ADB to help tackle surging power demand
MANILA, Philippines: The Asian Development Bank (ADB) will boost
investment in end-user energy efficiency to help Asia and the Pacific
tackle surging power demand and growing environmental threats from
greenhouse gas emissions.
"There is huge potential for saving energy by making buildings,
vehicles, machinery, and water pumps more energy efficient to benefit
consumers and the environment, and the time is right for the ADB to do
more in this area," said ADB Vice-President for Knowledge Management and
Sustainable Development, Bindu N. Lohani at the opening of the 8th Asia
Clean Energy Forum in Manila last week.
"We want to promote demand-side energy efficiency through public and
private sector partnership, with ADB taking a lead role in providing
customised policy advisory services, technical assistance, and
innovative financing support in developing member countries." A new ADB
study, "Same Energy, More Power: Accelerating Energy Efficiency in
Asia", highlighted the booming demand for power in developing Asia. The
region's share of primary global energy consumption is set to rise from
34% in 2010 to 56% in 2035. By then, most Asian countries will produce
less than half of the energy they need, forcing substantial fuel
imports.
Using energy more efficiently reduces the need to build power plants
and lowers imported fuel bills, potentially freeing up government funds
for spending elsewhere.
This spending could include provision of electricity to the estimated
628 million people in the region who have no supply.
Implementing energy efficiency measures is more cost effective than
expanding energy generation. |