Low-cost, electricity-generating heat engines for rural areas

摘要

The theme of this Special Issue is the impact that new technologies might make on the provision of electricity to areas of the world not currently connected to a networked supply. According to the International Energy Agency, this involved some 1.5 billion people in 2009. Generally, these are relatively poor people and so the accent is on devices that can be made at low cost. Photo-voltaic solar power features in many implementations but energy storage has yet to be adequately solved, particularly in areas where many days are cloudy, for example, in the monsoon season. Although recently PV cell costs have decreased dramatically, storage costs are currently limiting widespread adoption. Where suitable streams and initial capital investment are available, water-power is a solution. However, in the absence of such potent sources, some form of heat engine could provide a solution. Hence, the title of this Special Issue.