providing access to clean, reliable and affordable power to the poor in bihar (india) through

Providing access to clean, reliable and affordable power to the poor

in Bihar (India) through Solar Micro Grid Network

Saurabh H. Mehta, India February 28th 2013Energy Simplified (Kyrion Technologies) Berlin, Germany

Transition to Renewable Energies through Mini-grids

MES: 2013 - Micro Perspectives for Decentralized Energy Supply

2

Rural Electrification in India: Current Scenario

26 % population : no access to grid electricity

• 35 % relies on kerosene for lighting (inefficient, unhealthy & unsafe)

$2 billion/yr untapped market in off-grid distributed energy

• Av off-grid rural household spends ₹ 120 / month ($ 2.25)

Very slow rate of electrification

• Technical & economical reasons• Does not guarantee access to electricity

Off-grid demand is unmet

• Use of kerosene, diesel & disposable batteries • Market imperfections, creating opportunities for social ventures to provide solutions

Solar Micro Grid Network in India

Solar Micro Grid Network in India 3

India Kerosene Lighting Market

More than 50% of the market in 4 States


Electricity Scenario in Bihar (India)

Statistics

• Population (3rd/27) : 103 million ; 9% , Area (12th/27): 94,163 sq km ; 2.8 %• Per capita consumption: 95 units (National average: 717units) • Transmission & Distribution Losses : 51%• Villages electrified : 53 % • Population with no access to electricity: 85 %

Recent change in government

• Improved law and order• Emergence of enterprises in various sectors

Strong market opportunity for off-grid energy solution


Finding Solutions

Solution Advantages Issues

Solar charging station

• Service model (maximum client coverage)

• Grant driven• Lack of ownership (rental)- Maintenance• Dependency on station

Solar portable lights • Ownership• Independence

• Limited service• Low incentives for sales team

Solar home systems • Satisfactory services• Sales margin

• High capital cost• Difficult to access finance


Lessons Learnt

People are willing to spend ₹120 ($2.25 €) p.m. for meeting their basic lighting & mobile charging needs.

• Consistency in supply - directly linked to revenue collection

Mistrust in RETs

• Poor after sales services by many suppliers• Need for permanence

• Not comfortable to pay upfront, but willing to pay per use

• Grid like solution required (maximum clients)Conclusion


Solar Micro Grid (Design)

Village level ,centralized generation and distribution

• Reliable AC power supply to 175 HHs• Training and employing local youth : O&M• Village energy committee : governance

Micro grids tailored to the specific needs

• 3 room lights and (six hours per night)• Mobile phone charging Facility

• Owned by every HH• Entertainment (inbuilt music player)


Implementation Process

Identification

Social Process

Installation Training

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Setting up of Solar Micro Grid



Tackling Operational IssuesAbuse of system

• Underground transmission and load checkers• Securing of equipment in locked cabinets and hardware in a locked room.

System Maintenance

• Train local people• Regular visits by technical supervisors

Monitoring

• Incentivizing local NGO Vs Remote monitoring

Regular payment collection

• Currently being addressed by incentivizing operators • Manual switches Vs Software locks

Weather issues (Insufficient charge in batteries)

• Diesel Generator - Hybrid system

Further improved

by a network of micro grids, while also reducing

the CAPEX and OPEX

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Operational Arrangement-Solar Micro Grid Network

Network of 12 solar micro-grids having 12 operators and 12 village energy committees

Spare parts &stock

material

Technical Resource centers with 2 technical supervisors

Local NG0 Managing all the operations of the

plant and monitoring them

Project Steering

Committee

Capital• MNRE : CFA• Corporate Investors• Local Entrepreneurs

Identify, Train & Monitor

Receive feedback & make change as required


• Maintenance


Benefits of Solar Micro Grid

Rural Users

• Cash saving : ₹400 - 600/year ($10 /year) • Clean, reliable & affordable power

Environment & Health

• GHG emission reduction : 8,000 ltrs of kerosene• Reduced indoor air pollution

Livelihood opportunity

• Building capacity and giving employment locally• New livelihood opportunities

Developer

• Fast implementation & quicker ROI• Easier replication


Challenges

Village Level Barriers

Adverse living conditions

Poor infrastructure & Inaccessible sites

Reliable suppliers for system components

Corruption at various levels

Demand based designing

Regional Level Barriers


Exploring Solutions

•Sensor Networks for disconnecting users•Remote monitoring

Technical Solutions

•Smaller grids (DC based)•SHSs coupled with SMG

Customized Designs

•Standardizing technical training•Entrepreneurship training•Building capacity of local NGO Training•Hybrid system to overcome supply side problem•Extension of the system to meet the rising demand•Interconnecting micro grids

System Enhancement

Saurabh H. Mehta, INDIA [email protected] Simplified , Kyrion Technologies www.kyrion.biz

Thank You

providing access to clean, reliable and affordable power to the poor in bihar (india) through

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