Tania Urmee

The evidence suggests that many solar programs are being designed and implemented in isolation and without reliance on published guidelines or the experience gained by others. The conclusion is obvious: the likelihood of a program being successful would be greatly improved if program implementers were made more aware of best practice guidelines and of the lessons and experience learned by others in implementing previous programs. Furthermore, the best practice guidelines not only need to be readily available but need to describe the stages, issues and the stakeholders’ roles in designing and implementing a SHS program. This book showcases a detailed road map that has been developed for the implementation of rural electrification projects in developing countries using solar PV. Features of this book will be case studies derived from personal participatory observation of the authors on Solar Home Systems, their impact, their advantages and disadvantages and their operation.

The evidence suggests that many solar programs are being designed and implemented in isolation and without reliance on published guidelines or the experience gained by others. The conclusion is obvious: the likelihood of a program being successful would be greatly improved if program implementers were made more aware of best practice guidelines and of the lessons and experience learned by others in implementing previous programs. Furthermore, the best practice guidelines not only need to be readily available but need to describe the stages, issues and the stakeholders’ roles in designing and implementing a SHS program. This book showcases a detailed road map that has been developed for the implementation of rural electrification projects in developing countries using solar PV. Features of this book will be case studies derived from personal participatory observation of the authors on Solar Home Systems, their impact, their advantages and disadvantages and their operation.

The success of renewable energy (RE) electrification projects depends largely on the selection of sites that have the appropriate conditions such as resources availability, existing grid distance, terrain characteristics, electricity demand and electricity usage pattern. Geographic Information System (GIS) can be used as an aid in the identification of suitable sites. The proposed method a site selection method using GIS, focusing on the potential for decentralized hybrid wind and PV systems in rural areas. It evaluates the wind and solar energy resources in a region and determines the potential of wind PV hybrid system (WPVHS) for meeting the electricity demand using GIS spatial data.The method used in this study for assessing the technical and financial viability of wind and solar resources could be used to investigate the potential for optimising renewable energy resources to meet local demand.