Walking and the social life of solar charging in rural Africa

We consider practices that sustain social and physical environments beyond those dominating sustainable HCI discourse. We describe links between walking, sociality, and using resources in a case study of community-based, solar, cellphone charging in villages in South Africa’s Eastern Cape. Like 360 million rural Africans, inhabitants of these villages are poor and, like 25% and 92% of the world, respectively, do not have domestic electricity or own motor vehicles. We describe nine practices in using the charging stations we deployed. We recorded 700 people using the stations, over a year, some regularly. We suggest that the way we frame practices limits insights about them, and consider various routines in using and sharing local resources to discover relations that might also feature in charging. Specifically, walking interconnects routines in using, storing, sharing and sustaining resources, and contributes to knowing, feeling, wanting and avoiding as well as to different aspects of sociality, social order and perspectives on sustainability. Along the way, bodies acquire literacies that make certain relationalities legible. Our study shows we cannot assert what sustainable practice means a priori and, further, that detaching practices from bodies and their paths limits solutions, at least in rural Africa. Thus, we advocate a more “alongly” integrated approach to data about practices.Web of Scienc

Walking and the social life of solar charging in rural Africa

We consider practices that sustain social and physical environments beyond those dominating sustainable HCI discourse. We describe links between walking, sociality, and using resources in a case study of community-based, solar, cellphone charging in villages in South Africa’s Eastern Cape. Like 360 million rural Africans, inhabitants of these villages are poor and, like 25% and 92% of the world, respectively, do not have domestic electricity or own motor vehicles. We describe nine practices in using the charging stations we deployed. We recorded 700 people using the stations, over a year, some regularly. We suggest that the way we frame practices limits insights about them, and consider various routines in using and sharing local resources to discover relations that might also feature in charging. Specifically, walking interconnects routines in using, storing, sharing and sustaining resources, and contributes to knowing, feeling, wanting and avoiding as well as to different aspects of sociality, social order and perspectives on sustainability. Along the way, bodies acquire literacies that make certain relationalities legible. Our study shows we cannot assert what sustainable practice means a priori and, further, that detaching practices from bodies and their paths limits solutions, at least in rural Africa. Thus, we advocate a more “alongly” integrated approach to data about practices.This research was supported by CSIR-Meraka, South Africa and, partly, by an Engineering and Physical Sciences Research Council grant (EP/H042857/1).http://dl.acm.org/hb201

Walking and the Social Life of Solar Charging in Rural Africa

We illustrate links between walking, sociality and using resources in a case-study of community-based, solar, cellphone charging in two villages in Eastern Cape, South Africa. Like 360 million rural Sub-saharan Africans, inhabitants are poor and, like 25% and 92%, of the world respectively, do not have domestic electricity or own motor vehicles. We show that the ways we move through the world affect the meanings we embody; that certain representations obscure continuities in the practices we seek to understand and influence; and, some of the motivations of the billions of people who are marginalized in discussing sustainable HCI. Locally, about 65% of inhabitants over 14 years old own cell- phones and, over a year, we recorded 500 names of people using the Charging Stations that, we deployed within several technology probing endeavours, many on a regular basis. The detail of our longitudinal study contributes considerably to sustainable design for ‘developing’ regions. Walking is a noticeable part of charging, and all other subsistence rou- tines, and shapes inhabitants’ motivations when they use, re-purpose, store and share resources. Inhabitants are moti- vated by cost and comfort and, importantly, by performing collectivity in their tight-knit community; but, not by being green. Further, different ways of walking relate to social roles and other aspects of sociality and, we propose, shaped inhabitants’ and researchers’ perspectives on charging and using phones. We suggest this is significant for the methods and designs that we use to explore and support sustainable practices in rural Africa and, indeed, more generally

The Making of a “Philanthropreneur” (Interview with Trevor Field and Mark Melman, Playpumps International)

“Be mindful of taking care of yourself without excesses.” In the case of Playpumps® International, an NGO based in Johannesburg, South Africa, coupling a not-for-profit with a for-profit company produced the needed incentive to bear truth to the idiom that one person, one simple idea can really change the world. Trevor Field and his partner, Mark Melman, former executives in the outdoor advertising industry, have done just that. With the invention of the PlayPump® water system, government agencies, NGOs and for-profit business have converged to address the disturbing reality that over one billion people lack access to clean water. According to Field, “I remember when I first looked at this water pump; I could never imagine that this is something that could possibly change the world. I remember when I came up with this idea and everyone was laughing. They’re not laughing now.

Gender and participation: critical reflection on Zenzeleni Networks in Mankosi, South Africa

This paper unveils the complexity of gender dynamics by reflecting on lessons learned in Zenzeleni Networks and provides a different perspective to notions of “participation” by asking “who participates and how?” The paper employs a feminist conceptual framework, particularly social constructionist theory and intersectionality, to understand women’s participation and experience, analyzing multi-layered and intersecting structural injustices that marginalize women’s choices, empowerment, scope for agency, and sense of ownership. In-depth interviews and focus group discussions gathered information from women living in Mankosi and women who are working for Zenzeleni Networks, respectively. Results show that gendered power dynamics of the community were reproduced within Zenzeleni Networks. Although women play a key role in the everyday operationalization of Zenzeleni Networks, their role has been considered part of their domestic duties, which results in misrecognition and underrepresentation of their work.CONFINE Integrated Project FIRE #288535 Telkom, Cisco and Aria Technologies via the Telkom Centre of Excellence (CoE) programme

Ethnographies of Electricity Scarcity: mobile phone charging spaces and the recrafting of energy poverty in Africa

In this paper, we explore the practices and spaces of mobile phone charging in The Gambia and Sierra Leone through the lens of 'electricity scarcity‘ as a means to conceptualise electricity access in West Africa. The International Energy Agency (IEA) is seen as the leading authority on the state of global energy access, and is frequently cited by government and non-government bodies. We, however, suggest that the IEA‘s quantitative and binary framing of electricity access is analytically problematic for understanding energy poverty. Using ethnographic methods, including observation and semi-structured interviews, we provide insights into the changing socio-technological, socio-political and socio-economic dimensions of mobile phone charging including its relationship with the built environment. Comparing mobile phone charging in The Gambia and Sierra Leone, clearly shows that the notion of absolute electricity scarcity which is promulgated by IEA statistics only offers a limited picture of energy poverty, especially at the locale. Instead, drawing on political ecology scholarship, we propose a concept of political electricity scarcity as an approach enables a more human-centred and nuanced understanding of how energy poverty operates or is mitigated through community-based structures or at a household level. By reframing energy poverty issues through this lens, we are able to illustrate the role that political economy dynamics play in shaping the electricity flows in rural Sub-Saharan Africa and who ultimately gets what kind of electricity access

Solar Sister: Action Research Report

Solar Sister creates opportunities for women in Uganda to overcome energy poverty and create a better future for themselves and their families. At its core, Solar Sister is about women understanding their own worth and acting on it. 25% of the world’s population lives in energy poverty. 70% are women and girls living in the developing world. The energy that is happening in Uganda is leapfrogging the United States – with Solar Sister’s focus on distributed power, increase adoption may prove an electrical grid obsolete. Solar Sister operates on the power of the synthesis of women and technology to bring “Light, Hope, and Opportunity” to the under-electrified. Frugally designed Solar Portable Lanterns are a technology to meet a global need and Last-Mile Distribution of the paramount method of dissemination. Solar Sister not only trains their sales force, but also provides training for after-sales service and maintenance to avoid market spoilage

Effekter av tilgang til fornybare energikilder og teknologi på rurale husholdningers energiforbruk og på miljøet i Etiopia

Access to modern, affordable, and reliable energy and clean cooking facilities is critical for Ethiopia to drive its economic development, reduce poverty and curb the negative environmental and health impacts of traditional and unsustainable use of solid biomass fuels. To that end, the government of Ethiopia has devoted considerable efforts in recent years to improving rural access to electricity, and the dissemination of household biogas systems, solar photovoltaic (PV) systems and improved biomass cookstoves (ICSs). In light of these efforts, the present thesis aims to investigate and empirically examine the effects of access to modern and renewable energy sources and technologies on the rural households’ energy use patterns, well-being, and the environment in southern Ethiopia. In doing so, the thesis seeks to shed new light on the nexus between renewable energy access and household energy transition in rural sub-Saharan Africa in the face of climate change. The research was carried out mainly in four rural districts of Southern Ethiopia and data were collected from a comprehensive cross-sectional study (survey) of sample households, direct field assessments, and energy consumption measurements. The first paper systematically reviews and analyses existing empirical evidence on the potential environmental impacts of small-scale renewable energy technologies (SRETs): biogas, ICSs, and solar PVs in East Africa by taking Ethiopia, Kenya, Tanzania and Uganda as case studies. The results showed that SRETs have considerable potential for reducing household consumption of traditional fuels; thereby lessening forest degradation and the subsequent carbon dioxide (CO2) emission at local level. Our conservative estimates, based on the evidence, indicated that the biogas plants and ICSs disseminated in each country until 2015, had a combined potential of saving 0.31 to 3.10 million tons (Mt) of woodfuel and reducing emissions of 0.56 to 5.67 Mt of CO2 equivalent (CO2e) per country per year. However, when compared with the annual biomass energy consumptions and CO2 emissions of each country, the biogas and ICSs disseminated till 2015 did not appear to offset more than 7.2% of the total woody biomass energy consumed and 3.8% of the total CO2e emitted by the respective countries per year. In light of the evidence from the systematic review in paper I, in paper II we analysed the current utilization rate, performance, and impact of domestic biogas systems in rural southern Ethiopia based on direct field studies and surveys in four districts. The results showed that despite growing efforts, the uptake and utilization of biogas technology is yet very low. Out of the total 32 digesters directly investigated, only 21 (65.63%) were found functional. The average quantity of biogas produced from a 6m3 functional plant was estimated to be 0.61 m3/day. This suggests that the current level of biogas use could substitute the consumption of 632 kg of fuelwood and 25 L of kerosene per household per year. However, comparative analysis of the total energy consumption of biogas user and non-user households revealed that the effect of biogas use on household fuelwood and kerosene consumptions, and energy transition was insignificant. Paper III extended the in-depth investigation and examined the potential fuel savings, economic and environmental co-benefits of three ICSs (Mirt, Gonziye, and Tikikil from a survey of 605 sample households and direct kitchen cooking observations to 133 ICSs users. The study finds that compared with the traditional open-fire tripod, the three ICSs studied could reduce household fuelwood consumption on average by 1.72 to 2.08 tons (t)/stove/year. The fuelwood savings translate to an estimated CO2e emission reduction of 2.82 to 3.43 tCO2e per stove per year. The results from the cost-benefit analysis (CBA) showed that usage of these ICSs could provide a net economic return of between US$317 and$460 during the 2 to 5 years lifespan of the stoves. The study highlighted that beyond improving the energy efficiency and well-being of rural households, ICSs are an essential component of the national and global strategies for GHGs emissions abatement. In paper IV we explored the impacts of rural electrification with solar PV systems in the study districts based on the survey data and direct field assessment of 137 solar PVs and lanterns. The findings indicated that solar-electrified households consume on average 43.68 litres less kerosene, and emit 107 kg less CO2 and 2.72 kg less Black Carbon (BC) per year compared with non-electrified households (neither grid nor solar light). This reduction in kerosene consumption and the access to electricity from the solar PVs could enable a solar user household to save between US$65 and$75 per year from the avoided energy expenditures and mobile charging costs. The new access to electricity and solarlighting has also reduced the health risks of rural families from kerosene wick lamps and allowed small-businesses to generate more income. The study concluded that solar PVs and lanterns are improving rural households’ wellbeing and access to clean lighting, and therefore should be further integrated into the national energy systems. However, the sustainability and effectiveness of solar PVs faces serious challenges from poor-quality and counterfeit products in the market, high cost of quality-verified products, lack of after-sales maintenance services, and limited access to credit financing services. In paper V, we analysed the current patterns of rural households’ energy consumption and the share of modern and clean fuels to examine the overall effect of access to modern and renewable sources and technologies on rural household energy use and transition. The results showed that more than 97% of the households still rely on traditional solid biomass fuels, particularly fuelwood (90.7%) as the primary fuel for cooking and baking Injera (Ethiopian bread). In contrast, the use of biogas and electricity for cooking was limited. On the other side, 50% use kerosene, 29% grid electricity, 19% solar, and 1.98% biogas as primary energy sources for lighting. Of the total 87, 172 MJ energy estimated to be consumed by a rural household per year, energy derived from traditional biomass fuels accounted for 85, 278 MJ (97.83%); while energy from modern and clean sources (electricity, biogas and solar) combined accounted for only 830 MJ (≈ 1%). The findings indicated that the recent efforts of Ethiopia to improving the rural access to modern and renewable energy sources have led to significant lighting energy substitution and partial transition from kerosene oil-based towards clean lighting fuels. However, we found no evidence of substantive energy substitution to suggest that the heavy dependence on traditional solid biomass fuels for cooking and baking end-uses is declining. Given the findings in paper V, in paper VI, we examined the major determinants of rural household’s energy choices for cooking and lighting by using Pearson’s Chi-square (χ2) test and Multivariate probit model. The results indicated that rural household’s primary cooking fuels are statistically significantly associated with the household size, distance to wood source, location, and income level. Empirical results of the multivariate analysis showed that rural households’ energy choices for lighting are significantly influenced by income level, family size, location, educational status, distance to market, road access. We find that wealthier and more educated households residing near road access were more likely to use clean lighting energy such as electricity and solar power; while poorer households residing in areas with limited road access use kerosene and dry-cell battery. However, the results also indicated that high-income level and grid-connection have not led households to completely forgo the use of traditional cooking and lighting fuels. This pattern appears to observe the energy-stacking model as opposed to the energy-ladder model of complete fuel-switching. While income remains a principal factor, the study finds that several non-income factors also play a major role in determining the energy choices and energy transition of rural households in developing countries. Overall, this PhD thesis provides new empirical evidence and fresh insights to inform decision making and energy planning on the socio-economic, environmental, and energy transition effects of access to renewable energy sources and improved cookstoves; and the associated drivers, challenges, and determinants in the context of rural sub-Saharan Africa. The thesis has shown that increased access and use of modern and renewable energy sources such as electricity and solar in rural areas of developing countries can lead to significant energy substitution and transition from kerosene towards clean and quality lighting. It has also revealed that promoting the use of ICSs is a viable option and an essential component of the strategy for reducing deforestation, mitigation of climate change, and sustainable use of biomass in sub-Saharan Africa. The low rate of utilization and impact from household biogas systems, on the other hand, signifies that thorough re-examining of existing dissemination approaches and operational practices is critical. Most importantly, the thesis has highlighted that the nexus between access to modern and renewable energy; and household energy transition in rural sub-Saharan Africa is complex and non-linear. As such, traditional biomass fuels will likely remain the primary energy sources of even the wealthiest households that are connected to the grid. The implication is that solid biomass-energy dependent countries like Ethiopia need to critically address the growing demand for biomass fuels through developing sustainable and diversified bio-energy sources, energy-saving and affordable cooking technologies, and decentralized renewable rural hybrid energy systems alongside the current efforts of improving rural access to grid electricity. Although the data for this study is primarily from rural southern Ethiopia, the conclusions and policy implications drawn can have a wider application in the broader context of rural sub-Saharan Africa.NORAD ; National MRV Capacity Building Project of Hawassa University, Wondo Genet College of Forestry and Natural Resources (WGCF-NR

Towards sustainable energy system options for improving energy access in Southern Africa

Access to modern energy services is one of the pre-requisites to improved livelihood, yet the poor, particularly in developing countries, remain tied to unhealthy and inefficient traditional fuels. Renewable energy technologies are increasingly popular energy supply alternatives to fossil-based fuels in many countries. This study presents sustainable energy system implementation options for increasing energy access in developing countries, with special emphasis on Sub-Saharan Africa. A feasibility case study and various implementation options are presented for possible deployment of these systems. Hybrid optimization of multiple energy resources software was used to simulate and validate the proposed hybrid system design and performance. The simulation results indicate that hybrid systems would be feasible options for distributed generation of electric power for remote locations and areas not connected to the electricity grid. Such a hybrid energy system, through providing modern energy services, gives promise to free-up rural communities to engage in productive activities. The opportunity to power or facilitate productive activities such as agro-processing, fabrication and services can potentially reduce poverty