IDEAS home Printed from https://ideas.repec.org/a/gam/jsusta/v13y2021i6p3032-d514345.html
   My bibliography  Save this article

Characterization of Technological Innovations in Photovoltaic Rural Electrification, Based on the Experiences of Bolivia, Peru, and Argentina: Third Generation Solar Home Systems

Author

Listed:
  • Miguel H. Fernandez-Fuentes

    (Instituto de Energía Solar, ETSI Telecomunicación, Universidad Politécnica de Madrid, 28040 Madrid, Spain
    ENERGETICA Foundation, La Paz, Cochabamba E-573, Bolivia)

  • Andrea A. Eras-Almeida

    (Instituto de Energía Solar, ETSI Telecomunicación, Universidad Politécnica de Madrid, 28040 Madrid, Spain)

  • Miguel A. Egido-Aguilera

    (Instituto de Energía Solar, ETSI Telecomunicación, Universidad Politécnica de Madrid, 28040 Madrid, Spain)

Abstract

The electrification of isolated homes in rural areas without access to the electric grid has been achieved in part using solar energy transformed into electricity through Photovoltaic (PV) equipment known as Solar Home Systems (SHSs), which has been widely disseminated throughout the world. The use of SHSs in rural electrification projects has been studied from 1980 to date, they have been incorporating advances and technological innovations successively. Through the review of documents on PV projects, articles, and technical reports, it has been possible to identify the changes in the main components of the SHS and the typical configurations, systematizing them in a discrete timeline. Thereby, this article characterizes three generations of SHSs and highlights their differences. The first generation is fully valid between 1980–1995, the second generation in 1995–2010, and the third generation from 2005 to date, which overlaps the beginning. In any case, the time limits in each period are only referential. The later generation, Third Generation Solar Home Systems (3G-SHSs), is highly efficient, uses LED lamps, lithium batteries, microelectronic control, and plug and play connections. Indeed, this equipment can be self-managed by the user and reflects the technology’s high reliability by a minimum maintenance service in situ. Furthermore, their lower costs make access to electricity more affordable for the last mile population. The present research offers a detailed technological and operational characterization of the 3G-SHSs to show the most relevant aspects of support to project developers, planners, and decision-makers to achieve the Sustainable Development Goal (SDG) 7.

Suggested Citation

  • Miguel H. Fernandez-Fuentes & Andrea A. Eras-Almeida & Miguel A. Egido-Aguilera, 2021. "Characterization of Technological Innovations in Photovoltaic Rural Electrification, Based on the Experiences of Bolivia, Peru, and Argentina: Third Generation Solar Home Systems," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 13(6), pages 1-23, March.
    • Handle: RePEc:gam:jsusta:v:13:y:2021:i:6:p:3032-:d:514345
    as

    Download full text from publisher

    File URL: https://www.mdpi.com/2071-1050/13/6/3032/pdf
    Download Restriction: no
    File URL: https://www.mdpi.com/2071-1050/13/6/3032/
    Download Restriction: no
    ---><---

    References listed on IDEAS

    as
    1. Killian Reiche & Dana Rysankova & Susan Goldmark, 2007. "Output-Based Aid in Bolivia : Balanced Tender Design for Sustainable Energy Access in Difficult Markets," World Bank Publications - Reports 11032, The World Bank Group.
    2. Arráiz, Irani & Calero, Carla, 2015. "From Candles to Light: The Impact of Rural Electrification," IDB Publications (Working Papers) 6917, Inter-American Development Bank.
    3. Slough, Tara & Urpelainen, Johannes & Yang, Joonseok, 2015. "Light for all? Evaluating Brazil's rural electrification progress, 2000–2010," Energy Policy, Elsevier, vol. 86(C), pages 315-327.
    4. Chaurey, Akanksha & Kandpal, Tara Chandra, 2010. "Assessment and evaluation of PV based decentralized rural electrification: An overview," Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews, Elsevier, vol. 14(8), pages 2266-2278, October.
    5. Jacobson, Arne & Kammen, Daniel M., 2007. "Engineering, institutions, and the public interest: Evaluating product quality in the Kenyan solar photovoltaics industry," Energy Policy, Elsevier, vol. 35(5), pages 2960-2968, May.
    6. Peters, Jörg & Sievert, Maximiliane & Toman, Michael A., 2019. "Rural electrification through mini-grids: Challenges ahead," Energy Policy, Elsevier, vol. 132(C), pages 27-31.
    7. Chowdhury, Shahriar Ahmed & Mourshed, Monjur, 2016. "Off-grid electrification with solar home systems: An appraisal of the quality of components," Renewable Energy, Elsevier, vol. 97(C), pages 585-598.
    8. Sarah Feron, 2016. "Sustainability of Off-Grid Photovoltaic Systems for Rural Electrification in Developing Countries: A Review," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 8(12), pages 1-26, December.
    9. Bazilian, Morgan & Onyeji, Ijeoma & Liebreich, Michael & MacGill, Ian & Chase, Jennifer & Shah, Jigar & Gielen, Dolf & Arent, Doug & Landfear, Doug & Zhengrong, Shi, 2013. "Re-considering the economics of photovoltaic power," Renewable Energy, Elsevier, vol. 53(C), pages 329-338.
    10. Pearce, David & Webb, Michael, 1987. "Rural electrification in developing countries : A reappraisal," Energy Policy, Elsevier, vol. 15(4), pages 329-338, August.
    11. Martinot, E. & Cabraal, A. & Mathur, S., 2001. "World Bank/GEF solar home system projects: experiences and lessons learned 1993-2000," Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews, Elsevier, vol. 5(1), pages 39-57, March.
    12. J.-M. Tarascon & M. Armand, 2001. "Issues and challenges facing rechargeable lithium batteries," Nature, Nature, vol. 414(6861), pages 359-367, November.
    13. Banal-Estañol, Albert & Calzada, Joan & Jordana, Jacint, 2017. "How to achieve full electrification: Lessons from Latin America," Energy Policy, Elsevier, vol. 108(C), pages 55-69.
    14. Andrea A. Eras-Almeida & Miguel A. Egido-Aguilera, 2020. "What Is Still Necessary for Supporting the SDG7 in the Most Vulnerable Contexts?," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 12(17), pages 1-28, September.
    15. Díaz, P. & Peña, R. & Muñoz, J. & Arias, C.A. & Sandoval, D., 2011. "Field analysis of solar PV-based collective systems for rural electrification," Energy, Elsevier, vol. 36(5), pages 2509-2516.
    16. Louis Rosenblum & William J. Bifano & Gerald F. Hein & Anthony F. Ratajczak, 1980. "Photovoltaic Power Systems For Rural Areas Of Developing Countries," Natural Resources Forum, Blackwell Publishing, vol. 4(1), pages 5-18, January.
    17. Rahman, Syed M. & Ahmad, Mokbul M., 2013. "Solar Home System (SHS) in rural Bangladesh: Ornamentation or fact of development?," Energy Policy, Elsevier, vol. 63(C), pages 348-354.
    18. Pode, Ramchandra, 2013. "Financing LED solar home systems in developing countries," Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews, Elsevier, vol. 25(C), pages 596-629.
    19. Hirmer, Stephanie & Cruickshank, Heather, 2014. "Making the deployment of pico-PV more sustainable along the value chain," Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews, Elsevier, vol. 30(C), pages 401-411.
    20. Chakravorty, Ujjayant & Emerick, Kyle & Ravago, Majah-Leah, 2016. "Lighting up the last mile: The bene ts and costs of extending electricity to the rural poor," RFF Working Paper Series dp-16-22-rev, Resources for the Future.
    21. Majbaul Alam & Subhes Bhattacharyya, 2016. "Decentralized Renewable Hybrid Mini-Grids for Sustainable Electrification of the Off-Grid Coastal Areas of Bangladesh," Energies, MDPI, vol. 9(4), pages 1-16, April.
    22. Valer, L. Roberto & Manito, Alex. R.A. & Ribeiro, Tina B. Selles & Zilles, Roberto & Pinho, João T., 2017. "Issues in PV systems applied to rural electrification in Brazil," Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews, Elsevier, vol. 78(C), pages 1033-1043.
    23. van Els, Rudi Henri & de Souza Vianna, João Nildo & Brasil, Antonio Cesar Pinho, 2012. "The Brazilian experience of rural electrification in the Amazon with decentralized generation – The need to change the paradigm from electrification to development," Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews, Elsevier, vol. 16(3), pages 1450-1461.
    24. Komatsu, Satoru & Kaneko, Shinji & Ghosh, Partha Pratim & Morinaga, Akane, 2013. "Determinants of user satisfaction with solar home systems in rural Bangladesh," Energy, Elsevier, vol. 61(C), pages 52-58.
    25. Ehsanul Kabir & Ki-Hyun Kim & Jan E. Szulejko, 2017. "Social Impacts of Solar Home Systems in Rural Areas: A Case Study in Bangladesh," Energies, MDPI, vol. 10(10), pages 1-12, October.
    26. Irani Arráiz & Carla Calero, 2015. "From Candles to Light: The Impact of Rural Electrification," IDB Publications (Working Papers) 89136, Inter-American Development Bank.
    27. Amitendu Palit, 2019. "Solar Energy Financing in India," World Scientific Book Chapters, in: S Narayan & Christopher Len & Roshni Kapur (ed.), Sustainable Energy Transition in South Asia Challenges and Opportunities, chapter 10, pages 171-185, World Scientific Publishing Co. Pte. Ltd..
    28. Andrea A. Eras-Almeida & Miguel Fernández & Julio Eisman & José G. Martín & Estefanía Caamaño & Miguel A. Egido-Aguilera, 2019. "Lessons Learned from Rural Electrification Experiences with Third Generation Solar Home Systems in Latin America: Case Studies in Peru, Mexico, and Bolivia," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 11(24), pages 1-24, December.
    29. Hossain Mondal, Md. Alam, 2010. "Economic viability of solar home systems: Case study of Bangladesh," Renewable Energy, Elsevier, vol. 35(6), pages 1125-1129.
    30. Maximo Torero, 2015. "The Impact of Rural Electrification: Challenges and Ways Forward," Revue d’économie du développement, De Boeck Université, vol. 23(HS), pages 49-75.
    31. Carlota Perez, 2009. "Technological revolutions and techno-economic paradigms," The Other Canon Foundation and Tallinn University of Technology Working Papers in Technology Governance and Economic Dynamics 20, TUT Ragnar Nurkse Department of Innovation and Governance.
    32. van der Vleuten, F. & Stam, N. & van der Plas, R., 2007. "Putting solar home system programmes into perspective: What lessons are relevant?," Energy Policy, Elsevier, vol. 35(3), pages 1439-1451, March.
    33. Krieger, Elena M. & Cannarella, John & Arnold, Craig B., 2013. "A comparison of lead-acid and lithium-based battery behavior and capacity fade in off-grid renewable charging applications," Energy, Elsevier, vol. 60(C), pages 492-500.
    Full references (including those not matched with items on IDEAS)

    Citations

    Citations are extracted by the CitEc Project, subscribe to its RSS feed for this item.
    as


    Cited by:

    1. Laura Del-Río-Carazo & Emiliano Acquila-Natale & Santiago Iglesias-Pradas & Ángel Hernández-García, 2022. "Sustainable Rural Electrification Project Management: An Analysis of Three Case Studies," Energies, MDPI, vol. 15(3), pages 1-21, February.
    2. Dongxiao Niu & Tian Gao & Zhengsen Ji & Yujing Liu & Gengqi Wu, 2021. "Analysis of the Efficiency of Provincial Electricity Substitution in China Based on a Three-Stage DEA Model," Energies, MDPI, vol. 14(20), pages 1-17, October.
    3. Francisco Javier Vela-Cobos & Ronald Cavero & Carlos A. Platero & José A. Sánchez-Fernández, 2021. "Luces Nuevas Experience Lighting Rural Bolivia: A Way to Reach SDG 7," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 13(18), pages 1-12, September.
    4. Bruno Domenech & Laia Ferrer-Martí & Facundo García & Georgina Hidalgo & Rafael Pastor & Antonin Ponsich, 2022. "Optimizing PV Microgrid Isolated Electrification Projects—A Case Study in Ecuador," Mathematics, MDPI, vol. 10(8), pages 1-24, April.
    5. Guillermo Almonacid-Olleros & Gabino Almonacid & David Gil & Javier Medina-Quero, 2022. "Evaluation of Transfer Learning and Fine-Tuning to Nowcast Energy Generation of Photovoltaic Systems in Different Climates," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 14(5), pages 1-15, March.

    Most related items

    These are the items that most often cite the same works as this one and are cited by the same works as this one.
    1. Andrea A. Eras-Almeida & Tatiana Vásquez-Hernández & Merlyn Johanna Hurtado-Moncada & Miguel A. Egido-Aguilera, 2023. "A Comprehensive Evaluation of Off-Grid Photovoltaic Experiences in Non-Interconnected Zones of Colombia: Integrating a Sustainable Perspective," Energies, MDPI, vol. 16(5), pages 1-27, February.
    2. Khan, Imran, 2020. "Impacts of energy decentralization viewed through the lens of the energy cultures framework: Solar home systems in the developing economies," Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews, Elsevier, vol. 119(C).
    3. Thomas, P.J.M. & Sandwell, P. & Williamson, S.J. & Harper, P.W., 2021. "A PESTLE analysis of solar home systems in refugee camps in Rwanda," Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews, Elsevier, vol. 143(C).
    4. Gómez-Hernández, D.F. & Domenech, B. & Moreira, J. & Farrera, N. & López-González, A. & Ferrer-Martí, L., 2019. "Comparative evaluation of rural electrification project plans: A case study in Mexico," Energy Policy, Elsevier, vol. 129(C), pages 23-33.
    5. Andrea A. Eras-Almeida & Miguel Fernández & Julio Eisman & José G. Martín & Estefanía Caamaño & Miguel A. Egido-Aguilera, 2019. "Lessons Learned from Rural Electrification Experiences with Third Generation Solar Home Systems in Latin America: Case Studies in Peru, Mexico, and Bolivia," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 11(24), pages 1-24, December.
    6. Alam, Majbaul & Bhattacharyya, Subhes, 2017. "Are the off-grid customers ready to pay for electricity from the decentralized renewable hybrid mini-grids? A study of willingness to pay in rural Bangladesh," Energy, Elsevier, vol. 139(C), pages 433-446.
    7. Pandey, A.K. & Tyagi, V.V. & Selvaraj, Jeyraj A/L & Rahim, N.A. & Tyagi, S.K., 2016. "Recent advances in solar photovoltaic systems for emerging trends and advanced applications," Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews, Elsevier, vol. 53(C), pages 859-884.
    8. Xavier Lemaire, 2018. "Solar home systems and solar lanterns in rural areas of the Global South: What impact?," Wiley Interdisciplinary Reviews: Energy and Environment, Wiley Blackwell, vol. 7(5), September.
    9. Brunet, Carole & Savadogo, Oumarou & Baptiste, Pierre & Bouchard, Michel A., 2018. "Shedding some light on photovoltaic solar energy in Africa – A literature review," Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews, Elsevier, vol. 96(C), pages 325-342.
    10. Almeshqab, Fatema & Ustun, Taha Selim, 2019. "Lessons learned from rural electrification initiatives in developing countries: Insights for technical, social, financial and public policy aspects," Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews, Elsevier, vol. 102(C), pages 35-53.
    11. Mandelli, Stefano & Barbieri, Jacopo & Mereu, Riccardo & Colombo, Emanuela, 2016. "Off-grid systems for rural electrification in developing countries: Definitions, classification and a comprehensive literature review," Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews, Elsevier, vol. 58(C), pages 1621-1646.
    12. George Adwek & Shen Boxiong & Paul O. Ndolo & Zachary O. Siagi & Chebet Chepsaigutt & Cicilia M. Kemunto & Moses Arowo & John Shimmon & Patrobers Simiyu & Abel C. Yabo, 2020. "The solar energy access in Kenya: a review focusing on Pay-As-You-Go solar home system," Environment, Development and Sustainability: A Multidisciplinary Approach to the Theory and Practice of Sustainable Development, Springer, vol. 22(5), pages 3897-3938, June.
    13. Antoine Boche & Clément Foucher & Luiz Fernando Lavado Villa, 2022. "Understanding Microgrid Sustainability: A Systemic and Comprehensive Review," Energies, MDPI, vol. 15(8), pages 1-29, April.
    14. Alejandro López-González & Bruno Domenech & Laia Ferrer-Martí, 2021. "Sustainability Evaluation of Rural Electrification in Cuba: From Fossil Fuels to Modular Photovoltaic Systems: Case Studies from Sancti Spiritus Province," Energies, MDPI, vol. 14(9), pages 1-17, April.
    15. Komatsu, Satoru & Kaneko, Shinji & Ghosh, Partha Pratim & Morinaga, Akane, 2013. "Determinants of user satisfaction with solar home systems in rural Bangladesh," Energy, Elsevier, vol. 61(C), pages 52-58.
    16. López-González, A. & Ferrer-Martí, L. & Domenech, B., 2019. "Sustainable rural electrification planning in developing countries: A proposal for electrification of isolated communities of Venezuela," Energy Policy, Elsevier, vol. 129(C), pages 327-338.
    17. Jing Zhang & Roger Raufer & Lingxuan Liu, 2020. "Solar Home Systems for Clean Cooking: A Cost–Health Benefit Analysis of Lower-Middle-Income Countries in Southeast Asia," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 12(9), pages 1-14, May.
    18. Carrasco, L.M. & Narvarte, L. & Martínez-Moreno, F. & Moretón, R., 2014. "In-field assessment of batteries and PV modules in a large photovoltaic rural electrification programme," Energy, Elsevier, vol. 75(C), pages 281-288.
    19. Hirmer, Stephanie & Cruickshank, Heather, 2014. "The user-value of rural electrification: An analysis and adoption of existing models and theories," Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews, Elsevier, vol. 34(C), pages 145-154.
    20. Swati Anindita Sarker & Shouyang Wang & K M Mehedi Adnan & Muhammad Khalid Anser & Zeraibi Ayoub & Thu Hau Ho & Riffat Ara Zannat Tama & Anna Trunina & Md Mahmudul Hoque, 2020. "Economic Viability and Socio-Environmental Impacts of Solar Home Systems for Off-Grid Rural Electrification in Bangladesh," Energies, MDPI, vol. 13(3), pages 1-15, February.

    Corrections

    All material on this site has been provided by the respective publishers and authors. You can help correct errors and omissions. When requesting a correction, please mention this item's handle: RePEc:gam:jsusta:v:13:y:2021:i:6:p:3032-:d:514345. See general information about how to correct material in RePEc.

    If you have authored this item and are not yet registered with RePEc, we encourage you to do it here. This allows to link your profile to this item. It also allows you to accept potential citations to this item that we are uncertain about.

    If CitEc recognized a bibliographic reference but did not link an item in RePEc to it, you can help with this form .

    If you know of missing items citing this one, you can help us creating those links by adding the relevant references in the same way as above, for each refering item. If you are a registered author of this item, you may also want to check the "citations" tab in your RePEc Author Service profile, as there may be some citations waiting for confirmation.

    For technical questions regarding this item, or to correct its authors, title, abstract, bibliographic or download information, contact: MDPI Indexing Manager (email available below). General contact details of provider: https://www.mdpi.com .

    Please note that corrections may take a couple of weeks to filter through the various RePEc services.

    IDEAS is a RePEc service. RePEc uses bibliographic data supplied by the respective publishers.