| Creators: |
Wagemann, Bernard and Manetsgruber, David |
| Title: |
Photovoltaic Mini-Grids in Remote Rural Areas of Developing Countries : Research on Strategies to Improve Operational Sustainability Insights from a fact-finding mission to a remote area of Namibia |
| Item Type: |
Book Section |
| Page Range: |
pp. 181-212 |
| Date: |
2021 |
| Divisions: |
Wirtschaftswissenschaften |
| Abstract (ENG): |
It is a common reservation against mini-grids that they are not working properly during a big
part of their short lifespan, before collapsing prematurely.
Even if true in many cases, the weaknesses of mini-grids should be explained in terms of bad
management and operation as well as insufficient financial modelling rather than by the
technological concept itself.
In the desert-like and sparely populated north-eastern area of Namibia, two village grids have
been in operation for a considerable time: the mini-grid in Tsumkwe for eight years, the one
in Gam for five years.
The grids deliver 230V AC electricity day and night. The target groups are key village
customers like schools, hospitals, municipal administration, post office, telecom, tourist
lodges, small shops and businesses, and about 430 households living in the core area of the
two communities.
In spite of the obvious success, the two village grids also have had to overcome difficulties
and hard times. From the history of the grids, the current state, and their planned further
development, significant lessons learned can be drawn to improve sustainability of mini-grids
in general. |
| Forthcoming: |
No |
| Language: |
English |
| Citation: |
Wagemann, Bernard and Manetsgruber, David
(2021)
Photovoltaic Mini-Grids in Remote Rural Areas of Developing Countries : Research on Strategies to Improve Operational Sustainability Insights from a fact-finding mission to a remote area of Namibia.
In:
Bridging Entrepreneurship and Social Innovations / Steurer, Elmar ; Herrmann, Emanuel (Eds).
Cambridge Scholar Publishing, pp. 181-212.
ISBN 9781527569836
|
