INTERNATIONAL SOLAR ENERGY SOCIETY Solar Energy: The Sustainable Energy Solution WHAT IS ISES? The International Solar Energy Society (ISES) was formed in 1954, as a non-profit organisation, to provide a forum for scientific exchange in the field of solar energy. It is an accredited Non-Government Organisation (NOO) with the United Nations Economic & Social Committee (ECOSOC), and is widely regarded as the foremost global organisation promoting the development and utilisation of renewable energies. ISES is now active in over 105 countries world-wide. Its membership includes eminent scientists and researchers, plus many other professionals who are active within the field of renewable energies. It also has members from industry and other private and public organisations. ISES members are also involved in the inter-related areas of social development, environmental and resource assessments, economic analysis and political understanding of renewable energies. The exchange of information between experts is encouraged through its congresses, publications, seminars, workshops and global computer networks. ISES aims to bring recent developments in solar energy, both in research and applications, to the attention of decision-makers and the general public, in order to increase the understanding and use of solar energy in everyday life. ISES is currently organised by national and multi-national sections which represent over 50 individual countries (active and pending). There are currently three regional offices, ISES Europe, ISES Africa and ISES South America, which serve as focal points for ISES activities. ISES has many working groups and committees. Their activities include networking between research institutions, public relations initiatives, conferences, publications, industry liaison, government and NGO interactions and highlighting environmental issues. WHY SOLAR TECHNOLOGIES? ISES promotes the use of technologies which are directly or indirectly fuelled by the sun and which minimise the consequences of energy use. These technologies can provide sustainable solutions for the supply of energy in both industrialised and developing countries. Solar photovoltaic (PV) technologies have many applications world- wide, and provide an immediate and sustainable way of providing power for uses such as telecommunications, homes, hospitals and health centres in developing countries. Solar drying techniques can be used to dry fruit and vegetables. Solar stills provide fresh water. Solar cookers do not emit pollution or contribute to forest degradation. Clean solar systems can be designed to contribute to the electricity grid (such as PV architecturally integrated into buildings; large centralised solar power stations; landfill gasifiers), power electric vehicles; and provide heat for industrial and domestic applications. In all regions, solar architecture can provide comfortable buildings which are inexpensive to heat and cool and which are comfortable to live and/or work in. WHY JOIN ISES? Views and new discoveries are shared through regular newsletters, journals and conferences. Joining ISES enables members to: * be in contact with the most extensive network of solar experts in the world. Membership is open to any persons with an interest in the research, development, utilisation or promotion of solar energy or related fields. * access into the internet computer network, which enables members to easily find large information databases on solar energy, communicate globally with other solar professionals, and to receive and transfer information to thousands of related organisations world-wide. * Receive fee reductions for ISES seminars and conferences. * receive the ISES publications. Solar Energy is the Society's well-respected technical journal, which is published monthly. It is devoted solely to the science and technology of solar energy applications. SunWorld is the quarterly magazine, which aims to promote the widespread knowledge of solar energy applications. ISES News is the biannual newsletter about ISES activities world-wide. * contribute to the advancement of solar energy through the ISES 2000 initiative and representation at global forums. Through ISES we encourage members to `think globally and act locally'. In doing so, we aim to bring the sustainable benefits of solar energy to every country around the world. *** Regional offices *** ISES EUROPE ISES AFRICA ISES SOUTH AMERICA 192 Franklin Road Box 152 Univ. Nacional de Salta, Birmingham La Montagne 0184 INENCO B30 2HE Republic of South Africa Calle Buenos Aires 177 United Kingdom 4400 Ciudad de Salta Argentina Tel: 44 21 459 4826 Tel: 27 12 804 3435 Tel: 5487~25 1034 Fax: 44 21 459 8206 Fax: 27 12 804 0753 Fax: 5487251034 *** Photographs *** 1. Village biogas plans for electricity (D.0. Hall) 2. Livestock watering in Africa (P. Fraenkel) 3. Domestic solar water heater, Cyprus (J. A. Gregory) 4. 15MW wood-fueled district heat plant, Sweden (D.0. Hall) 5. Wind-powered telecommunications, Falkland Islands (P. Fraenkel) 6. Solar still producing clean water, Dominican Republic (ITPower) 7. Apartment block with active and passive, Israel (D.0. Hall) 8. Installing a P.V. pump, Morocco (IT Power) 9. 600 kW windpark, Finland (Neste Advanced Power Systems) 10. P.V. roof-integrated house, U.S.A. (S. Seong) 11. 10,000 suns equivalent solar power tower, Israel (D.0. Hall) 12. Solar cooker, China (IT Power)