Given by Benoit Dubeau The second in our series of workshops designed to gather input from stakeholders involved in existing off-grid projects in Africa, Asia and Latin America. This event is workshop scheduled to be held in Malaysia for the ASEAN countries will be organised by the Academy of Sciences Malaysia (ASM) in collaboration with Universiti Malaysia Sarawak (UNIMAS).

1. Sunlabob
Renewable Energy
Laos-Based
Internationally-Focused
Energy for Off-grid Villages
in SE-Asia
Kuching -25-29 January, 2015
Benoit Dubeau
Project manager
Sunlabob Renewable Energy
Benoit.dubeau@sunlabob.com

2.  Founded in Laos in 2000
 Lao PDR’s first commercial renewable energy
company
 Small team, limited expertise, self funded
 Focus on off-grid, rural communities
 Basic solar home systems
 Direct sales model
 Early success, but realized limitations and
issues of financial sustainability
Early Stages: Social Enterprise
Saw need for new approaches to operation of rural-focused
business model -- how can renewable energy and clean water be
provided on a sustainable, long-term basis?

3.  Integration of community-based operational models
 Local training and capacity-building
 Establishing rural franchise agents and local energy enterprises
 Establishment of “fee for service” business model
 Rural customers pay for electricity, not the infrastructure
 Based on utility model: sales revenue pays for O&M
 Expanded products/services using “fee for service”
 Solar lanterns charging stations
 Solar and hydro village mini-grids
 Water purification
Pioneering Business Models

4.  Community-based approach creating micro-
entrepreneurs
 Village Energy Technicians (VET) and Committees (VEC)
 Focus on long-term, self-sustaining development
 Ownership and management transferred to off-grid communities
Pioneering Business Models

5. Community-Based
Operational Models

6.  World Economic Forum – Schwab Foundation for Social
Entrepreneurship
 Ashden Award – 1st Prize
 World Bank Development Marketplace & Lighting Africa
Global recognition:
 Pilot projects and consulting in Uganda, Afghanistan, Bhutan,
East Timor, etc.
…But critical question: can a business scale up and be sustainable
selling products and services to the poorest populations in the
world?
Awards & Recognition

7. Laos – a long-term market for off-grid renewable energy?
 Population relatively small – 6 million
 Rapid expansion of central grid
After building experience in Laos, Sunlabob shifted to also
serving international markets via competitive tenders.
International Expansion

8. Sunlabob Today
 Founded in Laos in 2000, expert in off-grid renewable energy
 Internationally-focused: throughout 24+ countries in ASEAN,
Pacific islands, Africa, India
 Deep experience in world’s most challenging rural environments
 Approach to longevity: high-quality technology paired with local
training and capacity building
 Customers: Development agencies, gov’ts, NGOs, private sector

9. Global Reach: Key Highlights
 Laos: Estimated 270,000 people, 10,000 systems, 500 villages
 Cambodia: 60,000 people, 12,000 solar home systems
 Micronesia: 3,500 solar lanterns/charging stations
 Marshall Islands:
 7,500 people
 1,500 solar home systems
 Uganda:
 10,000 students
 64 schools
 Sierra Leone:
 13 solar plants

10. Project Spotlight:
Solar Mini-Grid
Situation
 Ban Houaypha, rural village in Luang Prabang Province
 42 km from nearest grid connection
 83 households, 498 people
 $41.50 – average household monthly income ($1.38/day)
Solution: Solar PV village grid
 2kWh – 20kWh provision
 $1.25 – $3.75 monthly options
Local Training and O&M
 VETs, VEC, maintenance fund

11. Project Spotlight
Laos
 Client: MMG Mining
 Clean water for 3,400+ people; 12 villages
 Community surveys, feasibility studies, design, installation
 Solar water pumping and distribution

12. Project Spotlight
Kiribati Islands
 Client: EU Development Fund; Republic of Kiribati
 Supply, installation and local training of on- and off-grid solar
 2,000+ solar home systems, electrification of 100+ small
businesses, community centers and schools

13. Project Spotlight
Sierra Leone
 Client: United Nations Industrial Development Organization
 Design, installation and local capacity building
 13 solar PV arrays at industrial training centers and schools

14. Thank
You
Benoit Dubeau
Project manager
Benoit.Dubeau@sunlabob.com
Sunlabob: Laos-Based,
Internationally-Focused