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Solar
Solar Photovoltaic Programme Implementers in the Asia-Pacific Region
a report by
Tania Urmee and David Harries
Energy Studies and Renewable Energy Engineering, School of Engineering and Energy, Faculty of Minerals and Energy, Murdoch University, Western Australia
The benefits of providing access to electricity for low-income have evolved from simple technology demonstration projects with
households and communities in rural and remote areas in developing no capacity for being either replicated or sustained to programmes
countries in terms of alleviating poverty, health, education and that have the explicit aim of expanding and reaching as many rural
improving quality of life are now so well recognised and accepted households as possible. Within this evolution there have been two
that they no longer need to be listed seriatim. They are so significant landmark developments. The first of these was the development by
that the successful implementation of rural electrification the World Bank
1
and the International Energy Agency’s (IEA’s)
programmes in such countries is seen to constitute a major vehicle Photovoltaic Power Systems (PVPS) group
2
of best practice or
for achieving the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs). recommended practice guidelines for these programmes.
Of the various options available for providing these communities and The second landmark development in the evolution of these
individuals with access to electricity, the use of stand-alone programmes has been a shift away from the ‘old paradigm’
renewable energy systems offers several advantages. It avoids the programme model, based on government and donor organisation
need to construct costly power lines, does not result in local air funding and subsidies, to a market-orientated approach. Two
pollution and overcomes the need to use diesel or petrol generators, concepts have been central to this shift. The first of these has been
therefore protecting against rising fuel prices. For these and other the development and use of small (micro) loan financing
reasons, the use of renewable energy systems, and stand-alone solar mechanisms that enable low-income householders and small
photovoltaic (PV) home systems in particular, has come to represent businesses to purchase an SHS on credit and to re-pay the loan over
a sustainable low-cost approach for the implementation of rural time. The repayments are often made possible through the increased
electrification programmes. income that can be generated by owning an SHS. The second
concept has been increased involvement of and reliance on small
As the role that these renewable rural electrification programmes private businesses. The involvement of these businesses includes
play in alleviating poverty and providing social and economic manufacturing of SHS components, offering loans (microcredit) and
benefits is so critical, the question of how to plan, design and the installation and maintenance of the systems.
implement solar home system (SHS) programmes to ensure that they
are as successful as possible, thereby maximising the use of the The adoption of a market-orientated approach in the planning and
scarce resources available, is one that has received much attention design of programmes, and the adherence to the best practice
over the past 15 years. As a result of this effort, these programmes guidelines in the implementation and monitoring stages, should, in
principle, result in both increased programme success and increased
sustainability. That is, the adoption of these should, in combination,
Tania Urmee is an Associate Lecturer in the School of
Engineering and Energy at Murdoch University. Her
result in higher achievement of programme objectives, whether they
research covers energy policy research, environmental
be target growth in participation rates, participant satisfaction levels
impact assessment, policy analysis and feasibility
or improved SHS performance rates, and in the improved capacity of
studies of decentralised low-emission energy
generation technologies, particularly for remote
SHS programmes to be sustained, and even grow, without requiring
areas. Dr Urmee has experience in conducting
continued financial input from government or donor organisations.
research with rural communities in Asia and the
Pacific region and was Deputy Manager of Research
and Marketing at Grameen Shakti, a renewable Based on the reports of the very successful, large and rapidly
energy organisation in Bangladesh.
expanding SHS programmes being implemented in some countries,
E: T.Urmee@murdoch.edu.au
this seems to have occurred. However, there also continue to be
David Harries is Director of the Centre for Research
reports of less successful programmes and there is a need to
into Energy for Sustainable Transport (CREST), a
understand why some programmes continue to struggle despite the
Centre of Excellence based at Murdoch University.
He was the inaugural Director of Murdoch
development of best practice guidelines and this new market-
University’s Research Institute for Sustainable orientated approach. Therefore, two lines of enquiry now need to be
Energy (RISE) established to assist the development
pursued in this field to assist programme implementers to further
of Australia’s renewable and sustainable energy
industries. Prior to joining Murdoch University,
improve the success of their programmes. One is to better understand
Professor Harries was the inaugural Executive
why some SHS programmes continue to meet with limited success
Director of the Sustainable Energy Development
compared with others, what prevents some programmes from using
Office (SEDO) in Western Australia and Assistant
Director of the Office of Energy Planning and
the market-based approach and how can they be improved in terms
Conservation in Tasmania.
of their success (higher participation rates, higher system performance
rates, etc.) and sustainability. The second line of enquiry that is
© TOUCH BRIEFINGS 2009
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