Powering rural futures with clean energy

The transition from conventional energy use to modern-day energy use has proven to be a significant challenge in rural areas.

It is a fact that modern-day technologies and resources are deemed luxuries in rural settings due to the economic factor that separates urban and rural landscapes.

How should we accelerate the growth and development of rural areas with the deployment of renewable energy?

How long would the process take to upscale and upgrade the rural areas with clean and sustainable energy?

Is there a possible strategy to increase or implement economic activity within these areas to foster sustainability?

Is there a viable business case aimed at investors to venture into the establishment of stand-alone solar energy systems or microgrids that would project an attractive return on investment?

These are some of the burning questions one needs to ask to derive a workable solution.

If the country wishes to electrify and increase economic activity in these areas, the main question would then be to ask whether it is feasible to employ the grid in areas with little to no economic activity.

The answer would be to look at alternative energy sources which could be offered/sold as a service in these rural communities.

Once these systems are established there needs to be a focus on implementing economic initiatives in these areas to foster sustainability.

Loose-standing energy docks may be deployed in rural areas by the regional or town councils or by local entrepreneurs who could lease these energy systems on a lease-to-own agreement or alternatively offer them as a service for energy generation.

However, the flow of energy or the adjustment of an energy tariff relative to the production of their energy service is deemed as the sale of electricity, therefore, it warrants the service provider to acquire an energy generation licence from the Electricity Control Board.

Potentially, renewable energy could generate direct jobs in areas with limited employment opportunities.

The jobs created could range from the maintenance and the utilisation of electrical appliances like refrigeration that it used to store fresh produce.

However, a large portion of long-term jobs are indirect, since the renewable energy supply chain requires specialised services from the upstream of manufacturing.

Having a coherent framework and firm policy support should justify the transition from conventional energy which is imported to rather generating clean and reliable energy that could trigger economic development in rural areas.

Can renewable energy really develop rural communities? This is a question that needs to be explored.

On a surface level renewable energy does not automatically create employment opportunities, however, it does create and sustain local revenue, capacity building and local empowerment in addition to affordable and reliable energy.

The challenge faced is that economic development is usually lower than forecast.

Therefore, it should be recommended that rural communities and policymakers should involve a much larger audience of stakeholder engagement by undertaking a collective action plan to stimulate sustainable development and improve local support.

The quality of life in rural areas is adversely affected due to the use of conventional energy methods.

The reality is that availability and affordability are common factors that obstruct economic development in rural settings.

Conventional fuels are limited to a few applications, therefore, they cannot produce mechanical power and electricity sufficient for the betterment of other aspects of life, which include employment and education.

The adverse impact of the lack thereof is mainly felt by women and children.

Transforming Namibia into a world-class example of renewable energy deployment depends on policy support.

Reimagining Namibia as a country with economic equality should be a collective objective of all the stakeholders.

Empowering Namibians in rural areas with basic living commodities such as lighting could be part of the initial phases of implementation upon which social and economic inequality is tackled.

We as a nation need to embrace the fact that it is a challenge to electrify and meet the energy requirements of rural areas, particularly remote villages in demographic areas that would not receive the national energy network soon.

However, we as a nation should remain optimistic and we should leverage the opportunities presented to us.

• Lilongeni Unoovene is a renewable energy consultant.

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