Rural electrification

About: Rural electrification is a(n) research topic. Over the lifetime, 2840 publication(s) have been published within this topic receiving 50142 citation(s).

Electricity consumption and economic growth in China

Abstract: This paper applies the error-correction model to examine the causal relationship between electricity consumption and real GDP for China during 1971–2000. Our estimation results indicate that real GDP and electricity consumption for China are cointegrated and there is unidirectional Granger causality running from electricity consumption to real GDP but not vice versa. In order to overcome the constraints on electricity consumption, the Chinese government has to speed up the nation-wide interconnection of power networks, to upgrade urban and rural distribution grids, and to accelerate rural electrification.

Small hydro power: technology and current status

Abstract: Hydropower, large and small, remains by far the most important of the “renewables” for electrical power production worldwide, providing 19% of the planet’s electricity. Small-scale hydro is in most cases “run-of-river”, with no dam or water storage, and is one of the most cost-effective and environmentally benign energy technologies to be considered both for rural electrification in less developed countries and further hydro developments in Europe. The European Commission have a target to increase small hydro capacity by 4500MW (50%) by the year 2010. The UK has 100MW of existing small hydro capacity (under 5MW) operating from approximately 120 sites, and at least 400MW of unexploited potential. With positive environmental policies now being backed by favourable tariffs for ‘green’ electricity, the industry believes that small hydro will have a strong resurgence in Europe in the next 10 years, after 20 years of decline. This paper summarises the different small hydro technologies, new innovations being developed, and the barriers to further development.

The Effects of Rural Electrification on Employment: New Evidence from South Africa

Abstract: This paper estimates the impact of electrification on employment growth by analyzing South Africa 's mass roll-out of electricity to rural households Using several new data sources and two different identification strategies (an instrumental variables strategy and a fixed effects approach ), I find that electrification significantly raises female employment within five years This new infrastructure appears to increase hours of work for men and women, while reducing female wages and increasing male earnings Several pieces of evidence suggest that household electrification raises employment by releasing women from home production and enabling microenterprises Migration behavior may also be affected (JEL H54, L94,

Renewable Energy Policies and Barriers

Abstract: The 1990s saw an explosion of energy policy changes around the globe Driven by economic, environmental, security, and social concerns, energy regulation has been in great flux Many of the changes are having a profound influence on renewable energy, both from policies explicitly designed to promote renewable energy and from other policies that indirectly influence incentives and barriers for renewable energy This article considers six different types of policies that affect renewable energy development, both directly or indirectly: renewable energy promotion policies, transport biofuels policies, emissions reduction policies, electric power restructuring policies, distributed generation policies, and rural electrification policies Each policy reduces one or more key barriers that impede development of renewable energy These barriers are discussed first In general, most renewable energy policies address cost-related barriers in some manner Many policies address the requirements for utilities to purchase renewable energy from power producers Most policies also address the perceived risks of renewable energy in one form or another (ie, technical, financial, legal) Still others primarily address regulatory and institutional barriers Some related policies may heighten barriers to renewable energy rather than reduce them Table 1 summarizes the key renewable energy policies and barriers presented

Community-Based Electric Micro-Grids Can Contribute to Rural Development: Evidence from Kenya

Abstract: Summary. — In this paper we clarify the mechanisms through which rural electrification can contribute to rural development. Through a detailed case study analysis of a community-based electric micro-grid in rural Kenya, we demonstrate that access to electricity enables the use of electric equipment and tools by small and micro enterprises, resulting in significant improvement in productivity per worker (100–200% depending on the task at hand) and in a corresponding growth in income levels in the order of 20–70%, depending on the product made. Access to electricity simultaneously enables and improves the delivery of social and business services from a wide range of village-level infrastructure (e.g., schools, markets, and water pumps) while improving the productivity of agricultural activities. We find that increased productivity and growth in revenues within the context of better delivery of social and business support services contribute to achieving higher social and economic benefits for rural communities. We also demonstrate that when local electricity users have an ability to charge and enforce cost-reflective tariffs and when electricity consumption is closely linked to productive uses that generate incomes, cost recovery is feasible. 2008 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.