Solar Powered Village Electrification Based on Mobile Network Infrastructure - experiences from a pilot project in Bangladesh Hanne Cecilie Geirbo Department of informatics University of Oslo

Three points 1.Mobile network infrastructure can be leveraged for electricity provision. 2.Sustainability can only be achieved through a repair-centric design. 3.Infrastructures are cultivated, not implemented, and need to be planned accordingly.

The Community Power project Pilot project in Bangladesh University of Oslo and the mobile operator Grameenphone PV mini grid, 3.15 kW p, 1 km radius Mobile tower as hub Night: 136 households + 2 temples, 1 7W CFL bulb each – 150 BDT (1.8 USD) monthly fee (postpaid) Day: 1 Grameenphone Community Information Center – Computer with internet, mobile charging booth Operated by local businessman – 20% commission, free electricity for CIC Village: Paharpur, Habiganj district – Population: – Remote. lacking basic infrastructure

Leveraging mobile network infrastructure for rural electrification Mobile industry: network infrastructure in remote and inaccessible areas An increasing number is powered by solar energy. Mobile towers can be used as a mini power plants – Mini-grid – Energy hub Anchor customers for Energy Service Companies – Power Purchase Agreements Stepping stone for national grid expansion Reaching communities in challenging landscapes Corporate vs. public electricity infrastructure – Segmentation models

The Community Power project from start to end Dec – Oct Window of opportunity Planning Oct – May 2011 Novelty, favorable weather Honey moon June 2011 – Jan Monsoon. Outages, tampering. Friction Jan – Jan Planning adjustments, failing to execute the plans Adjustment Jan – Jan From domestic lights to school computers Restructuring

First monsoon: trouble started Less sun make system vulnerable to over- consumption Tampering and outages – People expected to get domestic mobile chargers – Took it upon themselves – Resulting in recurring outages

Repair routines failed Takes at least one day to travel to the village Erosion and clogged waterways add to travel time Frequent road blocks due to political unrest Swift repair crucial for trust and stability – Rebuilding trust takes time and effort Travel challenges made our planned adjustments very resource demanding

Movable houses, sinking poles Concrete poles sinking in the soft soil – Wires as clothes lines Houses made of bamboo and corrugated iron – Vulnerable to storm – But easy to move a wall – Not so easy anymore when the house is connected to the neighbor’s with a wire Customers moving from the village or graduating to Solar Home Systems – Problematic to disconnect individual houses without afflicting the neighbors

A repair-centric design Break-down will occur Consider repair and maintenance before choosing technical solution – How is other technology repaired in this setting? – What are the logistical challenges? – What are the local competences? Connections does not necessarily persist How to disconnect is as important as how to connect

Resource allocation not mirroring piloting process A myriad of nitty-gritty practical issues emerging gradually Most human resources allocated for planning and implementation The large work burden after implementation not anticipated

Infrastructures are cultivated, not implemented This needs to be reflected in resource allocation – Decision makers cannot engage with the nitty gritty – Rely on abstract representations of work to allocate resources – Appropriate resource allocation depends on representations that highlight cultivation rather than implementation “Implementation thinking” a reason why companies get cold feet?

Three points 1.Mobile network infrastructure can be leveraged for electricity provision. 2.Sustainability can only be achieved through a repair-centric design. 3.Infrastructures are cultivated, not implemented, and need to be planned accordingly.

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What’s in it for telecom? Competing for rural market shares No charging – no use – no revenue Additional products and services – Mobile banking – Telecenters Corporate Social Responsibility, brand building