Abstract
Renewable energy technologies can make a major contribution to universal access to both energy and water in a sustainable way. In many regions of the world with energy poverty there are abundant renewable energy sources. In this review it is described how solar photovoltaic (PV) and wind energy have a huge potential to supply clean water, in particular in areas with no grid connection. Off‐grid technologies can form a significant part of the solution, all the way from household level to village or community level. Small scale off‐grid systems can provide not only lighting but also energy for pumping to gain access to water and to purify and re‐use water. In rapidly growing peri‐urban areas electric power grids may be available but need to be complemented with decentralized energy sources. Solar and wind can be part of a new kind of hybrid energy supplies. It is noted that there is a confluence of factors, such as greater urbanization, population increase, economic development that will determine the energy mix. The United Nations Sustainable Development Goals of clean water and energy for all are strongly related and will depend to a large extent on solar PV and wind.
Highlights
In many regions of the world with energy poverty there are abundant renewaccess to both energy and water in a sustainable way
Renewable energy operations have several benefits, especially for remote areas: decentralization makes the systems scalable, energy can be provided without a wide-area power grid, and there is no need to transport fossil fuels for diesel generators
Uganda is implementing a number of projects with the support of development partners and donors that will reduce water costs both in urban and rural areas through use of renewable energy
Summary
Renewable energy operations have several benefits, especially for remote areas: decentralization makes the systems scalable, energy can be provided without a wide-area power grid, and there is no need to transport fossil fuels for diesel generators. Solar PV has achieved cost declines of 40–75% in leading markets since 2010 with both utility- and decentralized-scale installations.[2] This does not include the costs for balancing the grid system, which will be the economic challenge for solar and wind systems. This consists of the electrical system costs, costs for permission, and installation. Small-scale turbines are used for a variety of applications, including rural electrification and water pumping They are installed increasingly to displace diesel in remote locations.[11] In the five largest small wind countries the upper capacity limit of small wind is anywhere between 15 and 100 kW.[11]. For remote areas outside any power grid it is quite natural that the acceptance is different if it means that the first electric light can be turned on
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