Electrification using solar photovoltaic systems in Nepal

Bhandari, Ramchandra; Stadler, Ingo

doi:10.1016/j.apenergy.2009.11.029

Cited by 85 publications

(37 citation statements)

References 5 publications

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“…SHS has been used to facilitate 44 large scale electrification programs in rural South Africa. However, recent reports indicate that the SHS 45 program is fraught with challenges such as inconsistent government policies, theft and vandalization of 46 equipment, limited power capacity and high cost of equipment [5,[8][9][10][11]. By 2013 only three of the six 47 concession companies remained in the business, with another on the verge of opting out [10].…”

Section: Introduction 29mentioning

confidence: 99%

Illuminated but not electrified: An assessment of the impact of Solar Home System on rural households in South Africa

et al. 2015

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8The introduction of the off-grid electrification program in South Africa using the Solar Home System (SHS) 9 was a central component of the government policy aimed at bringing development to un-electrified 10households. An assessment of the performance of SHS in many countries provided little evidence to support 11 the development impact of the system. The general perception is that the SHS program is wasting 12 government funds and has no hope of achieving the set objectives. Previous scientific reports have 13 concluded that SHS is the most viable technology for bringing about socio-economic development to rural 14 households. Most of these conclusions have been based on one sided arguments and largely on anecdotal 15evidence. This study provides a pluralistic view of the subject from the perspective of the energy service 16 companies (ESCOs) and the households using the equipment. The development impact of SHS is subjected 17 to scientific analysis by investigating the economic and social dimensions of the program. Additionally, the 18 sustainability of the South African SHS program is assessed by investigating the challenges facing the 19ESCOs and the households. The study reveals that illumination provided by SHS electricity has profound 20 impact on the livelihoods of rural households. Due to the limited capacity of SHS for productive and thermal 21 use, there are limited direct economic benefits to the households. The associated economic impact is 22 peripheral to the secondary usage of SHS electricity. SHS has improved the productivity of small scale 23 business owners who utilize the light from SHS to do business at night. Irregularities in payment of subsidy 24 funds and energy bills, high operation cost, non-optimal use of SHS, grid encroachment, and lack of 25 customer satisfaction contribute to make the business unsustainable for the ESCOs. 26 27 2 28 Introduction 29The change in political governance in South Africa in 1994 also led to a major policy review of the energy 30 sector [1]. The government changed the focus of an energy policy based on separate development to an 31 inclusive policy that embraces the energy needs of disadvantaged households. This was evident with the 32 implementation of the National Electrification Program (NEP), a precursor to the Electricity-For-All 33 program of 1994 [2]. The objective in the revised policies is to extend development to the large segments 34 of the population that were deprived during the apartheid regime. One of the basic elements of NEP is the 35Free Basic Electrification (FBE) policy, which is aimed at providing access to electricity to all South 36Africans [3]. This policy seeks to provide ways and means through which government interventions can 37 bring about relief to poor un-electrified households and ensure optimal socio-economic benefits from the 38 NEP [4]. 39In order to achieve this objective the Department of Energy (DOE) awarded contracts to provide electricity 40 to un-electrified rural households to six consortia known as the ...

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Section: Introduction 29mentioning

confidence: 99%

Illuminated but not electrified: An assessment of the impact of Solar Home System on rural households in South Africa

et al. 2015

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“…Analysis of rural electrification programs in many 35 villages in Nepal revealed that there is no convincing alternative to solar PV systems [2]. A review of RES 36 production and utilization in Thailand indicates that a combination of renewable energy sources like PV, 37 wind and diesel generators has good potential for implementing decentralized electricity for remote rural 38 communities [3].…”

Section: Introduction 30mentioning

confidence: 99%

An assessment of unforeseen losses resulting from inappropriate use of solar home systems in South Africa

et al. 2014

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8One of the challenges to the sustainability of the solar home system (SHS) electrification program in South 9Africa is equipment theft. In response to this, communities susceptible to solar panel theft resort to mounting 10 their panels flat on the ground so they can be looked after during the day and taken indoors at night for safe 11 keeping. Other households use their security lights to illuminate their environment and provide security for 12 pole and roof mounted solar panels at night. These actions have consequential effects on the performance 13 of the SHS. Several studies have detected resentment from households regarding the low power quality from 14 these systems. Most scientific contributions on the issue of low power from SHS have focused on the 15 challenges based on the technical designs of the systems. The power losses due to the usage pattern of the 16 system has not received much attention. This study therefore reports on the technical losses as a result of 17 the deviation from the designed and installed specification of the system by the users in order to protect 18 their systems. It also investigates the linkage between the technical and economic losses which affects the 19 sustainability of SHS program. A case study was performed in Thlatlaganya Village within Limpopo 20 province in South Africa. Technical analysis using PVSYST solar software revealed that the energy output 21 and performance of the battery is compromised as a result of these practices. Economic analysis indicates 22 that the battery life and the economics of owning and operating SHS are affected negatively. The study 23 recommends solutions to mitigate these losses, and proposes a cost effective way of optimizing the operation 24 of SHS using a bench-rack system for mounting solar panels. 25 26

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“…Authors have analysed specifics of wind power plants integration into transmission networks [45], arbitrage potentials as a mean of increasing wind penetration [46] and long term off-shore wind potentials in comparison to national energy targets [47]. When it comes to solar energy, researchers have been focused on analysing policy measures and non-technical barriers for higher PV integration [48] and the influence of Feed in tariffs on PV cost and geographic distribution [49]. Integration of solar energy (both PV and solar thermal) has also been a very active topic among SDEWES contributors.…”

Section: Renewable Energy Resources and Technologiesmentioning

confidence: 99%

A review of developments in technologies and research that have had a direct measurable impact on sustainability considering the Paris agreement on climate change

Foley

Smyth

Pukšec

et al. 2017

Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews

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Electrification using solar photovoltaic systems in Nepal

Cited by 85 publications

References 5 publications

Illuminated but not electrified: An assessment of the impact of Solar Home System on rural households in South Africa

Illuminated but not electrified: An assessment of the impact of Solar Home System on rural households in South Africa

An assessment of unforeseen losses resulting from inappropriate use of solar home systems in South Africa

A review of developments in technologies and research that have had a direct measurable impact on sustainability considering the Paris agreement on climate change

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