successful good practice by developing the WISIONS technology radar. The purpose will be to analyse and present current and future technology solutions in a way that will meet the needs described above. The radar will not only highlight technical issues, but will also illustrate social and economic aspects that are essential for the sustainable and successful implementation of energy technologies.

Beginning with a look at basic needs such as heat, cooking, water supply and lighting, key questions on existing and future technologies will be raised, for example:

• Which needs are addressed and how adaptable is the technology to local circumstances?
• What will be the future development?
• How efficient is the technology and what is its improvement potential?
• What are the lessons learned, key drivers and barriers so far?
• What makes investment into the technology worthwhile and for whom?
• What type of set-up is needed to make the technology economically viable?

In addition to launching the technology radar here on the web page (in autumn 2008), brochures detailing the above findings, combined with the presentation of existing good practice projects, will be released.

Past PREP Topics :

4th WISIONS Press Release (June 2007)

3rd WISIONS Press Release (May 12th, 2006) (pdf)

2nd WISIONS Press Release (April 18th, 2005)

1st WISIONS Press Release (March 8th, 2004)