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

由于2005年世界上约16亿无法获得电力的人中有80%居住在南亚和撒哈拉以南非洲，并且鉴于能源在实现各国千年发展目标（MDG）中的重要性，从而提高了人口的总体福利，本提案旨在通过涉及英国和南亚（印度）大学，非政府组织，政府机构，金融机构，以及其他利益相关者。我们建议通过考虑当地可用资源、适当的技术选择、体制安排和融资选择，对这个问题采取系统的看法，并通过在南亚选定地区的示范项目，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，并为更广泛地实施此类解决方案提出有利条件。本研究建议的前提是，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)通过专注于创造机会，以货币形式创造更高的收入。除非流向穷人的资金增加，否则商业能源几乎没有机会与传统能源竞争。B)考虑到当地能源形势、资源、需求、能力、优势和制约因素的特殊性，发展当地能源市场，并采用适当的供应机制和组织结构来满足当地需求。C)通过选择性和明智地使用市场干预，使能源供应负担得起，但确保能源供应的财务可行性。除非供应在财政上可行，否则无法维持。D)确保当地社区参与决策和政策实施过程。基于上述前提，本研究将侧重于使用创新参与式交付机制（如特许经营商、被许可人、合作社或其他本地企业模式）和替代融资方案（如小额信贷、资本赠款、补贴、收费系统）的混合、多功能技术平台。两个主要研究问题如下：(1)是否存在成本效益高、安全可靠的地方离网供电解决方案，既能满足当前和未来的需要，又能为社会所接受、体制上可行、环境上可取？(2)这些地方解决方案是否具有扩大规模和复制的潜力，这些解决方案能否被纳入主流，以扩大发展中国家的电力供应？我们正在提议一个跨学科的工作计划，为期五年，将由邓迪大学领导的一个财团进行。这项工作围绕两个主要主题（主题1：本地解决方案，主题2：可复制的通用模型）进行组织，每个主题围绕两个工作包（WP）展开，如下所述，总共有5个包。在每个工作包层面，我们都要特别关注能力建设、交叉参考和交叉学习、研究成果的传播和学术研究的政策翻译。这四个交叉要素贯穿整个课程。我们特别关注南亚，那里没有能源供应的人口最集中。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。该联盟的合作伙伴在这一领域拥有出色的研究和项目记录，我们严肃的跨学科研究计划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.