Renewable World has been working with Surrey University on a number of research projects including the following:

Under What Set of Circumstances is Micro-Wind a Viable and Sustainble Option for Providing De-Centralised Energy to Rural Areas of Developing Countries?

Peter Summersell, Sustainable Development MSc

This paper presents the results of a research projects to assess the sustainability of different delivery models for small and micro wind in rural communities in developing countries.

Currently 1.6 billion people in the world live without any access to electricity, the vast majority in rural areas of developing countries, and it is estimated that if the nothing is done to address the issue there will still be 1.4 billion people without electricity by 2030. Over 2.4 billion people rely on biomass as their primary energy source for cooking and heating, and every year approximately 1.6 million people die prematurely in developing countries because of indoor air pollution caused by the lack of clean energy alternatives.  The pollution comes from burning fuels such as wood and charcoal for cooking in open fires or inefficient stoves, and paraffin lamps, and disproportionately affects women and children.

Past studies to assess the relationship between decentralised rural electrification and rural development have focused on photovoltaic (PV), biomass, micro-hydro and hybrid systems, and this paper focuses on trying to fill this gap by exploring the relationship between de-centralised micro wind and sustainable rural development.

Recognizing that environmental, economic and social conditions vary and favour different approaches to delivering micro- and small-wind systems, this paper aims to identify the strengths and weaknesses associated with each approach, so as to better inform developers and funders in the design and delivery of projects.

This paper will present a qualitative analysis of five case studies in developing countries, using data collected from interviews and questionnaires, as well as direct information from manufactures of small and micro wind turbines that have been involved in working with development projects.  The case studies include locally produced as well as imported turbines, one turbine per household models as well as larger turbines that provide power for a community, as well as battery charging stations and micro-grid installations.  By examining these case studies, with a focus on a range of delivery models, lessons for the successful implementation of micro and small wind systems will be identified.  These common problems and solutions can be shared with project developers to improve the chances of success and lead to the long-term sustainability of future projects.

This paper also aims to explore the argument that wind technology should be developed, manufactured and supported on a globalised level and imported to individual developing areas.  Typically mass produced wind turbines are considered more efficiently and of better quality than small scale locally produced wind turbines, and this paper will try and critically assess this argument by examining how the social capital of local production allows the development of sustainable solutions for production and implementation of small and micro-wind turbines in rural developing areas.