Chapter 11 - RURAL ENERGY ISSUES AND SUPPLY OPTIONS

Abstract

Publisher Summary This chapter discusses the rural energy issues and supply options. The importance of rural energy, not only for growth and development but also to ensure minimum conditions for existence in large parts of the globe, has been increasingly recognized in the past few decades. The relevant issues are best analyzed within a wide rural energy framework and policies derived have to be consistent with the goals of rural development and the overall national macroeconomic strategy. The diversity of energy sources that may be used in the rural setting included are confined to those related to domestic activities, such as cooking, heating, and lighting and to agricultural production. The data indicates that the bulk of urban energy demands are satisfied typically by consumption of grid electricity, gas, petroleum fuels, batteries, wood, and charcoal. Rural needs are met not only by these sources, but also by a range of other sources that have many alternative uses. However, fossil fuels have obvious advantages in terms of their range of applications, particularly, for agricultural operations and transport. Certain agricultural energy requirements, such as pumping or threshing, do not require a mobile power source.