Matching renewable energy systems to village-level energy needs Page: 44 of 71
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TR-514
" Can the methodology be simplified? Are there components that can be elim-
inated without affecting the final technology selection?
" What resources are required from the planning agency, ministry, or donor organ-
ization in terms of time, funding, or technical expertise? How does this compare
with traditional engineering feasibility studies?
" How does it aid the adaptation of a technology to local needs and environment?
4.2.2 Survey on Component Costs of the Matching Process
Many components of this process have been used routinely by one or more development
organizations as part of their preproject feasibility studies or project management pro-
cedures. For example, in the last three years a number of projects have been initiated by
donor agencies that included site-specific inventories of available energy resources and
local energy needs characteristics.* Detailed cost engineering estimates along with
some procedure for identifying, and often quantifying, the accompanying benefits are
developed for all but the smallest development projects. Many development organ-
izations use sophisticated mechanisms for incorporating noneconomic criteria (e.g., the
impact on the environment, consequences for the role of women, and income disparities)
into the project identification and.technology selection processes.
Although preliminary technical results on energy need patterns and technology perfor-
mance are becoming available, little is known about what additional components such as
rural energy surveys and renewable energy resource assessments are required from the
sponsoring organization and how they affect energy delivery to the village end user. It
would be useful to gather such information now through discussions with project
managers and consultants used to perform field studies and distribute it to interested
development planners. Such information also would help focus discussions currently
underway in a number of development institutions on how to integrate components of the
matching process into existing internal practices with a minimum of cost and disruption.
4.2.3 Improving the Needs/Technology Fit
One of the major advantages of the matching process is that it identifies characteristics
of each energy technology's output that are not compatible with the pattern of local
energy demand. The nature of the mismatch determines what activities are needed to
improve the usefulness of the technology. Where there is a fundamental disparity
between the characteristics of the technology output and the energy need, R&D may
eliminate or reduce technical problems and increase compatibility. Where the
need/technology fit is theoretically good but major operating difficulties have been en-
countered in experimental systems, applied research and technology adaptation may
overcome climatic factors, decrease maintenance, simplify operating procedures, in-
crease .use of local materials, or accommodate local tastes and customs. Third, there
may be an apparent good match but little or no operating experience in the country or
region or for this particular application. A solution would be field demonstrations with
systems installed specifically to gather information on actual performance. Finally, a
technological option may provide the required energy but is too expensive for wide-
spread use. This requires efforts to lower delivered per-unit costs through expanded pro-
duction, increased local manufacture, the substitution of lower-cost components, etc.
*For brief overviews of six of these projects, see Ashworth (1979).29
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Ashworth, J.H. & Neuendorffer, J.W. Matching renewable energy systems to village-level energy needs, report, June 1, 1980; Golden, Colorado. (https://digital.library.unt.edu/ark:/67531/metadc1054018/m1/44/: accessed July 18, 2024), University of North Texas Libraries, UNT Digital Library, https://digital.library.unt.edu; crediting UNT Libraries Government Documents Department.