How Hybrid Solar Energy Systems Empower Remote Communities

SunTech Connect: How Hybrid Solar Energy Systems Empower Remote Communities

In my previous blog post, we discussed the potential and need to drive the adoption of hybrid solar energy systems to empower remote communities in developing nations with reliable access to electricity.

In this blog, I will focus on some communities who have successfully implemented such hybrid solar energy systems.

Mali is a landlocked country in Western Africa, and suffers from acute electricity shortage. Although a number of generation plants are planned, most of these plants will only start generating after 2017 due to constraints. However, Ouelessebougou city in the Koulikoro region of the country decided to take matters in their own hands to assuage this issue. The city used two diesel generators that generated 440 kilowatts of electricity to power a water pumping station and scores of surrounding households. To reduce their reliance on costly diesel and increase power generation capacity, the city invested in a 216-kilowatt solar energy system.

The results were remarkable as the city managed to reduce their reliance on diesel generators by 75%.

In another example, …