Demand Assessment of Solar Electrification in Off-Grid Rural Communities of Pakistan Through Microfinancing of Solar Home Systems

This article made a modest impact assessment of isolated solar home systems (SHSs) installed via recently ended five-yearflagship Ghana Energy Development and Access Project (GEDAP) on the livelihoods of rural households in the Upper WestRegion. A total of 250 solar users in both private households and rural clinics in 65 rural communities across 6 districts wereinterviewed. Lessons learned in the aspects of energy services provision, financial model, local energy preference and practicalsetbacks facing installed SHSs through GEDAP are discussed. For instance, in terms of energy preference, majority of rural solarusers (50%) preferred grid-tied electricity, although they were not connected to the grid yet as compared to 35% who preferredboth grid-tied and off-grid forms of electrification while 15% preferred off-grid solar technology. This then suggests that althoughoff-grid SHSs are a viable alternative energy generation option, they may not necessarily be a panacea for the energy povertysituation in rural Ghana due to setbacks. For off-grid solar electrification to achieve parity with conventional energy sources, acombination of increased system capacity, investment and political will is needed to make SHSs more competitive and deliversustained quality energy services for deprived rural communities where such place-based energy services are needed most forsustainable rural development.

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The prospects of decentralised solar energy home systems in rural communities: User experience, determinants, and impact of free solar power on the energy poverty cycle

Energy Strategy Reviews ◽

10.1016/j.esr.2019.100424 ◽

2019 ◽

Vol 26 ◽

pp. 100424 ◽

Cited By ~ 6

Author(s):

Prabhakar Yadav ◽

Peter J. Davies ◽

Samuel Asumadu Sarkodie

Keyword(s):

Rural Communities ◽

Solar Energy ◽

User Experience ◽

Solar Power ◽

Energy Poverty ◽

Home Systems

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Domestic energy demand assessment of coastline rural communities with solar electrification

Energy and Policy Research ◽

10.1080/23815639.2017.1280431 ◽

2017 ◽

Vol 4 (1) ◽

pp. 1-9 ◽

Cited By ~ 10

Author(s):

E. O. Diemuodeke ◽

A. Addo ◽

I. Dabipi-Kalio ◽

C. O. C. Oko ◽

Y. Mulugetta

Keyword(s):

Rural Communities ◽

Energy Demand ◽

Demand Assessment ◽

Domestic Energy

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The design and installation of Solar Home Systems in rural Cambodia

Journal of Humanitarian Engineering ◽

10.36479/jhe.v4i2.57 ◽

2016 ◽

Vol 4 (2) ◽

Author(s):

Rebecca Alice Watts ◽

Jeremy Smith ◽

Andrew Thomson

Keyword(s):

Rural Communities ◽

Solar Energy ◽

Community Involvement ◽

Local Level ◽

Working Hours ◽

Transfer Of Knowledge ◽

Household Level ◽

Energy Technologies ◽

The Hours ◽

Home Systems

This study contends that solar home systems (SHS) are an appropriate solution to provide affordable, reliable and clean electricity in rural Cambodia. SHS provide decentralised electricity suitable for the electricity needs of rural households and with the decreasing cost of solar energy technologies, SHS are becoming an increasingly competitive source of energy. This study details the design and installation of two SHS in a rural community in Cambodia. The SHS have replaced the use of kerosene lamps and supplemented car battery usage, which has generated a cost saving of USD$2.50-3.20 per month. The SHS have increased the hours of quality lighting making it possible for users to improve educational outcomes by studying at night and participating in private education classes as well as potentially extending their working hours that provides an opportunity to increase their income. Community involvement in the installation of SHS and participation in an education program has ensured transfer of knowledge about system operation and maintenance at a local level that has ensured economic, social and environmental were benefits. This study builds a case in support of solar energy at the household level in rural Cambodia and makes recommendations for the deployment of SHS in rural communities throughout the developing world.

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