-- Information developed to maximize the production of 

 methane from small-scale anaerobic digesters, for 

 example, may well apply to large-scale urban sewage 

 digesters or to U.S. work on converting kelp to 

 methane. 



Solar crop-drying techniques developed for regions 

 of developing countries could also be applied in 

 the United States with substantial energy savings. 

 Modular photovoltaic devices could be used to power 

 high-cost remote communications (e.g. , television, 

 radio) and other electrical needs. The acquired 

 production experience and resulting cost reductions 

 will directly benefit the United States. 



Such developments provide expanded markets for U.S. 

 technology. Commercialization could mean accelerated 

 price reductions and accelerated economic 

 competitiveness in the United States of many 

 technologies not yet economically competitive here but 

 potentially applicable in rural areas. 



Proposed Initiatives 



We propose that the United states indicate its 

 intent to increase support for a number of actions that 

 would expand and strengthen the capabilities of 

 developing countries to make greater use of indigenous 

 energy resources: 



— Encourage U. S. government-sponsored research and 

 development to be more responsive to opportunities 

 for helping developing countries meet their energy 

 problems, especially with regard to technologies 

 for using renewable energy. 



— Establish a network of regional institutions to 

 concentrate on the energy problems of developing 

 countries. To the extent possible, the work of 

 existing institutions should be broadened for this 

 purpose. For example, forest research institutes 

 and experiment stations in tropical countries could 

 study rapidly growing species of trees for energy 

 production (see the initiative on forest 

 resources) ; research and development centers in 

 microbiology could study improved strains of 

 microorganisms to increase the efficiency with 

 which methane, alcohol, and other chemicals are 

 produced from agricultural residues and human and 

 animal wastes; experimental and demonstration 

 clusters could develop, test, and evaluate the 

 technical and economic feasibility of various 

 domestic energy supply approaches. The United 

 States could also sponsor a continuing series of 



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