Promotion of Rural Electrification through Renewable Energies

Project description

Title: Promotion of Rural Electrification through Renewable Energies
Commissioned by: German Federal Ministry for Economic Cooperation and Development (BMZ)
Country: Madagascar
Lead executing agency: Agence de Développement de l’Électrification Rurale (ADER)
Overall term: 2009 to 2012

Madagascar. Waterfall in Mangamila, where a small hydropower plant was recently constructed. © GIZ

Context

Less than five per cent of Madagascar’s rural population currently have access to electricity. The majority of the rural population are dependent on petroleum, candles, batteries, diesel-powered generators and firewood to meet their daily energy needs. Inadequate access to electricity is a major obstacle to rural development.

Madagascar has great potential for renewable energy sources, particularly hydropower. Promoting a decentralised energy supply on the basis of renewable energy sources is therefore a high priority for the Government of Madagascar.

Objective

The capacity of the Agence de Développement de l’Électrification Rurale (ADER) and other government agencies, research bodies, private investors and project developers to define, plan and implement projects for rural electrification using renewable energies has improved.

Approach

The project aims to improve access in rural areas to electricity from renewable energy sources and to promote the productive use of this electricity in order to reduce dependence on fossil fuels. The implementing organisation is the Agence de Développement de l’Électrification Rurale (ADER).

The project comprises three components:

  • institutional capacity development for ADER;
  • improving regional energy planning;
  • promoting the private sector and the implementation of projects.

Results achieved so far

The project has supported the planning of rural electrification projects by supplying GEOSIM software and, particularly, by uploading data. The parameters for carrying out feasibility studies for small hydropower plant locations have been standardised. Eight such studies have so far been carried out in collaboration with local service providers.

Training has also been provided for small hydropower plant operators in:

  • identifying potential locations and carrying out eight technical feasibility studies in 2009 and fifteen studies in 2010;
  • establishing long-term funding plans for new projects and instigating accounting systems that will satisfy the requirements of the financing banks;
  • supervising and inspecting the construction of small hydropower plants.

In Tsarasaotra, the grid supplied by a small hydropower plant was extended. The municipality of 4,300 people now has access to a sustainable supply of electricity from renewable sources.

Two small hydropower plants are currently being planned and constructed in rural Madagascar in collaboration with the private sector (local operators, local investors) and state actors (Agency for Rural Electrification, municipalities). From 2013, these plants will provide three further municipalities with a sustainable supply of electricity from renewable energies. One of these projects will replace the diesel-powered generators currently being used to produce electricity, further reducing carbon dioxide emissions.

Additional information