Lessons Learned from Rural Electrification Experiences with Third Generation Solar Home Systems in Latin America: Case Studies in Peru, Mexico, and Bolivia

Abstract

There are 17 million people without access to electricity services in Latin America. This population lives in small isolated and scattered communities with low incomes where it is difficult to achieve 100% access to electricity by the grid extension. Therefore, it is necessary to create market mechanisms and promote off-grid electrification in which photovoltaic (PV) technology plays a fundamental role. This research assesses successful projects developed in Peru, Mexico, and Bolivia, where 3rd Generation Solar Home Systems (3G-SHSs) are being introduced to support off-grid initiatives. To do so, we applied a mixed-methods approach including a comparative case study analysis, an extensive literature review, focus group discussions, and field research. Thereby, the lessons learned reveal that confidence, commitment, and flexibility are the main pillars of rural electrification. Additionally, it is demonstrated that the combination of various business models-an energy service company, fee-for-service, pay-as-you-go, and a microfranchising-with 3G-SHSs is powerfully effective in terms of sustainability. Our findings are useful to policy makers, researchers, promoters, and other stakeholders to rethink intervention strategies in rural areas. Access to electricity must be a state policy to facilitate the participation of new actors, especially of the private sector and communities, and the introduction of innovative business models and high-quality technology.

Transformational Collaboration for the SDGs: The Alianza Shire’s Work to Provide Energy Access in Refugee Camps and Host Communities

“…Through the CVC framework analysis, the importance and relevance of the facilitator for this partnership has been revealed. By promoting the creation of Synergistic Value, the facilitator role has strengthened the innovation capacity of the Alianza Shire, underpinning the sustainability [21] of its operational activities. By acting as an 'enabler-connector' for Partnership Dynamics, the facilitator has overcome barriers to collaboration between heterogeneous profiles such as those of refugees, Ethiopian Electricity Utility technicians, private sector energy experts, diplomats and academics, stimulating inclusive planning and designing approaches [16] and market based strategies [17,19].…”

“…The innovation capacity of the Alianza Shire has underpinned the sustainability of the Phase II Project which is strongly aligned with the sustainability drivers of access to basic services programs and specifically on off-grid energy access projects [21,[86][87][88][89]: technology quality assurance; assessment of community payment capacity; local training and awareness campaigns; operation and maintenance; supply through business models; stakeholder and agreements management, and influence on public policies.…”

A review on the sustainability of solar home system for rural electrification

“…Methods of SHS research typically belong to one of three families; surveys concerning statistical analysis of primary data gathered from SHS users and stakeholders [5,6], case studies blending quantitative and qualitative methods to comment on the experience of SHSs in a particular country or set of circumstances, often in a comparative context and over a longer period of time than a survey paper [7,8] or literature reviews that synthesise existing publications to answer specific questions or make comments on broad observations [9,10,11,12]. Mixedmethods papers are also common [13,14] and it is occasionally difficult to distinguish between 'surveys' and 'case studies' which both handle primary data.…”

Tools for Measuring Energy Sustainability: A Comparative Review

“…This type of exclusion comes from the unequal distribution of wealth in a country where a smaller percentage of the population has a greater share of its wealth [59]. About 2 billion people do not have access to modern energy services in the world today, and most of them still meet their essential energy needs such as cooking and heating from natural resources like burning wood and residual biomass [60]. These important social issues related to the use of energy, including poverty, quality of life, education, health, income inequality, and social justice, are themes that should be considered under the social dimension of sustainable development [61].…”