Village Photovoltaic Inverter

Are village-level solar power systems relevant?

The empirical case studies of village-level solar power systems in India, Kenya and Senegal were each chosen because of features that make them particularly relevant for future activities on village scale solar systems.

Does village-scale solar power supply exist in India?

We analyze and synthesize the long-term experiences with three different systems for village-scale solar power supply in India, Senegal and Kenya. Since this scale of electricity provision forms part of village infrastructure, it requires particular types of knowledge, policies and support mechanisms.

How can a village based solar PV system be financed?

They have therefore identified additional financing sources through cross subsidies or government budgets to cover the difference. Similar provisions would be required for solar PV based, village scale electricity supply in smaller towns and villages to guarantee economic survival of these systems.

Can solar power supply be implemented in a village?

Since such solar power supply forms part of village infrastructure, its successful implementation requires other types of knowledge, policies and support mechanisms than individual standalone systems and centralized grid electricity supply as shown by previous studies , , , , , .

Are village-scale electricity systems economically sustainable?

Economic sustainability was a more difficult target. It is common to expect village-scale electricity systems to be able to sustain themselves economically and give a surplus for expansion , , , , but this was not realized in the three cases.

How many villages in India have a solar mini-grid system?

In the Indian case, the solar mini-grid systems served almost 1000 villages in Chhattisgarh state by April 2018, according to CREDA records.