Smart Villages

BR16: Findings from the Smart Villages West Africa regional workshop

Policy Briefs /

There is substantial potential across West Africa to develop renewable energy resources for electricity generation. Despite the potential, a substantial portion of the population across the region remains without access to electricity. For cooking, a large majority of the population remains dependent on using biomass as the basic fuel in rudimentary cook stoves to meet …

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Insights from an energy poor Rwandan village

External content, Resources /

Primary data from 163 households was analyzed using a novel asset- and income-based index. We found statistically significant differences between households of different socio-economic status for a variety of indicators. Microeconometric techniques revealed the determinants of willingness-to-pay for electricity. We used primary data collected from 163 households in an off-grid Rwandan village to provide insights …

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Is biomass a sustainable energy solution for off-grid villages in developing countries?

Essay /

Summary Much is said about moving to a biobased economy (BBE) for the production of food, feed, fuels, materials and products1 particularly in reaching the Sustainable Development Goals and delivering on the Paris Agreement on climate change mitigation, published in 2016 and 2015, respectively. The question considered here is whether the better provision of biomass …

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Sources of sustainable energy for rural off-grid communities in Bolivia: opportunities, challenges and prospects

Workshops /

Smart Villages organized a workshop on the use of renewable energies for the electrification of rural communities in Bolivia, which was held on April 28, 2016 in La Paz, Bolivia. The workshop aimed to outline new prospects for reducing rural poverty through access and use of sustainable energy sources. The workshop was set to facilitate …

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WR18: Smart Villages and resilience to natural disasters

Workshop Reports /

This report summarises the findings of a workshop on Smart Villages and Resilience to Natural Disasters. Co-hosted by the Asia Research Institute, National University of Singapore, and the Smart Villages Initiative, the workshop brought together two communities of researchers and practitioners focusing on energy access and natural disasters to promote active discussion around key issues …

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BR14: Findings from the workshop on sustainable energy sources for off-grid communities in Bolivia

Policy Briefs /

2.5 million people in Bolivia live without a clean and sustainable energy source, and rely on diesel, kerosene, and candles for lighting. Many of them live in remote rural communities. The Political Constitution of Bolivia establishes that access to electricity is a citizen’s right, and the country aims to be fully electrified by 2025. To …

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BR13: Smart Villages and resilience to natural disasters

Policy Briefs /

In smart villages, energy access together with other key components of infrastructure can accelerate the development of education and healthcare services, provision of clean water and sanitation, availability of nutritious food, and the establishment of productive enterprises. Underpinned by technological advances, such developments provide substantial improvements in well-being and life opportunities, and a choice between …

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Leapfrogging to sustainable power

Essay /

As the global population is still rising – albeit at a decreasing rate – we can expect an additional billion or more people in the next 10 years and yet another billion by 20401. Simple mathematical calculations would suggest that the number of off-grid global poor will nearly double within a decade. And the world …

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Key scientists and frontline energy providers gather in Edinburgh to tackle off-grid energy storage issues

Press Releases /

More than a billion people worldwide still lack access to basic electrical services. As policy makers, entrepreneurs and academics work to address a UN goal of sustainable energy for all by 2030, there is a growing interest in off-grid solutions. However, the various options – pico-solar lanterns, solar home systems, or larger solar, wind, or …

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Energy entrepreneurs: Business models for off-grid energy & social impact

Workshops /

Business models for off-grid energy remain one of the most fascinating–and challenging–topics, particularly for entrepreneurs working in the developing world. In this webinar, we will hear from several entrepreneurs who each have a unique approach to building a business while also making a social impact in India, East and West Africa, and South America. From …

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[:en]New report claims off-grid smart villages can deliver sustainable path to rural development[:]

Press Releases /

[:en]Key Points: Off-grid technology can catalyse sustainable development for even the 1.1 billion without electricity in the remotest “last mile” communities Bottom-up approach key to achieving SDG7 Energy Access for All Goal Hub and spoke models combining hybrid mini-grids and solar home systems can provide starting point Governments need to create integrated off-grid and grid …

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WR17: Sustainable energy sources for off-grid rural communities in Bolivia

Workshop Reports /

The Smart Villages Initiative organised a workshop on access to, and use of, renewable energy sources for rural communities in Bolivia on April 28, 2016, in La Paz, Bolivia to facilitate analysis and exchange of experiences of electrification of off-grid rural communities in Bolivia. The workshop brought together representatives of the public sector, international, and regional …

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Smart Villages Bangalore Forward Look Workshop

Workshops /

Mini-grid Energy Generation, Storage and Transmission technology in India, for the next 10 years Solar and hybrid renewable minigrids are predicted to play a large role in the coming efforts to electrify those without access to electricity services. India currently has 240 million1 such people living without electricity.  Along with smaller scale off-grid renewable energy …

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TR5: The Smart Villages Initiative: Interim review of findings

Technical Reports /

This report summarises the findings and recommendations arising from the engagement activities of the Smart Villages Initiative in East Africa, South and Southeast Asia, and South America over the first 18-month period (October 2014 – March 2016) of the first phase of the initiative. Over that period, workshops and other engagement activities involved over 600 …

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Energy innovation for smart villages

Essay /

Two critically important and linked challenges face the global community in the 21st century: the persistence of widespread energy poverty and the resulting loss of economic opportunity; and intensifying human-driven climate disruption. These crises are inexorably linked through the energy technology systems that have so far provided the vast majority of our energy: fossil fuels. …

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