Financial de-risking to unlock Africa's renewable energy potential

African countries are in a unique position to reap the socio-economic and environmental benefits of renewable resources as a means for meeting increasing energy demand in a sustainable way. A critical obstacle for the deployment of renewable energy technologies in Africa is the difficulty of attracting sufficient and affordable finance. This paper compares the impact of financial conditions on the cost of electricity generation across six renewable and three fossil-based technologies in 46 African countries. The results show large cost variations and highlight the extent to which renewables are disadvantaged by current financial practices. The energy-economy-environment model TIAM-ECN is used to show how lowering financing costs results in a much higher deployment of renewables. For example, solar PV could account for 10–15% of total electricity generation by 2050, even without explicit climate policy, thanks to financial de-risking programmes. The results demonstrate that changes in financing schemes could outweigh the impact of technology learning. This paper also demonstrates that, once ambitious climate policies are in place, reducing financing costs for renewables could be an efficient way to lower greenhouse gas emissions. Financial de-risking is thus a key ingredient for unlocking the renewable energy potential in Africa

Approach to diagnosis and pathological examination in bronchial Dieulafoy disease: a case series

<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>There are limited series concerning Dieulafoy disease of the bronchus. We describe the clinical presentation of a series of 7 patients diagnosed with Dieulafoy disease of the bronchus and provide information about the pathological diagnosis approach.</p> <p>Patients and methods</p> <p>A retrospective review of patients who underwent surgery for massive and unexplained recurrent hemoptysis in a referral center during a 11-year period.</p> <p>Results</p> <p>Seven heavy smoker (49 pack years) patients (5 males) mean aged 54 years experienced a massive hemoptysis (350–1000 ml) unrelated to a known lung disease and frequently recurrent. Bronchial contrast extravasation was observed in 3 patients, combining both CT scan and bronchial arteriography. Efficacy of bronchial artery embolization was achieved in 40% of cases before surgery. Pathological examination demonstrated a minute defect in 3 cases and a large and dysplasic superficial bronchial artery in the submucosa in all cases.</p> <p>Conclusion</p> <p>Dieulafoy disease should be suspected in patients with massive and unexplained episodes of recurrent hemoptysis, in order to avoid hazardous endoscopic biopsies and to alert the pathologist if surgery is performed.</p

Swimming against the tide: A case study of an integrated social studies department

A recent trend in developed countries&rsquo; school curricula has been the transition from disciplinary to generic forms of knowledge, resulting in an emphasis on interdisciplinary organisation and more active forms of learning. Subject specialists are increasingly expected to demonstrate how their subject interconnects and equips pupils with key life skills. Such a change requires a major cultural shift and has been controversial, particularly in Scotland where Curriculum for Excellence, the latest curriculum reform, has seen this debate re-emerge. A detailed empirical case study of one secondary school Social Studies department that has already negotiated these shifts is presented. The case study provides insights into how school and department structures and cultures conducive to a more integrated approach have been developed. Leadership, increased opportunities for teachers to exercise greater autonomy in their work, sources of impetus and support for innovation, and the co-construction of meaning through dialogue are important themes in this process. This case study connects with current policy and provides an insight into strategies that other schools might employ when seeking to embed integrative practices. The department is identified as a significant locus for innovation and one which appears to challenge the norm

Evaluating the Role of Unit Size in Learning-by-Doing of Energy Technologies

Bart Sweerts worked as a junior researcher at the Energy Transition department of TNO in the Netherlands, where he focused on energy technology development and implementation. During his studies in Earth Science he (co)-authored two peer- reviewed scientific articles published in leading energy journals. Currently, Bart works at Shell, where he focuses on asset optimization. Remko Detz is a scientist at the Energy Transition department of TNO and is a visiting scientist at the Faculty of Science of the University of Amsterdam. His research focuses on energy technology development starting from the early research phase to the analysis of fully integrated systems within society, with a special emphasis on renewable fuels and materials. He received his PhD in Chemistry in 2009 from the University of Amsterdam. He is a ( co-) author of several peer-reviewed articles in leading international scientific journals and contributor to several reports. Bob van der Zwaan is a principal scientist at the Energy Transition department of TNO, Professor of Sustainable Energy Technology at the Faculty of Science of theUniversityofAmsterdam, andAdjunct Professor of International Relations at Johns Hopkins University's School of Advanced International Studies in Bologna. Trained in physics (Utrecht and CERN), economics (Cambridge), and international relations (Geneva), he has held positions at Columbia, Harvard, and Stanford Universities, has been a lead author for the IPCC, serves as co-di- rector of the International Energy Workshop, and researches energy technology and climate change

Estimation of losses in solar energy production from air pollution in China since 1960 using surface radiation data

China is the largest worldwide consumer of solar photovoltaic (PV) electricity, with 130 GW of installed capacity as of 2017. China's PV capacity is expected to reach at least 400 GW by 2030, to provide 10% of its primary energy. However, anthropogenic aerosol emissions and changes in cloud cover affect solar radiation in China. Here, we use observational radiation data from 119 stations across China to show that the PV potential decreased on average by 11-15% between 1960 and 2015. The relationship between observed surface radiation and emissions of sulfur dioxide and black carbon suggests that strict air pollution control measures, combined with reduced fossil fuel consumption, would allow surface radiation to increase. We find that reverting back to 1960s radiation levels in China could yield a 12-13% increase in electricity generation, equivalent to an additional 14 TWh produced with 2016 PV capacities, and 51-74 TWh with the expected 2030 capacities. The corresponding economic benefits could amount to US1.9 billion in 2016 and US4.6-6.7 billion in 2030