Alternative Energy Afghanistan: Solar Energy for Rural Use
The Asian Development Bank (ADB) has said that it has approved a $750,000-dollar grant to develop solar energy technology for use in isolated rural areas in Afghanistan.
The grant, financed by the British government, would demonstrate how solar energy could enhance the quality of life in poor, remote villages which could not be connected to wider power grids, the ADB said in a statement issued from its headquarters in Manila.
Most of Afghanistan’s population have no access to modern energy sources like electricity and gas and are forced to rely on traditional fuels like firewood. This depletes the country’s forests, damaging the environment.
However the country has a great potential for solar power since the sun shines for about 300 days a year in Afghanistan.
The grant will be used to provide solar energy systems to communities on a pilot basis and to train ten people from different ethnic groups as solar energy technicians at a training centre in India.
Upon returning to Afghanistan, they would train ten additional people from their communities.
It's hoped that solar energy systems in Afghanistan cam be used to provide lighting for literacy programs, provide water for clinics and to power water pumps and irrigation systems.
The grant, financed by the British government, would demonstrate how solar energy could enhance the quality of life in poor, remote villages which could not be connected to wider power grids, the ADB said in a statement issued from its headquarters in Manila.
Most of Afghanistan’s population have no access to modern energy sources like electricity and gas and are forced to rely on traditional fuels like firewood. This depletes the country’s forests, damaging the environment.
However the country has a great potential for solar power since the sun shines for about 300 days a year in Afghanistan.
The grant will be used to provide solar energy systems to communities on a pilot basis and to train ten people from different ethnic groups as solar energy technicians at a training centre in India.
Upon returning to Afghanistan, they would train ten additional people from their communities.
It's hoped that solar energy systems in Afghanistan cam be used to provide lighting for literacy programs, provide water for clinics and to power water pumps and irrigation systems.
Labels: afghanistan, off grid, solar energy, solar power
posted by James at 2:25 am
3 Comments:
Sadly, a $750 grant to do solar ovens would do far more for helping the communities than this $750,000 grant would (how quick do you think these solar panels are going to be in the hands of the warlords); but the solar panels are just so more "newsworthy" that there's where the money goes.
I agree!! The solar pv needs to be accessed in terms of an energy flow. It takes energy to make these panels. Why don't they invest in renewable energy resource mapping to aid the selection of these projects instead of just picking them randomly!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
If we can lower the pumping cost of the farmers ,they will not grow illegale plants ,I have talked to a lot of farmers in Helmand and Kandahar ,they have told me that the illegale plants are the only plants that will pay for the water pumping need ,Lets lower there pumping cost by going solar ,I have been using solar water pumping in Afghanistan for the past 3 years ,they like it but we have to make it cheaper ,I will help any one with solar training and application in Afghanistan
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