Renewable Energy against Poverty (REP)
International workshop
Organisers:
Interregional Renewable Energy Cluster Association
Hungarian Technical Scientific Society of Transylvania
University of Pécs, Faculty of Economy
Venues and dates:
Workshop 1.:
Scientific programmes, forum: Pécs, Faculty of Economy, University of Pécs, Pécs, Rákóczi u. 80., aula
Study trip: Ormánság
18-21 March 2009
Workshop 2.:
Scientific programme: Hotel Salvator - Jakab Antal Tanulmányi Ház, Csíkszereda - Miercurea Ciuc, Szék 147.
Study trip: see programme
4-5 June 2009
Poverty and social exclusion are serious problems in the new member states of the EU. 3 million people live in poverty in Hungary, 1 million in so called "deep poverty". Rural people living in small villages far from the cities have to face a special problem. These people have only limited access to modern energy services and energy technology due to their high costs. Highly sophisticated renewable technologies are not available for them, not only because of the lack of financial means, but also because they cannot use and maintain these technologies. Their choices in life are severely constrained by poverty and one important factor is the way of energy consumption.
We believe that there are methods in energy saving, in decentralized energy systems, and in using low technology renewable energy, which could help to solve the energy problem in these villages. The decentralized energy systems in the form of solar collectors, solar kitchens, solar dryers, small scale and community biomass and biogas devices not only have the impact of providing cheaper energy and creating new jobs, but they also motivate the inhabitants of these rural regions to cooperate and solve their problems at a local level.
The main goal of the REP workshops is to initiate debate about the energy problems of poor rural areas and to motivate people not to live with instant traditional solutions but to work out special local solutions for their problems.
Themes of the workshop:
- energy consumption habits
- possibilities of energy saving with the help of traditional rural architecture
- community-owned energy systems
- redesigning old stoves and fireplaces in order to reduce air-pollution and to increase effective energy production (eg: rocket stove)
- biogas production on community level and for only one house
- low-technology solar systems (solar kitchen, solar stoves, dryer, photovoltaic panels, solar collectors, simple thermic devices etc.)
- small-scale wind energy production and micro-hydro plants
- social-economical-environmental effects
Participants:
The participants of the workshop are leaders of rural regions and communities, social workers, NGOs dealing with sustainable development and social problems of these communities, researchers of the technical and economical faculties and universities, local entrepreneurs (SME-s) and interested individuals.
Language of the workshop:
Hungarian and English (simultaneous interpretation will be provided at the scientific programmes)
Organising committees:
Workshop 1.:
President:
Dr. Márta Somogyvári, associate professor
University of Pécs, Faculty of Economy
Tel.: 00 36 20 931 3982
e-mail: somogyv@videant.hu
Members of the organising committee:
Dr. habil Tibor Kiss, professor
University of Pécs, Faculty of Economy
e-mail: kisst@ktk.pte.hu
Dr. Fülöp László, főiskolai tanár,
Pécsi Tudományegyetem Pollack Mihály Műszaki Kar
e-mail: fulopl@pmmf.hu
Dr. József Vajda, college professor
University of Pécs, Mihály Pollack Faculty of Technology
e-mail: vajdaj@witch.pmmf.hu
Secretary:
Lilla Polyák
Tel: 36 20 5663136
E-mail: polyak.lilla@videant.hu
Mailing address:
IME, H-7621 Pécs, Megye u 21
Tel-fax: 36 72 511-834
Workshop 2.:
President:
István Vallasek, university lecturer
Sapientia University
e-mail: vallasekistvan@sapientia.siculorum.ro
Members:
István Lázár, vice president, EMT Miercurea Ciuc
e-mail: ilazar@hr.astral.ro
Zoltán Makfalvi, vice president, EMT Miercurea Ciuc
e-mail: z.makfalvi@clicknet.ro
Secretary:
György Attila Nagy
Tel: 40.266.314657
e-mail: nagyhavas@yahoo.com
Mailing address:
EMT, RO-530104 Miercurea Ciuc, Piaţa Libertăţii nr.1. judeţul Harghita
Tel: 40.266.314657, Fax: 40.266.372.099