[:en] Register now The Lighting a Billion Lives CONVENTION 2016 is an international forum for universal energy access that brings together practitioners, funders, policy makers, government agencies, development initiatives and businesses to collaborate on developing pathways and measures towards scaling up energy access. CONVENTION 2016 is hosted by The Energy and Resources Institute (TERI). Smart …
[:en]The Smart Villages Initiative together with its local partner, Kopernik, held a workshop on Bunaken Island, Sulawesi in Indonesia, in November 2015 to discuss off-grid energy systems in remote island communities in Southeast Asia. The workshop focused on the barriers and circumstances of rural energy access that are unique to small island communities, drawing inspiration …
[:en] Far-flung islands in the South Pacific and treacherous terrain in the Himalayas: both pose enormous challenges for rural development and energy. In this webinar, we’ll gather experts who will tell stories about their experiences working in remote areas where energy access is limited or almost non-existent – and what they are doing to promote …
Webinar: Off the beaten path – rural energy & remoteness Read More »
The Smart Villages workshop in Myanmar forms part of our regional engagement in Southeast Asia. The workshop brought together key stakeholders engaged in the cookstove value chain in the region. In many developing countries, energy for cooking needs accounts for the largest share of total energy consumption and is normally met by using biomass as …
Sustainable Dissemination of Improved Cookstoves Workshop Read More »
[:en]The Smart Villages Initiative is pleased to announce three finalists in the Off-grid Energy Impact Competition for India. Energy entrepreneurs from across the nation entered this competition, designed to highlight cases where access to energy has acted as a catalyst for development in rural Indian villages. Entrepreneurs play a key role in increasing energy access …
Held as part of Abu Dhabi Sustainability Week in January the World Future Energy Summit (WFES) is billed as the world’s foremost event dedicated to the advancement of renewable energy, energy efficiency and clean technology. The Smart Villages Initiative attended the four-day conference programme, which covered a range of key themes across clean energy. We …
A show of political will at World Future Energy Summit Read More »
More than half of the population in Southeast Asia continues to depend primarily on biomass as fuel in inefficient cookstoves to meet their cooking needs. The majority of those using biomass are based in rural areas. In view of this high level of dependence on biomass, various countries in the region have launched improved cookstove …
BR12: Sustainable dissemination of improved cookstoves: Lessons from Southeast Asia Read More »
While South American countries have made significant progress in energy access, tens of millions of people (more than 30 million, according to conservative estimates) do not have access, particularly in remote areas. From 24-26 January 2016, experts from across the region gathered to discuss the challenges and opportunities for energy access. The forum “Sustainable energy …
South American countries have made significant progress in energy access, but more than 30 million people (around 7% of the population) continue to live without electricity. While energy access levels are much higher than in South Asia and sub-Saharan Africa, the communities remaining without electricity typically live in particularly remote locations, in the mountains or …
BR11: Off-grid energy in remote communities: Lessons from South America Read More »
The Smart Villages in South America Workshop aimed to facilitate the analysis and exchange between the public and private sectors and civil society, from first-hand experiences in the field of energy in rural off-grid communities. Topics for discussion include rural electrification; energy generation and distribution; the inclusion of renewable energy sources (RES) in the energy …
Access to safe and sustainable energy is of vital importance to achieve the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), says Marcel Alers, global head of energy at the UN Development Programme (UNDP). “Energy provision is an essential element of sustainable development,” Alers tells SciDev.Net, referring to the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development, which encompasses the 17 goals …
Why energy is a priority in sustainable development Read More »
This report summarises the findings of the Smart Villages Initiative’s workshop on business and financial models held in Cambridge in January 2016. The workshop brought together 36 participants from academia, the private sector, NGOs, and the public sector to share their perspectives and experiences concerning business and financial models for home-based electricity services and decentralised …
In late 2015 a Cambridge-based nonprofit released the Raspberry Pi Zero, a tiny £4 computer that was a whole £26 cheaper than the original 2012 model. The Zero is not only remarkable for its own sake – a computer so cheap it comes free with a £5.99 magazine – it is also symptomatic of a …
The frugal innovation revolution that is taking the world by storm Read More »
[:en] Questions: It is generally considered that private enterprises and independent power producers have a key role to play in bringing sustainable energy-enabled businesses to un-served rural communities. What are the main opportunities and challenges in establishing viable business and financial models for these organisations, and what innovative approaches are emerging to meet these challenges? …
The ‘forward look’ workshop on potential breakthroughs in the use of energy in off-grid villages” was held in Churchill College, University of Cambridge on 18 December 2015. An introduction to the workshop’s aims and to the Smart Villages Initiative was followed by an introduction to the concept of “distributed manufacturing” for rural villages and accounts …
WR14: Potential breakthroughs in productive use of energy in off-grid villages Read More »
Social Enterprises and Industrial Markets for Smart Villages in developing countries technology breakthroughs over the next 10-15 years with potential applications Definitions Social enterprises or Inclusive businesses: Product or service which is socially beneficial Inclusive markets: Industries that create jobs and affordable goods and services Questions What is the breakthrough opportunity in productive use of …
Potential Breakthroughs in the Use of Energy in Off-Grid Villages Forward Look Workshop Read More »
Despite substantial progress on achieving universal electricity access in the region, almost half the population in Southeast Asia continues to rely primarily on biomass to meet their cooking needs. On 2 December 2015, the Smart Villages Initiative together with GERES, Myanmar organised a regional workshop in Yangon, Myanmar to gather lessons about the sustainable dissemination …
WR13: Sustainable dissemination of improved cookstoves – lessons from Southeast Asia Read More »
This technical report reviews the business models used by pioneer firms in the solar home-based electricity services industry, specifically pico-solar lighting systems and solar home systems. Drawing on the grey and academic literature, the report provides a detailed industry overview, assesses key components of business models, and identifies remaining challenges and ways forward. Industry overview …
TR4: Business models for home-based electricity services Read More »
More than one billion people in the world still do not have electricity: over three billion cook on dirty, inefficient and harmful stoves, and four million people die prematurely each year as a result. The UN’s Sustainable Energy for All (SE4All) initiative aims to achieve universal access to modern energy services by 2030. Widespread recognition …
WR12: South Asia Dialogue with Media Professionals Read More »
Electricity is a crucial part of the infrastructure needed to improve the quality of life for island communities in developing nations. This report summarises the information presented at, and conclusions arising from, the workshop on issues related to island electricity access held by the Smart Villages Initiative and Kopernik. The workshop took place on the …