electricity

SharedSolar: Mobiles and Micro-Grids For More Efficient Energy

Posted by MelissaUlbricht on Jun 13, 2011

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SharedSolar: Mobiles and Micro-Grids For More Efficient Energy data sheet 3317 Views

It is an unfortunate irony that often the poorest people pay the most for the lowest quality energy. In many areas, the rural poor pay as much as 5 USD per month for kerosene or battery power. SharedSolar is a project that attempts to develop the technology, and business case to connect these populations to better, more traditional energy sources. It does so by leveraging existing mobile networks. 

With SharedSolar, rural poor consumers make payments based on their usage by using a scratch card and adding credit via SMS. The system uses a micro-grid network to connect consumers to power, and each household uses a unique prepaid metering system. A group of up to 20 consumers (individuals, households, small businesses, or schools) are all located within a 50 meter radius of a single, central power source -- such as solar panels -- connected via an underground wire. 

At the same time, the SharedSolar team is testing and developing its business model to show that a case exists for micro-grids and mobile energy payment. The team launched an initial pilot in 2010 in Pelengana, Mali and currently has systems set up in Uganda and Tanzania. 

MobileActive.org spoke with Matt Basinger, project lead for SharedSolar, to learn more about the overlap of mobile technology and rural power.

Basic Information
Website URL: 
http://sharedsolar.org/
Organization involved in the project?: 
SharedSolar
Project goals: 

With SharedSolar, rural electricity consumers make payments based on usage by using a scratch card and adding credit via SMS. The system uses a micro-grid network to connect power to consumers, and each household uses a unique prepaid metering system. A group of up to 20 consumers (individuals, households, small businesses, or schools) are all located within a 50 meter radius of a single, central power source -- such as solar panels, all connected via an underground wire. 

The SharedSolar team is testing and developing its business model to show that a case exists for micro-grids and mobile energy payment. The team launched an initial pilot in 2010 in Pelengana, Mali and currently has systems set up in Uganda and Tanzania. 

Brief description of the project: 

Unfortunately, the poorest people pay the most for the lowest quality energy. In many areas, the rural poor pay as much as 5 USD per month for kerosene or battery power. SharedSolar is a project that attempts to develop the technology, and business case, to connect these populations to better and affordable energy sources. It does so by leveraging existing mobile networks. 

 

Target audience: 

Up to 20 micro-grid consumers are located within a 50 meter radius of a single central power source. SharedSolar launched an initial pilot in 2010 in Pelengana, Mali and currently has systems set up in Uganda and Tanzania. 

Detailed Information
Status: 
Ongoing
What worked well? : 

SharedSolar leverages existing mobile infrastructure in a given area. The SharedSolar technology is a near-term, entry-level approach: the application runs on a local server, in-country, with an attached modem (a local SMS device). It can be run on a basic netbook. SharedSolar is a modular system, so the team can add solar generation capacity or deploy additional systems as demand for electricity increases.

 

 

What did not work? What were the challenges?: 

When selecting a site to place the system, there are often land rights or land access issues. And although it hasn’t been an issue yet, the team is aware of the possibility of tampering. For instance, a neighbor could dig up someone else’s wire.

Another challenge for SharedSolar comes with trying to develop the business model alongside the technology.  In addition to reducing costs and improving livelihood for the rural consumers, SharedSolar has a goal to test a business model for micro-utility power



 




  
Green Power for Mobile: Charging Choices


Posted by AnneryanHeatwole on Oct 26, 2009





 

        
      
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Green Power for Mobile: Charging Choices data sheet 2698 Views

	

      
Author: 

    

            

                    GSMA Development Fund        

        





      
Publication Date: 

    

            

                    Oct 2009        

        





      
Publication Type: 

    

            

                    Report/White paper        

        





      
Abstract: 

    

            

                    
There are more than 4 billion mobile connections worldwide. Over the coming years, many more millions of people at the “base of the economic pyramid” are expected to acquire mobile phones, greatly benefiting their lives, business activities and access to information. However, most of these new subscribers will not have direct access to electricity. This makes it more challenging and expensive for them to charge their mobile phone, not to mention to power the myriad of other daily functions for which electricity is important such as lighting, cooking and refrigeration.


The GSMA Development Fund believes that the issue of electrification is extremely relevant to mobile operators. The innovative nature of base of the pyramid markets has spawned creative solutions to the charging problem - primarily via entrepreneurs who provide electricity on a per-charge basis, powered either by their own access to the grid or through the use of portable car batteries.  It seems likely that renewable energy devices, such as photovoltaic chargers, will provide a practical and environmentally friendly fix. 


As part of its Green Power for Mobile programme, the Development Fund has conducted research into off- grid charging solutions for mobile phones. This study was conducted over a three month period (June-August, 2009) and included extensive research to identify emerging vendors, their products, and other players in the field. The process also included dozens of interviews and surveys of mobile operators and vendors covering 50 countries across Africa, Asia and Latin America.


The research has found that there is significant interest in off-grid charging solutions from mobile operators - over half those interviewed have already introduced, or are considering introducing off-grid charging solutions in the near term. At the same time, there is only limited understanding about the full scope of options and the associated social and business benefits.


This publication is intended to provide initial market information and a framework for decision-making about off-grid charging solutions. More practically, it lays out a series of key questions that the GSMA refers to as “Charging Choices” - to help companies think through the possibilities for off-grid charging. The paper is not a fully exhaustive review of all the existing players or initiatives in the market, and the Development Fund is not endorsing the products or companies reviewed herein. This publication is, however, a start of what the GSMA believes will be an important and exciting area of industry growth in the coming years.