Grid Extension vs Off grid, Island / Isolated System

Main decision criteria

• Distance to the national / centralised grid (incl. capacity of grid)
• Demand

1. Population density
2. Long-term demand (in kwh and terms of energy services)

• Levelized costs of energy production in centralised grid and extension costs
• Levelized costs of energy production in isolated system
• The selection of socially and environmentally appropriate technoligies
• ...

Important considarations

A sustainable rural electrification project depends on a number of critical planning decisions. Important factors in project planning and design are the choice of appropriate technology, ensuring institutional and economic viability, safeguarding of social and environmental issues, and optimizing productive uses of electricity.

 

In the following paragraphs several rules of thumbs (ROT) will be developed on the basis of cost criteria and experience made in numerous rural electrification projects. They can be used only as a pre-assessment in a preliminary phase and more thorough analysis is needed.

 

Rules of thumb can only give a general orientation. However, there does not exist a single way for rural electrification, each site and situation is different. Rules of thumb do not prevent project developers and decision makers from conducting a regular feasibility study that evaluates at least two options and that takes into account all relevant ecological, economical and social factors in the specific project environment.

 

The key for success and sustainability is ownership amongst all involved parties including the stakeholders and the last consumer. It is therefore important to evaluate and assess each individual project thoroughly.