Sustainable Development of Renewable Energy Mini-grids for Energy Access: A Framework for Policy Design

Deshmukh, Ranjit

doi:10.2172/1171612

Cited by 19 publications

(35 citation statements)

References 14 publications

Supporting

Mentioning

Contrasting

Unclassified

Order By: Relevance

“…For that purpose, hybrid solutions (including, e.g., diesel generators or eolic systems) are combined and fed into a local mini-grid, which can provide energy to a whole community [9]. Yet, mini-grids will not be considered in this paper, since prior relevant efforts have already addressed mini-grids [11,12], and their uses may differ from SPS and SHS [13]. For instance, mini-grids require a combination of diverse local generators with a very high technological complexity and are used when the dispersion within the community is low [12,14].…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Sustainability of Off-Grid Photovoltaic Systems for Rural Electrification in Developing Countries: A Review

Féron

2016

Sustainability

115

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

Abstract:A review on rural electrification programs and projects based on off-grid Photovoltaic (PV) systems, including Solar Pico Systems (SPS) and Solar Home Systems (SHS) in Developing Countries (DCs) was conducted. The goal was to highlight the main multidimensional drawbacks that may constrain the sustainability of these systems. Four dimensions of sustainability (institutional, economic, environmental and socio-cultural) were considered in this review. It was found that institutional flaws (such as the scarcity of durability/stability and enforcement of formal institutions, weak regulations or standards, incomplete decentralization/participation and the lack of institutional adaptability) seriously compromise the sustainability of rural electrification efforts in DCs. While the lack of an effective focalized subsidy scheme (e.g., cross-tariff scheme) for the electricity tariffs of the poor population often made projects economically unsustainable, the scarcity of environmental awareness, regulations or incentives has often turned presumably clean energy technologies into environmentally unsustainable projects. Progress regarding social acceptance, accuracy and cultural justice is urgently needed for ensuring the socio-cultural sustainability of rural electrification efforts in DCs. This review may help stakeholders to identify and (based on prior experiences) address the most severe drawbacks affecting the sustainability of rural electrification efforts in DCs.

show abstract

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Sustainability of Off-Grid Photovoltaic Systems for Rural Electrification in Developing Countries: A Review

Féron

2016

Sustainability

115

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

show abstract

“…Decision-makers often base this investment standing on other economic metrics such as project return, loan return targets and payback period. For a mini-grid business to be financially viable, selected tariff plans should be able to off-set the business's debt and other operational expenses [14]. However, business owners should try as much as possible to balance tariff with their customers' standard of living -neglecting this balance will make customers seek other cheaper means of getting electricity [13].…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Selection of an Electricity Tariff Plan for Mini-Grid Business Models: an Intuitionistic Fuzzy Axiomatic Design Approach

Babatunde

Ighravwe

Oluseyi

et al. 2020

Technol Econ Smart Grids Sustain Energy

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

This article proposes a conceptual framework that used mini-gird business models (MBMs) to rank electricity tariff plans. The framework combines intuitionistic fuzzy set (IFS), Criteria Importance Through Inter-criteria Correlation (CRITIC), fuzzy axiomatic design (FAD) and Technique for Order Preference by Similarity to Ideal Solution (TOPSIS). It considered when decision-makers specify or did not specify for MBM's requirements. Also, this article considered uncertainty in decision-makers information. The framework applicability was showed using information obtained from Sub-Sahara Africa. Five decision-makers provided information for the model implementation based on a well-structured questionnaire. The CRITIC method results showed that least and most important MBM are community-based and private MBMs, respectively. The IFS-FAD method identified time-based electricity tariff plan as the best suitable for the case study, while the IFS-TOPSIS method identified flexible best electricity tariff plans for the case study, respectively. However, both methods identified flat-rate as the least suitable plan. The proposed framework will provide mini-grid business owners with relevant information for energy tariff selection.

show abstract

“…The United Nation's (UN) Advisory Group on Energy and Climate Change (AGECC) considers universal access to clean and affordable energy as critical for meeting local development objectives (AGECC, 2010;Martinot et al, 2002). The role of RE is crucial in mountainous countries like Nepal, where topography remains one of the major challenges to extending the national grid (Bhattacharya, 2012;Deshmukh et al, 2013) in rural areas. Under the assumption that there are fruitful opportunities for linking energy policy and market prospects, this paper explores the central question: 'to what extent is the current policy environment in Nepal conducive to the uptake of solar energy at the household level?…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Bridging the energy access divide for sustainable development in South Asia: policies and prospects in Nepal

Bogati¹,

Mahmood²,

Dhakal³

2018

IJPP

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

Bridging the energy access divide is critical for meeting Nepal's social and economic development objectives. Under the assumption that there are fertile opportunities for linking energy policy and market prospects, this paper explores the central question: 'to what extent is the current policy environment in Nepal conducive to the uptake of solar energy at the household level?' The paper makes use of an exploratory research approach to data analyses in order to address the research question. The findings reveal that the country's renewable energy market is still in its infancy. Although donor-driven subsidy policy has been successful in promoting the uptake of solar energy, exclusivity of subsidy mechanisms coupled with the lack of cross-sectoral policy harmony are hindering the uptake of solar energy. The paper ends with a discussion on the need for a market-centric impetus to facilitate a renewable energy sector in Nepal.

show abstract

Sustainable Development of Renewable Energy Mini-grids for Energy Access: A Framework for Policy Design

Cited by 19 publications

References 14 publications

Sustainability of Off-Grid Photovoltaic Systems for Rural Electrification in Developing Countries: A Review

Sustainability of Off-Grid Photovoltaic Systems for Rural Electrification in Developing Countries: A Review

Selection of an Electricity Tariff Plan for Mini-Grid Business Models: an Intuitionistic Fuzzy Axiomatic Design Approach

Bridging the energy access divide for sustainable development in South Asia: policies and prospects in Nepal

Contact Info

Product

Resources

About