New publication collects success stories from around the world

The Alliance for Rural Electrification (ARE), the only international business association focused on the promotion of off-grid renewable energy solutions for rural electrification in developing countries, has published today its most recent edition of "Best Practices of the Alliance for Rural Electrification:

What renewable energies can achieve in developing and emerging markets".

The Best Practices includes recent case-studies from around the world that make a business case for the use of off-grid renewables in rural electrification. All examples were implemented by ARE members, and in order to support energy decision-makers to develop markets designs tailored to local needs and demonstrate successful solutions to end energy-poverty in areas where grid-extension is currently not technically possible or too costly.

In order to support energy decision-makers to develop markets tailored to local needs, ARE ensured that these projects show not only the range of off-grid renewable technologies (small solar, small wind, small hydro, biomass, etc.), but their diversity in terms of geographical location, financing mechanisms, consumer tariff schemes, training and capacity building, energy data collection, cooperation between project partners, retailing networks and operation and maintenance.

One of the benefits of off-grid renewables is exactly how they can successfully adapt to the wide variety of geographical, economic and social realities found around the world. From a community-based hydropower in Tanzania to a solar-run a cotton mill in India, these examples show that when the right political conditions are put in place, the technology to provide energy for everyone is ready to be deployed.

While launching the Best Practices at the high-level meeting "Economic Development Globally - Renewable Energy Developing and Emerging Countries" organised by the German Federal Ministry of Economic Cooperation and Development, Michael Wollny, Vice-President of ARE said, "What this publication comes to prove once more is that reliable, cost-effective and sustainable energy solutions are already being implemented worldwide. To ensure energy-poverty is eradicated they now need to become mainstream." Mr. Wollny concluded, "Disseminating these success cases, and proving their economic viability, is just one way that ARE supports the private companies working in the sector."