IEEE Power & Energy Magazine - July/August 2014 - 60
It Takes a Village
By Guillermo A. Jiménez-Estévez,
Rodrigo Palma-Behnke, Diego Ortiz-Villalba,
Oscar Núñez Mata, and Carlos Silva Montes
T
The World Bank, one of The mosT imporTanT
supporters of rural electrification projects, estimates that
approximately 1.2 billion people do not have regular access
to electricity. in latin america as a whole, according to
the international energy agency, the electrification rate
has reached 92.3% but that still leaves 33.8 million people without access to electricity (see figure 1). They live
mostly in rural and isolated areas that are often neglected
by electrification projects due to the high associated costs
and technical difficulties.
many of these projects are, in fact, often tied to a single
energy source (e.g., diesel, hydro, or solar) and supply only
a single dwelling or a small village. such supply solutions
depend heavily on weather conditions, transportation constraints, and resource availability, with a consequent lack
of reliability and security. The World Bank also identifies
these projects as turnkey systems, with little or no community involvement, that often suffer from technical problems
soon after installation due to a lack of local capabilities and
proper maintenance procedures.
The World Bank argues that technical problems reduce
the benefits of off-grid investments, citing evidence from
places such as Vientiane province in laos where, after
only a few years of operation, more than 80% of solar
home systems (shss) were not working properly. another
documented case comes from Thailand, where 59 micro
hydroelectricity systems were implemented but only 25
remain in operation due to poor maintenance procedures.
similar results have also been seen in Chile, where statistics held by the national system in charge of investment
in electrification projects in remote areas show that the
diesel generation equipment used by these projects has an
average life span of three years before it must be replaced.
Community participation has been recognized as a powerful tool for the maintenance and operation of systems that
serve the community itself. The U.s. agency for international
development (Usaid) program "making Cities Work" also
promotes the idea that community participation builds support, provides a sense of ownership, increases sustainability, and reduces maintenance costs. in this context, there is
Digital Object Identifier 10.1109/MPE.2014.2317419
Date of publication: 17 June 2014
60
ieee power & energy magazine
1540-7977/14©2014IEEE
july/august 2014
Table of Contents for the Digital Edition of IEEE Power & Energy Magazine - July/August 2014
IEEE Power & Energy Magazine - July/August 2014 - Cover1
IEEE Power & Energy Magazine - July/August 2014 - Cover2
IEEE Power & Energy Magazine - July/August 2014 - 1
IEEE Power & Energy Magazine - July/August 2014 - 2
IEEE Power & Energy Magazine - July/August 2014 - 3
IEEE Power & Energy Magazine - July/August 2014 - 4
IEEE Power & Energy Magazine - July/August 2014 - 5
IEEE Power & Energy Magazine - July/August 2014 - 6
IEEE Power & Energy Magazine - July/August 2014 - 7
IEEE Power & Energy Magazine - July/August 2014 - 8
IEEE Power & Energy Magazine - July/August 2014 - 9
IEEE Power & Energy Magazine - July/August 2014 - 10
IEEE Power & Energy Magazine - July/August 2014 - 11
IEEE Power & Energy Magazine - July/August 2014 - 12
IEEE Power & Energy Magazine - July/August 2014 - 13
IEEE Power & Energy Magazine - July/August 2014 - 14
IEEE Power & Energy Magazine - July/August 2014 - 15
IEEE Power & Energy Magazine - July/August 2014 - 16
IEEE Power & Energy Magazine - July/August 2014 - 17
IEEE Power & Energy Magazine - July/August 2014 - 18
IEEE Power & Energy Magazine - July/August 2014 - 19
IEEE Power & Energy Magazine - July/August 2014 - 20
IEEE Power & Energy Magazine - July/August 2014 - 21
IEEE Power & Energy Magazine - July/August 2014 - 22
IEEE Power & Energy Magazine - July/August 2014 - 23
IEEE Power & Energy Magazine - July/August 2014 - 24
IEEE Power & Energy Magazine - July/August 2014 - 25
IEEE Power & Energy Magazine - July/August 2014 - 26
IEEE Power & Energy Magazine - July/August 2014 - 27
IEEE Power & Energy Magazine - July/August 2014 - 28
IEEE Power & Energy Magazine - July/August 2014 - 29
IEEE Power & Energy Magazine - July/August 2014 - 30
IEEE Power & Energy Magazine - July/August 2014 - 31
IEEE Power & Energy Magazine - July/August 2014 - 32
IEEE Power & Energy Magazine - July/August 2014 - 33
IEEE Power & Energy Magazine - July/August 2014 - 34
IEEE Power & Energy Magazine - July/August 2014 - 35
IEEE Power & Energy Magazine - July/August 2014 - 36
IEEE Power & Energy Magazine - July/August 2014 - 37
IEEE Power & Energy Magazine - July/August 2014 - 38
IEEE Power & Energy Magazine - July/August 2014 - 39
IEEE Power & Energy Magazine - July/August 2014 - 40
IEEE Power & Energy Magazine - July/August 2014 - 41
IEEE Power & Energy Magazine - July/August 2014 - 42
IEEE Power & Energy Magazine - July/August 2014 - 43
IEEE Power & Energy Magazine - July/August 2014 - 44
IEEE Power & Energy Magazine - July/August 2014 - 45
IEEE Power & Energy Magazine - July/August 2014 - 46
IEEE Power & Energy Magazine - July/August 2014 - 47
IEEE Power & Energy Magazine - July/August 2014 - 48
IEEE Power & Energy Magazine - July/August 2014 - 49
IEEE Power & Energy Magazine - July/August 2014 - 50
IEEE Power & Energy Magazine - July/August 2014 - 51
IEEE Power & Energy Magazine - July/August 2014 - 52
IEEE Power & Energy Magazine - July/August 2014 - 53
IEEE Power & Energy Magazine - July/August 2014 - 54
IEEE Power & Energy Magazine - July/August 2014 - 55
IEEE Power & Energy Magazine - July/August 2014 - 56
IEEE Power & Energy Magazine - July/August 2014 - 57
IEEE Power & Energy Magazine - July/August 2014 - 58
IEEE Power & Energy Magazine - July/August 2014 - 59
IEEE Power & Energy Magazine - July/August 2014 - 60
IEEE Power & Energy Magazine - July/August 2014 - 61
IEEE Power & Energy Magazine - July/August 2014 - 62
IEEE Power & Energy Magazine - July/August 2014 - 63
IEEE Power & Energy Magazine - July/August 2014 - 64
IEEE Power & Energy Magazine - July/August 2014 - 65
IEEE Power & Energy Magazine - July/August 2014 - 66
IEEE Power & Energy Magazine - July/August 2014 - 67
IEEE Power & Energy Magazine - July/August 2014 - 68
IEEE Power & Energy Magazine - July/August 2014 - 69
IEEE Power & Energy Magazine - July/August 2014 - 70
IEEE Power & Energy Magazine - July/August 2014 - 71
IEEE Power & Energy Magazine - July/August 2014 - 72
IEEE Power & Energy Magazine - July/August 2014 - 73
IEEE Power & Energy Magazine - July/August 2014 - 74
IEEE Power & Energy Magazine - July/August 2014 - 75
IEEE Power & Energy Magazine - July/August 2014 - 76
IEEE Power & Energy Magazine - July/August 2014 - 77
IEEE Power & Energy Magazine - July/August 2014 - 78
IEEE Power & Energy Magazine - July/August 2014 - 79
IEEE Power & Energy Magazine - July/August 2014 - 80
IEEE Power & Energy Magazine - July/August 2014 - 81
IEEE Power & Energy Magazine - July/August 2014 - 82
IEEE Power & Energy Magazine - July/August 2014 - 83
IEEE Power & Energy Magazine - July/August 2014 - 84
IEEE Power & Energy Magazine - July/August 2014 - 85
IEEE Power & Energy Magazine - July/August 2014 - 86
IEEE Power & Energy Magazine - July/August 2014 - 87
IEEE Power & Energy Magazine - July/August 2014 - 88
IEEE Power & Energy Magazine - July/August 2014 - 89
IEEE Power & Energy Magazine - July/August 2014 - 90
IEEE Power & Energy Magazine - July/August 2014 - 91
IEEE Power & Energy Magazine - July/August 2014 - 92
IEEE Power & Energy Magazine - July/August 2014 - 93
IEEE Power & Energy Magazine - July/August 2014 - 94
IEEE Power & Energy Magazine - July/August 2014 - 95
IEEE Power & Energy Magazine - July/August 2014 - 96
IEEE Power & Energy Magazine - July/August 2014 - Cover3
IEEE Power & Energy Magazine - July/August 2014 - Cover4
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/pes/powerenergy_091020
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/pes/powerenergy_070820
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/pes/powerenergy_050620
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/pes/powerenergy_030420
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/pes/powerenergy_010220
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/pes/powerenergy_111219
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/pes/powerenergy_091019
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/pes/powerenergy_070819
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/pes/powerenergy_050619
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/pes/powerenergy_030419
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/pes/powerenergy_010219
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/pes/powerenergy_111218
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/pes/powerenergy_091018
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/pes/powerenergy_070818
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/pes/powerenergy_050618
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/pes/powerenergy_030418
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/pes/powerenergy_010218
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/pes/powerenergy_111217
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/pes/powerenergy_091017
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/pes/powerenergy_070817
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/pes/powerenergy_050617
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/pes/powerenergy_030417
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/pes/powerenergy_010217
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/pes/powerenergy_111216
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/pes/powerenergy_091016
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/pes/powerenergy_070816
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/pes/powerenergy_050616
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/pes/powerenergy_030416
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/pes/powerenergy_010216
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ieee/powerenergy_010216
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/pes/powerenergy_111215
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/pes/powerenergy_091015
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/pes/powerenergy_070815
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/pes/powerenergy_050615
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/pes/powerenergy_030415
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/pes/powerenergy_010215
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/pes/powerenergy_111214
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/pes/powerenergy_091014
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/pes/powerenergy_070814
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/pes/powerenergy_050614
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/pes/powerenergy_030414
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/pes/powerenergy_010214
https://www.nxtbookmedia.com