Small island states and biofuels
Quicknote energy independence
We often refer to the energy situation in small island states, because they present a unique environment where major factors of global change collide and pose severe risks: climate change, energy (in)dependence, single sector economies based on energy intensive logistical chains (tourism with its air traffic, its demand for imported luxury goods,...), lack of natural resources requiring a careful balance between food and fuel needs...
An island can literally get cut off from the rest of the world or disappear alltogether (due to sea level rises) when one of those factors tips the island's fragile ecological balance. (Jared Diamond's latest book Collapse: How Societies Choose to Fail or Succeed offers ample illustrations of this.) But it can also radically change its course, and "leapfrog" by introducing new technologies that change its entire energy system into a post-fossil fuel , sustainable one. An example is Tuvalu's "Small is Beautiful" campaign, which involves a comprehensive bioenergy plan, aiming at total energy independence built on a local logic of "territorial intelligence".
It seems like others are now following in Tuvalu's steps. The Île Maurice (Mauritius), a paradisiacal pearl in the Indian Ocean, hosts one world's most unique marine ecosystems, but it gets polluted by diesel and gasoline from heavy boat traffic (tourists and locals alike use boats as their main transport and leisure means; and very polluting cruiseships do their bit.) Therefor the island is switching to locally produced biodiesel which is much less damaging to fragile marine life. To make things complete, Mauritius is also testing ethanol in a fleet of vehicles, part of the island's radical shift to locally produced fuels based on abundantly available sugar cane. Currently, Mauritius exports ethanol to Europe, where it is dehydrated and then re-imported by the island. Obviously, this step will now be eliminated. The island has enough biomass resources to replace all the fossil fuels it currently imports.
We often refer to the energy situation in small island states, because they present a unique environment where major factors of global change collide and pose severe risks: climate change, energy (in)dependence, single sector economies based on energy intensive logistical chains (tourism with its air traffic, its demand for imported luxury goods,...), lack of natural resources requiring a careful balance between food and fuel needs...
An island can literally get cut off from the rest of the world or disappear alltogether (due to sea level rises) when one of those factors tips the island's fragile ecological balance. (Jared Diamond's latest book Collapse: How Societies Choose to Fail or Succeed offers ample illustrations of this.) But it can also radically change its course, and "leapfrog" by introducing new technologies that change its entire energy system into a post-fossil fuel , sustainable one. An example is Tuvalu's "Small is Beautiful" campaign, which involves a comprehensive bioenergy plan, aiming at total energy independence built on a local logic of "territorial intelligence".
It seems like others are now following in Tuvalu's steps. The Île Maurice (Mauritius), a paradisiacal pearl in the Indian Ocean, hosts one world's most unique marine ecosystems, but it gets polluted by diesel and gasoline from heavy boat traffic (tourists and locals alike use boats as their main transport and leisure means; and very polluting cruiseships do their bit.) Therefor the island is switching to locally produced biodiesel which is much less damaging to fragile marine life. To make things complete, Mauritius is also testing ethanol in a fleet of vehicles, part of the island's radical shift to locally produced fuels based on abundantly available sugar cane. Currently, Mauritius exports ethanol to Europe, where it is dehydrated and then re-imported by the island. Obviously, this step will now be eliminated. The island has enough biomass resources to replace all the fossil fuels it currently imports.
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