2007年VOA标准英语-Zambia Experimenting with Renewable Energy Tech

By Danstan Kaunda
Lusaka
22 March 2007
A project in Southern Africa is helping¹ promote the use of renewable energy sources. It’s called INSABA -- The Integrated Southern Africa Business Advisory² and is funded by a German NGO called IN-Went. Voice of America's Kaunda Danstan reports from Lusaka, Zambia, that the Integrated Southern Africa Business Advisory project (INSABA) is being implemented³ in Zambia, Botswana and South Africa. It aims to improve the use of renewable energy technologies from the sun, wind, water and biomass – that is, materials including animal wastes that can be used to produce energy.

The project is expected to help reduce energy needs in southern Africa, whose growing economies are putting a strain on electrical grids⁴.  It’s also expected to reduce the cost of power in the region.

Neinz Bohnke is a spokesman for IN-WENT.  He says,"We are taking responsibility for our environment, and renewable energy is playing a very strong role because we do not have any other choice in the long-run.  All our fossil fuels are being exploited. We have to develop a long-term vision and renewable energy is the only vision we have."  

Professor Francis Yamba, is the Director of the Center of Energy and Environment at the University of Zambia.  He says, "The main objective of the project is to strengthen the main energy players in the sector⁵ namely [small to medium scale] energy entrepreneurs, farming communities, suppliers of renewable energy technologies and system designs."

The professor says the project is designed to increase the use of renewable energy, like solar power -- in this case PV (photovoltaic) or a thermal⁶ (heat) application. Yamba adds the term "micro hydro" and "biomass" which includes animal waste as well as other materials.

Yamba says in a country like Zambia, where only 3 or 4 percent of the rural community has electricity, renewable energy technology can be important as a source of power to the mostly small- scale farmers.

INSABA also offers technical training for those wanting to work with small and medium
enterprises.  And, it’s working to identify marketable goods and services that can use renewable energy.  For example, it encourages food venders to use wood efficient stoves.  It also includes makers⁷ of clothing and shoes to use solar powered sewing machines.

In sub-Sahara Africa, over 80 percent of the people living in rural areas have no access to water-generated electricity. Currently, the majority of students in rural schools rely on oil lamps and candles to do their assignments in the evenings. The project using solar energy will light up over 40 rural schools in
southern Africa.

It's also teaching farmers in Kabwe in Zambia’s Central Province how to use photovoltaic panels using solar energy to power generators⁸ for irrigation.  He says,   "a lot of the local farmers are hard working, but are limited by the amount of water supplied by the rainy season, so we are working with some institutions to provide irrigation waters, through the use of wind mills or photovoltaic systems."

The project has been on-going since 2005; it comes to an end this year. Currently, it's generated over 120 jobs for people who now produce marketable renewable energy technologies, goods and services.

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1 helping   

n.食物的一份&adj.帮助人的，辅助的

参考例句：

• The poor children regularly pony up for a second helping of my hamburger. 那些可怜的孩子们总是要求我把我的汉堡包再给他们一份。
• By doing this, they may at times be helping to restore competition. 这样一来, 他在某些时候,有助于竞争的加强。

2 advisory   

adj.劝告的，忠告的，顾问的，提供咨询

参考例句：

• I have worked in an advisory capacity with many hospitals.我曾在多家医院做过顾问工作。
• He was appointed to the advisory committee last month.他上个月获任命为顾问委员会委员。

3 implemented   

v.实现( implement的过去式和过去分词 )；执行；贯彻；使生效

参考例句：

• This agreement, if not implemented, is a mere scrap of paper. 这个协定如不执行只不过是一纸空文。 来自《现代汉英综合大词典》
• The economy is in danger of collapse unless far-reaching reforms are implemented. 如果不实施影响深远的改革，经济就面临崩溃的危险。 来自辞典例句

4 grids   

n.格子( grid的名词复数 )；地图上的坐标方格；（输电线路、天然气管道等的）系统网络；（汽车比赛）赛车起跑线

参考例句：

• Typical framed structures are beams, grids, plane and space frames or trusses. 典型构架结构为梁、格栅、平面的和空间的框架或桁架。 来自辞典例句
• The machines deliver trimmed grids for use or stock. 这种机器铸出修整过的板栅，以供使用或储存。 来自辞典例句

5 sector   

n.部门，部分；防御地段，防区；扇形

参考例句：

• The export sector will aid the economic recovery. 出口产业将促进经济复苏。
• The enemy have attacked the British sector.敌人已进攻英国防区。

6 thermal   

adj.热的，由热造成的；保暖的

参考例句：

• They will build another thermal power station.他们要另外建一座热能发电站。
• Volcanic activity has created thermal springs and boiling mud pools.火山活动产生了温泉和沸腾的泥浆池。

7 makers   

n.制造者，制造商（maker的复数形式）

参考例句：

• The makers of the product assured us that there had been no sacrifice of quality. 这一产品的制造商向我们保证说他们没有牺牲质量。
• The makers are about to launch out a new product. 制造商们马上要生产一种新产品。 来自《简明英汉词典》

8 generators   

n.发电机，发生器( generator的名词复数 )；电力公司

参考例句：

• The factory's emergency generators were used during the power cut. 工厂应急发电机在停电期间用上了。
• Power can be fed from wind generators into the electricity grid system. 电力可以从风力发电机流入输电网。 来自《简明英汉词典》