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University helps reduce poverty through renewable energy
September 03, 2002With the spotlight on World Summit on Sustainable Development in Johannesburg, the issue of fossil fuel use has become a pressing one. According to renewable energy specialists at Sheffield Hallam University, fossil fuels have only benefited the development of two thirds of the world’s population and the need to take advantage of already established renewable energy technologies is becoming urgent. After influential work promoting solar energy development, University academic Dr Dharmadasa, has been invited to visit and advise the Sri Lankan government on a project to bring electricity to 200,000 rural homes.
Dr Dharmadasa who has developed Village Power, a programme to combine renewable energy applications and the alleviation of poverty in needy communities, explains that while a scheme like this can transform the lives of rural populations, it is only part of he and his colleagues’ work:
‘About 9 years ago, I started to promote solar energy applications, by delivering public understanding of science lectures in schools and community centres. The University’s School of Science and Mathematics now works with the Commonwealth Science Council, the British Council and counterparts in South Asia to increase public awareness and accelerate the use of renewable energies. Our work ranges from laboratory and desk research to field work and lecture halls, developing and encouraging new technology, enhancing awareness and starting demonstration projects that can help reduce poverty in rural areas.’
Work to raise international public awareness of sustainable energy supplies has won University academics a place in the Department for Trade and Industry’s recently published Guide to Renewable Energy Centres in the UK. The success of this promotional work had already lead to the formation of SAREP (South Asia Renewable
Energy Programme) with the support from the British Council and the Commonwealth Science Council. This renewable energy promotional work has also attracted the media category award from the Eurosolar UK prize awards competition organized by Energy-21 in 2001.
Sheffield Hallam University
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