Decentralised off-grid electricity generation in developing countries: Business models for off-grid electricity supply

2005年，全世界约有16亿人用不上电，其中80%的人生活在南亚和撒哈拉以南非洲地区，鉴于能源在实现这些国家的千年发展目标(MDG)中的重要性，以及对人民的普遍福祉，这项建议旨在通过一项涉及英国和南亚(印度)大学、非政府组织、政府机构、融资机构和其他利益攸关方的跨学科研究，为这一问题制定创新的解决方案。我们建议通过考虑当地资源的可获得性、适当的技术选择、体制安排和融资选择来系统地看待这一问题，并通过在南亚选定地区的一个示范项目来展示具有成本效益和可行的选择。我们还将分析离网业务交付模式的扩大和主流化，并建议为更广泛地实施这类解决方案创造有利条件。这项研究建议的前提是，解决方案战略必须促进创新的解决方案，而不是规定采用的标准模板，每个农村地区都必须寻找自己的解决方案，a)侧重于创造以货币计算的更高收入的机会。除非流向穷人的资金流增加，否则商业能源几乎不可能与传统能源竞争。(B)发展当地能源市场，同时考虑到当地能源状况、资源、需求、能力、优势和制约因素的特殊性，并采用适当的供应机制和组织结构，以满足当地需求。C)有选择地、明智地使用市场干预措施，使能源供应负担得起，但确保能源供应的财政可行性。除非供应在财务上是可行的，否则就无法持续。D)确保当地社区参与决策和政策执行过程。从上述前提出发，这项研究将侧重于使用创新的参与式交付机制(如加盟商、持牌人、合作社或其他当地企业模式)和替代筹资选择(如小额信贷、资本赠款、补贴、收费系统)的混合型多功能技术平台。两个主要研究问题如下：(1)是否有符合成本效益、安全和可靠的当地离网供电解决方案，能够满足当前和未来的需求，并且是社会可接受的、制度上可行的和环境合意的？(2)这些当地解决方案是否具有扩大和复制的潜力，以及这些解决方案能否被推广到主流，以便在发展中国家更广泛地获得电力？我们正在提议一项跨学科的工作计划，该计划将由邓迪大学牵头的一个联盟实施，为期五年。这项工作围绕两个主题组织(主题1：本地解决方案，主题2：可复制的通用模型)，每个主题围绕下面描述的两个工作包(WP)，总共有5个包。在每个工作包层面，我们将特别注意能力建设、相互参照和相互学习、传播研究成果和学术研究的政策转化。这四个交叉因素贯穿整个方案。我们特别关注南亚，那里是无法获得能源的人口最集中的地区。南亚地区当地条件的多样性为分析分散的离网电力供应提供了丰富的比较基础。财团合作伙伴在这一领域拥有良好的研究和项目记录，我们严肃的跨学科研究方案旨在为能源和发展问题提供持久的解决方案。

As 80% of about 1.6 billion people who lacked access to electricity in the world in 2005 reside in South Asia and sub-Saharan Africa, and given the importance of energy in achieving the Millennium Development Goals (MDG) of the countries and thereby general welfare of the population, this proposal aims at developing innovative solutions to the problem through an interdisciplinary research involving UK and South Asian (Indian) universities, NGOs, government agencies, financing institutions, and other stakeholders. We propose to take a systematic view of the problem by considering the local resource availability, appropriate technology choices, institutional arrangements, and financing options and to demonstrate cost-effective and viable options through a demonstration project in a selected area of South Asia. We would also analyse the scaling-up and mainstreaming of the off-grid business delivery models and recommend enabling conditions for a wider implementation of such solutions. This research proposal is based on the premise that the solution strategy has to promote innovative solutions as opposed to prescribing standard templates for adoption and that each rural area will have to search for its own solutions a) By focusing on the creation of opportunities for higher income generation in monetary terms. Unless money flow increases to the poor, commercial energies stand little chance of competing with traditional energies. b) by developing local energy markets taking into account the specificities of local energy situation resources, needs, capacities, strengths and constraints and adopting appropriate supply mechanisms and organizational structures to cater to the local needs. c) by selective and judicious use of market interventions to make energy supply affordable but ensuring financial viability of energy supply. Unless the supply is financially viable, it cannot be sustained. d) by ensuring local community participation in the decision-making and policy implementation process.Deriving from the above premise, this research will focus on hybrid, multi-functional technological platforms using innovative participatory delivery mechanisms (such as franchisees, licensees, co-operatives or other local enterprise models) and alternative funding options (e.g. micro-finance, capital grants, subsidies, fee-based systems). Two main research questions are as follows:(1) Are there cost-effective, secure and reliable local off-grid electricity supply solutions that can meet the present and future needs and are socially acceptable, institutionally viable and environmentally desirable?(2) Do these local solutions have the scaling-up and replication potentials and can these solutions be brought to the mainstream for wider electricity access in the developing world?We are proposing an inter-disciplinary work programme spanning over a period of five years that will be conducted by a Consortium led by the University of Dundee. The work is organised around two main themes (Theme 1: local level solutions, Theme 2: Replicable generic models) and each theme revolves around two work packages (WP) as described below, with a total of 5 packages. At each work package level, we shall pay specific attention to capacity building, cross-referencing and cross-learning, dissemination of the research outcomes and policy translation of academic research. These four cross-cutting elements run across the entire programme.We are specifically focusing on South Asia where the largest concentration of people without energy access can be found. The diversity of local conditions found in the South Asian region provides a rich comparative base for analysing decentralised off-grid electricity supply provisions. The consortium partners have excellent research and project track records in this area and our serious inter-disciplinary research programme aims to provide lasting solutions to the energy and development problems.