Additional Information
Book Details
Abstract
Most people in the world have either no access to electricity or a poor and unreliable supply, yet the importance of access to electricity cannot be overstated. This source book aims to provide practical help in gaining accessibility to electricity for those living in remote or rural communities as well as individual homeowners and small businesses. The book begins with a brief introduction to the national grid and then focuses on some of the possibilities for independent production of electricity in quantities used by households, micro-enterprises and small communities: diesel generators; micro-hydro; wind energy; solar photovoltaic energy (PV); gasifiers; biogas; steam and batteries. Descriptions of the technologies and their costs are given, as well as their different requirements in terms of inputs and skill requirements for installation and operation. Information and advice on using electricity is given; indications on how to calculate the technology size needed; and how to choose appropriate appliances. Case studies from developing countries highlighting successful women's initiatives using these technologies are supplied. Intended to provide resource material appropriate for use by extension workers, trainers and project staff working with women, who consider that access to electricity can play a significant role in their projects. Women's groups, active in promoting women's enterprises and education, can also use it for self-study or discussion.
Table of Contents
| Section Title | Page | Action | Price |
|---|---|---|---|
| Title Page | iii | ||
| Copyright Page | iv | ||
| Table of Contents | v | ||
| Acknowledgements | viii | ||
| 1: The Benefits of Electricity | 1 | ||
| Introduction | 1 | ||
| Using this Book | 2 | ||
| Scope of the Source Book | 3 | ||
| 2: Getting Connected | 7 | ||
| Introduction: Making a Preliminary Assessment | 7 | ||
| Electrical Terminology | 7 | ||
| Assessing Electricity Needs | 10 | ||
| How much Electricity is Needed? | 13 | ||
| Community or Individual Electricity System? | 13 | ||
| 3: Electricity from the Grid | 17 | ||
| How the Grid Works | 17 | ||
| Organizational Structure of Grid Supply | 17 | ||
| Cost of Grid Electricity to the Consumer | 20 | ||
| Connection Fees | 20 | ||
| Tariffs | 21 | ||
| Paying for Electricity Consumption | 22 | ||
| Lobbying for Grid Connection | 22 | ||
| Comparing Costs of Grid Electricity with Stand-alone Systems | 25 | ||
| Fluctuations in Demand and How they Influence System Selection | 28 | ||
| Conclusion | 28 | ||
| 4: Stand-alone Generation of Electricity | 30 | ||
| Introduction | 30 | ||
| Diesel Generators | 31 | ||
| Introduction | 31 | ||
| How Diesel Generators Work | 31 | ||
| Costs | 32 | ||
| Resources Required | 32 | ||
| Users | 32 | ||
| Reliability, Maintenance and Safety | 32 | ||
| Expertise Needed | 33 | ||
| Environmental Impacts | 33 | ||
| Conclusion | 34 | ||
| Micro-hydro Power | 34 | ||
| Introduction | 34 | ||
| How Micro-hydro Systems Work | 35 | ||
| Main Types of Turbine Available | 36 | ||
| Costs | 38 | ||
| Resources Required | 39 | ||
| Users | 39 | ||
| Reliability, Maintenance and Safety | 39 | ||
| Expertise Needed | 40 | ||
| Environmental Impacts | 40 | ||
| Conclusion | 41 | ||
| Wind Energy | 42 | ||
| Introduction | 42 | ||
| How Wind Generators Work | 43 | ||
| Costs | 45 | ||
| Resources Required | 46 | ||
| Users | 47 | ||
| Reliability, Maintenance and Safety | 47 | ||
| Expertise Needed | 48 | ||
| Environmental Impacts | 48 | ||
| Conclusion | 49 | ||
| Solar Electric Energy | 49 | ||
| Introduction | 49 | ||
| How Solar Electric Energy Works | 49 | ||
| Sizing a Solar System | 51 | ||
| Costs | 52 | ||
| Resources Required | 52 | ||
| Users | 52 | ||
| Reliability, Maintenance and Safety | 53 | ||
| Expertise Needed | 53 | ||
| Environmental Impacts | 53 | ||
| Conclusion | 53 | ||
| Gasifiers | 55 | ||
| Introduction | 55 | ||
| How Gasifiers Work | 55 | ||
| Gasifier Sizes | 56 | ||
| Costs | 57 | ||
| Resources Required | 57 | ||
| Users | 59 | ||
| Reliability, Maintenance and Safety | 59 | ||
| Expertise Needed | 60 | ||
| Environmental Impacts | 60 | ||
| Conclusion | 61 | ||
| Biogas | 62 | ||
| Introduction | 62 | ||
| How a Biogas Digester Works | 62 | ||
| Sizing the System | 64 | ||
| Costs | 64 | ||
| Resources Required | 65 | ||
| Users | 65 | ||
| Reliability, Maintenance and Safety | 66 | ||
| Expertise Needed | 67 | ||
| Environmental Impacts | 67 | ||
| Conclusion | 69 | ||
| Steam | 69 | ||
| Introduction | 69 | ||
| How Steam Power Works | 69 | ||
| Sizes Available | 70 | ||
| Costs | 70 | ||
| Resources Required | 71 | ||
| Users | 71 | ||
| Reliability, Maintenance and Safety | 71 | ||
| Expertise Needed | 72 | ||
| Environmental Impacts | 72 | ||
| Conclusion | 73 | ||
| Batteries: An Option for Stand-alone Generation of Electricity or a Storage Facility | 73 | ||
| Battery Size | 73 | ||
| Sizing a Battery System | 74 | ||
| Costs | 74 | ||
| Reliability, Maintenance and Safety | 75 | ||
| RPS and Batteries | 76 | ||
| Battery Types for Use with RPS | 76 | ||
| Reliability, Maintenance and Safety | 77 | ||
| Environmental Impacts | 78 | ||
| Costs of Small-scale Energy Systems | 78 | ||
| Making the Selection | 80 | ||
| 5: Financial Aspects | 83 | ||
| Conducting a Financial Analysis | 83 | ||
| Access to Credit | 85 | ||
| 6: Wiring and Other Safety Aspects | 86 | ||
| Household Circuits | 86 | ||
| Safety Aspects | 88 | ||
| 7: Facilitating Women's Access to Stand-alone Electricity Generating Systems | 90 | ||
| Sizing the Demand | 90 | ||
| Assessing the Technology | 90 | ||
| Assessing the Community | 91 | ||
| Financial Institutions | 91 | ||
| Giving Women the Confidence to use Electricity and to Participate in its Generation | 91 | ||
| Becoming an Energy Entrepreneur | 92 | ||
| 8: Resources | 95 | ||
| Bibliography | 95 | ||
| Internet Sites | 97 | ||
| Useful Organizations | 98 | ||
| Appendices | 100 | ||
| 1: Electricity Basics | 100 | ||
| 2: Conductors and Resistors | 102 | ||
| 3: Important Points for Entrepreneurs Using Induction Motors | 103 | ||
| 4: Important Relationships Involving Current and Voltage | 104 | ||
| Acronyms | 104 |