Discussion » Agricultural Produce Processing Equipment (APPE) with Renewable Energy - Evidence Needed?

Agricultural Produce Processing Equipment (APPE) with Renewable Energy - Evidence Needed?

Cross-posted in Green Finance Community of Practice on behalf of Martyn Cowsill:

 

Hello Everyone,

My company is trying to find evidence of the economic impact that results from providing not just renewable energy, but also the agricultural produce processing equipment (APPE) that is needed in remote, off-grid rural communities in the developing world. Why? Because we have found that, despite the fact that we can identify hundreds or thousands of sites where micro hydropower could be installed, that electricity is not going to have maximum impact if the communities we serve have zero electrically-powered equipment with which to make more money, reduce wastage, improve profitability.

 

The idea of providing those communities with the APPE they need, along with the hydropower, all bundled up in the same finance package, sounds completely sensible in theory. But that's the problem. It's just theory. The private sector investors might like the idea of enabling these remote rural communities to make more money, and thereby make regular payments more likely, but they need evidence.

 

Question to Green Finance Community of Practice Members:

So can anyone point me to projects where a community, which previously had no electricity and no APPE, was then monitored in its economic activity after electricity and APPE is provided?

 

Opportunity:

If the evidence doesn't exist, I'd like to create a project where we carry out exactly this kind of experiment.

 

Moderator notes:

  • If you get this question by email, then just reply to the email and it will post on this Discussion Thread.
  • You can also click on this discussion on the C4D Green Finance Community of Practice Community (and if you are a member of Green Finance) then you can click reply at the bottom of this discussion.
  • You can also send a message directly to Martyn Cowsill by clicking on his name then click on "message" on his profile.

  • News & Discussions
  • Hi Bruce,

    thanks for helping out!

     

    Hi Martyn Cowsill -  thanks for your post. I understand what you need is evidence that private investment in rural areas actually leads to higher revenue, which actually is (or can be) spent on increased energy bills?

    In my experience what is often forgotten in such projects is what to do with maintenance of the APPE - How difficult is it to repair the equipment, how expensive and how difficult is it to get spare parts? is there a service provider nearby that remote area yes/no? Has the local community be trained to repair the APPE.... Then, despite the finance is provided and the community is equipped, sooner or later the equipment falls idle if maintenance capacity is not in place.

     

    I suggest you also posts his discussion in the Sustainable Energy community (SE4All Energy Access Online Forum), as you might increase the probability that specialised fellows will reply to your post.

     

    Best regards,

    Karin

    0
  • Hi Bruce and Kerin, thank you for sharing.

     

    Approaching this with the fact that we increase production and production and productivity, first, will certainly not leave thes APPE unrepaired, Why? There will always be volumes of harvest that the farmers / community need to process or add value to. I have proven this in my own local community.

     

    Best regards, let's keep the chat on.

     

    Emmanuel

    0