Difference between revisions of "Recent Market for PicoPV Systems"

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== Electrification situation in general   ==
 
  
Every fourth human being is without access to electricity today. Electrification rates are the lowest in Sub-Sahara Africa<br>(SSA), but rural access rates remain surprisingly low even in countries with high GDP and impressive overall access rates. The fact that rural access rates are lagging behind across all countries and regions reflects the fact that costs of traditional grid electrification grow exponentially with falling population rates (and load) density. <ref name="Difference" />
+
= Overview =
  
The figure&nbsp;<ref name="Difference" /> shows electrification rates for various regions. Obviously, it is important to concentrate on Sub-Saharan Africa and South Asia.  
+
<u>Electrification Situation in General:</u> Every fourth human being is without access to electricity today. Electrification rates are the lowest in '''Sub-Sahara Africa (SSA)''', but rural access rates remain surprisingly low even in countries with high GDP and impressive overall access rates. The fact that rural access rates are lagging behind across all countries and regions reflects the fact that costs of traditional grid electrification grow exponentially with falling population rates (and load) density. <ref name="Difference">GIZ.2010. What difference can a PicoPV system make? Early findings on small Photovoltaic systems - an emerging lowcost energy technology for developing countries: [[Media:Gtz picopv booklet.pdf|GIZ PicoPV Booklet]]</ref> The figure <ref name="Difference">_</ref> shows electrification rates for various regions. Obviously, it is important to concentrate on Sub-Saharan Africa and South Asia.<br/>[[File:Electrification Rates.JPG|thumb|center|527px|Electrification Rates]]<br/>
  
&nbsp;
 
  
[[Image:Electrification Rates.JPG]]<br>
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= Market Trends in the PicoPV sector and the role of Development Cooperation =
  
== Market for off-grid PV&nbsp;  ==
+
-> see <span dir="auto">[[Market_Trends_in_the_PicoPV_Sector_and_the_Role_of_Development_Cooperation|Market Trends in the PicoPV sector and the role of Development Cooperation]]</span>
  
In 2000, about 1.3 million households in developing countries used solar home systems (SHSs) or solar lanterns 0.4-0.5 million of which were procured through donor driven projects (Nieuwenhout, 2002).<br>The most mature off-grid PV markets exist in India (450,000 installed SHSs), China (150,000 SHSs), Kenya (120,000 SHSs), Morocco (80,000 SHSs), Mexico (80,000 SHSs), and South Africa (50,000 SHSs). Kenya and&nbsp; China are by far the fastest growing markets, with annual growth rates of 10% – 20% in recent years.
 
  
Many of these countries also manufacture components for SHS, such as batteries, controllers, and lights. In 2002, PV module manufacturers existed in India (23 firms), China (7 firms), Thailand (3 firms), and Namibia (1 firm). PV cells are manufactured in India (9 firms) and China (7 firms). In recent years, the manufacturing base in China has grown exponentially. Gabler (2008) and Photon (2008) estimate for 2007 that newly installed off-grid PV capacity in Developing Countries lies at around 50 MWp per year (compared to 150 MWp global annual market volume for off-grid PV – including off-grid PV for recreational uses and industry, such as telecom repeaters, worldwide).
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= Outlook =
  
At system prices of about 10 €/Watt, total turnover in Developing Countries can be estimated to account for 0.5 € billion.<ref name="Difference">GTZ. 2010. What difference can a PicoPV system make? Early findings on small Photovoltaic systems -an emerging lowcost energy technology for developing countries</ref>  
+
<u>Various reasons indicate a rpaidly growing market of PicoPV system:</u><br/>
  
== Market for PicoPV ==
+
*Regarding prospect expectations, ''producing cost ''for components of PicoPV systems are falling in the next five years. This will enhance affordability for low-income households.
 +
*Recently, liquid fuels remain the world's largest energy source. <ref name="EIA">Energy Information Administration. 2010. International Energy Outlook 2010</ref> Therefore, increasing - and volatile - ''fossil fuel costs ''(further enhanced through carbon emission reduction targets)<ref>GTZ Furel Price Index 2000-2009</ref>, will increase the search of households for alternative options.<ref name="Difference">_</ref> (for price projection scenarios see [http://www.eia.doe.gov/oiaf/ieo/ International Energy Outlook 2010]).
 +
*Another cause for a growing market is a population growth, which is increasing faster than grid growth. Therefore, growing off-grid popluations are expected.<br/>
 +
*Recently, already a third (1.6 billion people) of the off-grip population use a mobile phone. Due to the fact, that mobile phones don't need any cross country cables and required broadcast towers are easy to set up, their diffusion over the countries will increase even more. <ref name="SEF">Solar Energy Foundation. 2010. Sun Connect. Will the demand for mobile phones initiate a solar boom?</ref> The example of Uganda shows the great spread of mobile phones in comparison to grid connection: Over 90% of people living in rural area have no access to grid, but almost 50% already have broadcast towers.<ref name="SEF">_</ref> Charging their phone often necessitate an expensive or difficult proceeding. Therefore, cooperations with phone companies as well as an increasing number of PicoPV systems with a mobile charge application could increase this trend and provide a more economic solution.<ref name="BOP">_</ref> Solar Energy Foundation forecasts, that "solar trade will develop along the route of broadcasting towers."<ref name="SEF">_</ref> (p.4).
  
The current market size as well as the future market potential for PicoPV is difficult to predict at this point in time, as<br>data on demand response does not exist. However, a simple “back of the envelope” calculation allows getting a first idea<br>of the potential market size: one could take the roughly 1.5 billion people currently without modern energy and assume that this corresponds to about 300 million households which are currently using traditional low performance lighting at high costs. If we are right in our predictions for cost reduction, all of these would (theoretically!) profit from a fuel swap, and many would be able to afford the US$30 entry level products which will be available soon. Thus the potential theoretical market size is 300 M x 30 US$ or 9 billion US$. <ref name="Difference" />  
+
<u>Moreover, Pico PV systems may well be part of a solution, by allowing “'''pre-electrification'''”. There are several good reasons to be bullish regarding the potential of this emerging off-grid market segment:</u>
  
Regarding the fact, that statistics of households without access to modern energy are often underestimated (because households living in on-grid areas without legal or functional access are counted as well as households with frequent, long-term breakdowns), market size might be even larger.<ref name="BOP">Lighting Africa. 2010. Solar Lighting for the Base of the Pyramid - Overview of an Emerging Market -</ref>  
+
*Pico PV systems are over-the-counter consumer products and don’t need specific know-how for installation or O&M. Therefore, distribution has ''lower transaction costs ''than for all other grid or off-grid alternatives.
 +
*The ''welfare gain ''from electrification at household level is arguably largest after stepping from flame-based lighting to efficient electric lights.
 +
*Grid electrification is perceived by the vast majority of households as the “gold standard” of electrification. But with PicoPV systems, consumers do not fear that PicoPV lamps will bar them from future grid roll-out, as they often do in the case of SHSs.<ref name="Difference">_</ref>
  
Once early findings on demand response and market penetration rates will become available, realistic market estimates and growth rates can be calculated, which would also factor in households buying more than one lamp and urban customers.
+
<br/>
  
== Outlook  ==
+
= Analysis of Certain African Countries =
  
Various reasons indicate a rpaidly growing market of PicoPV system:<br>
+
=== Uganda ===
  
*Regarding prospect expectations, ''producing cost ''for components of PicoPV systems are falling in the next five years. This will enhance affordability for low-income households.
+
<u>Target analysis in [[Uganda Energy Situation|Uganda]] show a potential market expansion:</u>
*Furthermore, increasing - and volatile - ''fossil fuel costs ''(further enhanced through carbon emission reduction targets)<ref>GTZ Furel Price Index 2000-2009</ref>, will increase the search of households for alternative options.<ref name="Difference" />
 
*Another cause for a growing market is a population growth, which is increasing faster than grid growth. Therefore, growing off-grid popluations are expected.<br>
 
*Recently, already a third (1.6 billion people) of the off-grip population use a mobile phone. Charging their phone often necessitate an expensive or difficult proceeding. Therefore, cooperations with phone companies as well as an increasing number of PicoPV systems with a mobile charge application could increase this trend and provide a more economic solution.<ref name="BOP" />
 
  
<br>
+
*Up to 60&nbsp;% of the rural households can afford micro-solar systems of 2-20 Wp (lanterns, phone chargers, radio systems).
 
+
*10&nbsp;% of the rural population can potentially afford medium to larger SHS PV systems (50 Wp – 150 Wp).
Moreover, Pico PV systems may well be part of a solution, by allowing “'''pre-electrification'''”. There are several good reasons to be bullish regarding the potential of this emerging off-grid market segment:
 
 
 
*Pico PV systems are over-the-counter consumer products and don’t need specific know-how for installation or O&amp;M. Therefore, distribution has ''lower transaction costs ''than for all other grid or off-grid alternatives.
 
*The ''welfare gain ''from electrification at household level is arguably largest after stepping from flame-based lighting to efficient electric lights.
 
*Grid electrification is perceived by the vast majority of households as the “gold standard” of electrification. But with PicoPV systems, consumers do not fear that PicoPV lamps will bar them from future grid roll-out, as they often do in the case of SHSs.<ref name="Difference" />
 
 
 
== Analysis of certain African Countries:  ==
 
 
 
=== Uganda  ===
 
 
 
Targetanalysis in '''Uganda '''show a potential market expansion:
 
 
 
*Up to 60&nbsp;% of the rural households can afford micro-solar systems of 2-20 Wp (lanterns, phone chargers, radio systems).  
 
*10&nbsp;% of the rural population can potentially afford medium to larger SHS PV systems (50 Wp – 150 Wp).  
 
 
*30&nbsp;% of the rural households would be considered too poor to afford a solar PV system.<ref>GTZ. 2009. Uganda’s Solar Energy Market - Target Market Analysis.</ref>
 
*30&nbsp;% of the rural households would be considered too poor to afford a solar PV system.<ref>GTZ. 2009. Uganda’s Solar Energy Market - Target Market Analysis.</ref>
  
=== Rwanda&nbsp;  ===
+
<br/>
 
 
Analysis of market in '''Rwanda '''describe an encouraging development: Growth in the SHS sector is slow but encouraging with at least three companies actively marketing their products. Given the low-income level of the country, this report estimates that less than 10&nbsp;% of the total off-grid rural population (1.7 million un-electrified) would have an interest in a 10-50 Wp PV system and another 30-40&nbsp;% would be interested in a micro system. The following table provides a basic model for this market:<ref>GTZ. 2009. Rwanda’s Solar Energy Market Target Market Analysis.</ref>
 
 
 
<br>
 
 
 
&nbsp;[[Image:SHS Market in Rwanda.JPG|612x185px|SHS Market in Rwanda.JPG]]
 
 
 
&nbsp;
 
 
 
=== Tanzania  ===
 
 
 
Analysis of market in '''Tanzania '''claims, that&nbsp;is growing at a rapid rate. Secondly, it is large, as can be seen in the table below. Thirdly, for qualifying companies, the government will be offering USD 2/Wp per sold system for systems below 100 Wp.<ref>GTZ. 2009. Tanzania’s Solar Energy Market Target Market Analysis.</ref>
 
 
 
<br>  
 
 
 
[[Image:Tanzania’s Solar Home Systems Markets.JPG|621x170px|Tanzania’s Solar Home Systems Markets.JPG]]
 
  
'''&nbsp;'''
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=== Rwanda ===
'''Constraints and obstacles '''for small systems in the commercial market:<br>
 
  
*This sector is moving towards a “fast-moving-goods” and “over-the-counter” market. Lower priced lower quality goods have advantages where consumers are cash-constrained and dealers are especially interested in moving volume.
+
Analysis of market in [[Rwanda Energy Situation|Rwanda]] describe an encouraging development: Growth in the SHS sector is slow but encouraging with at least three companies actively marketing their products. Given the low-income level of the country, this report estimates that less than 10&nbsp;% of the total off-grid rural population (1.7 million un-electrified) would have an interest in a 10-50 Wp PV system and another 30-40&nbsp;% would be interested in a micro system. The following table provides a basic model for this market:<ref>GTZ. 2009. Rwanda’s Solar Energy Market Target Market Analysis.</ref><br/>[[File:SHS Market in Rwanda.JPG|thumb|center|671px|SHS Market in Rwanda|alt=SHS Market in Rwanda.JPG]]<br/>
*Customers tend to buy components, so it is hard to establish the full “SHS” unit.
 
*In agriculture sectors, markets are extremely seasonal because of cash flow fluctuations.
 
*Retailers and wholesalers are fickle and change relationships because of price.  
 
*The Rural Electrification Agency (REA) subsidies are still not established. The process of getting subsidy cash from government institutions is slow.  
 
*Retail and wholesale agents often have cash flow problems.  
 
*Few wholesale or retail agents are 100 % dedicated to solar PV business.<br>
 
<br>
 
  
'''Recommendations for enterprises''' for small systems in the commercial market:<br>
+
<br/>
  
Companies should always be prepared to educate dealers, system designers and installers about their equipment.
+
=== Tanzania ===
  
*Seek to cluster large numbers of systems together. <br>
+
Analysis of market in [[Tanzania Energy Situation|Tanzaniaclaims]], that is growing at a rapid rate. Secondly, it is large, as can be seen in the table below. Thirdly, for qualifying companies, the government will be offering USD 2/Wp per sold system for systems below 100 Wp.<ref>GTZ. 2009. Tanzania’s Solar Energy Market Target Market Analysis.</ref><br/>[[File:Tanzania’s Solar Home Systems Markets.JPG|thumb|center|712px|Tanzania’s Solar Home Systems Markets|alt=Tanzania’s Solar Home Systems Markets.JPG]]<br/>
*Work with established networks of competent and honest traders. <br>
 
*Seek to utilise local finance partners.<br>
 
*Geographically target marketing efforts, especially in regions where there is income from coffee, tea, cashew, sugar or gold.<br>
 
*Seek partnerships with players who have a good reach into rural market. (It may be useful to look beyond the small PV companies and to other companies that have successfully sold other products into rural areas).<br>
 
*Work with the REA’s subsidy programmes. <br>
 
*Do not focus on “rural poor” and procurement-based poverty alleviation PV projects only. There is a growing market for PV among economically active groups that can no longer afford to rely only on generators. <br>
 
*It is often useful to focus on components, not whole systems.<br>
 
  
<br>  
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= Further Information<br/> =
  
<references />
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*[[Market for PicoPV|Market for PicoPV]]
  
&nbsp;
+
<br/>
  
<br>
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= References =
  
[[Category:Solar]] [[Category:PicoPV]]
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<references /><br/>
  
<br>
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[[Category:PicoPV]]
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[[Category:Sub-Saharan_Africa]]
 +
[[Category:Uganda]]
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[[Category:Rwanda]]
 +
[[Category:Tanzania]]

Latest revision as of 10:35, 2 November 2016

Overview

Electrification Situation in General: Every fourth human being is without access to electricity today. Electrification rates are the lowest in Sub-Sahara Africa (SSA), but rural access rates remain surprisingly low even in countries with high GDP and impressive overall access rates. The fact that rural access rates are lagging behind across all countries and regions reflects the fact that costs of traditional grid electrification grow exponentially with falling population rates (and load) density. [1] The figure [1] shows electrification rates for various regions. Obviously, it is important to concentrate on Sub-Saharan Africa and South Asia.

Electrification Rates



Market Trends in the PicoPV sector and the role of Development Cooperation

-> see Market Trends in the PicoPV sector and the role of Development Cooperation


Outlook

Various reasons indicate a rpaidly growing market of PicoPV system:

  • Regarding prospect expectations, producing cost for components of PicoPV systems are falling in the next five years. This will enhance affordability for low-income households.
  • Recently, liquid fuels remain the world's largest energy source. [2] Therefore, increasing - and volatile - fossil fuel costs (further enhanced through carbon emission reduction targets)[3], will increase the search of households for alternative options.[1] (for price projection scenarios see International Energy Outlook 2010).
  • Another cause for a growing market is a population growth, which is increasing faster than grid growth. Therefore, growing off-grid popluations are expected.
  • Recently, already a third (1.6 billion people) of the off-grip population use a mobile phone. Due to the fact, that mobile phones don't need any cross country cables and required broadcast towers are easy to set up, their diffusion over the countries will increase even more. [4] The example of Uganda shows the great spread of mobile phones in comparison to grid connection: Over 90% of people living in rural area have no access to grid, but almost 50% already have broadcast towers.[4] Charging their phone often necessitate an expensive or difficult proceeding. Therefore, cooperations with phone companies as well as an increasing number of PicoPV systems with a mobile charge application could increase this trend and provide a more economic solution.[5] Solar Energy Foundation forecasts, that "solar trade will develop along the route of broadcasting towers."[4] (p.4).

Moreover, Pico PV systems may well be part of a solution, by allowing “pre-electrification”. There are several good reasons to be bullish regarding the potential of this emerging off-grid market segment:

  • Pico PV systems are over-the-counter consumer products and don’t need specific know-how for installation or O&M. Therefore, distribution has lower transaction costs than for all other grid or off-grid alternatives.
  • The welfare gain from electrification at household level is arguably largest after stepping from flame-based lighting to efficient electric lights.
  • Grid electrification is perceived by the vast majority of households as the “gold standard” of electrification. But with PicoPV systems, consumers do not fear that PicoPV lamps will bar them from future grid roll-out, as they often do in the case of SHSs.[1]


Analysis of Certain African Countries

Uganda

Target analysis in Uganda show a potential market expansion:

  • Up to 60 % of the rural households can afford micro-solar systems of 2-20 Wp (lanterns, phone chargers, radio systems).
  • 10 % of the rural population can potentially afford medium to larger SHS PV systems (50 Wp – 150 Wp).
  • 30 % of the rural households would be considered too poor to afford a solar PV system.[6]


Rwanda

Analysis of market in Rwanda describe an encouraging development: Growth in the SHS sector is slow but encouraging with at least three companies actively marketing their products. Given the low-income level of the country, this report estimates that less than 10 % of the total off-grid rural population (1.7 million un-electrified) would have an interest in a 10-50 Wp PV system and another 30-40 % would be interested in a micro system. The following table provides a basic model for this market:[7]

SHS Market in Rwanda.JPG
SHS Market in Rwanda



Tanzania

Analysis of market in Tanzaniaclaims, that is growing at a rapid rate. Secondly, it is large, as can be seen in the table below. Thirdly, for qualifying companies, the government will be offering USD 2/Wp per sold system for systems below 100 Wp.[8]

Tanzania’s Solar Home Systems Markets.JPG
Tanzania’s Solar Home Systems Markets


Further Information


References

  1. 1.0 1.1 1.2 1.3 GIZ.2010. What difference can a PicoPV system make? Early findings on small Photovoltaic systems - an emerging lowcost energy technology for developing countries: GIZ PicoPV Booklet Cite error: Invalid <ref> tag; name "Difference" defined multiple times with different content Cite error: Invalid <ref> tag; name "Difference" defined multiple times with different content Cite error: Invalid <ref> tag; name "Difference" defined multiple times with different content
  2. Energy Information Administration. 2010. International Energy Outlook 2010
  3. GTZ Furel Price Index 2000-2009
  4. 4.0 4.1 4.2 Solar Energy Foundation. 2010. Sun Connect. Will the demand for mobile phones initiate a solar boom? Cite error: Invalid <ref> tag; name "SEF" defined multiple times with different content Cite error: Invalid <ref> tag; name "SEF" defined multiple times with different content
  5. _
  6. GTZ. 2009. Uganda’s Solar Energy Market - Target Market Analysis.
  7. GTZ. 2009. Rwanda’s Solar Energy Market Target Market Analysis.
  8. GTZ. 2009. Tanzania’s Solar Energy Market Target Market Analysis.