THE FIRST UNESCO DEMONSTRATION SOLAR VILLAGE IN MOZAMBIQUE: LESSONS LEARNT IN PROMOTING RENEWABLE ENERGY TECHNOLOGIES IN THE RURAL CONTEXT

摘要

Within the framework of the national renewable energy action plan, the UNESCO Organisation took, in 1998, the initiative to support a developmental project for the establishment of a demonstration solar village in Mozambique. The major objectives of the project were to demonstrate the technology and also to gather field experience relevant for development of strategy options for rural electrification using renewable energy technologies. The demonstration solar village consists of (ⅰ) a community photovoltaic water pumping system; (ⅱ) a photovoltaic system for the school, for both lighting and powering of television/video/computer sets and (ⅲ) a photovoltaic system for lighting and vaccines conservation for the village health centre. During the process of installation of the equipment local people have been trained in aspects related to installation and maintenance of the systems. The major activity performed after installation of the equipment consisted in monitoring the social experience of demonstrating a new technology.