Rural Electrification EGR 325 Feb 20, 2018

General Questions Is access to energy services a basic right? Is energy a basic need? Readings differ on this question (one said no) See UN Report for their incremental energy services – 3 levels, and define levels 1 + 2 as the basic needs How can we meet the UN Millennium Goals and government goal of 80% clean energy by 2035? What are the tradeoffs between objectives?

Objectives of Rural Electrification Who benefits from rural electrification? children, women, men? poor, wealthy? government, private funders, residents? What are the targeted uses for the electricity? Health and education? Information technology? Entertainment? How are the objectives achieved? How is project performance measured? What have been problems with rural electrification projects?

If proposing rural electrification: What are the energy needs in the region, the end-uses? Which resources and technologies are available? Should domestic or external resources/technologies be sought? Who uses energy for the end-uses? women, men; home, industry How will people pay for the electricity? rates too high?

If proposing rural electrification: What are the intended outcomes (what is expected to change)? Improve health, education, safety? Equity? Create rural industry? What is the industry structure? Do we need an interconnected system? What size (nano?, micro?, large HV grid?) Will stand-alone systems serve the needs? Will there be government regulation? ownership?