Electricity for All: Optimizing & Measuring Energy Usability is Key

Various sustainable energy goals and timelines exist internationally for the implementation of access to modern, safe, reliable and affordable energy worldwide. Unfortunately, there are differing definitions of “access”, “modern”, “safe”, “reliable” and “affordable.” Many countries are aiming for 100% energy access by 2030, including in rural and remote locations.

The energy access data currently being collected globally is typically limited to simple criteria such as having or not having grid-connection to access electricity. This easy to collect data can be misleading, because it doesn’t take into consideration the numerous off-grid safe, reliable, and modern power producing options.

Policymakers worldwide need to look at an important global tracking framework created by the World Bank and several partners to fill in the energy access information gaps. The Multi-Tier Framework (MTF) was published in 2015 and outlines the important and value of measuring energy access to stimulate rural development. A comprehensive paper on this topic can be found on the Sustainable Energy for All website: World Bank, SE4ALL: Beyond Connections; Energy Access Redefined, 2015.

The MTF acknowledges that energy access encompasses a wide spectrum of household service levels. In fact, the framework helps determine the usability of energy from the household’s perspective.
The key attributes of residential electricity “usability” include:

• Amount of deliverable electricity capacity
• Number of hours of available electricity per day, especially at night
• Quality and reliability of service measured by outages and voltage fluctuations
• Affordability
• Power provided legally and safely

It is clear the world has a long way to go to reach the common sustainability goal of 100% energy access for all by 2030. It is hoped that more than just access is considered when installing new infrastructure, especially to remote areas. How well the energy supply is provided and whether it improves lives is most important to evaluate.

Off-Grid Renewable Energy: Affordable | Reliable | Abundant | Convenient | Quality | Safe

Thankfully, renewable energy technology has significantly advanced and also become more affordable over the past 20 years. There are now numerous off-grid renewable energy system types that deliver clean usable energy for residences in remote and rural locations, without access to utility infrastructure.

Whether a household is considering solar, wind or a combination on-site power generation system with or without battery storage, the property must be thoroughly evaluated. Only professional renewable energy experts are able to conduct a comprehensive energy audit, feasibility study and then make appropriate recommendations based on the specific requirements. Each project requires custom solutions to effectively balance the priorities of the customer (affordability, reliability, abundant electricity 24/7, convenience etc.) For example, if the system is undersized to save the client money, it may reduce the reliability and quantity of energy produced.)

Again, it is important customers seek out guidance from experienced professionals to design an efficient off-grid power generation solution for the site’s specific circumstances. Expert advice is needed to determine optimal system capacity, design the panel placement and electrical schematic and choose the most appropriate system component specifications. Only after this thorough assessment has been completed can a qualified technician provide a price quote.

Purchasing a renewable energy system without expert consultation is like speculating the cause of health symptoms, self-treating and purchasing medicine at a pharmacy before consulting a medical doctor for proper diagnosis. Both situations can be disastrous!

Vision Energy Solutions (VES) Brings the Experts to You