Gers gone wired: Lessons from the Renewable Energy and Rural Electricity Access Project (REAP) in Mongolia

Abstract

This article explores the Renewable Energy and Rural Electricity Access Project (REAP) in Mongolia, an internationally sponsored $23 million program that delivered more than 40,000 solar home systems (SHS) and small-scale wind turbine systems (WTS) to nomadic herders. It begins by explaining its methods of data collection, consisting primarily of semi-structured research interviews and site visits. It then briefly describes the history and status of the electricity sector in Mongolia, as well as the current state of rural electrification and energy use among nomads and off-grid herders. Next, it explains the genesis of REAP, exploring its three primary components related to herder electrification, expansion of soum electricity services, and national capacity building. The following sections analyze the benefits derived from REAP as well as its lingering challenges. The final section concludes by noting that grid electrification efforts should continually be complemented with targeted policies and programs aimed at assisting herders, that rural energy programs work best when they ensure the participation of the private sector and also solicit feedback from consumers and end users, and that rural electricity services should be coupled with broader economic development efforts.