Myanmar: Low-carbon energy is imperative for sustainable, resilient development

Myanmar: Low-carbon energy is imperative for sustainable, resilient
development

Myanmar is at a critical juncture. The energy choices it makes will have
significant and long-term environmental, economic, social and political
consequences.

Measurements taken in 2013 reveal a level of atmospheric CO2 of 400ppm. This
level has not been reached for 400,000 years, and the rate of increase is
faster than in hundreds of thousands of years. With the adoption of the UN
Sustainable Development Goals, there is agreement on the imperative need for
low-carbon and clean energy as well as the more efficient use of natural
resources.

The 2015 Draft Myanmar National Electrification Project states, "Electricity
consumption is growing fast in Myanmar. The peak load demand reached 2100MW
in 2014, growing on average 14pc a year in the past five years. Electricity
shortages and supply disruptions remain prevalent."

Oil, gas and coal will be major sources of energy for the next 30 years. The
challenge is to move toward lower carbon emissions while encouraging
renewable and clean energy. Providing business opportunities and enabling
private-sector involvement will bring in investment, harness entrepreneurial
expertise and accelerate the closing of the energy gap.

Many benefits accrue, including improving human health and well-being. Air
pollution is a major environmental health problem, linked to about 6.5
million premature deaths each year.

The International Energy Agency's 2016 Special Report on investment
concluded that by 2030, US$48 trillion in investment will be needed to meet
the world's growing demand for energy. Annual investment in renewable energy
has quadrupled since 2000.

According to the report Global Trends in Renewable Energy Investments,
investments in renewable energy in 2015 totalled $286 billion and, since
2004, $2.3 trillion. Wind, solar, biomass and other methods contributed
about 9.1pc of electricity generation in 2014, compared to 8.5pc in 2013.

More efficient use of natural resources and decreasing emissions will reduce
the need for pollution control and clean-up costs. Evidence shows that
cleaner indoor and outdoor environments increase wellbeing, productivity and
competitiveness.

Robust policies to promote low-carbon clean energy will catalyse research
and innovation. These include increasing energy efficiency, improving light
and energy capture, harvesting photosynthesis, capturing wind energy more
efficiently, and algal culture farming.

The first industrial revolution was powered by coal. The next will most
likely be driven by clean energy captured from biochemical processes.

Investing 1pc of GDP in R&D is a target set by many countries: South Korea
(3.7pc), Japan (3.4pc), Australia (2.4pc), Singapore (2.4pc) and China
(1.7pc) are among the world's top investors in R&D.

Two-thirds of Myanmar's population live in rural areas and most work in
agriculture. Renewable energy is well suited to rural areas. Solar, wind,
geothermal, bio energy and mini-hydropower generation provide equitable
availability, enhance energy security, promote distributive energy, reduce
transmission losses, strengthen resiliency to power outages and speed up
recovery.

The availability of renewable energy to rural households increases learning
opportunities and long-distance education, improves health, expands
connectivity and promotes "smart" villages.

Myanmar is not encumbered with past development infrastructure that is
polluting and unsustainable. There is a chance for Myanmar to be at the
forefront of renewable energy development and to become a leader in clean
energy.

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Ref:
http://www.mmtimes.com/index.php/opinion/22652-low-carbon-energy-is-imperati
ve-for-sustainable-resilient-development.html

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John Diecker
APT Consulting Group Co., Ltd.

www.aptthailand.com