Two dozen countries representing 80 percent of the world’s commercial energy consumption on Tuesday announced initiatives to build more efficient appliances and buildings, “smart” electric grids and electric vehicles.
“We’re taking aggressive immediate actions together to confront the energy challenge head on,’’ said Energy Secretary Steven Chu, the host of a two-day conference dubbed the Clean Energy Ministerial. “We know the energy challenge won’t wait, and we won’t wait either.’’
Mr. Chu said the initiatives would save enough energy in the next 20 years to eliminate the need for 500 power plants. But the organizers did not give any overall estimates of energy savings, and it appears likely that total demand will actually grow over the next two decades. Television sets and lighting will be a special focus, officials said.
5:42 p.m. | Updated
(They did provide a calculation of how much energy
each step would save. In a tribute to Arthur H. Rosenfeld, a California energy expert who has preached efficiency for years, the background paper
refers to each saved power plant as “a Rosenfeld.” )
While the conference’s participants all pledged progress toward clean energy, many are moving in both directions at once.
Dipuo Peters, South Africa’s energy minister, said her country would install one million solar water heaters, which would save 3,000 megawatts of power by 2014, or the output of one coal-fired power station. In fact, South Africa is building several major coal plants and planning even more. But the country will soon publish an atlas of areas where carbon dioxide could be stored underground if captured from the burning of coal and an atlas of wind resources, she said.
While most of the initiatives outlined are aimed at helping high-consuming countries use energy more wisely, they also include a pledge to develop off-grid technologies like solar-powered lanterns that use light-emitting diodes. Such lanterns could displace kerosene, a major source of air pollutants that are harmful to human health.
The conference attracted hundreds of government officials and energy executives. Mr. Chu hailed the level of participation, specifically the presence of the United Arab Emirates, an OPEC member. Organizers said the conference would be held annually, with the next one scheduled in the emirate of Abu Dhabi.
The United Arab Emirates did not appear threatened by the emphasis on cutting consumption. A mix of efficiency measures and renewable energy “is simply our future prosperity,’’ said Sultan Ahmed Al Jaber, chief executive of the Abu Dhabi Future Energy Company.