By John Holmes Off-grid electrification for development of small islands represents a number of unique challenges under the broad category of rural electrification. Small, off-grid island communities are particularly vulnerable to diesel price fluctuations and natural disasters, and thus, enhancing resilience through more sustainable and cheaper energy technologies should be a key priority. Financing the transition to these technologies – usually photovoltaic, micro-hydro or sometimes wind – is an essential hurdle to overcome. Once electricity systems are in place it is equally important that they are sustained in the longer term with effective arrangements for operation and maintenance, cost recovery etc. Related to this, is the productive use of the energy provided to increase islander incomes. The workshop on Bunaken Island, Sulawesi, Indonesia from 3 to 5 November 2015, organised by the Smart Villages Initiative in collaboration with Kopernik, will explore these issues and develop recommendations for policy makers, development agencies and other stakeholders in energy provision to island communities. More info: http://e4sv.org/events/off-grid-islands-electricity-workshop/

1. e4sv.org
THE SMART VILLAGES INITIATIVE
Dr John Holmes
Senior Research Fellow, University of Oxford
Co-Leader Smart Villages Initiative
3rd November 2015

2. e4sv.org
SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT GOALS
Goal 7. Ensure access to affordable, reliable,
sustainable and modern energy for all
■ 7.1 By 2030, ensure universal access to affordable,
reliable and modern energy services
■ 7.2 By 2030, increase substantially the share of
renewable energy in the global energy mix
■ 7.3 By 2030, double the global rate of improvement in
energy efficiency

3. e4sv.org
GOAL 7: MEANS OF IMPLEMENTATION TARGETS
■ 7.a By 2030, enhance international cooperation to facilitate access
to clean energy research and technology, including renewable
energy, energy efficiency and advanced and cleaner fossil-fuel
technology, and promote investment in energy infrastructure and
clean energy technology.
■ 7.b By 2030, expand infrastructure and upgrade technology for
supplying modern and sustainable energy services for all in
developing countries, in particular least developed countries, land
locked developing countries and small island developing States in
accordance with their respective programmes of action.
→ Investment in Energy Infrastructure
→ Research and Technology

4. e4sv.org
INVESTMENT IN ENERGY INFRASTRUCTURE
■ Maximise leverage of public sector funding:
■ Increase rate of investment by x10
■ need access to all sources of financing including international climate funds
■ Supportive policy and regulatory frameworks:
 plea from entrepreneurs: less red tape and some breathing space
 nurture home grown enterprises: business incubation / advisory support services
■ Integrate with other development initiatives:
 associated investments in healthcare, education, clean water/sanitation etc.
 investment in new enterprises and increased productivity of existing income
generating activities
 Make aware of possibilities
 Ensure all have opportunities
 Access to markets and finance
 Example of AEPC in Nepal

5. e4sv.org
INVESTMENT IN ENERGY INFRASTRUCTURE (2)
 Access to affordable finance:
 investment capital for mini-grid developers: support to de-risk and lower interest
rates
 working capital for SMEs to accelerate roll-out of SHS and solar lights
 novel financing schemes/business models for end-users
 Public-private-community partnerships:
 community ownership and involvement necessary for success: key investment
 Preparatory work: understand and build on local cultures and lifestyles
 Build relationships & partner with trusted individuals and organisations
 identify, train and support local champions

6. e4sv.org
RESEARCH AND TECHNOLOGY
■ Expanding the range of accessible services/appliances:
■ energy escalator approach to higher powers: TV, fridge, sewing machine etc.
■ low energy appliances
■ Reducing costs / increasing durability:
■ key contribution to economic viability
■ potential future breakthroughs: e.g. printable organic solar cells
■ need for focus on enhancing batteries: cost and lifetime
■ poor quality products: quality assurance mechanisms
■ Scale of electricity systems:
■ home/institution based
■ small clusters of houses: DC nano-grids
■ village-level AC mini-grids
■ Research and development:
■ more applied research: improved links between university researchers & SMEs
■ need for: improved control systems, ‘plug-and-play’ technologies, recycling

7. e4sv.org
GOAL 17: STRENGTHEN THE MEANS OF
IMPLEMENTATION…
■ Need for better collaboration:
 a confusion/competition of funders
 put in place frameworks for cooperation
■ Value of sharing of information & experiences:
 between countries and regions: role for the Smart Villages Initiative
 case studies of smart villages: value as integrating concept
 government/donor funded datasets of wind, hydro etc. potential
 Focus on capacity building:
 systematic analysis across all stages and actors: training schemes to plug gaps
 Develop approaches to monitor/evaluate development outcomes

8. e4sv.org
Thank you for your attention
www.e4sv.org | info@e4sv.org | @e4SmartVillages