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Concept of Smart villages is a global modern approach for off-grid communities. Vision behind this concept is to assist the policy makers, donors and socio-economic planner for rural electrification worldwide, with special focus on Asian and African countries. Smart villages concept is engaged in efforts to combat the real barriers to energy access in villages, particularly in developing countries with technological, financial and educational methodology[1]. Since 20th Century Electricity has become a vital part of our lives, though we can survive without electricity but cannot progress and enjoy the benefits of science. World’s large oil companies have predicted that by 2050, one third of the energy will need to come from Solar, Wind and other renewable resources, therefore adoption of renewable resource in place of fossil fuel is the best approach that can be developed through off-grid systems or communities.[2]


Off-grid systems and off-grid communities

Access to un-interrupted and low cost reliable electricity is vital for social and economic development all over the world. Achieving universal access to electricity requires a combination of grid-based and off grid solutions. Without this approach, increasing demand and decreasing supply cannot be stabilized for the mankind on this planet. Nearly 60% of the additional generation required to achieve universal electricity access needs to come from off-grid solutions – both stand-alone and mini-grids. IRENA’s work on Renewable Power Generation Costs concludes that renewable energy technologies are increasingly cost-competitive and are now the most economic option for off-grid electrification in most rural areas[3]. 80% of people of the world living in rural areas do not have access to electricity in addition to lack of employment which force them to migrate to urban areas[4].

The term “Off-grid” itself is very broad and simply refers to “not using or depending on electricity provided through main or national grids and generated by main power infrastructures. The term is also used to describe a particular lifestyle which is embodied by autonomous structures. Off-grid systems have a semi or autonomous capability to satisfy electricity demand through local power generation. The term off-grid systems cover both mini-grids for serving multiple users and stand-alone systems for individual appliance or users. Inspite witnessing use of fossil fuel for power generation by mini or individual off-grid system, it is broadly defined that off-grid systems are actually based on renewable energy resources. The terms “micro-grid, nano-grid and pico-grid are used to differentiate different kinds of mini-grids with size thresholds under off-grid approach[5][6].

Off-grid communities in Asia

According to a publication written for the International Finance Corporation (IFC) in 2012, Asia has the largest off-grid population in the world, with 55% of the global off-grid population, and 798 million people having no access to electricity. As per estimates about 700 million or 90% were located in rural Asia. [7]. However, research studies reveal that South Asian and Sub-Saharan African countries have been unable to expand their electrification rate. Whereas electrification progress in regions such as Latin America and East Asia (China) indicates a rapid growth. [8]

Smart village/off-grid communities

Electrification is highly desired by all rural communities. Different international, national and local organizations use different indicators for measuring and reporting mini-grids or stand-alone systems. South Asian countries have been focusing on off-grid electrification of current trend for Rural Electrification (RE) at regional level. India, Bangladesh, Sri Lanka and Nepal have shown good results for RE through off-grid communities[9].

Eastern Asia/East Asia

About 38% of the population of Asia and 22% in the world, live in East Asia.

  • Wind farm in Xinjiang, China
    According to IRENA report China in 2013, besides wind farms, had roughly 60,000 diesel and hydro mini-grid systems, most of them connected to the centralized grid. It has further installed 118 GW of solar Photovoltaics systems, of which 500 MW was installed in off-grid systems [5].
  • Off-grid or grid divorce is becoming rather big in Japan and the main driver for this trend is the nation’s distrust of its utilities after the Fukushima nuclear disaster. Alternative energy technologies have become standard in newly constructed homes. Sekisui House Ltd, a famous Japanese house building firm pointed out that 80% of single-family homes were constructed with alternative energy technology such as solar panels and fuel cells. Reflecting the nation’s mood, Executive Director of Sekisui Company states that “If you’re going to use electricity, you might as well make it yourself.” [10][11]
  • Acknowledging Solar as green technology, Malaysia has been encouraging solar power for rural electrification and reaffirmed its support of research into off-grid electricity through alternate energy. Malaysian Government also considering potential of smart villages and each village would differ according to the needs of its population[12].
  • People of Indonesia living in rural areas have been facing low electrification and using fossil fuel for power supply. Additionally many remote communities still lack access to any power at all with little expectation of being supplied on-grid power by the state-owned electricity company (PLN). In the recent past Indonesian government has initiated a properly developed, constructed and sustainable community-owned renewable energy plan to raise the quality of life in rural communities, and under this project plants should be owned, managed and maintained by the rural communities[13]. In 2013 EnDev Indonesia was awarded first prize in the category “Community-based Off-grid”, with its project on micro-hydro power in Lembah Derita, Sumatra Barat[14].
  • With more than 2,000 inhabited islands, it is difficult in Philippines to extend electrical grid to communities in remote areas. CEO of Hybrid Social Solutions Inc. presented its distribution solar products that have been delivered to poor communities across the Philippines with a future plan of building an ecosystem to support standalone solar energy devices for use by the rural communities and have been considered essential to ensure the sustainability and future growth in remote areas[15]
  • North Korea has been focusing on modern technologies for overcoming its chronic energy shortage. Utilization of alternative energy sources in place of fossil fuel consumption is being considered to satisfy the socio-economic requirements of its people[16]
  • In June, 2015 Smart Villages (New thinking for off-grid communities worldwide) has conducted a workshop in Seoul to familiarize the people of South Korea about the fast evolving technology moving towards off-grid communities and its support for bright ideas and entrepreneurial endeavour in the field of rural energy access [17]

Western Asia/West Asia and Middle East

Geographical marking in the Western Asia consists of 19 countries/territorial states. 5 countries of Asia from this region hold strong financial stability and resources for social development. In this region three countries, According to population demography Turkey, Iraq and Yemen stand at 10th, 13th and 20th position respectively[18]

  • With a substantial potential for the renewable energy resources, Turkey holds seventh position in the world and first in Europe in terms of geothermal energy. It has also planned to further increase its hydro, wind and solar energy resources. Turkey envisages producing 30% of its electricity need from the renewable by 2023[19].
  • Ten years after the war, the power supply was short of demand. But in April, 2013 Oil Ministry of Iraq highlighted its plan stating that: "By the end of 2013, the crisis will be over for households with supply of electricity around the clock across the country. By the end of 2014, Iraq would have met industrial demand as well”. However, political instability and role of terrorism by the terrorists in Iraq reliable and neutral assessment is still a hard job[20]
  • Prior to Saudi Arabian-led intervention in Yemen in Yemen, energy and power supply scenario reveals that 93% Yemenis rural population was using gas canisters as their primary source of fuel. They also spent 55% of their income on food, water and energy. Power supply, where available, comes from government-run plants, the majority of which run on diesel. New capacity additions were slow with poor transmission network[21]

Northern Asia

In Northern Asia Russia covers largest part of Asia with a 17,098,242 Sq km area. Russia is the world's fourth largest electricity producer after the USA, China, and Japan. Russia exports electricity to countries e.g. Latvia, Lithuania, Poland etc. However, import and export reversal has also been reported due to cost of production[22][23].

South Asia

  • Afghanistan with its insufficient power supply infrastructure covers its electricity demand through import from electricity-exporting countries i.e. Uzbekistan, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan and Iran, these countries mostly sell their surplus electricity to Afghanistan. Above 4 billion US dollars have so far been disbursed to build power supply infrastructure in Afghanistan but deficiencies not only to its rural/remotes areas but country’s capital needs more considerable help from developed countries for supply of electrification to whole Afghanistan One of the largest solar power project funded at a cost $18 by the government of New Zealand has started functioning for supply of energy to 2,500 households, businesses and government buildings in central Bamyan Province of Afghanistan[24].
  • According to a World Bank document, about 62% of Bangladesh’s population had access to electricity in 2013, indicating 90% and 43% wide disparity between urban and rural areas. Bangladesh while standing at 134th out of 144 countries on the quality of electricity supply, Renewable Energy for Rural Economic Development (RERED) Project sought to raise levels of social development and economic growth by increasing access to electricity in rural areas. Under REFED notable contribution to social and economic outcomes in rural areas by extending access to electricity through off-grid Solar Home Systems (SHS), has been witnessed and noted with significant increase in Household appliances. The World Bank report envisaged that Off-grid systems can accelerate the benefits of “lighting” in a cost-effective manner, to populations that face uncertain waiting periods for grid-based electricity, or are unlikely to obtain grid-based electricity due to remote or inaccessible locations. Report also focus the role of off-grid communities based on public-private partnership model for off-grid electricity services to the deprived population of Bangladesh [25].


See also

References

  1. ^ "Our Work". Smart Villages Initiative (Trinity College Cambridge). Retrieved November 7, 2015.
  2. ^ "Alternative Energy". Alternative Energy Solution for the 21st Century. Retrieved November 7, 2015.
  3. ^ Opening Remarks Adnan Z. Amin Director-General, International Renewable Energy Agency (IRENA) http://www.irena.org/DocumentDownloads/Publications/IRENA_2nd_IOREC_2015.pdf, retrieved on 08 November, 2015
  4. ^ Dr. Hartmut Grewe. "Renewable Energy and Poverty Alleviation: Prospects for Rural Electrification" (PDF). Schloss Leopoldskron, Salzburg (Austria). Retrieved November 10, 2015.
  5. ^ a b IRENA Staff Team. "Off-grid renewable energy systems: Status and methodological issues". International Renewable Energy Agency-IRENA. Retrieved November 7, 2015.
  6. ^ "Mini-Grid Development Session Structure for the Public-Private Roundtable" (PDF). Clean Energy Ministerial, New Delhi, India. April 17, 2013. Retrieved November 8, 2015.
  7. ^ Intellecap (Intellectual Capital Advisory Services Private Limited) (February 2012). Lighting Asia: Solar Off-Grid Lighting (Report). IFC. p. 20. {{cite report}}: |access-date= requires |url= (help); Unknown parameter |coauthors= ignored (|author= suggested) (help)
  8. ^ Tomas Hevia. The Rural Electrification in China and The Impact of Renewable Energies (Report). China Europe International Business School, China. p. 3-4. Student Research Projects/Outputs No.042 {{cite report}}: |access-date= requires |url= (help); Cite has empty unknown parameter: |coauthors= (help)
  9. ^ Akanksha Chaurey, Debajit Palit (6 August 2011), Off-grid rural electrification experiences from South Asia: Status and best practices (PDF), New Delhi India: The Energy and Resources Institute, p. 266
  10. ^ "Off-Grid Trend is Growing in Japan". Engerati. May 28, 2014. Retrieved November 9, 2015.
  11. ^ Peter and Mayumi (September 17, 2013). "In Post-Tsunami Japan, Homeowners Pull Away From Grid". The Wall Street Journal. Retrieved November 9, 2015.
  12. ^ S.Y. Wong. "An Off-Grid Solar System for Rural Village in Malaysia". Power and Energy Engineering Conference (APPEEC). Retrieved November 9, 2015.
  13. ^ "Millennium Challenge Account Indonesia - Green Prosperity Project: Grants for Off-Grid Community-Owned Renewable Energy Projects". Devex (the global development community). February 16, 2015. Retrieved November 9, 2015.
  14. ^ EnDev Indonesia Annual Report 2013 (Report). EnDev Indonesia. January 2014.
  15. ^ "solar electricity for off-the-grid communities in Philippines". The Guardian. September 23, 2014. Retrieved November 10, 2015.
  16. ^ "North Korea to utilize science and technology to overcome its energy crisis". Institute for Far Eastern Studies (IFES). April 3, 2014. Retrieved November 9, 2015.
  17. ^ "Southeast Asia Media Dialogue Workshop". Smart Villages. June 16, 2015. Retrieved November 9, 2015.
  18. ^ World Fact Book (December 3, 2014). "List of Asian countries by Area (2014) & Population". Statistics Times. Retrieved November 9, 2015.
  19. ^ World Fact Book. "Turkey's Energy Strategy". Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Turkey. Retrieved November 9, 2015.
  20. ^ Rami Ruhayem (April 12, 2013). "Turkey's Energy Strategy". BBC, Baghdad. Retrieved November 9, 2015.
  21. ^ Yemen’s Economy: Oil, Imports and Elites by Peter Salisbury (Report). Chatham House. October 2011. PDF online https://www.chathamhouse.org/sites/files/chathamhouse/1011pp_yemeneconomy.pdf
  22. ^ [1], by UUTISET News 7 June 2015
  23. ^ "While Russia's electricity exports decline, imports rise". Russia Beyond the Headlines. Retrieved 8 November 2015.
  24. ^ Mohsin Amin (February 3, 2014). "Power to the People: How to extend Afghan's access to electricity". Afghanistan Analysts Network. Retrieved November 10, 2015.
  25. ^ Bangladesh, Project Performance Assessment Report (2014). Power Sector Development Technical Assistance Project (PDF). Dhaka: World Bank.
source: https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Smart_villages_in_Asia&oldid=689979242

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