Studies
Solar power. Domestic energy N/A
Feasibility study of a 100 000 Solar Home Systems programme for ASEAN islands
| Country : | Malaysia. Indonesia. Philippines |
| Client : | ADEME (French Environment and Energy Management Agency) . |
| Start Date : | 1997 |
| Completion Date : | 1997 |
| Value of services : | N/A |
| Funder : | IPEEFI, French Ministry of Industry |
| Associate/Partner : | N/A |
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| Description : |
The objective of the study was to identify solar photovoltaic projects on the islands located in the frontier region between the Philippines, Indonesia, Malaysia Southern Philippines (Mindanao, Basilan, Sulu and Tawi Tawi), Northern part of Indonesia (Kalimantan, North and Central Sulawesi) and East Malaysia (Sabah and Sarawak). |
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| Description of the Actual Services Provided | The overall scope of work covered verification of the market potential, identification of the in country institutional and financial frameworks and contacts with funding agencies. The basic project concept consists in electrification of households in remote locations using Solar Home Systems (SHS) comprising essentially of a 50 Wp panel and a 60 to 80 Ah battery along with related electronic equipment in areas where solar photovoltaics is a least cost option compared to diesel based generation or eventually grid extension. The initial market potential which has been assessed here, comprises of those households who could contribute a minimum of two thirds of the system cost - i.e. who can afford monthly payments in the range of 6 to 10 $ per month and down payments of 50 to 75 $. Thus, only a partial subsidy to the investment cost up front is envisaged - and the project should pay for itself in terms of running costs, maintenance and replacement. The initial analysis of market potential leads to an estimation of 350 000 SHS for the area. This assessment of market potential clearly demonstrates that there is enough scope for developing a very large scale solar project in the sub-region which would provide a large enough market and economies of scale to bring down over time system costs, at least to the current level of Indonesian prices, i. e. around 500 $ (compared to the ranges of 800$ and 900$ currently in the Philippines and Malaysia). Although there are certainly a range of similar requirements in terms of hardware and services in all countries concerned, financing of the hardware component will have to be dealt with at the national level given the diversity of institutional contexts. A regional co-operation component, under the aegis of AEEMTRC, the ASEAN-EC Energy Management Training and Research Centre was also formulated. Currently, project development prospects are being pursued in Indonesia and the Philippines. |