Local Solutions for energy access

Prerequisites

Bachelor’s degree in engineering, environmental studies, business, policy, or development-related fields
Some technical knowledge of electrical systems is an advantage

Delivery & expectations

Each seminar includes morning and afternoon sessions, held in person in the ACE-ESD boardroom on the UR CST campus. Participants complete an assessment task before the next seminar.

Programme partner

Supported by TEA-LP

Transforming Energy Access — Learning Partnership

Developed with support from TEA-LP. Free of charge for MSc Renewable Energy students; professionals may enrol subject to prerequisites. Successful completion earns a Certificate of Training and access to the TEA-LP network. For enrolment questions, contact the programme leader below.

Course outline

Six seminars covering distributed renewable energy, community engagement, business models, finance, policy, and environmental stewardship.

1.1. Overview of the national energy system (including grid system, DES and interconnections) and RE resources

National energy system: Energy generation, transmission, and distribution at national scale
DES (mini, micro, pico systems): Energy supply generated closer to end-use location; Mini: 100kW -1 mW, Micro: 5- 100 kW, Pico: 1-10 W
Distributed RE System (DRE): Distributed RE generation using Wind, Solar and Small Hydro systems.
Energy Access: Level of energy access of the population
Wind and Solar PV resource availability: Resource assessment - determining availability and potential of wind / solar energy to cost-effectively develop / deploy DES systems

1.2. Distributed Renewable Energy Systems (Technical)

AC vs DC Ecosystems: Both AC and DC describe types of current flow in a circuit. In direct current (DC), the electric charge (current) only flows in one direction. Electric charge in alternating current (AC), on the other hand, changes direction periodically
Energy storage in DRE: The capture of energy produced at one time for use at a later time to reduce imbalances between energy demand and energy production
Energy management in DES systems: The proactive and systematic monitoring, control and optimization of an organization's energy consumption to conserve use and decrease energy costs

1.3. Design Options and Cost for DREs

Hybrid Energy Systems: System that includes both RE and fossil fuels
Configuration of hybrid energy systems for decentralized energy production: Grid integrated and Grid Isolated configurations; Hybrid energy systems - combine two or more energy conversion devices for meeting a common energy end use

1.4. Distributed Renewable Energy System Trends

Green minigrids: Green minigrids - energy generated significantly from renewable sources, Energy democracy with DES- involvement of all peoples in energy production and use
Energy democratization: Involvement of population in energy production and distribution
Digitilization of DES: Digitilization - application of digital technologies in DES to manage energy production, demand and supply.

2.1. Energy End-Users in Off-Grid Settings

Customer energy profiles within a community; household energy consumption: Energy profiles - The different energy end users within a community and their energy demand and consumption pattern
Multi-Tier framework of energy access: The MTF identifies and analyzes the main reasons why households are not using electricity, or why their usage is limited (i.e. by capacity, reliability or affordability issues), and then recommends a set of measures to remove such constraints. MTF, therefore, not only allows for a nuanced tracking of SDG 7 targets, but also helps governments fine-tune their policies and approaches for reaching them. The World Bank’s Multi-Tier Framework (MTF) defines electricity access in terms of tiers of service, ranging from Tiers 0 to 5. The tiers are based on seven attributes of electricity service, including capacity, service hours, reliability, quality or voltage fluctuations, affordability, legality, and safety. On the basis of these seven attributes, the MTF assigns any given household to one of the five tiers, where Tier 0 is no meaningful access, Tier 1 is basic lighting and charging, Tier 2 is the ability to run a few small appliances, Tier 3 is a formal grid connection with limited service, Tier 4 is a service capable of supporting refrigeration, and Tier 5 is unrestricted continuous service

2.2. Socio-Economic and Cultural Factors within Communities

Community dynamics in energy systems design and deployment: Socio-cultural and economic factors that influence design and deployment of DRE systems in communities
Willingness to pay: The willingness with which a community is likely to pay for a product or service, in this case, access to energy

2.3. Methods and Tools for Community Engagement

Community engagement methodologies and strategies (role play games, focus groups, surveys, interviews): Commuity engagement - the input, participation, and reflections of the people and communities at the heart of the issues

2.4. Socio-Economic and Cultural Enablers and Barriers

Barriers and enablers for community engagement: There are certain socio-economic and cultural enablers that can promote or enhance the development of an off-grid. Should these be identified, signficant resources can be saved, and the chances of project success can be noticeably improved. On the other hand, there are certain socio-economic and cultural barriers that can make an off-grid electrification project signficantly more difficult, thereby reducing the chances of the project being a success. Barriers may incur additional cost in terms of time, money, and business resources.

3.1. DRE Business Models

Business models for energy technologies and services in the off-grid sector: Business models include - Pay per service unit, Pay as you go (rent-to-own), Fee for service, community owned; Special Purpose Vehicle.

3.2. Business Model Canvas as a tool for understanding business models

Business Model canvas (BMC) tool: BMC - a strategic management template / tool for developing new business models and documenting existing ones

3.3. Supply Chains in the DRE Sector

Supply chain: The network of all the individuals, organizations, resources, activities, and technology involved in the creation and sale of a product.

3.4. Productive Use of Energy (PUE)

Productive Use of Energy (PUE): Productive Use of Energy - use of energy to increase income and improve welfare in communities

4.1. Financing for DRE Companies

Financial options, financial planning, budgeting, revenue models: Financing mechanisms: Innovative approaches for financing energy companies and projects in the DRE sector e.g. Concessional lending, PPP, Equity investment etc

4.2. Financing for DRE Projects

Financial options, financial planning, budgeting, revenue model

4.3. Financial Risks for the DRE Sector

Climate finance opportunities, risk management

5.1. Energy Access, Development, and Climate Change Nexus

Energy access as a means to an end: Energy as a means to livelihood and sustainable development
Energy- climate change - development framework and trade-offs: Adapations for climate-resilent energy for sustainable development
The link between Climate agreements and national energy policies: National energy and climate action plans, Carbon credits and Carbon tax

5.2. National Energy Policies

Energy policies and synergies between them: Energy policies- the scheme in which the government (or any organization) addresses issues related to energy growth and usage. Synergy- Extent to which national energy policies support each other to promote development of DRE sector

5.3. National Regulations in the DRE Sector

National Regulations in the DRE Sector: Energy regulations: Set of rules that govern the energy sector in terms of energy generation, distribution and use

6.1. Environmental Impact Assessment

Environmental impact assessments (EIA) of renewables vs fossil fuels: EIA: A tool / methodology for assessing the impact of energy production and use on the environment

6.2. Renewable Energy Technologies and the Environment

RE technologies and sustainable development: RE Technologies: Renewable energy technologies like Wind turbines, solar PV, Hydro-turbines

6.3. Product Life Cycles

Product Life Cycle Analysis: Product Life Cycle Analysis: A detailed analysis of the total environmental impact of each stage of a product's life, from the raw material inputs right through to disposal / end of life

6.4. Circular Economy Opportunities

Circular economy in renewable energy sector, waste challenges & solutions, second -life applications (Innovate, renovate, reuse, recycle),: Circular Economy: Keeping renewable energy products and materials in use and designing them to be cycled back into the economy

Assessment

Individual project on one of Rwanda& amp; amp; #x27; s energy challenges, with a presentation in the classroom for evaluation.

Programme Leader: Dr. Emmanuel Ufiteyezu

Email: ufiteyezuem@yahoo.fr

Phone: +250782122418

Address: College of Science and Technology, University of Rwanda

P.O.BOX BP 3900, Kigali