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Powering rural development: energy management in African schools and hospitals

Across the developing world, rural schools, hospitals and other public institutions face severe energy problems. How can they be helped to develop sustainable solutions which blend demand-side management, energy efficiency and appropriate new technology? How could rural Energy Service Advisers (ESAs) work with local institutions and the business community to achieve this?

A report from Energy for Sustainable Development (ESD) urges the development community to pay more attention to energy efficiency and management issues affecting rural schools and hospitals. Lessons from decentralised pilot projects in Kenya, South Africa and Uganda are set out.

The ability of rural institutions to deliver effective services is hampered by the high costs of heating, lighting and electricity. Schools are unable to offer out-of-hours study opportunities for adults. Laboratory, refrigeration, audiovisual and other equipment is unreliable. Cold chains for the delivery of vaccines often break down. Hospital radio systems stop operating when lead-acid batteries are taken away to be charged. Diesel generators are infrequently maintained. In many hospitals, the equipment is old, run-down, oversized and expensive to run.

The report identifies significant opportunities for more efficiency. Generators could be better sized to suit electricity needs and could be run only when needed. Cooking with liquefied petroleum gas (LPG) could be an alternative to using expensive electricity. Running costs can often be reduced by replacing electrical thermal appliances like electrical cooking hotplates with LPG stoves. Solar water heaters are also inappropriate in many places. Replacing incandescent bulbs with fluorescent lights and using battery banks and inverter/chargers to allow diesel generators to run more efficiently are also good examples of potential savings.

In most rural areas of Africa there are technically proficient people such as physics teachers and hospital technicians who can be given the skills to work as Energy Service Advisers (ESAs). They could provide energy audits, provide first-line trouble-shooting and repairs and raise energy awareness both for institutions and for householders. ESAs can build linkages between utilities, rural institutions, communities, local government and central ministries.

The study reports how:

Kenyan physics teachers have effectively worked as part-time independent consultants, received training and then boosting their incomes by conducting energy audits for schools in their districts.
A hospital running operating theatres, a laundry unit, wards, a restaurant and an administration block was able to reduce energy costs by 12 per cent.
In KwaZulu-Natal (South Africa), rural energy utilities are improving access to thermal energy sources for rural households by establishing locally-staffed ‘energy stores’ offering a range of energy related services.
ESAs attached to institutions will go on working after training while a large number of independent ESAs give up because they are inadequately paid.

In considering whether to establish or support an ESA intervention, the key issues to be considered are:

existing institutional service providers such as faith-based health centres or government entities can be the best ‘home’ for energy management services
identifying the target market and the demand for audits and energy management action plans
ensuring that ESA trainees are entrepreneurial, well-organised, have an adequate scientific background and have good public speaking and people skills
provision of sufficient training materials, logistical support, office space and communications
ensuring that adequate funding sources are obtained prior to commencement
identifying any vested interests in maintaining current energy arrangements
recognition that there can be a low level of awareness of energy issues among institutional management.

Source(s):
‘Energy service advisors: guidelines for energy management and improved energy services at rural institutions’, by Energy for Sustainable Development, August 2002 Full document.

Funded by: DFID (KAR R7665)

id21 Research Highlight: 28 August 2003

Further Information:
Jeremy Doyle
Energy for Sustainable Development (Ltd) ESD
Overmoor, Neston
Wiltshire SN13 9TZ
UK

Tel: +44 (0)1225 812102
Fax: +44 (0)1225 812103
Contact the contributor: esd@esd.co.uk

Contact the contributor: jeremy@esd.co.uk

Energy for Sustainable Development Ltd, UK

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