Village Planning of Isolated Energy Schemes

Abstract

The majority of rural populations in developing countries do not have access to modernized energy supplies such as grid electricity. There is a move now among international lending institutions and several governments to sanction private ownership and distribution of power. This paper proposes that revised rural energy policies should include official encouragement for isolated village-scale energy schemes. On the basis of relevant experience in Nepal, certain infrastructural supports are recommended to underpin widespread uptake of such schemes. A major constraint currently in many countries is the lack of a methodology for planning and managing schemes at the village level. A methodology is needed for three reasons: to reduce costs, to promote local financial commitment and responsibility, and to provide a common frame of reference linking the local management/planning body to agencies distributing subsidies, to banks providing loans and to national professional advisory bodies. On the basis of experience with pilot projects in Sri Lanka, some proposals are made here as to the content of such a methodology.