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03 DISTRIBUTED RENEWABLE ENERGY FOR ENERGY ACCESS
DISTRIBUTED RENEWABLE ENERGY
TECHNOLOGIES AND MARKETS
People in rural and remote regions generally acquire improved
access to energy in three ways: 1) using isolated devices and
systems for power generation at the household level as well as
for heating, cooking and productive uses; 2) through communitylevel
mini- or micro-grid systems; and 3) through grid-based
electrification, where the grid is extended beyond urban and
peri-urban areas. Each of these models has advantages and
drawbacks.
Figure Z. World Electricity Access and lack of access by Region, 2013
as well as, in some cases, improvements in reliability, speed of
deployment, local spill-over costs and reduced environmental
burdens. 16 DRE systems also have benefited from trends of
decreasing system sizes, improved system costs and enhanced
affordability linked to efficient appliances. This section focuses
on the first two (distributed) means of improving energy access.
At the household and community scale, DRE technologies
include small-scale solar PV and stand-alone lighting systems;
wind, biodiesel generators, and micro- and pico-hydro stations for
electricity generation; and solar and biomass heating and cooling
units and cooking devices. Many of these technologies provide
productive or mechanical energy for commercial purposes as
Advantages of more-centralised models include generally lower well. For the purposes of this section, renewable energy-based
per Figure kW 26. costs World in areas Electricity of higher Access population and lack density, of access a higher by Region, micro- 2013 and mini-grids also qualify as DRE technologies.
load diversity and suitability for industrial use. Advantages of
more-distributed models include applicability to small and According to the most recently available data, an estimated
remote communities and urban areas, reduced transmission 26 million households (or 100 million people) worldwide are
and distribution losses, the allowance for direct and local private served through DRE systems, including some 20 million
investment, local employment, and increased security of supply, households through solar home systems, 5 million households
Figure 26. World Electricity Access and Lack of Access, by Region, 2013
3% Others
Source:
See endnote 5
for this chapter.
83%
with access
17%
without
access
44%
Developing
Asia
Figure 27. World Clean Cooking access and lack of access by Region, 2013
53%
Sub-Saharan
Africa
20%
urban
80%
rural
Figure 27. World Clean Cooking Access and Lack of Access, by Region, 2013
2% Others
Source:
See endnote 5
for this chapter.
38%
without access
62%
with access
28%
Sub-Saharan
Africa
70%
Developing
Asia
17%
urban
83%
rural
88