Showing papers on "Rural electrification published in 2015"

Enabling private sector investment in microgrid-based rural electrification in developing countries: A review

Abstract: Access to electricity is widely recognized as an important factor for economic and social development. Low rates of access, particularly in remote rural areas in regions such as sub-Saharan Africa, South Asia, and Southeast Asia, have led developing nations and international organizations to set ambitious goals to expand the reach of electricity. Decentralized solutions such as microgrids have been proposed as cost effective solutions to reaching communities located far from central grid infrastructure. Lack of capital from public and donor sources has severely impeded achieving access goals, leading to calls for greater private sector participation in electrification activities. However, due to the high level of risk associated with decentralized electrification projects in low-income areas, marginal expected returns on investment, and a lack of clear and effective public policy, the private sector has not shown significant interest in participating in such projects. The purpose of this paper is to review barriers to private sector participation in decentralized electrification projects and to identify solutions that have been implemented and proposed to overcome these barriers. The barriers discussed include unsecure revenue streams, inability to finance projects, and long-term project risks such as grid encroachment. The range of interventions and business models reviewed include methods to secure reliable demand, subsidy models, risk guarantees, and different revenue models. This paper does not include an analysis of the effectiveness of the different interventions described. Future research should evaluate the relative costs and benefits of these interventions in order to provide robust policy guidance to decision makers in developing countries.

Renewable energy based off-grid rural electrification in Uttarakhand state of India: Technology options, modelling method, barriers and recommendations

Abstract: Energy deficiency is one of the key enigmas impacting the livelihood of millions of poverty stricken people throughout the world. It is quite evident that electrification of rural areas can improve the standard of education, health conditions, living and empowering the youth of the nearby population. Uttarakhand state of India is mainly encompassing southern periphery of Himalayas. Census of India reveals that about 123 numbers of villages and 1966 numbers of village hamlets are still unelectrified in the state. Electrification of these villages/hamlets of remote hills using renewable energy resources in off-grid mode is a feasible option compared to uneconomical grid extension. State has identified small hydro power potential of 1500 MW, mean annual daily solar radiation of 4.5–5.5 kWh/m2 with 300 sunny days in a year, enormous forest foliage, crop residue, animal waste and mean annual wind speed of 5–5.5 m/s in some places of the state. The present study comprises the utilization of single technology based system such as small hydro, biomass, biogas, solar and small wind turbines etc. and also aggregated technology, depending on the availability of the resources in the present locality. A methodological framework has been established to avail the demand and resources assessment of the area. Various barriers and issues are finally discussed, which leads to a greater obstacle, in the path of system implementation. In order to address these barriers and issues, suitable solutions are recommended in the present context.

Application of multicriteria decision methods for electric supply planning in rural and remote areas

Abstract: Multi-criteria decision-making methods have emerged as a very useful tool to find solutions under different criteria or conflicting points of view, also in energy planning. However, social and environmental criteria have not been fully integrated in rural electrification projects design and play often an opposing role to technical and economic criteria. We propose the combined application of two multi-criteria decision-making methods, namely, the Analytical Hierarchy Process (AHP) and Compromise Ranking method (VIKOR), to facilitate the selection of the best solution for electrical supply of remote rural locations, involving technical, economic, environmental and social criteria. A group of experts were consulted for weighting the preferences of the criteria, sub-criteria and category of deciders. Thirteen discrete alternatives were proposed; the first six were associated with optimal multi-objective solutions pertaining to dispersed decentralized generation and another six multi-objective options to compact decentralized generation (CDG), and last, extension of the public electric grid was considered. The results reveal that the combination of multi-criteria methods facilitates decision-making in a manner that is robust, comprehensive, transparent and coherent to sustainable development requirements. CDG resulted in the best model of electrical supply.

Using a sustainability index to assess energy technologies for rural electrification

Abstract: This paper introduces a method for evaluating the sustainability performance of energy technologies applied in rural electrification, using the multivariate technique called Principal component ana ...

Expanding electricity access to all in Nigeria: a spatial planning and cost analysis

Abstract: The challenge of lack of access to electricity especially in the rural areas of Nigeria is further compounded by the lack of cogent electrification plans. A fairly reasonable electrification plan should be able to model least-cost electrification technologies to be employed and give an estimate of investments required over a given period of time. The 2012 United Nation’s declaration of ‘International Year of Sustainable Energy for All’ highlights the importance of such studies and innovations, towards attracting funds from various sources for sustainable electrification projects. With the aid of a spatial electricity planning model called the ‘Network Planner (NP)’, this study identifies the appropriate least-cost electrification supply mode (grid, mini-grid and/or off-grid) and provides cost estimates for achieving universal energy access in Nigeria by 2030. Results from this research show that by the end of the 17-year planning period (2013 to 2030), 98% of currently unelectrified communities will be viable for grid expansion, while only 2% will be mini-grid compatible. An estimated total cost of US$34.5 billion investment is required to provide electricity access to a total number of 28.5 million households (125 million people) by 2030. The analysis was carried out for the 36 states of Nigeria as well as the entire country, using data from the 774 local government areas (LGAs) of Nigeria. This paper provides the foundation for the Nigerian Rural Electrification Agency (NREA) to develop an electrification plan as well as involve all stakeholders in carrying out direct surveys towards generating a database for rural electrification status in Nigeria.

Renewable energy generation for the rural electrification of isolated communities in the Amazon Region.

Abstract: From 1999 to 2013, in a 14 years׳ period of time, rural electrification programs brought access to electricity to 16 million rural inhabitants in Brazil. Approximately 155,000 rural households remain without access to electricity in the Amazon Region, conforming very isolated communities that cannot be supplied by the expansion of the existing grid. To supply electricity to these communities, off-grid generation through diesel fuel has traditionally been the only option considered. The Amazon Region has a huge potential in renewable energy, specially: hydraulic, biomass and biofuels, solar as well as wind in the coast. The Brazilian Government has started to consider the use of these local renewable sources for the electrification of isolated communities. Several experimental projects have been deployed, supplying electrical power through appropriated off-grid renewable energy technologies: run-of-the-river and hydrokynetic, biomass (direct burning or gasification), biofuels and vegetable oils, and hybrid (solar–wind–diesel). Regarding these technologies, the most significant projects conducted in the region were evaluated. Analyzing the costs, technical and social issues as well as the performance of these systems, after a 10 year׳s evaluation period, this paper shows that some renewable energy technologies have proven to be a more convenient and economic option than electricity generation through diesel, in these isolated communities.

Mini-grids and renewable energy in rural Africa: How diffusion theory explains adoption of electricity in Uganda

Abstract: With diffusion theory as the point of departure, this study analyses the factors that influence the adoption of renewable electricity from individual households’ perspectives. The analysis is based ...

Impact of renewable energy on rural electrification in Malaysia: a review

Abstract: Malaysia is rich in renewable energy (RE) resources. Hybrid systems of these resources can contribute strongly to the electrification and sustainable development of rural areas that do not have access to electricity grids. The integration of the generation of hybrid renewable power in remote and rural areas supplies the required power demand and mitigates emissions. Thus, this study reviews the latest literature (theses, journals articles, and conference proceedings) on the need for electricity in remote rural communities, on hybrid RE systems, on environmental impact, and on economic regulation in Malaysia. Power in this country is mainly generated by fossil fuels that emit high concentrations of greenhouse gases. Thus, RE is a potential alternative for to electrify rural areas, to meet current and future energy demands, and to mitigate emissions. Moreover, Malaysia has pledged to reduce its carbon-emission intensity by a maximum of 40 % (2005 level) by the year 2020. Therefore, the implementation of RE technologies in this country is significantly aided by RE projects, research and development activities, technologies, energy policies, and future direction. This review concludes that solar, wind, hydro, and biomass energy, as well as a hybrid of these, can effectively electrify rural areas.

Small hydropower in China: The survey and sustainable future

Abstract: Small hydropower is a green and renewable energy resource. China has very rich small hydropower resources with a total technically utilizable installed capacity of 128 gigawatts (GW). Developing small hydropower is of great importance to speed up the economic growth of rural areas and alleviate the environmental pollution in China in the 21st century. This paper provides a survey of small hydropower exploitation in China. Over the last six decades, China’s small hydropower has developed rapidly. The installed capacity of small hydropower exceeds 59.24 GW at the present time. Fifteen large-scale small hydropower bases have been completed, and more bases are still under construction. The small hydropower for fuel project has been in operation. It not only provides cooking fuel for peasants, but also protects the eco-logical environment. The rural electrification construction based on small hydropower has lasted for 25 years, and 412 counties had realized rural electrification by 2010. The reasonable exploitation of small hydropower will accelerate the harmonic development of resources and the environment in China.

Flip the Switch: The Impact of the Rural Electrification Administration 1935-1940

Abstract: To isolate the impact of access to electricity on local economies, we examine the impact of the Rural Electrification Administration low-interest loans in the 1930s The REA provided loans to cooperatives to lay distribution lines to farms and aid in wiring homes Consequently, the number of rural farm homes electrified doubled in the United States within five years We develop a panel data set for the 1930s and use changes within counties over time to identify the effect of the REA loans on a wide range of socio-economic measures The REA loans contributed significantly to increases in crop output and crop productivity and helped stave off declines in overall farm output, productivity, and land values, but they had much smaller effects on nonagricultural parts of the economy The ex-ante subsidy from the low-interest loans was large, but after the program was completed, nearly all of the loans were fully repaid, and the ultimate cost to the taxpayer was relatively low

Review of the small wind turbine sector in Kenya: Status and bottlenecks for growth

Abstract: Rural electrification has been a long-standing goal in Kenya, but there is still a long way to go with only 7% rural access to electricity. Therefore, there lies great potential for small wind turbines (SWT) in areas with sufficient wind resources. This paper presents a review of the SWT sector in Kenya. The review consists of a description of the status of the sector and a more in-depth investigation into factors and dynamics that hinder sector growth. This investigation is performed by using a combination of two theoretical approaches: Strategic Niche Management (SNM) and the Multi-Level Perspective (MLP). The main insights from this review are that the SWT sector in Kenya is growing but is characterized by one-time experiments, fragmented learning experiences, lack of focus and low quality products and services. The weakly aligned network with many underperforming actors and unaligned expectations is the main cause of the weak current status of the sector. Despite the low rural electricity access and growing electricity demand, niche upscaling remains cumbersome due to external factors such as corruption, poverty, lack of innovation and an anti-entrepreneurial mind-set. The results of this review serve as inputs for recommendations for all niche actors on what can be done to make the niche grow. In addition, the paper includes ideas on how the SNM and MLP approaches could become better suited for reviewing and analyzing renewable energy technologies in developing countries such as SWTs in the Kenyan context.

Analysis and evaluation of small hydropower plants: A bibliographical survey

Abstract: Hydropower, large and small, remains by far the most important of the “renewable energy” 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 for rural electrification in less developed countries. For development of such small hydro-power plants, simple and generally applicable procedures and methods for the design are lacking. The interest in small hydro-power resources is increasing but few published guidelines exist for project design. This study aims in providing a general guidance with regards to economical design and practical realization of the main components of small hydro-power plants and their interactions. There is abundant literature which has discussed various models and control techniques used for small hydro-power plants. We envisage that summarizing such literature and coming out with a review paper would greatly help the policy/decision makers and researchers in arriving at effective solutions.

The role of microgrids & renewable energy in addressing Sub-Saharan Africa's current and future energy needs

Abstract: Sub-Saharan Africa (SSA) has a rich mix of renewable energy sources (RES) most of which are massively underutilized in as far as electricity generation from them is concerned. This is largely attributed to the lack of adequate energy infrastructure and the high capital costs associated with the deployment of requisite infrastructure. In order to attract and justify investment in this area, there is need for sustainable demand with sufficient loads able to sink the generated power. However, this is not the case in the region as many communities are poor especially those in rural and remote areas. It is also worth noting that lack of electricity is closely correlated with poverty and thus the need to avail these communities with affordable electricity as to attain long-term mutual benefits. Since most of the RES in the region are wide spread and populations live in clusters, generation is expected to be distributed. This justifies the use of standalone autonomous systems., i.e. Microgrids that are able to connect to the grid. Microgrids offer an affordable and reliable solution as compared to grid extension to areas that are located far from the grid. They also allow for renewable and fossil fuel incorporation thus serving as the most ideal solution to addressing SSA's source, storage and load interconnection needs. In this paper, the effects of lack of electricity in SSA are investigated, the challenges facing rural electrification in the region are analyzed and some feasible technical and financial solutions needed to avert these shortcomings are proposed. HOMER simulation results for optimal micro grid configurations in Nyakabanda, Rwanda as a test case are also documented.

The case for microgrids in electrifying Sub-Saharan Africa

Abstract: Microgrids are gaining momentum in the modern power world. This is largely due to their proximity to loads, their relatively high renewable energy penetration and their minimal complexity. Microgrids with high renewable energy content suit well developing countries and Sub-Saharan African countries in particular. Because these countries consist of primarily distributed and mostly remote rural communities whose energy needs are relatively low, grid extension becomes quite a costly option. Luckily, Sub-Saharan Africa is endowed with lots of untapped renewable energy potentials, and only by fully tapping them can it achieve sustainable socio-economic development through increased rural electrification. In this paper, energy potentials of the Sub-Saharan region as well as various challenges that impede rural electrification efforts in this part of the continent are presented first. Then, feasible solutions are suggested for this poverty stricken region in general and, finally, Rwanda is particularly considered as a focus case. Electrification solutions for Rwamiko village in Rwanda are simulated using HOMER and a micro grid made up by PV, batteries and a micro-hydro plant proved to be a more viable solution than grid extension to the village. These results can serve as a reference for future rural electrification projects in Rwanda and Sub-Saharan Africa in general.

Sustainable rural electrification using rice husk biomass energy: a case study of Cambodia.

Abstract: The role of energy in overall social and economical developments is well recognized. However, most energy providers are reluctant to venture in rural regions of developing countries. These regions are generally characterized by: low-income populations, minimum access to electricity, rare access to financial services or loans. In this paper we present the potential of rice husk for rural electrification in Cambodia. Rice husk is locally abundant at almost no cost, with a production over 9.3 million tons paddy rice in 2014 for a total population of about 15 million people. The conversion of rice husk into electricity through gasification or thermally generated electricity is a well-known technology. Rice husk can contribute in a sustainable manner to grant access to electricity to Cambodian rural population and is more reliable and competitive with reference to other renewable energy sources of electricity. The present investigation focuses on the study of self-sustaining energy service model to provide grid quality power to rural populations without the need of subsidies. In Cambodia, many rice mills are operating in rural and semi-urban areas. Some of these mills are now using rice husk for electricity production for industries and rural households, generally for lighting at low cost. We believe that the power systems focusing on both power requirements for the industry such rice mills and power requirements for the people living in the neighboring villages/rural areas at affordable tariff could become the most appropriate solution for the sustainable rural electrification. Along with the potential of rice husk for rural electrification in Cambodia, we present a financially viable business model to provide the grid quality power to rural population without grant or subsidy.

Electrification and rural development: issues of scale in distributed generation.

Abstract: Despite the importance of electrification for economic and social development, over one billion people globally lack access to electricity, primarily in rural areas of developing countries. Alongside the traditional means of expanding access, large-scale grid electrification, there exists another option for rural electrification: small-scale and localized distributed generation (DG), often powered by renewable energy sources. DG systems can be grid-connected or off-grid and can range in scale from less than 10 W solar lanterns at the small end to 60 MW biomass generation. Although DG has enabled some level of access to electricity for millions of people, little or no research has analyzed how the scale or level of access to electricity has shaped the ways that programs are financed or are viewed by governments, or the developmental impacts that various levels have on end-users. This article reviews the literature on DG in developing countries and finds that large-scale DG systems require a different set of approaches to finance, end-user training, and public policy support than do small-scale DG systems. Our review also reveals that even the smallest scale DG systems improve users' quality of life, yet access to electricity alone is not sufficient to achieve desired economic and social development goals. Policy makers, donors, non-governmental organizations (NGOs), and other actors engaged in rural development must both (1) make decisions considering the scale of DG programs, and (2) reflect on end-users' needs and productive uses for electricity if rural electrification projects are to result in long-term development benefits. WIREs Energy Environ 2015, 4:196–211. doi: 10.1002/wene.129 For further resources related to this article, please visit the WIREs website. Conflict of interest: The authors have declared no conflicts of interest for this article.

Social Interaction Effects and Connection to Electricity: Experimental Evidence from Rural Ethiopia

Abstract: This article assesses the importance of social interactions in determining an individual’s choice to connect to an electrical grid, using an original data set on a new rural electrification program in Ethiopia. Combining global positioning system information with random allocation of discount vouchers for connection to the grid, we show that neighbors’ connection behaviors have large effects on a household’s connection decision. This effect is also shown to decrease by distance: no peer effect is found for neighbors living farther than 100 meters away. Evidence also suggests that expectation interactions (through social learning of the benefits of electricity) or constraint interactions (through direct externalities of one’s connection on others’ well-being) are unlikely to fully account for these effects and that preference interactions (through a “keeping up with neighbors” type of mechanism) appear to be a plausible explanation. We discuss implications for further research and the design of dev...