Solar Power Off the Grid: Energy Access for World’s Poor

[kristopher]

Solar Power Off the Grid: Energy Access for World’s Poor
More than a billion people worldwide lack access to electricity. The best way to bring it to them — while reducing greenhouse gas emissions — is to launch a global initiative to provide solar panels and other forms of distributed renewable power to poor villages and neighborhoods.

by carl pope

After the Durban talks last month, climate realists must face the reality that “shared sacrifice,” however necessary eventually, has proven a catastrophically bad starting point for global collaboration. Nations have already spent decades debating who was going to give up how much first in exchange for what. So we need to seek opportunities — arenas where there are advantages, not penalties, for those who first take action — both to achieve first-round emission reductions and to build trust and cooperation.

One of the major opportunities lies in providing energy access for the more than 1.2 billion people who don’t have electricity, most of whom, in business-as-usual scenarios, still won’t have it in 2030. These are the poorest people on the planet. Ironically, the world’s poorest can best afford the most sophisticated lighting — off-grid combinations of solar panels, power electronics, and LED lights. And this creates an opportunity for which the economics are compelling, the moral urgency profound, the development benefits enormous, and the potential leverage game changing.

As the accompanying graphs show, the cost of coal and copper — the ingredients of conventional grid power — are soaring. Meanwhile, the cost of solar panels and LEDs, the ingredients of distributed renewable power, are racing down even faster.

If we want the poor to benefit from electricity we cannot wait for the grid, and we cannot rely on fossil fuels. The International Energy Agency, historically a grid-centric, establishment voice, admits that half of those without electricity today will never be wired. The government of India estimates that two-thirds of its non-electrified households need distributed power.

Fortunately, the historic barriers to...
http://e360.yale.edu/feature/solar_power_off_the_grid_energy_access_for_worlds_poor/2480/





price of coal

[Starboard Tack]

1. It really doesn't cost much to live off the grid

Obviously the cost is in direct proportion to one's consumption.
We live completely off the grid, using solar panels and batteries. The solar provides 90+% of our electricity, supplemented by a diesel generator for those cloudy days. Annual energy and fuel costs, including our car, average about $1,000/year.

We are not poor. We live very well, though somewhat frugally in terms of waste and consumption.

[diane in sf]

2. I can't recommend this article enough. Thanks Kristopher.

[kristopher]

4. It is a wonderfully positive process, isn't it?

It was my pleasure to read about it.

[BeFree]

3. Gawd how things have changed

Used to to be in this group-DU2- that nukes were what the poor needed.

Gosh, what could have happened to change that? <grin>

[OnlinePoker]

5. Microfinance loans

I loan money around the world through Kiva. Most of the loans are for people wanting to start businesses or improve existing businesses, but about 10% are just for people wanting to improve their living conditions. I would love to see loans on Kiva for $300-$500 for solar systems. If, as the article says, the average family is spending $1800 annually on energy needs (I'm assuming a portion is for heating/cooking, as well), a $500 loan repaid over a year would have positive benefits immediately. Unlike a regular bank, microfinance organizations don't threaten repossession if you don't repay on time. One of my Kiva loans just got paid back a year late. I think if one person in a village had a system on their roof and others came to see the benefits, you would see it spread like wildfire.

[kristopher]

15. That is a great idea.

I meant to get involved in that about a year ago and it slipped my mind. Thank you for the reminder.

[txlibdem]

6. Renewable energy should be one of the inalienable rights of every human

Along with clean and nutritious food, clean water, clean air to breathe, an environment free of toxins, clean safe and comfortable domicile, free education at the students' own pace all the way up to PHD, free communication with anyone else on the planet at any time, freedom to assemble, Democracy and the right to petition the government without fear of reprisals.

You may say I'm a dreamer, but I'm not the only one...

[Nihil]

7. Excellent news!

As stated *many* times before, distributed PV + LED lighting is probably the
best (as in most humane and most sensible) use of such technologies as it
instantly provides capabilities to millions in the Third World that nearly everybody
around you here simply takes for granted.

[kristopher]

8. Improved educational opportunities

Solar Panel Cover For The Kindle E-reader
by Energy Matters

Using solar energy to provide power for hand-held devices has huge potential and while solar panels embedded in mobile phones mightn't be much chop (yet) in terms of performance; it seems a new solar cover for the Kindle e-reader delivers.

...A one hour charge in direct sunlight can provide almost three days worth of reading time according to the company that created the device, SolarFocus Technology.

After fully charging the Kindle, the solar panel automatically switches to charge the SolarKindle's 1500mA reserve battery. A fully charged reserve battery requires around eight hours of direct sunlight and provides up to 80% of backup power to the Kindle.

...The SolarKindle also incorporates an 800 lux LED reading lamp. If the reserve battery is used for lighting alone, it can power the light for up to 50 hours....

http://www.energymatters.com.au/index.php?main_page=news_article&article_id=1972

[NNadir]

9. I just wanted to check in to see if you're still hallucinating.

The idea that there is even ONE consumerist toxic solar-will-save-us brat who gives a shit about poor people is just as stupid as it was 10 years ago, 20 years ago, and 30 years ago.

According to the solar energy promotional website, solar buzz, as of last week, the price of solar electricity is 64.23 cents per kwh in a cloudy climate, and 29.20 cents in a sunny climate.

http://www.solarbuzz.com/facts-and-figures/retail-price-environment/solar-electricity-prices

The figures are given for a solar installation - presumably on the property of a class of people known as "home owners" - hardly the impoverished classes - that costs $13,968 dollars.

Um...um...um...

This installation cost, by the way, is almost exactly 10 times of the per capita income of Chad.

Having never met a poor person, and having never given a shit about one, I doubt you can even remotely grasp what prices like these would mean to a poor person.

Basically the entire "renewables will save us" conceit is a scam designed to assauge the guilt of rich consumer types at the expense of the poor.

But do tell us how your solar system is powering your computer tonight...

[kristopher]

10. Pretty cool, eh?

A self contained school in a package smaller than a first year algebra text. The wonders of energy efficiency and mass production.

...A one hour charge in direct sunlight can provide almost three days worth of reading time according to the company that created the device, SolarFocus Technology.

After fully charging the Kindle, the solar panel automatically switches to charge the SolarKindle's 1500mA reserve battery. A fully charged reserve battery requires around eight hours of direct sunlight and provides up to 80% of backup power to the Kindle.

...The SolarKindle also incorporates an 800 lux LED reading lamp. If the reserve battery is used for lighting alone, it can power the light for up to 50 hours....

[NNadir]

13. I'm pleased to learn that you regard Kindle Users as "poor people."

Figures. QED.

Have a nice life, and enjoy the warm days that will follow the attainment of 400 ppm of dangerous fossil fuel waste in the planetary atmosphere.

Heckuva job! You must be very proud of your efforts.

[kristopher]

14. I'm sad to learn that you lack understanding of economics

Remember when cell phones were just for those rich New Jersey SUV driving nuclear energy lovers?


Africa is second largest mobile phone market
Nov 21, 2011
http://digitaljournal.com/article/314828

Cell phone banking could lift Africa's farmers
http://www.csmonitor.com/World/Making-a-difference/Change-Agent/2011/0705/Cell-phone-banking-could-lift-Africa-s-farmers

Silicon Savanna: Mobile Phones Transform Africa
http://www.time.com/time/magazine/article/0,9171,2080702,00.html


Distributed networks, what a concept.

[kristopher]

11. Ooops, my mistake.

I thought you were responding to post 8 and you were addressing the OP.

On that topic I suppose it is best to just repeat what is in the OP:
"One of the major opportunities lies in providing energy access for the more than 1.2 billion people who don’t have electricity, most of whom, in business-as-usual scenarios, still won’t have it in 2030. These are the poorest people on the planet. Ironically, the world’s poorest can best afford the most sophisticated lighting — off-grid combinations of solar panels, power electronics, and LED lights. And this creates an opportunity for which the economics are compelling, the moral urgency profound, the development benefits enormous, and the potential leverage game changing."

*AND*, as post 8 shows concretely, the coming together of low consumption electronics and plummeting prices for solar cells means that those 1.2 billion people mentioned are going to benefit in ways that have profound positive implications.


PS, your post really isn't a response to the points raised in the OP. I hope that, since there's been time for your obvious agitation to recede, it is now clear to you that your comments actually did more to make the point of the OP article than they did to contradict it.

[Shankapotomus]

16. Hi

&feature=youtube_gdata_player

Price of solar panels:

&feature=channel_video_title

[silverweb]

12. K&R

[font color="navy" face="Verdana"]The world needs every sign of hope it can get.

[kristopher]

17. Yes, it does. nt