alternative energy
By Bryan Schaaf on Thursday, December 17, 2009.
 Jacqueline Charles of the Miami Herald wrote a very interesting piece on the UNDP facilitated program in Carrefour Feuilles that turns trash into an alternative, affordable fuel source in the form of briquettes. This initiative, featured in the BBC 2009 World Challenge, cleans up Port au Prince while creating jobs, including for former charcoal vendors. Simply put, there is no solution for rural deforestation without addressing Port au Prince's energy needs. Until that time, cargo truck after cargo truck of wood charcoal will travel to Haiti's largest city every day. This program is ripe for expansion, and eventually, replication. Click here for the article and videos. Read more »
By Bryan Schaaf on Wednesday, October 28, 2009.
 Earthspark International, formerly InterIntel, is developing a Jatropha economy in Coteaux, Haiti. Known colloquially as Mestiyen, Jatropha has several unique qualities. It grows where other plants will not, can be used as a “living fence” because it is inedible, benefits crop growth by retaining water and providing shelter from winds, and yields large quantities of plant oil. Can Jatropha be profitable for small farmers in Haiti? Earthspark intends to prove that it can. Read more »
By Bryan Schaaf on Saturday, October 24, 2009.
 The United Nations Industrial Development Organization's International Centre for Science and High Technology (UNIDO/ICS) reports it is preparing an initiaitve to promote next generation biofuels and biofuel refinery in African, Caribbean and Pacific countries. As part of this initiative, UNIDO seeks 35 partners in 25 countries. More details are below. Please pass this on to any potential candidates operating in Haiti. Read more »
By Bryan Schaaf on Monday, October 12, 2009.
 The Decheteries De Carrefour Feuilles factory, founded by CASCAF, was selected among 12 finalists in the British Broadcasting Corporation (BBC) World Challenge 09 Competition. This project has created jobs, cleaned up neighborhoods, and made available a reasonably priced alternative to the wood charcoal that has left Haiti's hills and mountains largest deforested. If you also feel that this program deserves to be expanded and replicated, vote for it at the BBC World Challenge website. Bon Chans! Read more »
By Bryan Schaaf on Monday, June 1, 2009.
 InterIntel, an organization devoted to the diffusion of alternative energy technology in Haiti, recently released its first quarterly report, copied below. InterIntel has developed a number of interesting, new partnerships with the private sector and other non profit organizations operating in Haiti. If you would like to learn more after reading the update, take a look at the InterIntel website/blog, which covers a number of issues related to alternative energy in low resource settings. Read more »
By Bryan Schaaf on Saturday, May 23, 2009.
 Copied below is an article published last year in Biodiesel Magazine. It may be worth revisiting given several interesting videos that Haiti Xchange noticed on the Haiti Biodiesel Industry website. The first video concerns a group in Port au Prince that is converting used cooking oil into biofuel. One of the members is using it in Haiti's first biofuel powered truck. Another demonstrates a fully functional bio-stove. Finally, there is a video of a biofuel powered generator. Readers can discuss biofuels in the Haiti Biodiesel Forum. Dialogue is needed given the many unanswered questions concerning the potential of biofuels in Haiti. What is the position of the goverment? How best to coordinate among the grassroots organizations, government ministries, and private sector? What do pilot projects require to be brought to scale? Perhaps the June Jatropha conference that CHIBAS is hosting can shed light on these issues. Read more »
By Bryan Schaaf on Saturday, May 2, 2009.
 CHIBAS is a non profit organization dedicated to developing the bio-fuel sector in Haiti. From June 24-25, CHIBAS will host Haiti's first Jatropha Stakeholders Conference in Port au Prince. This confrence will bring together NGOs, the private sector, and the government to help build partnerships needed to make jatropha a viable biofuel for Haiti. An invite to the event is attached. If you need further information, you can reach founder Gael Pressoir at info@chibas-bioenergy.org Read more »
By Bryan Schaaf on Tuesday, February 17, 2009.
Read more » The Appropriate Infrastructure Development Group (AIDG) has released a "Call for Applications" for its first business plan competition in Haiti, Konkou Biznis Ayiti. The contest's theme is the commercialization of biogas in Northern Haiti. The contest winner will receive up to $50,000 in financial support from AIDG, and training on both biogas sytems and enteprise management. The contest deadline is March 6th, 2009. Applicants must be Haitian citizens. The offical press release is copied below.
By Bryan Schaaf on Monday, October 13, 2008.
 We frequently receive inquiries concerning the use of Jatropha as a biofuel in Haiti. So far, cultivation has been limited to a handfull of pilot projects. This blog lists these organizations and summarizes several recent articles on the subject. A previous blog on biodiesel resulted in over 225 comments from people throughout the world interested in Jatropha. If you are interested specifically in jatropha cultivation in Haiti, please post a comment describing your interests. In that way, this blog can become a conversation about tapping the potential of Jatropha for Haiti. Read more »
By Bryan Schaaf on Saturday, October 11, 2008.
 The Haiti Support Group sent in an interesting article about the Windbelt, an innovative wind harvesting technology. The device was invented by Shawn Frayne who was inspired while working in Haiti's Petit Anse. Miniature versions are used for powering small devices while larger models could potentially be used as a community energy source in rural areas. You can learn more by visiting the Humdinger website and its frequently asked question section. Inquiries can be directed to wind@humdingerwind.com Read more »
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