Solar Power for Villages
A In many parts of the world, villages have no connection to the national electricity grid. Building power lines to places that are far from cities is expensive, and the few families that live in each village could not pay for the cost. As a result, hundreds of millions of people still depend on kerosene lamps, candles and wood fires, which give poor light and fill houses with smoke.
B One solution that is spreading is the solar mini-grid. A group of solar panels is placed on a roof or a field, and the electricity is stored in batteries and sent through short cables to nearby homes and shops. The system is small, but it can provide enough power for lights, a fan and a phone charger in each house. Larger systems can run a water pump or a grain mill.
C The main reason for the growth of solar power is that the price of panels has fallen sharply in recent years. Batteries remain the most costly part, and they must be replaced after a number of years. For this reason the cost of solar electricity depends on the way the system is used. A system that is used by many customers throughout the day is cheaper for each person than one that is used for only a few hours.
D The effects on village life can be large. Children can study after dark, shops can stay open later, and a health clinic can keep medicines and vaccines in a refrigerator. Women, who often spend hours collecting firewood, may save time. Studies of villages that received electricity report that incomes rise most where the power is used to run small businesses, and not just for lighting.
E Technology is only part of the answer. Panels and batteries need maintenance, and a village needs people who are trained to repair them. Payment can also be a problem, since farm families earn money at harvest and have little cash at other times. Many companies now use pay-as-you-go systems, in which customers buy small amounts of power by mobile phone when they have money, and the system stops if they do not pay.
F Some projects give the community a share of ownership, with a village committee that collects payments, chooses a technician and decides who is connected. This approach can make people take better care of the equipment, but it needs honest management and clear rules. Researchers say that the most successful projects combine good technology with training, fair prices and a plan for repairs.