The Smart Villages Initiative launches its engagement activities in West Africa later this month in Accra, Ghana. The three day workshop will involve 50 to 60 participants from across the region and aims to address the following questions:
- What are the major barriers to improving energy access for remote rural communities in West Africa?
- How can public, private and multilateral investment and actions complement each other to support energy access projects aimed at off-grid rural communities?
- How can local community participation improve sustainability of off-grid energy programmes?
- How can improved energy access increase opportunities for gainful employment, improved productivity and new businesses in remote rural communities?
Top Stories
We’re Witnessing an Energy Revolution, Not Transition, Stupid
We are witnessing an energy revolution. The question is, how far can this revolution go towards changing the face of the energy industry and as a result, the social and economic complexion of the world around us? […]
Vicente Lopez-Ibor Mayor – Huffington Post (05.06.16)
Villages Without Wires
The great development economist Alexander Gerschenkron, expected that developing nations would catch up by making use of new technologies that were unavailable when rich nations were developing. […]
Paul Chapman & Asif Shahzad Butt – Dawn (09.05.16)
Asia Can Help Lead the Way to Change the Course of Climate Change
We can bring bold leadership to this important challenge by helping countries improve energy efficiency, adopt low-carbon energy choices, scale up technological innovations, and provide services that lower investors’ risks from innovative green projects. […]
Victoria Kwakwa – World Bank (03.05.16)
A Tiny Forest Tribe Built a DIY Drone from YouTube to Fight Off Illegal Loggers
The engine started, the propeller began spinning, and with a high whine the drone shot into the air—before quickly crashing to the ground. It took a few more tries before the drone flew straight, but when it did, it soared into the azure skies above southern Guyana’s grasslands, and the small crew on the ground cheered. […]
Melody Schreiber – Quartz (16.04.16)
Comment
Breakthrough Wasn’t Built In a Day
John Elkington – Eco-Business (11.05.16)
Co-opetition: A Way Forward for Solar Actors in Developing Countries
Kassahun Y. Kebede – Sun-Connect News (29.04.16)
What Lies Behind Africa’s Lack of Access and Unreliable Power Supplies
Peter Penar – The Conversation (18.04.16)
Africa
Remote-controlled Energy Kiosks & Microgrids in the Congo of Africa
Lisa Cohn – Microgrid Knowledge (06.05.16)
Four Things to Know About Africa’s Pay-as-you-go Solar Energy Market
Dinfin Mulupi – Maritz Africa (10.05.16)
West Africa to Gain 2GW Courtesy of ‘Clean Energy Corridor’
Jennifer Johnson – Energy Digita (04.05.16)
Exploring Solar Energy Options I’ll Ensure Cost-efficient Electricity
Suleiman Yusuf – National Mirror (11.05.16)
Worldwide
Latin America Becomes More Attractive for Renewable Energy Investment, as Europe Suffers the Reverse Trend
Sam Pothecary – PV Magazine (10.05.16)
India Implementing Off-grid Solar Programme
Tom Kenning – PV Tech (04.05.16)
£200,000 Boost for Scots Researchers Taking Green Energy Project to Indonesia
Janice Burns – The National (07.05.16)
Technology
Gamesa Inaugurates Prototype Off-grid Power System
Tildy Bayar – Decentralized Energy (05.10.16)
Is DC Power “Slow Electricity”?
Lloyd Alter – Treehugger (10.05.16)
Siva Power to Build CIGS Pilot Line
Jonathan Gifford – PV Magazine (04.05.16)
This Massive Solar-powered Computer Can Provide Water for an Entire Village
Maria Mora – Digital Trends (15.04.16)
Off-grid: How Sustainable is Stored Sunlight?
Kris De Decker – Low-tech Magazine (03.05.15)
Research
Molybdenum Disulfide Holds Promise for Light Absorption
Jade Boyd – Rice University (04.05.16)
Missouri S&T Team Boosts Lithium-ion Battery Performance
Joe McCune – Missouri S&T (04.05.16)
Clues on the Path to a New Battery Technology
Technische Universität München (04.05.16)
PEDL Research Note. The Light and the Heat: Productivity Co-benefits of Energy-saving Technology
DFID