Efficacy of solar power units for small-scale businesses in a remote rural area, South Africa

Hajat, Anjum; Banks, D I; Aiken, Roger G.; Shackleton, Charlie M.

doi:10.1016/j.renene.2009.05.027

Cited by 14 publications

(19 citation statements)

References 16 publications

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“…Some studies, for example, explore aspects of DG, such as users' preferred types of DG system, which are not directly related to the objectives or outcomes of the underlying DG project (43,46). Other studies assess patterns of end-user interactions with DG technologies, such as users' ability to maintain systems, or changes in end users' electricity usage over time (43,47). Still others document pilot technologies or innovative methods of disseminating DG technologies but do not address project objectives or outcomes (30,40,(48)(49)(50).…”

Section: Objectives and Outcomes Of Distributed Generation Programsmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…The notion of access is conceived generally as a dichotomous variable: either households or communities adopted the DG technology, or they did not. Studies often measure access to electricity as the number of units installed (31,42,45,47,54,55) or as the number of users or percentage of a population that adopted the technology (37,44,(56)(57)(58)(59)(60). These metrics may appeal to program evaluators because they are quantifiable in discrete intervals and can be assessed within months after a DG project began implementation.…”

Section: Short-term Access To Distributed Generation Technologymentioning

confidence: 99%

“…For example, Green (22) finds that businesses using solar PV cannot stay open later when the energy produced is insufficient to power necessary equipment, such as sewing machines at night. Similarly, Hajat et al (47) suggest that new economic opportunities are constrained by the limited or intermittent nature of solar PV, which may not provide enough power to run refrigeration units.…”

Section: Short-term Development Outcomesmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…For example, although smaller batteries may be sufficient to provide lighting, larger batteries potentially could provide lighting, income-generating activities, and power TVs and radios (22). Authors find that when batteries are not big enough for the load demand, they frequently operate at full load shed (i.e., where the battery is in overuse), which shortens battery life (47). While these studies explain that users must limit their electricity consumption, studies of users' actual consumption also show that households tend to increase their demand over time, until total energy demanded matches or exceeds total supply (37,43).…”

Section: Appropriate Choice Of Distributed Generation Technology and Technical Performancementioning

confidence: 99%

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Power for Development: A Review of Distributed Generation Projects in the Developing World

Brass¹,

Carley²,

MacLean

et al. 2012

Annu. Rev. Environ. Resour.

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The paradigm for providing affordable electricity for the world's poor-power for development-has begun to change. Historically, centralized governments built large consolidated power plants and distribution and transmission lines with the ultimate goal of providing electricity to all of their citizens. It has become increasingly common in recent decades, however, for donors, nongovernmental organizations (NGOs), firms, and communities to collaborate with governments to develop small-scale localized energy systems known as distributed generation (DG) either as complements or alternatives to centralized operations. DG programs have been implemented around the world but with a mixed record of success. Based on an analysis of the existing case study literature, we examine DG program goals and outcomes, identifying major factors that affect these outcomes, including appropriately chosen technology, adequate financing and payment arrangements, ongoing end users' involvement, and supportive national policies. We highlight the importance of institutions for collaborative governance in the pursuit of these factors.

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Section: Objectives and Outcomes Of Distributed Generation Programsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Short-term Access To Distributed Generation Technologymentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Short-term Development Outcomesmentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Appropriate Choice Of Distributed Generation Technology and Technical Performancementioning

confidence: 99%

See 2 more Smart Citations

Power for Development: A Review of Distributed Generation Projects in the Developing World

Brass¹,

Carley²,

MacLean

et al. 2012

Annu. Rev. Environ. Resour.

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show abstract

“…technology cannot stay open late because the energy produced is insufficient to power their essential equipment (Green, 2004 andHajat et al, 2009).…”

Section: Further Limitations Of Pv Panels Include the Fact That New Bmentioning

confidence: 99%

How to achieve full electrification: Lessons from Latin America

2017

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Electricity coverage in Latin America has increased substantially in recent decades, rising from 50% of the population in 1970 to more than 95% in 2015. Growth, however, slowed in the 1990s as many countries experienced difficulties in extending their networks further, in particular to serve those living in isolated and rural areas. In spite of this, the process of electrification was not interrupted and at the beginning of the 2010s decade most countries in the region were able to provide access to electricity to almost all of their populations. In this paper, we examine the main strategies used in Latin America to increase coverage and argue that only a combination of policy efforts has made it possible to achieve the current situation. We also examine the remaining obstacles, at policy and institutional levels, to achieving full coverage.

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Electrification and rural development: issues of scale in distributed generation

Baldwin

Brass

Carley

et al. 2014

WIREs Energy & Environment

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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.

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Efficacy of solar power units for small-scale businesses in a remote rural area, South Africa

Cited by 14 publications

References 16 publications

Power for Development: A Review of Distributed Generation Projects in the Developing World

Power for Development: A Review of Distributed Generation Projects in the Developing World

How to achieve full electrification: Lessons from Latin America

Electrification and rural development: issues of scale in distributed generation

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