South Africa Conference & Workshop
Protea Hotel, Wonderes, Illovo, Johannesburg 28 - 30 Janurary 2010
Presenter Biographies
ALISTAIR MCMASTER
CURRICULUM VITAE
Name Alistair MCMASTER
Nationality South African
Date of Birth 28.03.1976
Profession Environmental Consultant
Key Experience
- Sustainable Energy and Climate Change Policy and Strategy;
- Integrated Environmental Management Processes; and Geographic Information Systems.
Qualifications
- Master of Science: Catchment Research Group: Rhodes University, 2002
- Bachelor of Science in Environmental and Geographical Science: University of Cape Town, 1999
- Bachelor of Science in Environmental and Geographical Science, and Zoology: University of Cape Town, 1998
Certificate in Environmental Law for Environmental Managers, North West University, 2008.
Professional Membership
- Professional Natural Scientist: South African Council for Natural Scientific Professions; PrSciNat No: 400086/09
- Member of the Geo-Information Society of South Africa;
- Registered Member of the International Association of Impact Assessors, South Africa; and
Registered Member of the Institute of Waste Management, South Africa.
Recent Project Experience: Sustainable Energy, Climate Change & CDM
- Consultant with PURE Carbon Africa (Pty) Ltd. (July 2008 to Present)
- Clean Development Mechanism project feasibility studies and assessments for emissions reduction and renewable energy projects in the Eastern Cape Province of South Africa.
- East London Industrial Development Zone and Eastern Cape Department of Economic Affairs Renewable Energy Study, Eastern Cape, August 2009 to present.
- Biofuels Greenhouse Gas impact assessment for Grown Energy (Pty) Ltd 50 million litre-per year bio-fuel development project, with two 5 MW Co-generation plants (Mozambique). August 2009 to present.
- Addax Bioenergy Biofuels Greenhouse Gas Impact Assessment under the 2008 European Union Renewable Energy Directive, Makeni, Sierra Leone. July 2009 to Present.
- University of Fort Hare Sustainability Policy and Strategy and GHG Emissions Assessment. December 2008 to July 2009.
- Buffalo City Municipality Sustainable Energy Policy and Strategy. March 2008 to March 2009.
- East London Industrial Development Zone: Evaluation of sustainability concepts applicable to Industrial Development Zones, including Renewable Energy, Energy Efficiency and the Clean Development Mechanism. December 2007 to February 2008.
Other Project Experience (2002 to Present)
Project consultant on environmental projects covering the following focus areas:
- Environmental Impact Assessment;
- Environmental Policy and Strategies;
- Integrated Waste Management Strategies and Planning; and
- Geographic Information Systems.
Recent Publications
Hawley, G., McMaster, A., and Carter, A., 2009: Carbon Emissions, Carbon Stock and Life-Cycle Assessment in Assessing Cumulative Climate Change Impacts in the Environmental Impact Process; International Association for Impact Assessment (South Africa) 2009 National Conference, Wilderness, Southern Cape, 23-26 August 2009.
DESCRIPTION OF PRESENTATION
Title:
A CDM Perspective on Cogeneration in South Africa
Abstract
The Clean Development Mechanism (CDM) under the Kyoto Protocol has provided the opportunity to improve the viability of renewable energy, including biomass and biogas cogeneration projects, in developing countries. Of the 4734 CDM projects registered or at validation by November 2009, 112 are from Africa and 28 from South Africa. Given the South African national GDP, this represents a disproportionately low number of projects.
In this presentation, cogeneration and its associated challenges in South Africa is considered in the context of CDM projects. An overview and assessment of cogeneration projects is given, with reference to:
- Technology and technical issues;
- Institutional Issues;
- Enabling policy;
- Environmental Authorisation; and
- The rigours of the CDM process.
The above points are illustrated further through a selection of case examples.
Applicable references
ESKOM Holdings, 2007: Pilot National Cogeneration Programme. May 2007.
Fenhann, J., 2010: UNEP Risoe CDM/JI Pipeline Analysis and Database. Accessed online: http://cdmpipeline.org/
RELATED PROJECTS AND SUCCESS STORIES
Involvement in Similar Projects
- Project team appointed in December 2009 to undertake the development of the Eastern Cape Climate Change Adaptation and Mitigation Strategy for the Eastern Cape Province.
- East London Industrial Development Zone and Eastern Cape Department of Economic Affairs Renewable Energy Study, Eastern Cape, August 2009 to present.
- Biofuels Greenhouse Gas impact assessment for Grown Energy (Pty) Ltd 50 million litre-per year bio-fuel development project, with two 5 MW Co-generation plants (Mozambique). August 2009 to present.
- Addax Bioenergy Biofuels Greenhouse Gas Impact Assessment under the 2008 European Union Renewable Energy Directive, Makeni, Sierra Leone. July 2009 to Present.
- University of Fort Hare Sustainability Policy and Strategy and GHG Emissions Assessment. December 2008 to July 2009.
- Buffalo City Municipality Sustainable Energy Policy and Strategy. March 2008 to March 2009.
- East London Industrial Development Zone: Evaluation of sustainability concepts applicable to Industrial Development Zones, including Renewable Energy, Energy Efficiency and the Clean Development Mechanism. December 2007 to February 2008.
Success Stories
Together with Agama Energy, we have recently completed the East London Industrial Development Zone (IDZ) Renewable Energy Study which was funded by the Eastern Cape Provincial Department of Economic Development and Environmental Affairs. The study represented a detailed assessment of the opportunities and strategies for stimulating investment in renewable energy technology manufacture and generation in both the East London IDZ and the province as a whole. The study considered the extent of primary renewable energy resources, skills development requirements, financial and policy drivers, and infrastructural capacity and institutional issues among others.