Power to the People

From eco-warriors to sensory zones, plastic pencils to recycling domes, EXPO 2000 explores humankind, nature and technology through a series of futuristic displays. Technology has always played an important role in the environment and this week Hands On singles out some of the most inspiring innovations in tidal, solar and passive energy.

New Wave, Scotland

With oceans covering 60 per cent of the planet, wave power offers a source of energy that's still untapped - just 0.1% of the ocean's energy could power the world for five years. But wave energy has never taken off. Historically, it's had to compete with low fossil fuel prices and the heavily subsidised hydro-electric and nuclear industries.

But that might all be about to change with a new commercially viable 'Limpet' wave power station, designed by the Scottish company Wavegen.

The Limpet system generates energy by using waves to force air through a turbine. As the turbine moves, air energy is converted into electrical energy and with oceans producing, on average, energy equivalent to 16 kilowatts per metre it's clear that the world's seas store a vast global reservoir of cheap, and now accessible, energy.

Current Charge, Peru

With only 6 per cent of rural Peru linked to the national grid most people rely on batteries for light. With few recharging outlets batteries have to be taken to the nearest town, often many hours away. For people living deep in the Amazon jungle it's an arduous task as most towns are only accessible by boat.

Now the remote Amazon village of El Paraiso on the River Napo has been chosen to test the latest appropriate technology for recharging batteries in situ using a river turbine.

With a little training from the Intermediate Technology Group, inaccessible river villages like El Paraiso are one step away from battery self-sufficiency. And there's other advantages too. Not only will the people of El Paraiso save time and money travelling to distant recharging centres but they can also provide a valuable recharging service to other local villages, encouraging local trade.

Solar City, Germany

When visitors arrive at Freiburg's railway station in Germany's Black Forest, the first thing they see is the tallest solar power plant in southern Germany - a symbol of an energy policy that began as a protest against nuclear power. Now, Freiburg has turned itself into a leading solar city.

Local architect, Rolf Disch, is behind some of Freiburg's most innovative low-energy houses. Disch's houses are not only living spaces, they're also power plants where solar-panelled roofs generate more energy than the occupiers need, sometimes five times the amount. Disch's philosophy is not just about saving energy - but how to use nature without destroying it.

Now, residents of Freiburg have taken up the solar energy cause adding panels to their houses or buying shares in commercial solar energy production where they are reimbursed when the power is sold to the city electricity scheme.

Freiburg has come out of the shade and into the sunlight. Will the rest of the world follow?

The Cepheus Complex, Austria

Just across the border in Austria, Hands On visits Cepheus - a five year project started in 1997 and backed by the European Commission. Cepheus (Cost Efficient Passive Houses as European Standards) is running in five European countries to encourage architects and designers to build affordable, energy-efficient homes for everyone.

Known as 'passive houses' these homes use energy more efficiently. By redesigning normal features, architects are able to keep these homes cool in summer and warm in winter - without the use of energy wasting radiators or fires.

The aim of the project is to show that energy-efficient homes can be built anywhere and are as good for the pocket as they are for the environment.

Glowstar - Kenya

Across Kenya lives are being transformed. Kerosene is out and solar power is in.

For Kenya's rural villages life used to stop at nightfall. Now solar-powered lanterns, developed by the Intermediate Technology Development Group, are bringing a little sunshine into the long dark evenings.

Traditionally villagers used costly kerosene lanterns but this simple and robust new solar alternative is able to harness the cheap energy of Kenya's abundant sunshine and provide up to four hours of light each night.

Now night-time jobs like checking livestock have been made easier.