Rural electrification has been identified as one of the essential prerequisite for the development of modern society. Provision of uninterrupted supply for rural enterprises and affordable electricity for low-income users is imperative for the revitalisation of rural areas. Stand-alone...

Remote area power supply (RAPS) systems are being used for many years to supply power to rural or remote communities where the utility grid is not accessible. In order to avoid the high operating cost and environmental impact caused by conventional generators, renewable energy resources are...

Mozambique and Tanzania are countries with very low rural electrification (RE) rates as only about 5% of the rural population use electricity. Despite efforts to extend the national grid in rural areas, most remote areas will not be reached within the foreseeable future. Off-grid (decentralized)...

This paper presents the pico-hydro development status in Lao PDR and introduces the Pump as Turbine (PAT) concept as an alternative for isolated communities (40–500 people). The intention is to provide a long-term reproducible system for communities where pico-hydro propeller turbines are...

Village-scale hydro-electric programmes exist in many developing countries throughout the world. Well-implemented schemes provide a cheap and reliable source of power from a renewable, indigenous source. Despite the massive demand and scope for these programmes, they tend to be very small-scale...