Why is solar successful in remote areas?

At the beginning of the birth of solar power generation technology, because of its high price, it was called the "toy of the rich". This situation lasted until the 1970s. With the support of Exxon Oil Company of the United States, the lower cost solar cell came out, and its price dropped from $100/watt to $20/watt. By the beginning of the 21st century, the update and iteration of solar technology has become increasingly amazing. At present, in developed countries such as Germany, solar power generation has become cheaper than thermal power generation, while in China, "roof solar" systems produced by enterprises such as Hanergy and Yingli have also entered ordinary families. Up to now, the use of solar power is no longer the patent of the rich. Even residents living in remote and poor areas have the opportunity to enjoy the convenience of solar power.

Why is solar energy so successful in remote areas?

According to media reports, in recent years, small solar power plants have become a new favorite in the Indian power market. Before that, power shortage had long been a problem that plagued Indian society. Now, numerous small solar power stations shoulder the responsibility of supplying power to local residents. A local grocer said in an interview, "In the past, because of the lack of electricity, my shop had to close early because it was dark at night. Now, with electricity, we can stay open late." Not only in India, but also in Asia, Africa and Latin America, independent solar systems have made great progress in the past decades.

Why is solar energy so successful in remote and underdeveloped areas? Here we will talk about the "on grid" and "off grid" of electric power. Generally speaking, power grid refers to that the power generated by thermal power plants or hydropower stations will be directly uploaded to the grid and become a part of the power system of a region or even the whole country. The so-called off grid means that the application of electricity is local. The electricity produced locally is only used by a village, a factory, a residential area, or even an independent house. Therefore, it is also called an independent power system.

The independent solar energy system plays a great role in areas where traditional energy is scarce or too remote for grid construction. In China, in remote mountainous areas such as Yunnan, Guizhou and Sichuan, as well as in Xinjiang, Tibet and other regions, there are power shortages to varying degrees, and the power grid is not complete. Solar off grid power generation, because it is self generated and self sold, does not require long-distance power transportation, nor does it require power transmission towers and hundreds of kilometers of wires and other infrastructure construction, so it becomes an important source of power for the local people.

Take Ali, Tibet, as an example. Ali is known as the "roof of the world". Due to the poor natural environment and weak power infrastructure, power supply has always been in short supply. At the Gangdise Tibetan Medical College in Ali, local students can only have electricity from 21:00 to 24:00 every day. They can only rely on flashlights to read in the morning and evening. However, as the region with the most abundant solar energy resources in the world, Ali has become the best choice to use solar power. In June this year, Hanergy, the largest film solar energy company in China, sent an engineering team to Ali to help build a solar power station for Gangdise Tibetan Medical College. The project lasted 21 days. By 7:00 p.m. on July 5, the light bulb in the room was on, and the entire medical college was brightly lit. With the formal completion of the thin-film solar power plant for power generation, local teachers and students finally ended the history of only three hours of electricity available every day.

Energy security in war-torn countries

Ali and other regions have great difficulties in power grid construction and maintenance due to their remote geographical location, while some countries have chosen solar power generation for the sake of stable electricity use due to years of war and serious grid damage. For example, in Mindanao, Philippines, the lack of local power grid system is mainly due to political reasons: during the period when the Philippines belonged to the United States, the local people in Mindanao had a long-term civil war with the central government of the Philippines, and the local power grid and telephone system were in disrepair for a long time. Until recent years, the fighting between Muslims in Mindanao and the Philippine government has not ended, which makes it impossible to develop and build power grids in the local area. Therefore, off grid solar power generation for local use has become the most ideal solution. It is reported that USAID has installed solar cells and small hydropower systems in some areas of Mindanao. At present, these small power generation systems have enabled 500 local villages to obtain power supply.

In other regions, off grid solar power generation is more economic. By the beginning of the 21st century, only 62000 households (less than 1% of the total households in Kenya) had been covered by the power grid, while small solar energy systems were popular in Kenya, and more than 200000 had been sold. It is reported that a 50W small solar system provides enough power to provide "four or five fluorescent bulbs, a radio, and a 15 inch TV for five hours a day". On average, the cost is less than $5 per watt, and there will be no fuel cost after one investment. In contrast, the installation cost of installing a gasoline generator in Kenya is at least US $500, and the fuel cost is tens of dollars per month. Therefore, small solar energy system has become a very competitive power source in the local area. Residents not only get high-quality lighting, but also use household appliances that could not be used in the past.

Compared with other forms of power generation, such as fuel generators, solar power generation has obvious economic advantages in remote and rural areas, with smaller investment, safer and cleaner. Whether in India, Egypt, Mexico, South Africa, or China, independent solar power generation systems have provided great help for local residents, allowing them to use convenient and cheap living electricity. With the iteration and updating of technology, thin film solar energy characterized by low energy consumption and low cost has become the trend of the new generation of solar power generation, which will help more residents in the world without electricity and power shortage areas realize the dream of "no power off".