Research and development aspects on decentralized electrification options for rural household

Low income households living in the rural areas suffer from energy poverty and lack of human and economic development. Currently, many governments of less developed countries are committed in improving access to electricity. The same commitment should be adapted globally as part of human right because providing electricity access to low-income households improves health and education, generates income, increases productivity, reduces inequality, and enhances the quality of life. Rural electrification is a complicated issue because of user affordability, rural inaccessibility and remoteness, low population densities and dispersed households, low project profitability, fiscal deficit, scarcity of energy resources, population growth, lack of professionalism, and over-dependence on subsidies. The demand for electrification cannot be accomplished because of the increasing gap between rural electrification rate and population growth. Therefore, this review aims to study various decentralized household-sized energy technologies available in rural areas, such as battery, diesel generator, pedal generator, pico hydro, photovoltaic (PV) solar home system, and wind. Preference for one of the options depends on energy-source availability, economic feasibility, rural economic development, disposal of residues, nature of end-user application, and government programs and policies. Pico hydro is the preferred electricity generation source in most rural households, followed by wind, PV, and diesel generators. This paper concurs that households in rural areas will be able to afford for electricity access if the payment schedule of the electrification cost is extended and interest rates and taxes, if any, are dropped.