WEEK TWO  POSTINGS ON 'SOLAR' 

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1. From: "Gyani Ratna Shakya" <nikhilshakya@hotmail.com>
Subject: [RETs] Moderator's Welcome and Introduction to Week Two
Date sent: Mon, 26 Nov 2001 11:46:33 +0530

[This week's broad theme is 'solar energy technologies' with particular emphasis on  'Solar Thermal Technologies' and 'Solar PV technology'.
 - MF Asia Moderator]

Dear Participants,

I welcome you all to the second week of the electronic conference on 'Renewable Energy Technologies (RETs) for  Mountain Areas of the Asia-Pacific Region.' I am proposing two subtopics for e-discussion this week (Nov 26-Dec2). They are as follows: 

SUBTOPIC 1: SOLAR THERMAL TECHNOLOGIES
Converting the sun's radiant energy to heat is the most common and well-developed solar conversion technology today. Solar energy is a very large, inexhaustible source of energy. The temperature level and amount of converted energy are key parameters determining the efficiency of the conversion scheme. Despite its abundance, this energy form is diluted in nature with available solar radiation flux rarely exceeding 1kW/m2 even in the earth's hottest region. The intermittency 
in its availability is another limitation in the use of this energy source. Hence, an important role is played by energy storage and distribution of this energy.

Solar power intercepted by the earth is in the order of 1.8 X 10¹¹ MW, thousands of times larger than all the commercial energy consumption on earth. Thus making it one of the most promising of the unconventional energy sources. Thermal solar energy is being widely used for water heating, solar-drying, 
cooking, space heating, solar cooling and for vegetable cultivation etc.

Nepal has been using solar energy technologies for more than 25 years. The most successful commercial solar thermal technology is solar water heaters. It is mainly being used in residential buildings, hotels, lodges, tourist resorts, schools and hospitals. Use of solar dryers, cookers and solar stills is also seen in urban as well as rural areas of Nepal.

Pertinent issues for discussions on Solar Thermal Technologies:

1. What are the potentials of solar energy technology use in mountain countries?
2. What measures need to be adopted for making it efficient and within reach of the poorer population?
3. What are the mechanisms to promote solar energy technologies as an income generating activity?
4. How best can this energy source be used for acquiring higher efficiency and increasing its range of utility in mountain countries?
5. What are the recent developments in terms of making these technologies affordable and effective for mountain countries?
6. How can information technology play an important role in promoting solar energy technologies at the village level?

SUBTOPIC 2: PHOTOVOLTAIC (PV) TECHNOLOGY
To extend development activities, energy is essential, but the technology for energy generation should be sustainable for a long period of time and, above all, should be environmentally friendly. It is estimated that two billion people living on our planet still do not have access to electricity. 

This means that these people are deprived of all the facilities that depend upon electricity- one of the most important blessings of mother nature. 

There is a strong correlation between the physical quality of life index (PQLI) and electricity consumption. Most of these two billion people will continue to live without enjoying electricity as utility companies will not be able to extend their network in the near future. Economics simply do not allow for expansion of these companies.

What is then the alternative? It is high time we thought about generation of electricity in a decentralised way using locally available resources such as solar energy. Ever since the creation of our planet, the sun has provided it with a constant and practically never-ending supply of energy. Harnessing this source of energy will safeguard the environment for future generations. 

Solar energy/sunlight could be changed into electrical energy with the help of photovoltaic (PV) device invented by French Scientist Bequirel in 1839. Today PV application has become a mature, widely accepted and environmentally friendly technology, especially in remote areas of this world. The cost of photovoltaic power has come down 250 times, reaching US$ 4 per peak watt in the last 40 years. The efficiency of electrical devices is increasing, their power consumption decreasing and prices are coming down. 

This all means one thing - a suitable environment is being created for the application of photovoltaic technology in remote areas.

There are many multinational companies producing hundreds of megawatts of power using different types of PV cells. Even developing countries are extensively using PV power both for stand-alone and grid connected applications. Countries like Germany, Japan, USA, Sweden etc are implementing rooftop programmes often with significant subsidies. In Germany this programme is known as '10,000 Roof Top Programme'.

Similar changes are taking place in developing countries also. For example, PV power in Nepal has reached about 1600 kWp (as of September 2001) from a humble beginning of about 100 kWp in 1990. About 55% of this PV power is being used in rural telecommunication services. (More than 95% of people 
living in remote areas of Nepal still do not have access to electricity).

Now the question is how can we use PV power in a most sensible way to improve the PQLI of people living in remote mountain areas? The specific issues could be but not limited to:

1. Purification of water using PV power;
2. Water pumping and drip irrigation for high value cash crops such as medicinal plants;
3. Drying process using PV power;
4. Reducing the drudgery of women using PV power;
5. Provision of low-cost lighting system using PV power;
6. Enabling access to satellite TV programs;
7. Enabling access to simplex and duplex information using PV power;
8. Operation of solar-powered science laboratory in a remote area school;
9. Operation of a solar-powered computer in a remote area school;
10. Operation of a solar-powered health clinic;
11. Income generating activities using PV power;
12. Performance of PV power due to 'albedo effect' in mountain areas
13. Selection of appropriate types of PV cells for high mountain areas.

The participants working in the above-mentioned or similar areas are requested to share their experiences (case studies, research findings) in this e-conference. It would be very interesting to discuss issues such as the following.

1) How can stand-alone PV power help mountain people in bridging the knowledge gap and reducing poverty?
2) What are the barriers for mountain people in using PV power for their needs?
3) What roles can local leaders, NGOs, INGOs, CBOs, GOs play in eliminating these barriers?

However, I would like to state here that the discussions will not be limited to these issues alone. Please feel free to participate and contribute your comments, expertise and knowledge. Let us make the most of this e-media conference for the benefit of everyone: planners, managers, scientists, technocrats etc, involved in this field.

With warm regards,

Gyani Ratna Shakya
Moderator for Week 2
Director/Chief, Faculty of Technology,
Royal Nepal Academy of Science & Technology
(RONAST))

2. Date: Tue, 27 Nov 2001 11:19:14 +0530
Author: "puru" <puru@wlink.com.np>
Subject: [RETs] Week 2: Comments on Solar Issues

Dear Moderator,

Thanks for your introductory note. Please find my views to the issues you have raised:

1. What are the potentials of solar energy technology use in mountain countries? 
Solar heaters, cookers, refrigerators, irrigation, processing  plants, etc, for domestic and industrial uses.

2. What measures need to be adopted for making it efficient and within reach of the poorer population? 
It has to be cost-effective, and locally manageable.

3. What are the mechanisms to promote solar energy technologies as an income generating activity? 
Link solar energy with rural industrialization and tourism.

4. How best can this energy source be used for acquiring higher efficiency and increasing its range of utility in mountain countries?
Chinese technology of producing cost effective PVCs, e.g. two 40W bulbs at NRs. 6,000, available at some rural locations in Nepal (Namche bazaar area) holds promise in popularising solar lighting and arid Himalya area also hold big potential as it is said that it is difficult to find houses without solar in Jerusalem, which is located in a desert area.

5. What are the recent developments in terms of making these technologies affordable and effective for mountain countries?
Rotating home at par with earth's speed for day long solar light, laser guided solar light reflector for natural solar light even in cellars, insulated pillars, window sills of houses to tap solar energy even at nighttime are some solar technologoes that are being develoved in developed countries. Research on modifying this sort of need-based technologies to suit poor mountain countries should deserve due emphasis. 

Negative environmental impacts/taxes, if any, of large scale solar panel installations have also to be investigated to boost ecotechs and meet the demands of the increasingly eco-conscious global community.

6. How can information technology play an important role in promoting solar energy technologies at the village level?
Solar powered telephones, mobiles, TVs , radios, e-commerce may support promotion of solar techs, from applied aspect. On-line maintainance services, market prices, and 'e-commerce' from your mouse to your house facilities will pose positive impacts.

Dr.Purushottam Shrestha
Ecologist, Nepal

3. Date: Wed, 28 Nov 2001 10:35:05 +0530
Author: "Yuvaraj Dinesh Babu" <ydbabu@teri.res.in>
Subject: [RETs] Week 2: Solar Energy Products - Market Positioning

Commercial usage of Solar Thermal Energy is now growing up rapidly - from water heating applications through domestic space heating and cooling systems, industrial systems and up to large scale Solar Electric Generating Systems (SEGS). Wide spreading of commercial applications is now feasible due to an indigenous presence of a matured solar thermal energy technology at an affordable price besides recognition of environmental hazards and the limitation of fossil energy resources.

The water heating system market for domestic applications is growing up fast in Europe and the USA as well, not only at the "traditional" solar energy usage area of the world's Sun Belt. Projects using absorption cooling systems with solar thermal energy source are under construction and testing. Solar thermal desalination as a stand-alone system or as part of a co-generation system is under operation stage.

In India, the technical potential has been estimated as 140 million sq.m . of collector area, out of which 0.55 million sq.m of collector area has been already installed. Solar air heating system as a Partial Energy Delivery (PED) units having about 2500 sq. m. of collector area has also been installed under MNES programme, operating mainly in Southern parts of the country to pre-heat air for drying of tea, spices etc.

Under this scenario of fast development of Solar Thermal Sector, usage of new technologies and the anticipated energy cost reduction in various solar thermal applications viz., Water heating for domestic applications, variety of drying applications , Cooking applications, Industrial steam generation , Combined heating and cooling systems, Desalination, Distributed water pumping and Large Scale SEGS need to be identified and implemented on a rapid phase.

Solar thermal electricity (STE) technologies are potentially some of the most cost-effective for generating electricity with low greenhouse gas emissions. Broadly, two types of STE plant can be identified. The first is plant designed to meet electrical demand at capacity factors usually greater than from solar-only operation, and generally requiring fossil combustible fuel back-up and/or thermal storage. The second type is plant designed to operate only in fuel-saver mode retrofitted to existing fossil generating capacity.

There are several motivations for using fuel saver plants retrofitted to existing fossil fuelled plant viz :

1. The capital requirements for such plants are substantially reduced since existing generating equipment is utilised by the solar heat.
2. Solar capacity will be a small fraction of the installed fossil capacity at each site, but if used on many plants, will represent an early and huge increase in market share, allowing high production volume cost reductions which will assist introduction of stand alone plant. The approach can be applied to almost any coal or fossil fuelled plant in good solar regions.
3. Comparatively inexpensive fossil fuel can be used to offset the cost of the solar field, minimising electricity price rises.
4. Plants of high emissions (eg. coal fired) can be targetted, ensuring the maximum environmental benefit.
5. Retrofit plants without storage are much simpler than stand-alone solar plants, and can operate at temperatures and pressures lower than the usual steam injection conditions for typical turbines. Solar steam or heated water may be injected at several different places in the steam cycle of existing fossil plants, with different steam conditions (eg. temperatures of 250-350 B0C).
6. Superheating is carried out by fossil fuel, lowering the necessary temperature of solar operation to below 360 B0C and decreasing array thermal losses.

In developed countries, over-capacity of electricity supply is common, so that reduction of emissions from this existing plant base is a logical aim. These reductions may be supplemented even while fossil plant still exists during the next 40 years or so, with an additional aim of massively boosting STE production.

In developing countries, new fossil plant may be allowed under international agreements; if this is the case then designing such plant with a very large solar hybrid component by locating it in a suitable area with sufficient adjacent land area will offset emissions as much as possible.

Solar Photovoltaic Systems (SPV) systems, when used on a large scale, can cut down the need for extending the distribution grids in rural areas and the resultant losses in transmission. In India, SPV systems of about 53 MW aggregate capacity have been installed for various applications in the country and about 27 MW equivalent capacity of SPV products have been exported1. Under the PV program of Ministry of Non-Conventional Energy Sources (MNES) about 365,000 solar lanterns, 180,000 home systems, 41,000 street lights, 4200 solar pumps and 220,000 SPV-rural communication systems have been so far installed.

Photovoltaics' strong traditional position in remote independent systems has been broadened lately with grid-connected systems in buildings. It is strategically important and feasible for the industry to further extend its presence with uses in geographically remote and inaccessible regions viz., defense locations, coastal areas and islands, habitat mountain regions, national borders besides cosmetic applications. In such cases economic justification is achieved through lower costs compared to alternative costs of network connection, lower relocation expense and cable damage risks and minimal operation costs and maintenance.

The ultimate goal for the SPV marketers is to expand PV business while increasing receptivity by town planners and construction specialists for penetrating into such typical applications.

One of the main tasks of MNES is to support the introduction of new and improved technologies that increase the efficiency and reduces the capital cost of Solar energy conversion systems. The ultimate goal is to create a situation of self sufficiency for these technologies so that government assistance is no longer needed. To reach this goal competitive offerings and large enough market shares have to be created. Therefore a broad perspective on the matter of introduction of new technologies is necessary.

Up to now, the dissemination of typical solar energy applications suffers from four low A's i.e a low Awareness (rural outreach), low Availability (systems & service), low Affordability (high capital cost) and low Appropriateness in the local market.

In order to mitigate such problems and open a new door for rapid penetration , Novem's3 experience and integration of several existing marketing concepts and parallel use of technical and non-technical aspects in one model : the 'phase model for market introduction'4 is worth considering. This model may be used by the market players for selection of relevant MNES activities in the solar sector.

The basic product life cycle model describes the development of a product through several phases and is used as the foundation for the 'phase model for market introduction'. The phases during the product life cycle are: introduction, growth, maturity, decline. Essentially the model describes sales volume as a function of time. The generic product life cycle is sometimes called demand/technology life cycle because it often concerns the long life of a technology for
a basic need. In practice we find several new product generations, new product-forms, and thus a complex succession of product-form life cycles.

The introduction phase of the basic demand/technology life cycle can be divided into five typical product generations and five corresponding market introduction phases viz., application development, test marketing, niche marketing, selective marketing, and generic marketing.

Products can be positioned along three strategic marketing dimensions. These dimensions are used to define the strategic position of a product and to indicate in which part of the market the product shall play a role and meet competition. The three dimensions are function, customer and technology.

The function-dimension describes the added value to be created and thus in fact the needs to be satisfied (what). Are these basic needs, value-for-money needs, or very special requirements?

The customer-dimension defines the customer groups that should receive the added value (who). A classification of customers into adoption categories is relevant: innovators, early adopters, early majority, late majority, and laggards.

The technology-dimension concerns the means to create the added value (how): capital, methods, systems, technologies. The level of experience with technologies and methods largely determines the possible gains in efficiency and effectiveness: e.g. ad hoc use, experienced use, specialisation, standardisation, automation.

The advantages of developing such model is that numerous function-customer-technology-combinations (FCTC's) can be created along these dimensions suitable for achieving rapid but stable market penetration. The main marketing mix elements being product, price, distribution, and promotion, these define the profile of a new product as seen by a customer. Therefore the marketing mix have to be added to the 'phase model for market introduction' to discuss the competitive profile of new products as opposed to existing products at the end of the introduction phase.

Successful commercialization, penetration and social acceptance of Solar Energy gadgets depend on many interrelated key issues which need to be effectively addressed viz., establishment of the necessary industrial base, development of policy and regulatory frameworks , pricing, financing and fiscal incentives , support for research and product development and information dissemination. All actions related to Solar Energy (SE) dissemination will have no real impact unless there is strong demand from end users. This will only happen if a mass information and training program is put in place to reach all potential users and facilitators, explaining the benefits of SE. The instruments to be used to achieve this goal are not obvious and must be carefully discussed among local experts with possible assistance from national funding agencies and foreign donors/partners. This approach is obviously common for all Renewable Energy gadgets.

The technology for utilising solar energy is well developed for a range of applications. In most cases, solar energy is much more environmentally friendly than traditional energy sources. Also in many cases, active and passive utilisation of solar energy, as well as other forms of new renewable energy, can be economically profitable.

At present large scale fossil energy production is cheaper than the available solar alternatives. However, the conventional energy generation technologies, based on fossil fuel, have reached maturity with little room for advancements, whereas solar technologies still have large potential for improvement, pending appropriate R&D. 

Moreover, the true price of fossil energy must include scarcity and pollution damage components to allow a valid evaluation of social costs and benefits of alternative energy options. These considerations bring in a delicate issue regarding the desirable rate of R&D expenditures on solar technologies, which is the present problem to be addressed. However, the notion that substantial investments in solar energy research should not await the next energy crisis should be robustly supported.

Much said and done, the underlying fact remains the same that the combination of non-fossil fuel and local rural power generation results in social, economic and technical benefits, which shall make solar energy projects desirable for emerging markets and developing countries.

N. Yuvaraj Dinesh Babu
Research Associate
RETA
Tata Energy Reserach Institute
Darbari Seth, Habitat Place
Lodhi Road, New Delhi - 110 003
Website : www.teriin.org

4. Date: Wed, 28 Nov 2001 13:10:19 +0545
Author: "Bikash Pandey" <bpandey@winrock.org.np>
Subject: [RETs] Week 2: Developing Markets for Solar Energy

The moderator has rightly pointed out the numerous uses that mountain communities could put solar energy to. The next step is to develop the institutional modalities to deliver solar energy to users. In mountain areas in India and Nepal and many other countries, the government provides subsidies for solar PV systems. There are also subsidies in many countries for solar dryers and cookers, though seldom for solar hot water systems.

The justification for solar PV subsidies is that all rural electrification is subsidized to some extent and this technology in many cases provides the most cost-effective 
way to get electricity to remote locations. On the other hand detractors of this policy argue that while rural electrification provides services and secondary benefits to a larger community, by powering industry, milling, the benefits of solar home systems are largely limited to the user household. They argue that if subsidy is provided for technologies that largely cater to the rural elite such as solar PV home lighting systems it should have the objective to "prime the pump" and the subsidy should be designed to be withdrawn after a few years so the market can take over.

It would be interesting to hear different viewpoints on this issue and also learn about successful solar energy promotion strategies with or without the use of subsidies in mountain areas.

Bikash Pandey
Winrock International, Nepal

5. Date: Thu, 29 Nov 2001 10:48:43 +0100
Author: "Nienhuys" <s.nienhuys@chello.nl>
Subject: [RETs] Week 2: Re: Developing Markets for Solar Energy

I feel that there is still need for subsidising PV solutions for domestic and school illumination in rural (mountain) environments. Some of the reasons are the following:

1. PV is still very expensive, but technologies and manufacturing methods are being developed to get the price down and make PV more effective in diffuse light. Subsidy may be required for a while until the manufacturing prices have sufficiently dropped. Equally the development of the power storage capacity is gradually improving, combined with reducing the cost. Conversion electronics have gone down already.

2. The power wiring is becoming increasingly expensive for rural areas, and with extended length of wiring the resistance increases and risk of damage. PV becomes soon economical compared to the wiring cost.

3. There is a definite benefit when the "rural elite" is taking the lead in the application. Poor (low-income) people will copy from the rich people without much need 
for promotion or marketing. The rural elite will seldom copy something that has been subsidised for the poor. In order to introduce new technologies and an understanding of these technologies, the promoter has to work through the social leaders of the local societies; being very often the rural elite.

4. There is a great benefit in improving domestic and school illumination by itself. Productive activities (including learning) and reproductive activities (including all domestic chores) are done better and longer and easier. Domestic based industries, such as embroidery, can continue after sunset and generate income. Domestic studying and reading can vastly reduce illiteracy and increase in future access to information hat leads to social and economic development. Directly, domestic illumination improves the women's position.

5. Comparing clean light with the smoky light of Kerosene burners (or worse open fires), the PV light has definite health benefits for all people living in the houses.

Considering the above points I feel that for remote rural areas the same rural elite should be stimulated (subsidised) to use other RETs. That method is one of the best and low-cost promotion mechanisms one can think of in the rural areas. Only top-quality and very durable equipment should be installed and combined with medium term financing models (also for the elite). The servicing, marketing and financing mechanisms can be developed for the rest of the population when the distribution network is densified.

It is understandable that the PV is subsidised, because of its high cost, but for impact and developing the understanding among the population about RETs, other elements should be considered. Subsidising can have various models and can consist in co-financing the development of the distribution network, training and part of the transport. It is quite a  job to get the articles up into the mountains.

On 22-11-2001 Nienhuys posted an information on 10 basic consideration points for RETs(please refer to Posting No. 10 at <http://www.mtnforum.org/apmn/hydro1.htm>).

Sjoerd Nienhuys
Consultant EPA

Burg. Gülcherlaan 25
1217 NX Hilversum
The Netherlands
Tel: +31-35-7729602
Fax:+31-35-7729603

6. Date: Wed, 28 Nov 2001 09:20:45 +0100
Author: "Nienhuys" <s.nienhuys@chello.nl>
Subject: [RETs] Week 2: Solar Powered Teacher Training

Dear Colleagues,

Solar energy for better education.

CREATING EDUCATION IN THE SAHEL
There exists a strong link between development (of people and regions) and education, especially for remote regions. To enhance education, additional or new knowledge and information is needed; this is carried by teachers or through on-line education. In several countries teachers obtain government scholarships on the condition that they serve one or two years in a public (primary, secondary) school. Often these young graduates are posted in remote areas, as the need for education is the highest in those regions and government cannot get teachers for those areas. Because of their psychological and social isolation these youngsters quit the post immediately if their obliged term is finished, thus leaving the (rural) region again without the needed education.

BREAKING ISOLATION FOR YOUNG TEACHERS
For West Africa (Sahel) the idea was launched (some years back) to provide the young teachers with computers that are linked by radio through satellites. This way they could receive and send e-mails and download information and new curriculum.

In a central location (large city) the curriculum was developed and transmitted to the teacher stations in the Sahel region.The teacher needs to train some adults in operating the system.When the teacher would leave still the training software would be available locally, and with some educated adults to operate the system.

SOLAR POWER
The system was to be powered by solar panels and energy stored in batteries. Solar power would also provide illumination at night for teacher house and school.
The objective of the plan/project was four-fold:
1. Bring education to the field.
2. Improve education and refresh curriculum.
3. Keep the teachers in the field and create local teachers.
4. Keep better teaching materials in the field that could be used by parents.

Because of limiting technology at the time, the project had a very slow start.

TECHNOLOGY DEVELOPMENT SINCE
Currently, computers (low-energy laptops) have become very much faster. Colour and picture imaging technology has been vastly improved. Cell phones and mobile/satellite communication has vastly been improved. Music/sound, by means of Mp3 can be faster transmitted. Solar panels have reduced considerably in cost. Light features have been improved.

Because I went on an assignment in Pakistan Himalayas, without e-mail, I lost track of the development, but the concept is still very valid and can be exploited for all remote mountain areas that have problems in educational development.

An important point of this project is that development of solar systems and their application should be well focussed around a productive issue. Application of solar energy requires thinking about the economic and social purpose of the application. The cost and the technology will indicate whether it will be feasible with or without subsidies.

Regards,

Sjoerd Nienhuys
Consultant EPA
Burg. GFClcherlaan 25
1217 NX Hilversum
The Netherlands

7. Date: Thu, 29 Nov 2001 10:27:59 +0530
Author: "Ajay Sharma" <a.sharma@cqu.edu.au>
Subject: [RETs] Week 2: Experiences with Solar

I agree with Mr. N. Yuvaraj Dinesh Babu's feeling that the dissemination of typical solar energy applications suffers from four low A's, i.e, an Awareness (rural outreach), Availability (systems & service), Affordability (high capital cost) and Appropriateness in the local market.

Among these, Affordability is the real key element followed by Awareness, Appropriateness and then Availability. Everybody must have observed that even in highly resource-poor communities, there would be somebody affording LPG. And if their Affordability allows, most of people generally go for Kerosene oil. The affordability is often clubbed with biomass resource crunch in village. Many more interesting observations emerge if we closely observe the coping strategies against fuelwood crisis. I reserve that for coming week on biomass.

But broadly I can say, first comes the biomass stress. To counter the same a few families start adopting commercial options and other start looking for cheaper options (Affordability comes in scene). Fuel saving devices (conservation strategies) are the first step copping strategies, which are followed by substitution by cowdung and other inferior fuels but no consideration for RET surface in villages (lack of awareness). Then a successful demonstration project of any RET program can do wonders. We have seen massive voluntary adoption of improved cook-stoves and biogas plants in hills. In many places, people identified cheap materials to fabricate the devices and evolved modifications to suit to their life styles, buildings, etc. (Appropriateness) and in many places RET programs suffered due to gaps in availability of funds, materials, knowledge as well as repairs (Availability).

These factors are very important as both, Solar thermals as well as PV, have a cost attached to it, which is usually higher than one months income of a general family (even after subsidy). In such a situation Affordability is the key element. It is proved further by the fact that in Apple producing wealthy Shimla as well as Kullu valleys (H.P., India) have number of solar water heaters installed and many hotels in major tourist cities have huge solar water heater installations. But common people are still hesitant. Same was the case with dissemination of PV lanterns.

A RET dissemination program in six villages (in two districts of H.P.) and later in about 15 plain villages (three district of U.P., India) run by Rural Energy Group of TERI (New Delhi) revealed that more people were after Improved Cook stoves or biogas than Solars. Among Solar thermals, more community water 
heating facilities were installed than personal. And PV lanterns found more clients in villages that had significant number of service class people. In general the response was lukewarm in comparison to what we got in villages of plain region (slightly better affordability level). I have asked my colleagues in Rural Energy group to share their village-wise as data and I hope a contribution from them soon.

Ajay Sharma
Fellow (Bioresources & Biotechnology)
TERI, New Delhi 110 003, India

8. Date:  Fri, 30 Nov 2001 11:00:36 +0545
Author: "Gehendra Gurung" <gbg@mos.com.np>
Subject:  [RETs] Week 2: Use of Solar Energy in the Annapurna Conservation Area (ACA)

The purpose of use of Alternative Energy Sources in the  ACA is three-fold: 

1) to improve the environment through minimum dependency  on the forest for fuel wood 
2) to improve and create opportunities for income generation &
3) to help improve the social development aspects.

Solar energy is one of the Alternative Energy sources in the ACA. I like to mention use of solar thermal energy and solar photovoltaic energy in the ACA.

We are using the thermal energy through mainly Solar Water Heating System and Passive Solar Structure. Solar Water Heaters have been a good technology in the ACA especially in the hotels and lodges who were using a large quantity of fuel woods to heat the water for hot showers to the tourists in such a cold environment. The owner pays cost price and the transportation and technical supports are supported by the project. It has helped reduce the pressure on forest for fuelwood and the burden of collection. Economically and environmentally there are lots of benefits. However there are areas for improvement. In the high mountains (trans Himalayan zones - Manang and Mustang) the water gets frozen in winter inside the pipes. This breaks the pipe from time to time. The owners are to be extra careful. So we now need materials or technology that suit such freezing environment while the cost remains affordable. We have been experimenting with oil circulatory system with CNRS (France) where oil absorbs heat from the sun and exchange it with water inside the drum. So far it has been working. Other technologies (where vacuum systems have been used) are also available in the market, but the cost is comparatively high. Although the technology is appropriate but it is not easily affordable in the remote mountains. We are interested for other appropriate technologies.

Second thermal use is in promotion of Passive Solar Structure. These structures are intended to absorb maximum solar heat during daytime and keep the effects throughout night through minimum loss. The buildings have been designed for residential as well as greenhouse purposes. The effects in the residential buildings have still to be examined. While people have already benefited from greenhouses by producing tropical varieties of vegetables in the cold temperate zones of Mustang. The production of vegetable fits into the area where the tourism has already created the market.

The photovoltaic technology has been used for lighting and running mills. The benefits are immense specially through social development. But this is a new technology in remote mountainous zone, not built on local knowledge system; there are challenges to sustain the technology. We have experienced that intensive trainings are required for local people for skill development and close linkage is required with the market OR develop the system to supply fittings and materials when they break. Since mostly they come from outside or only limited assembling is carried out in the country, timely availability of fittings and personnel needs serious consideration. Another area for future consideration is the management of discarded wet batteries, especially there are chances that if they are not properly managed, downstream water bodies may be contaminated through leaching of acids or other discarded materials.

Gehendra Gurung
Project Director, ACAP

9. Date: Sat, 1 Dec 2001 10:01:59 +0530
Author: "sudhirendar" <sudhirendar@vsnl.net>
Subject: [RETs] Week 2: Doesn't Promotion of Solar Applications Serve the Corporate Sector More?

Promotion of solar energy applications serve the corporations more than the people. In effect, it isn't much different from grid energy. Let me cite an example 
from West Africa, the context is rural and not necessarily mountainous, to bring home the point.

Gambia's rural areas are without electricity and it is quite likely that that would be the situation for years to come. EU funding has helped villages get PV water 
lifting systems. At an incredible cost of D1 million (1USD=16 D), the systems have been installed by M/s Siemens, a multinational energy giant.

Village Development Committees come into play once the systems are up and running. The task of the VDC is to collect (on an average) D 100,000 towards maintenance from each village. This amount is kept in a separate bank account which another francophone african company will access from time to time for maintenance and upkeep. Given the fact that several such systems have been installed, the maintenance company stands to gain a lot. Had local youths been trained for the maintenance of the system, PV system would have generated employment too. In the present system, both the State and the society is dependent on corporations.

Dr Sudhirendar Sharma

10. Date: Sat, 1 Dec 2001 10:12:27 +0530
Author: Andy Tyson <a_tyson@yahoo.com>
Subject: [RETs] Week 2: Queries

[In week 3, I will be posting a short introduction of each of the registered participants-numbering a little over 100. One of the unstated objectives of this e-conf is to help facilitate networking. To find the Mountain Forum members working in your mountain area in Asia/Pacific, please visit the clickable map at:
http://www.mtnforum.org/resources/atlas/mtwrldaspa.htm ]

Thanks for the great forum. I am listening in on most of this conversation though have a couple questions.

I'm curious about the organizations working in this field. I would enjoy a networking list for future contacts. This would help me to look up web sites or institutions for background and find out what is happening and what is possible.

I am interested in putting my solar installation and business knowledge to good use in needy areas - what are my options?

Are there good intern or volunteer opportunities in renewables in Asia?

Andy Tyson, Box 333 Lander, Wy. 82520

11. Date: Sat, 1 Dec 2001 16:25:20 +0530
Author: geres.stauffer@free.fr
Subject: [RETs] Week 2: Passive Solar Technology: A Good Option for Ladakh

1) What are the potentials of solar energy technology use in mountain countries?

In high altitude area (such as Ladakh), the main combustible is dung. The commercial combustibles are either not available either very expensive In this context, the solar energy technologies can facilitate
- the opportunities to create income generating activities
- the improvement of social welfare aspects
- the reduction of pressure on the environment

This paper focuses on passive solar technology which can be used as well in domestic and public houses as in income-generating activities.

A) Passive solar heating for domestic house in high altitude area

In high altitude area, the work of dung collection makes 
up a significant part of the women labour who spends 
between 2 to 4 hours a day to do this hard task.

If a domestic house is constructed according to passive solar architecture, the energy required to heat the space can be reduced by 70%. The benefits of passive solar heated buildings are:
- a comfortable room temperature
- the large amount of time previously spent by women in fuel collection can be used in other activities such as income generating activities
- as a smaller quantity of fuel is required to cook and warm the house, the living space is much less smoky and the risks of eye irritation and dung diseases are limited

B) Income-generating activities

Solar energy technologies can be tools to develop sustainable income-generating activities

a) Greenhouse

Context

Due to the very harsh conditions, the Ladakhi can only grow a few vegetables during the very short summer season. Most of the vegetables are imported by truck from the Indian plains. But when the roads to Leh are closed from mid-October to mid-May, the Leh market can only be supplied by airplane and prices rise. Thus, there is scope to locally produce vegetables during the winter and create some income generation activity in winter with solar greenhouse

Vegetable production can be more than 50 kg per month for a 50 square metre greenhouse during winter time.

Economic factors (based on Ladakh context, 2001)

- The investment required for a 50 cubic metre greenhouse is 450 US $ (20 000 Rs).
- The maintenance cost is less than 40 US $ per year.
- The agricultural working time required is less than 8 hours per week.
- More than 50 kg of vegetable can be produced per month in a 50 cubic metre greenhouse. The income generated is 35 US $ per month (1500 RS).
- The payback period is less than 2 years.

b) Poulty farming

Context

In summer when the roads are open, eggs and chickens are imported from the plain at low cost. But as soon as the roads are closed during the winter, these products are supplied by air and the prices increase by up to three times the summer rate. Thus, local production could be an interesting business during winter. However, in such cold areas, a poultry farm has to be heated from September to May. As no fuel wood is available and as fossil fuels are very expensive, a passive solar heating system, based on local materials, is a cost effective way to warm a poultry farm: the heating requirement is reduced by 95% for 20% over cost of the construction.

Economic factors (based on Ladakh context, 2001)

- investment: between 500 US$ for the family size (30 birds) and 4000 US $ for the cottage level (500 birds). The project subsidises 30% of the costs
- solar cost payback period: 4 years (compared to traditional poultry farms, comparison according to energy costs)
- total investment pay back period: 3 years for broiler poultry farm, 5 years for layer poultry farm.

c) Solar dryer

Context

Apricots are the main resource of the lower part of Ladakh. They are sun-dried without any unhygienic consideration, on the roofs of houses or on large stones. They are then sold without any packaging to the local people in Leh market. The added value of such products is low.

If the apricot are processed, carefully dried and paked, the quality of the final product can be improved and the added value is increased.

In this process, the main dificulties are the pre-treatment and the marketing of the final product. The drying is a step in whole process but the quality of final product  depends on the quality of the drying : improved dryers are required. As the commercial combustibles are very expensive or not avalaible in Ladakh , solar dryer is a cost-effective technology . Also the marketing of organic and sun-dried product is much easier than sulfurised dried product if the target group are tourist or the Indian upper-class

Economic factors (based on Ladakh context, 2001)

Investment: 1000 US $ for the dryer and the equipment. A 30 square meter building is also required Project assistance: 30 % subsidy, to training and follow up.
Production capacity: 1000 kg/season (10 weeks) 30 % of the Chully production of the village is processed by the unit. Turn over: 4000 US$ per year

Solar energy technologies can be cost effective tools to protect the environment, create income-generating activities and improve social development. But it is a tool and the suitability of this tool depends on the context (marketing channel, economical context, cultural factor)

II) The criteria to be adopted for making solar energy technologies efficient and within reach of the poorer population are

- low investment and self-construction. The tool has to be affordable, which means it is to be built by local labour with local materials rather than imported materials. The imported material supplying can be facilitated by subsidy or better micro-credit system,
- easy to run: the tool has to be easy to run and training program can be planned for the primary stake holder, and
- little maintenance. The maintenance has to be cheap and easy. A villager can be trained to maintain the equipment ('barefoot engineer' concept) and a self-help group set up to  replace the defective parts.

GERES
Vincent Stauffer
2 cours Foch 13400 Aubagne France

12. Date: Sun, 2 Dec 2001 11:49:47 -0700
Author:  Christina Page <cpage@rmi.org>
Subject: [RETs] Week 2: Solar energy and refugee camps

I have a rather broad-based question regarding the use of solar energy/technology in temporary encampments for displaced populations. What are effective ways of using solar to improve quality of life and provide basic needs in such communities?

Here at Rocky Mountain Institute we are in the process of researching increased effectiveness and sustainability in the design of extended-stay refugee camps. How can we quickly create communities for large, displaced populations such as those in and around Afghanistan? How do we maximize quality of life, provide emergency care and minimize impact on the surrounding landscape by displaced populations, especially ones that may occupy the area for an extended time? How do we deal with conditions particular to the harsh winter of a mountainous environment?

Your thoughts, suggestions of case studies, critiques welcome. I mention solar energy but welcome your thoughts in all aspects of the questions in the paragraph above.

Christina Page

Rocky Mountain Institute is an entrepreneurial non-profit organization that fosters the efficient and restorative use of resources to create a more secure, prosperous, and life-sustaining world.

(Note: The following was not posted to the MF-Asia e-discussion list chiefly because it reached us after week 2 was effectively over. If you still have anything to say on the topic, please send it to <apmn@mtnforum.org> and we will publish it on this page. Thank you!)

13. From: "Muhammad Ayaz Khan" <muhdayaz@brain.net.pk>
Date:  Mon, 10 Dec 2001 05:52:13 +0500
Subject: [RETs] Week 2: Re: Solar energy and refugee camps

Dear Christina Page,

I certainly accord the highest appreciation to your fore-thoughtfulness & vision for the question of using alternative energy resources for the displaced Afghan refugees. I live in the foot-hills of Western Himalayas where there are plenty of such like refugee camps, which are swelling up due to the fresh influx. Ever since these refugees were abandoned by the world communities in 1992, they are living off-the-land. Due to this situation the already denuded forests had come under very severe biotic pressure, which had already been sustaining the massive pressures of the local population. Some of these forests are now on the verge of extinction. Because of this reason there have been serious rifts between local population & the refugees, at times leading to armed clashes.

Under this scenario there is a dire necessity for the leading experts to deliberate for the alternate energy resources for these refugees. The most practicable choice seems to be the solar energy.

Ayaz

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