Difference between revisions of "Green People's Energy for Africa - Knowledge Hub - Productive Use"

From energypedia
***** (***** | *****)
m
***** (***** | *****)
Line 45: Line 45:
 
<div class="width-1-1"> <!-- Start .grid -->
 
<div class="width-1-1"> <!-- Start .grid -->
 
== I. Overview ==
 
== I. Overview ==
−
While large cities are usually fully electrified, 80% of the people in Sub-Saharan Africa living without electricity live in rural areas with low population density. Most work in agriculture with low productivity, amongst others due to energy poverty. Providing access to energy through '''productive use of energy (PUE) appliances''' can improve the economic development of local enterprises. For example, solar water pumps can potentially increase the annual income of farmers by 50% or more, in comparison to rainfed irrigation. By using solar powered irrigation, the harvest of crops is more reliable and independent of rainfall. Another important PUE appliance in rural areas is solar refrigeration, which can be used by rural enterprises to preserve milk or harvest.
 
  
−
Traditionally, the alternative to stand-alone solar appliances or mini-grids would be diesel generators, but they are costly in operation and emit CO2. As rural populations in SSA gain access to energy, they have the possibility to avoid – or leapfrog – the use of diesel-generators and fossil fuels. However, smallholder farms are often unaware of the benefits of solar technology devices. and even if they are sensitised to the advantages of renewables, they lack access to finance. In addition, solar companies have been reluctant to extend their supply chains from urban centers to rural areas, making it difficult for rural populations to access PV-appliances.
 
  
−
Green People’s Energy for Africa promotes energy access and productive use of energy by following a '''threefold approach''' and providing support for solar (PUE) companies, improving framework conditions and supporting end-users. Activities include the following:
+
80% of the people in SSA without electricity live in rural areas and therefore mostly work in agriculture. Their productivity level is often low which can largely be attributed to their lack of energy access. Other members of rural communities also struggle to find business opportunities or generate income because of this.  
  
−
'''<u>PUE companies</u>'''
+
Providing access to energy through productive use of energy (PUE) appliances can improve the economic development of local enterprises. There are various types of PUE appliances with the most common ones being solar water pumps, solar cooling devices and solar dryers but also mills, sewing machines and other productive tools have proven successful across GBE’s projects. Benefits include increased income possibilities (solar water pumps have been found to have the potential for up to 50% income increases for rural farmers), more reliable production due to independence from weather conditions and new business opportunities which can also positively impact the local community.
  
−
*Promoting PUE technologies in rural areas through results-based financing (RBF) programmes with solar companies, i.e. incentivizing the sales of systems to rural customers
+
In order to increase PUE appliance dissemination, multiple challenges have to be addressed. Awareness raising campaigns often play a decisive role in such initiatives as smallholder farms are often unaware of the benefits of solar technology devices. Rural communities often also suffer from access to finance to cover high initial costs for appliances. This is enhanced by solar companies only providing their services to well-connected and economically viable areas leaving rural communities underserved.
−
*Professionalizing local solar companies through business development support
 
−
*Training technical staff of solar companies in operating and maintaining solar systems
 
  
−
'''<u>Framework conditions</u>'''
+
'''Green People’s Energy for Africa promotes energy access and productive use of energy by following a threefold approach: Providing support for solar (PUE) companies, improving framework conditions, and supporting end-users. Activities include the following:'''
  
−
*Assessing the quality of PUE appliances and making their quality transparent for customers with the VeraSol database
 
−
*Implementing pilot installations for demonstration purposes and awareness raising among political partners and stakeholders
 
  
−
'''<u>End-users</u>'''  
+
'''PUE companies'''
  
−
*Awareness-raising campaigns in rural areas, sensitization of rural enterprises on the economic potentials of PUE
+
* Promoting PUE technologies in rural areas through results-based financing (RBF) programmes with solar companies, i.e. incentivising the sales of systems to rural customers
−
*Business development support to rural enterprises incl. energy assessments to understand the business case of acquiring and using PUE appliances
+
* Professionalising local solar companies through business development support
−
*Supporting access to finance e.g. by establishing guarantee funds or offering incentive payments for microfinance institutions (MFIs) so rural populations can buy solar technologies
+
* Training technical staff of solar companies in operating and maintaining solar systems
−
*Supporting community-based approaches by building the capacities of communities and cooperatives to jointly purchase, operate and maintain PUE appliances
+
 
 +
'''Framework conditions'''
 +
 
 +
* Assessing the quality of PUE appliances and making their quality transparent for customers with the    VeraSol database
 +
* Implementing pilot installations for demonstration purposes and awareness raising among political partners    and stakeholders
 +
 
 +
'''End-users'''
 +
 
 +
* Awareness-raising campaigns in rural areas, sensitisation of rural enterprises on the economic potentials     of PUE
 +
* Business development support to rural enterprises incl. energy assessments to understand the business case     of acquiring and using PUE appliances
 +
* Supporting access to finance e.g., by establishing guarantee funds or offering incentive payments for     microfinance institutions (MFIs) so rural populations can buy solar technologies
 +
* Supporting community-based approaches by building the capacities of communities and cooperatives to     jointly purchase, operate and maintain PUE appliances
  
 
==II. Case Studies==
 
==II. Case Studies==

Revision as of 13:24, 26 February 2024

Icon-gbe-produse.svg

Green People's Energy for Africa
Knowledge Hub

Productive Use

This topic pages describes how productive use equipment can improve productivity and income of rural communities. Find out more about GBE's threefold approach to improve PUE conditions below.

Table of Contents

I. Overview
II. Case Studies
III. Publications
IV. Countries

I. Overview

80% of the people in SSA without electricity live in rural areas and therefore mostly work in agriculture. Their productivity level is often low which can largely be attributed to their lack of energy access. Other members of rural communities also struggle to find business opportunities or generate income because of this.

Providing access to energy through productive use of energy (PUE) appliances can improve the economic development of local enterprises. There are various types of PUE appliances with the most common ones being solar water pumps, solar cooling devices and solar dryers but also mills, sewing machines and other productive tools have proven successful across GBE’s projects. Benefits include increased income possibilities (solar water pumps have been found to have the potential for up to 50% income increases for rural farmers), more reliable production due to independence from weather conditions and new business opportunities which can also positively impact the local community.

In order to increase PUE appliance dissemination, multiple challenges have to be addressed. Awareness raising campaigns often play a decisive role in such initiatives as smallholder farms are often unaware of the benefits of solar technology devices. Rural communities often also suffer from access to finance to cover high initial costs for appliances. This is enhanced by solar companies only providing their services to well-connected and economically viable areas leaving rural communities underserved.

Green People’s Energy for Africa promotes energy access and productive use of energy by following a threefold approach: Providing support for solar (PUE) companies, improving framework conditions, and supporting end-users. Activities include the following:


PUE companies

  • Promoting PUE technologies in rural areas through results-based financing (RBF) programmes with solar companies, i.e. incentivising the sales of systems to rural customers
  • Professionalising local solar companies through business development support
  • Training technical staff of solar companies in operating and maintaining solar systems

Framework conditions

  • Assessing the quality of PUE appliances and making their quality transparent for customers with the VeraSol database
  • Implementing pilot installations for demonstration purposes and awareness raising among political partners and stakeholders

End-users

  • Awareness-raising campaigns in rural areas, sensitisation of rural enterprises on the economic potentials of PUE
  • Business development support to rural enterprises incl. energy assessments to understand the business case of acquiring and using PUE appliances
  • Supporting access to finance e.g., by establishing guarantee funds or offering incentive payments for microfinance institutions (MFIs) so rural populations can buy solar technologies
  • Supporting community-based approaches by building the capacities of communities and cooperatives to jointly purchase, operate and maintain PUE appliances

II. Case Studies

The following case studies and project sheets illustrate the practical implementation of the three PUE pillars within the GBE project scope. They further showcase different examples of PUE equipment types and how to organise their distribution sustainably.

  • Link to Projects
  • Link to Case Studies
  • Link to KPF Facthseets
  • etc...

III. Publications

The GBE Thematic Knowledge Products are designed to share the knowledge and learnings about the topics gathered during the implementation and to make them accessible for practicioners. The following knowledge products outline the latest approches to PUE projects at the time of project implementation as well as learnings and recommendations from the GBE projects.

  • TKP

IV. Countries

Loading map...



Retrieved from "https://energypedia.info/index.php?title=Green_People%27s_Energy_for_Africa_-_Knowledge_Hub_-_Productive_Use&oldid=427591"