Energy-related web sites
The following web sites were chosen to illustrate some of the issues associated with energy in mountain regions as well as certain types of energy production, with a primary focus on solar energy and hydropower. Searching for hydropower sites on the web reveals how controversial the topic of hydropower is and how intensively it is being discussed. Several sites that deal with alternative approaches to energy have also been included here, although they do not always focus specifically on mountain regions.
Energy issues in mountains
ICIMOD: Energy use in the Hindu Kush-Himalaya www.icimod.org.sg/focus/ energy/energy-toc.htm
List of interesting documents concerning energy use in the Hindu Kush-Himalaya, some with special reference to hydropower aspects.
ICIMOD: Mountain risks and hazards www.icimod.org.sg/focus/risks_ hazards/inamflod.html
An online article by Kunda Dixit and Inam Ahmed in which information is presented to support the argument that a paradigm shift is needed in making plans for long-term flood mitigation, in the way we think about floods, and in relation to what is and is not possible in this context.
Nepal Ghatta Project www.nathaneagle.com/ghatta
Web site of a project aiming to modify traditional water mill (ghatta) technology to transform ghattas into community battery charging stations.
Water projects in Nepal: Lessons from displacement rehabilitation www.rim.edu.bt/manual/ icimod/sites/nepalnet/water/ water_projects.htm
Web site provided by the Royal Institute of Management in Thimphu, Bhutan. The online article argues the “resettlement and rehabilitation of population affected by water projects has been generally unsatisfactory the world over” and that “reforms in planning and management of programs to resettle and rehabilitate the displaced population are essential to avoid conflict and consequential high social stress.”
Homepage of the Snowy Mountains Hydroelectric Scheme www.snowyhydro.com.au/main.cfm
Web site of the Snowy Mountains Scheme, supported by the Snowy Mountains Hydroelectric Authority. The Scheme lies mostly within Kosciuszko National Park in Australia's Southern Alps. While most of the Scheme's engineering features are located underground, the construction and operation of such a large-scale project in a unique Australian environment has significant potential environmental implications. The Scheme provides 2360 gigaliters of water west of the Great Dividing Range for irrigation and river management and produces 5100 gigawatt hours of renewable electricity annually. The project attempts to reconcile power generation, environmental benefits, and recreational challenges.
Solar energy
American Solar Energy Society www.solartoday.org/1999/ nov-dec/feature2.html
“Peruvian Villages Go Solar,” by John Duffy, is an abstract from an article in Solar Today, November–December 1999. Solar Today is the journal of the American Solar Energy Society.
Fraunhofer Institute for Solar Energy Systems www.ise.fhg.de/www-links/ Other_Solar.html
Contains a list of web sites on solar energy and other renewable sources of energy. Prepared by the Fraunhofer Institute for Solar Energy Systems.
Alternative approaches
Energia www.energia.org/
Web site of an international network on women and sustainable energy that links individuals and groups concerned with energy, the environment, and women. Energia aims to strengthen the role of women in sustainable energy development through information exchange, training, research, advocacy, and action. This site contains two interesting articles: “‘Energizing’ Rural Areas of Peru,” which describes an alternative demand-led way of introducing energy applied in Peru and Bolivia that the author calls ‘energization,’ and “The Success of Biogas Plants in Nepal: A Note on Gender,” which describes a successful program for disseminating biogas plants in Nepal and summarizes the findings of various studies on the impact of biogas technology on the quality of women's lives.
FAO, SD Dimensions, Energy for Development www.fao.org/sd/EGdirect/ Egan0007.htm
Online article “Stoves Used for Space Heating and Cooking in Mountainous Areas of Asia,” extracted from an FAO/RWEDP report on a workshop dealing with stoves used at different altitudes and by different ethnic groups. It discusses the various merits of stove programs.
Green-e: Renewable Electricity Program www.green-e.org/
Web site supported by the nonprofit organization Center for Resource Solutions, which has established the Green-e Renewable Electricity Certification Program to promote interest and consumer confidence in the purchase of renewable green power from credible companies.
Hydropower
World Commission on Dams www.dams.org/
The site is devoted to the major landmark final report of the World Commission on Dams, which contains a thorough discussion of the pros and cons of dams and dam construction. The entire report can be downloaded at www.damsreport. org/. An overview of the report can be found at www.damsreport.org/ docs/overview/wcd_overview.pdf.
International Centre for Hydropower (ICH) www.ntnu.no/ich/
The International Centre for Hydropower (ICH) is an association of companies and organizations active in all aspects of hydropower generation and supply. Membership is open to all parties involved in the development, implementation, and operation of hydropower.
International Commission on Large Dams (ICOLD) genepi.louis-jean.com/ cigb/index.html
Contains ICOLD's view of the report of the World Commission on Dams as well as other views. A related site, www.hydro2001.com/, contains information about two conferences: The Fourth International Conference Hydropower '01, Bergen, 20–22 June 2001, and the ICOLD European Symposium, Dams in a European Context, Geiranger, 25–27 June 2001. Hydropower '01 will focus on private sector development, hydropower as environmentally sustainable power generation, recent trends in plant operation, and innovative technology and design.
