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Status and potential of photovoltaic (PV) systems in Rwanda

Abstract

The conditions for solar home systems in Rwanda are favourable for a sustained take off. The resource, solar energy, is available in reasonable amounts. Most rural households live dispersed over the countryside and will not be grid-connected within the next 50 years. Rural areas are monetized already to some extent and a network of regional banks exists, which can play a role in financing rural photovoltaic electrification. Rwanda has ten years of experience in the use of photovoltaic systems in health centres, which has acted as a demonstration of technology. Over the past two years, hundreds of solar home systems have been sold to households, bringing up the number of photovoltaic installations in use to about 700. A financial analysis shows that the currently marketed, locally assembled small PV-installations are relatively expensive. A system with considerably higher capacity can be imported and sold locally at an only slightly higher price. The analysis also concludes that households, investing in a PV-installation can expect savings from substitution of kerosene and disposable batteries which results in a Financial Internal Rate of Return of 15%. Wider-scale commercialization is hampered by a few barriers which have to be reduced first. As described in chapter 4,  More>>
Authors:
Nieuwenhout, F D.J. [1] 
  1. Energy Study Centre, Netherlands Energy Research Foundation, Petten (Netherlands)
Publication Date:
Aug 01, 1991
Product Type:
Technical Report
Report Number:
ECN-C-91-058
Reference Number:
SCA: 140600; PA: ECN-91.0665; SN: 91000585484
Resource Relation:
Other Information: PBD: Aug 1991
Subject:
14 SOLAR ENERGY; PHOTOVOLTAIC POWER SUPPLIES; FINANCING; COMMERCIALIZATION; USES; HOUSEHOLDS; RURAL AREAS; HEALTH SERVICES; RWANDA; INVESTMENT; OPERATING COST; HOSPITALS; HOUSES; REVIEWS; MARKETING RESEARCH; 140600; PHOTOVOLTAIC POWER SYSTEMS
OSTI ID:
10103834
Research Organizations:
Netherlands Energy Research Foundation, Petten (Netherlands). Energy Study Centre
Country of Origin:
Netherlands
Language:
English
Other Identifying Numbers:
Other: ON: DE92721431; TRN: 91.0665
Availability:
OSTI; NTIS (US Sales Only)
Submitting Site:
ECN
Size:
41 p.
Announcement Date:
Jun 30, 2005

Citation Formats

Nieuwenhout, F D.J. Status and potential of photovoltaic (PV) systems in Rwanda. Netherlands: N. p., 1991. Web.
Nieuwenhout, F D.J. Status and potential of photovoltaic (PV) systems in Rwanda. Netherlands.
Nieuwenhout, F D.J. 1991. "Status and potential of photovoltaic (PV) systems in Rwanda." Netherlands.
@misc{etde_10103834,
title = {Status and potential of photovoltaic (PV) systems in Rwanda}
author = {Nieuwenhout, F D.J.}
abstractNote = {The conditions for solar home systems in Rwanda are favourable for a sustained take off. The resource, solar energy, is available in reasonable amounts. Most rural households live dispersed over the countryside and will not be grid-connected within the next 50 years. Rural areas are monetized already to some extent and a network of regional banks exists, which can play a role in financing rural photovoltaic electrification. Rwanda has ten years of experience in the use of photovoltaic systems in health centres, which has acted as a demonstration of technology. Over the past two years, hundreds of solar home systems have been sold to households, bringing up the number of photovoltaic installations in use to about 700. A financial analysis shows that the currently marketed, locally assembled small PV-installations are relatively expensive. A system with considerably higher capacity can be imported and sold locally at an only slightly higher price. The analysis also concludes that households, investing in a PV-installation can expect savings from substitution of kerosene and disposable batteries which results in a Financial Internal Rate of Return of 15%. Wider-scale commercialization is hampered by a few barriers which have to be reduced first. As described in chapter 4, these are the high investment costs, unavailability of credit, maintenance and repair problems, and the relative dimensions of the system components. An activity to reduce these barriers is outlined in chapter 5. 7 tabs., 10 apps., 6 refs.}
place = {Netherlands}
year = {1991}
month = {Aug}
}