Abstract
This study contends that solar home systems (SHS) are an appropriate solution to provide affordable, reliable and clean electricity in rural Cambodia. SHS provide decentralised electricity suitable for the electricity needs of rural households and with the decreasing cost of solar energy technologies, SHS are becoming an increasingly competitive source of energy. This study details the design and installation of two SHS in a rural community in Cambodia. The SHS have replaced the use of kerosene lamps and supplemented car battery usage, which has generated a cost saving of USD$2.50-3.20 per month. The SHS have increased the hours of quality lighting making it possible for users to improve educational outcomes by studying at night and participating in private education classes as well as potentially extending their working hours that provides an opportunity to increase their income. Community involvement in the installation of SHS and participation in an education program has ensured transfer of knowledge about system operation and maintenance at a local level that has ensured economic, social and environmental were benefits. This study builds a case in support of solar energy at the household level in rural Cambodia and makes recommendations for the deployment of SHS in rural communities throughout the developing world.
Highlights
Eighty per cent of the population in Cambodia lives in rural areas where access to grid electricity is as little as 18.8 % (World Bank, 2015)
An estimated 1.06 million rural households use kerosene lamps as their primary source of lighting and a further 1.12 million rural households (45 % of rural households) use car batteries charged at isolated battery charging stations (BCS) (International Finance Corporation [IFC], 2012)
The alternate energy sources are more costly than grid electricity and as 90 % of the poor live in rural areas, this cost disproportionally impacts rural households
Summary
Eighty per cent of the population in Cambodia lives in rural areas where access to grid electricity is as little as 18.8 % (World Bank, 2015). Communities in rural areas use alternate energy sources that: are expensive, pose health risks, are potential fire hazards, and are damaging to the environment. The BCS rely on expensive imported diesel recharging batteries accounts for an average 4.5 % of total expenditure for rural households (International Finance Corporation, 2012). There are many examples of electrification aid projects that have rapid cycles of installation to failure (Quoilin & Orosz, 2013) One such project occurred in the rural Secret Beach community in south Cambodia. Due to the absence of community involvement in implementation, there was a lack of local knowledge about the operation and maintenance of the system This project implementation approach failed to create a sense of ownership and damaged the reputation of the technology. The time previously spent or cost incurred from transporting the battery to and from an external charging source (for example a BCS) can be spent on income creating or social activities
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