SA-VSBK A MODEL OF SUCCESS AT COP17

Amid discussions on the implementation of green technologies and a low carbon economy, as well as hands-on demonstrations of the Vertical Shaft Brick Kiln technology, SA-VSBK made international headlines through its participation at the 17^th Conference of the Parties (COP17), which took place at the Durban International Convention Centre from the 28^th November to 09^th December 2011.

COP17 is the 17^th United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC), and is an international environmental treaty focussed on stabilising greenhouse gas emissions in the atmosphere as a proactive means of protecting the global climate system from damaging consequences.

With the brickmaking sector being ranked among the largest contributors of greenhouse gas emissions worldwide, COP17 provided a platform for SA-VSBK to showcase its cleaner energy efficient brick-firing technology as part of the Swiss Technology Transfer Programme supported by the Swiss Agency for Development and Cooperation (SDC), Swisscontact and Skat.

This open source technology displayed at the Swiss Pavilion, in the form of a fully operational model that replicates the hydraulics of a typical VSBK shaft, drew the attention of high profile dignitaries, and decision-makers from both local and international government, as well as professionals from the built environment and the media alike. So much so, that many important connections were made with key decision-makers from across the globe, with a vested interest in this technology transfer initiative. This included a request from one of the neighbouring African countries for a feasibility study to be undertaken by the VSBK global pool to support the implementation of the technology in that country.

“We were also honored by the interest of Doris Leuthard, the Swiss Head of Environment, Transport and Energy, as well as Bruno Oberhle, the Swiss Head of Environment who both lauded us for the inroads we were making on the SA-VSBK Project thus far,” added project coordinator Luca de Giovanetti.

“The high level of interest and publicity generated through the model confirmed the SA-VSBK project is on track and fits in perfectly with the global demand for environmentally friendly manufacturing technologies and building products with lower embodied energy”, said John Volsteedt, Project Manager, noting that the embodied energy of the VSBK clay bricks currently produced out of Langkloof Bricks, the first pilot plant in SA, is currently less than 1mJ per brick (and expected to be lower in the very near future) compared to +/- 2.75 mJ per brick as produced in clamp kilns.

While many enquiries pertained to the cost of the VSBK technology, how it works and where the VSBK brick units can be sourced from, from a project point of view, there was a lot of interest in the overall scope of the project, how the technology transfer works and the CDM component.

Fittingly, the CDM component of the SA-VSBK Project was also put in the spotlight through its participation in two important discussions hosted by IETA (International Emissions Trading Association) with regard to:

1.         Opportunities to Fast Track CDM through Programmatic Approaches

This discussion organised by Standard Bank and CDC Climat, and moderated by Geoff Sinclair, Head of Carbon Trading, Standard Bank addressed the ‘rush of investment in Programmatic CDM’.

Sitting in on this panel with some of the worlds best minds in Carbon Trading and Climate Change was Kevin Fruin, founder of the SA-VSBK Project, who discussed the experiences of SA-VSBK as an example of a PoA project within the CDM mechanism.

“Besides the significant reductions in energy and thus CO₂ emissions of +/- 680 – 840 tons per annum per shaft equating to +/-  950 000 tons per annum achievable through the VSBK technology, the PoA was selected as  a mechanism to reduce costs for individual brickyards throughout South Africa. This was initially viewed as one of the key incentives for the brickmakers to adopt this technology,” said Fruin.

“However, financial viability within the current global economy and finding the balance between risk and reward to ensure inclusion of the smaller CPAs, as well as a clear lack of vision for the future of CDM given the PoA’s 28 year timeline are some of the key challenges that need to be addressed. If these key barriers can be overcome, then the benefits of the PoA to the brickmaker will ensure a significant reduction in financial risk due to technology adaptation,” emphasised Fruin.

2.         Kickstarting Africa’s Carbon Markets: Success Stories from the Field

This event moderated by Mark Radkha, Chief Energy Branch, United Nations Environment Program showcased successful examples of financing and implementing CDM and Gold standard VER projects in Africa. It also highlighted some of the lessons learned by developers and financial institutions involved in the ACAD facility to make carbon financing work in Africa.

Here, Kevin Fruin represented VSBK in an interactive discussion, which focussed on how to scale up and replicate these demonstration projects and enhance the impact of the ACAD Partnership in its second phase.

This session was organised by the African Carbon Asset Development Facility (ACAD), a partnership between UNEP, Standard Bank and the German Federal Environment Ministry.

Sitting in on discussions pertaining to the recent implementation of the new SANS204 and SANS10400XA Building Regulations for Thermal Efficiency in Buildings, both John Volsteedt and Luca de Giovanetti echoed that the timing of the SA-VSBK technology into the SA construction sector was spot on. “It was confirmed that all buildings in South Africa (excluding low cost housing) must comply with the new regulations. Although clay bricks are renowned for their inherent thermal properties, what sets VSBK apart is the cleaner, energy efficient nature of our brickfiring technology and the fact that these bricks have the lowest embodied energy. I am confident that through these new regulations, there will be an increasing demand for VSBK clay bricks in SA, thus stimulating the demand for the SA-VSBK technology in this country,” said de Giovanetti.

In another discussion on the German stand pertaining to the long term environmental impact on Mega Cities when hosting a Mega Event, much emphasis was placed on 2010 Soccer World Cup in Cape Town. “In the future, event organisers will need to be held accountable for environmental issues, and not just walk away and make it the hosting countries’ problem. What this means for SA-VSBK is that as more and more pressure is placed on event organisers to use environmentally friendly products with low embodied energy, it is quite likely that products like our VSBK bricks will be specified,” said Volsteedt.

Overall, SA-VSBK’s presence at COP17 proved to be an outstanding success. Besides reaching a broad base of visitors from across the globe including Mexico and the Philippines much exposure was gained through Swiss, French and German radio and TV interviews with a series of articles published across a spectrum of newspapers and other print media.

“The Swiss Government and the Swiss Agency for Development and Cooperation, both received confirmation of the value of this project through the good press coverage received. The international mix of the visitors, as well as the positive press coverage, has strengthened the SA-VSBK “brand” and has shown that SA-VSBK is a serious contender on both a local and global scene as a viable and cleaner clay brick firing technology,” said Volsteedt.