The evidence suggests that many solar programs are being designed and implemented in isolation and without reliance on published guidelines or the experience gained by others. The conclusion is obvious: the likelihood of a program being successful would be greatly improved if program implementers were made more aware of best practice guidelines and of the lessons and experience learned by others in implementing previous programs. Furthermore, the best practice guidelines not only need to be readily available but need to describe the stages, issues and the stakeholders’ roles in designing and implementing a SHS program. This book showcases a detailed road map that has been developed for the implementation of rural electrification projects in developing countries using solar PV. Features of this book will be case studies derived from personal participatory observation of the authors on Solar Home Systems, their impact, their advantages and disadvantages and their operation.

World Bank Technical Paper No. 298. Summarizes the factors that constrain girls schooling in Sub-Saharan Africa and outlines practical ways of designing programs that will accelerate female participation in education in the region. Also available in French: (ISBN 0-8213-3507-3) Stock No. 13507.

In recognition of the fact that billions of people in the developing world do not have access to clean energies, the United Nations launched the Sustainable Energy for All Initiative to achieve universal energy access by 2030. Although electricity grid extension remains the most prevalent way of providing access, it is now recognized that the central grid is unlikely to reach many remote areas in the near future. At the same time, individual solutions like solar home systems tend to provide very limited services to consumers. Mini-grids offer an alternative by combining the benefits of a grid-based solution with the potential for harnessing renewable energies at the local level. The purpose of this book is to provide in-depth coverage of the use of mini-grids for rural electrification in developing countries, taking into account the technical, economic, environmental and governance dimensions and presenting case studies from South Asia. This book reports on research carried out by a consortium of British and Indian researchers on off-grid electrification in South Asia. It provides state-of-the art technical knowledge on mini-grids and micro-grids including renewable energy integration (or green mini-grids), smart systems for integration with the central grid, and standardization of systems. It also presents essential analytical frameworks and approaches that can be used to analyze the mini-grids comprehensively including their techno-economic aspects, financial viability and regulatory issues. The case studies drawn from South Asia demonstrate the application of the framework and showcase various successful efforts to promote mini-grids in the region. It also reports on the design and implementation of a demonstration project carried out by the team in a cluster of villages in Odisha (India). The book’s multi-disciplinary approach facilitates understanding of the relevant practical dimensions of mini-grid systems, such as demand creation (through interventions in livelihood generation and value chain development), financing, regulation, and smart system design. Its state-of-the art knowledge, integrated methodological framework, simulation exercises and real-life case analysis will allow the reader to analyze and appreciate the mini-grid-related activities in their entirety. The book will be of interest to researchers, graduate students, practitioners and policy makers working in the area of rural electrification in developing countries.

Countries around the world face increasing needs regarding the provision of environmentally sound and sustainable energy. Developing countries, in particular, face situations of limited energy resources, especially with regard to the provision of electricity in rural areas. There is an urgent need to address this constraint to social and economic development. This situation, however, presents significant opportunities and challenges for the greater use of renewable energy. Particular interest has focused on the use of solar photovoltaic systems for domestic use in rural areas. This book is intended primarily as a teaching aid to support the Technical Training Manual, which contains detailed text and graphics, and to discuss wider issues relating to project development for photovoltaic solar systems. The overall goal of the Toolkit is to provide comprehensive information and training material on the installation, operation, monitoring and evaluation, management, maintenance, rehabilitation, awareness raising, advocacy, innovation, policy and planning for PV systems. The Toolkit has its origins in material first produced in the Pacific, where solar photovoltaics and rural electrification were pioneered in the 1970s and 1980s. Facing the threats of global warming and sea-level rise, small island states have a particular interest in the success of renewable energy for sustainable development.

Despite significant economic growth in Asia in recent decades, millions of people in rural Asia still lack access to electricity. A project has been implemented to develop small hybrid renewable energy systems in these areas. This publication highlights the experiences of these pilot projects in five developing member countries. It provides technical guidance and recommendations for the deployment of similar systems in minigrids in remote rural locations and small isolated islands to achieve access to electricity and energy efficiency.