Green House Plans Green House Design

In India, 46% of the population, mostly the rural community, has no access to electricity. Fuel-based lighting, Kerosene lamps, are used for illumination, contributing to global warming and also causing serious health problems. In this context, solar photovoltaic systems offer a good alternative for electrification in the rural and remote parts of India. However, several issues need to be addressed to improve the acceptability of solar photovoltaic systems by the rural population.

1. Absence of government subsidy programs. Solar photovoltaic home systems are too expensive and unaffordable by rural inhabitants.
2. No awareness of solar photovoltaic systems and their benefits.
3. Lack of marketing network in rural parts.
4. Reliability of solar photovoltaic system.
5. Non provision of after-sales service. No service back-up network.

Recently, Solar Electric Company Pvt. Ltd, Bangalore, India, has developed a business model through innovative rural financing schemes for creating a maintenance network in villages. However, reliability of the system, particularly service after the sale and network in case of any technical faults, is debatable. To increase the acceptability and market share of any new technology, the reliability of the systems is the single most imperative factor.

Case Study of Vientiane, Lao PDR

1. Solar home systems and portable solar lamps are rented at prices lower than the expenditure on kerosene for lighting, so that families can save money by switching to solar PV.
2. Uses a carefully selected and trained network of franchises to install and maintain the solar PV equipment, and each franchise trains technicians in the villages to perform the day-to-day maintenance.
3. Rents equipment to the Village Energy Committee (VEC), which is selected by the whole community, and the VEC leases it to individual households.
4. Community is responsible for setting prices, collecting rents, and performing basic maintenance.
5. Larger village systems provide power to community services such as health systems and water pumping.
6. This business model ensures high-quality solar PV lighting and good customer service at a price people can afford.

USAID Project in the Philippines

In Philippines, USAID is developing off-grid renewable energy systems in 160 remote rural communities in the Autonomous Region in Muslim dominated Mindanao, through alliance with Mindanao off-grid Renewable Energy. The program addresses specific barriers to widespread adoption of rural energy
technologies. The barriers include:

1. Lack of awareness of the costs and benefits of renewable energy technologies.
2. Prevalent policy bias towards fossil fuels.
3. Lack of adequate financing and ability to pay, and limited institutional policy.
4. Lack of sectoral specialists in understanding how Renewable Energy Technologies can be applied in their sectors, including health, education, agriculture, and information and communication technologies.

USAID addresses these barriers by overcoming technical, financial, policy, and institutional challenges. Through solar powered battery charging stations and individual batteries, residents are now saving 70% each month of what they used to spend on kerosene for light. Residents have increased opportunities for productive activities such as mat weaving, sewing, and extended daylight hours for study time and household work.

Acceptability of Solar Powered LED Lighting

Solar powered LED lighting technologies have a niche in rural areas that are offgrid and in most parts that have no availability of electricity. Therefore, focus should be on providing clean energy for certain productive uses across non-energy sectors and not solely for the sake of installing units. The success of any new technology depends on the viable business model and widespread adoption by consumers. Acceptable business and rural consumer friendly models are desirable to enhance the market share of solar powered LED technology.

Business Model

Finance Scheme

• Financing Institutions need to be educated about the nature, and future potential of renewable energy technologies—particularly local and regional commercial banks.
• Increased knowledge about these technologies can stimulate investment, lending, and business.
• Rural financing scheme through the village body with adequate safeguards for repayments through peer pressures. A loan will be made available from the bank directly to the Village Committee, thus avoiding time and middle persons. However, such loan schemes should ensure that the consumer would be able to buy the solar system as per his requirements and choice.

Marketing—Subsidy/No subsidy

• With the Government subsidy, the solar system up-front cost can be made affordable and end users mostly in rural areas have to pay a small amount initially and the remaining balance payment may be divided into several installments. Government subsidy schemes may be implemented either through NGOs, private business establishments, village organizations, or other government organizations in rural areas.
• In the absence of a Government subsidy program, private business owners and NGOs may develop an innovative consumer finance scheme through rural credit institutions or through village body with loans from commercial banks. The village organization/body sells solar systems along with installation, maintenance, and also repayment of loan.
• However, in both financing schemes, the fear is that end users may be compelled to buy certain substandard, outdated solar system units. Consumers must be given an opportunity to buy a modern solar system model as per his needs, thus ensuring enough scope for future technology innovation.
• Rent solar photovoltaic systems to Village Committee at prices lower than expenditure on kerosene for lighting. Success of the scheme depends on the Village Committee and participation of local communities, as the Village Committee is responsible for the installation, maintenance, and collection of
  energy bills.

Service after sale

• Trouble-free light source with minimum maintenance expenditure.
• Trained local technicians for doorstep installation and maintenance.
• Quick after-sales service and regular check up.
• Local infrastructure for repair and maintenance, to provide quick and effective services in case of any technical failure of the system.
• Solar Battery bank and availability of other components locally. Reliability of service and solar systems.
• Success of the clean light to rural community scheme and solar powered LED lighting technology depend on the reliability of the system.
• Solar powered LED lighting technology must give confidence to end users that they will get electricity supply without any failure.
• Efficient service from local technicians is very important. Some incentives (or commission) from the manufacturers/local dealers may motivate technicians to provide the service immediately.

Information Network/Training Network

• Increase understanding of solar PV technology to the large community via TV/ radio programs, personal networks.
• Community technology demonstrations. At least one demo-project at a public meeting place/religious place/village chief house.
• Disseminate information about the solar systems through Religious/community services.
• Network system that can give information about the minor repair and maintenance of the solar system.
• Network between dealers and local technicians to understand the difficulties faced by end users.

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