The Renewable and Appropriate Energy Laboratory, RAEL, is an interdisciplinary research unit of the University of California, Berkeley, with projects in a number of energy and development areas. We have long-term projects on biomass stoves, solar photovoltiacs, water quality technologies, and biomass energy management.
Contact Information
Kenya - solar energy, biomass energy, charcoal management; India - social networks/energy project, wind industry development; Mexico - improved cookstoves, community forestry; Tanzania -urban energy research; Thailand - national energy policy.
Our Experience And Interest In The Four PCIA Central Focus Areas
Researchers in RAEL have published widely on the social and cultural issues surrounding traditional fuels, and the transitions to alternate fuels. These reports can be found at: http://socrates.berkeley.edu/~rael/papers.html
We have been particularly interested in the opportunities to support the development of new, cleaner, energy usage, both at a technological level, and through new management practices. Much of our work to date has taken place in east Africa.
RAEL has been involved in a number of efforts to provide design advice, and informal 'certification' of superior performing energy technologies, and would be interested to do additional work with partner groups on these issues.
From 1993 - 1999 we conducted an exposure-response study of a commuity of 500 people in rural Kenya, deriving dose-response relationships for ARI and ALRI. The papers resutling from this project can be found online at: http://socrates.berkeley.edu/~rael/papers.html
Relevant Publications or Studies
None noted
Our Contribution to the Partnership
RAEL would be delighted to particiapte in all aspects of the Partnership. Faculty and students in RAEL have specific skills in stove design, biomass resource assessment and management, epidemiology, risk assessment, and environmental policy.