Solar Battery Charging Stations - Revision history

Ranisha at 09:56, 1 August 2018

2018-08-01T09:56:41Z

Aukje de Jager: /* Towards energy kiosks */

2016-10-12T15:05:08Z

Towards energy kiosks

Aukje de Jager: /* Rural Electrification by Battery Charging Stations */

2016-10-12T15:04:39Z

Rural Electrification by Battery Charging Stations

Lisafeldmann at 08:26, 11 June 2015

2015-06-11T08:26:56Z

Lisafeldmann at 10:51, 2 April 2015

2015-04-02T10:51:28Z

Show changes

Ranisha at 13:11, 15 August 2014

2014-08-15T13:11:38Z

Ranisha: /* Rural Electrification by Battery Charging Stations */

2014-08-15T11:25:37Z

Rural Electrification by Battery Charging Stations

Ranisha at 11:25, 15 August 2014

2014-08-15T11:25:13Z

Ranisha: /* Rural Electrification by Battery Charging Stations */

2014-08-15T11:22:32Z

Rural Electrification by Battery Charging Stations

Ranisha at 11:20, 15 August 2014

2014-08-15T11:20:14Z

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+[[Portal:Solar|►Back to Solar Portal]]
 = Overview<br/> =
@@ Line 451: / Line 451: @@
 <references />
 [[Category:Solar]]

@@ Line 65: / Line 65: @@
 = '''<br/>''' =
-= '''Towards energy kiosks'''<br/> =
 Since 2013, the demand for charging batteries went down in Mali. Reason for which EnDev decided to transform the stations, making optimal use from the electricity produced while delivering additional services. After consulting the community, fridges have been put in place (166L). At that point, revenues were as low as €4 a month for the technicians of the station. The succesfull exploitation of the fridges increased revenues over the first year importantly. The technician's salery went up to € 78, while overall revenues reached about 550% of those obtained with battery charging only (from 2015 untill half 2016).<br/>
-The new 'energy kiosks' are also used to establish a network for quality PV equipment, especially pico PV. <br/>
+The new 'energy kiosks' are also used to establish a network for quality PV equipment, especially pico PV.<br/>
 <br/>

@@ Line 7: / Line 7: @@
 <br/>
 = Rural Electrification by Battery Charging Stations<br/> =
@@ Line 61: / Line 62: @@
 In addition to battery charging (S)BCSs may include additional services like a shop selling solar and electric equipment.
 <br/>
 = Example "Energising Development" Mali =

@@ Line 10: / Line 10: @@
 = Rural Electrification by Battery Charging Stations<br/> =
-'''[[File:Battery Terminal.jpg|frame|right|276px|Battery Terminal.jpg]]'''[[:Category:Battery_Charging_Systems|Battery charging stations (BCSs)]] can be a viable option to provide electricity in un-electrified areas and where incomes are insufficient to pay for solutions like '''[[Solar_Home_Systems_(SHS)|solar home systems (SHS)]]'''.<br/>
+'''[[File:Battery Terminal.jpg|frame|right|276px|Battery Terminal.jpg]]'''[[:Category:Battery Charging Systems|Battery charging stations (BCSs)]] can be a viable option to provide electricity in un-electrified areas and where incomes are insufficient to pay for solutions like '''[[Solar Home Systems (SHS)|solar home systems (SHS)]]'''.<br/>
 <br/>
@@ Line 36: / Line 36: @@
 Electricity from rechargeable batteries can provide a lot more service at far lower costs than disposable dry cell batteries. They are also the environmentally friendlier option provided their eventual disposal / recycling, is properly organised, which in itself is worth doing.
-The batteries are transported to the nearest grid, diesel or solar-based battery charging station where they are recharged for a fee. In addition to that fee, running cost of the system may thus include the transport costs to and from the BCS. Diesel generators can charge a limited number of batteries at a time, and service costs highly depend on diesel costs. Grid based charging stations are usually less subject to quantity restrictions and changing diesel prices, but might be located far from the rural population. '''[[:Category:Battery_Charging_Systems|Solar battery charging stations (SBCS)]] '''constructed in rural areas are an alternative solution to provide the local population with energy for basic needs and reduce the time and expenses required for travelling.<br/>
+The batteries are transported to the nearest grid, diesel or solar-based battery charging station where they are recharged for a fee. In addition to that fee, running cost of the system may thus include the transport costs to and from the BCS. Diesel generators can charge a limited number of batteries at a time, and service costs highly depend on diesel costs. Grid based charging stations are usually less subject to quantity restrictions and changing diesel prices, but might be located far from the rural population. '''[[:Category:Battery Charging Systems|Solar battery charging stations (SBCS)]] '''constructed in rural areas are an alternative solution to provide the local population with energy for basic needs and reduce the time and expenses required for travelling.<br/>
 <br/>
@@ Line 45: / Line 45: @@
 *a charge controller to prevent batteries from overcharging.
-The [[Sizing_a_Battery_Charging_Systems_(BCS)|size of a SBCS]] and the number of [[Photovoltaic_(PV)|Photovoltaic (PV) panels]] installed vary according to the anticipated energy demand and to the (average) insolation - the solar energy per unit area , which varies with latitude and (average) whether conditions<br/>
+The [[Sizing a Battery Charging Systems (BCS)|size of a SBCS]] and the number of [[Photovoltaic (PV)|Photovoltaic (PV) panels]] installed vary according to the anticipated energy demand and to the (average) insolation - the solar energy per unit area , which varies with latitude and (average) whether conditions<br/>
 <br/>
@@ Line 66: / Line 66: @@
 = Example "Energising Development" Mali =
-Mali's power grid covers only a few urban areas; over 95&nbsp;% of the rural population has no access to electricity from a grid. In order to enhance living conditions of the rural population, in total 50 SBSBs were installed in 17 rural municipalities as a part of the Communal Electrification Programme '''‘Électrifcation Communale’ (ELCOM) '''which is an element of the Local Government Support Programme (‘Programme d’Appui aux Collectivités Territoriales’ (PACT)) and forms an integral part of [[Energising_Development_(EnDev)|‘Energising Development’ (EnDev)]], a German-Dutch partnership.
+Mali's power grid covers only a few urban areas; over 95&nbsp;% of the rural population has no access to electricity from a grid. In order to enhance living conditions of the rural population, in total 50 SBSBs were installed in 17 rural municipalities as a part of the Communal Electrification Programme '''‘Électrifcation Communale’ (ELCOM) '''which is an element of the Local Government Support Programme (‘Programme d’Appui aux Collectivités Territoriales’ (PACT)) and forms an integral part of [[Energising Development (EnDev)|‘Energising Development’ (EnDev)]], a German-Dutch partnership.
 <br/>
@@ Line 91: / Line 91: @@
 <br/>
-<br/>[[File:Panels.jpg|frame|center|150px]]
+<br/>[[File:Panels.jpg|frame|center|150px|alt=Panels.jpg]]
 <br/>
@@ Line 97: / Line 97: @@
 == ELCOM Intervention Area: Regions of Ségou and Koulikoro ==
-[[File:Mali map.jpg|frame|center|150px]]
+[[File:Mali map.jpg|frame|center|150px|alt=Mali map.jpg]]
 <br/>
@@ Line 103: / Line 103: @@
 == Overview: Municipalities with Solar Battery Charging Stations (SBCS) Installed within the Programme<br/> ==
-{| cellspacing="0" cellpadding="5" border="1" align="center" style="height: 461px;  width: 100%"
+{| align="center" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="5" border="1" style="height: 461px;  width: 100%"
 |-
-| style="width: 124px" rowspan="2" |
+| rowspan="2" style="width: 124px" |
 '''Municipality'''<br/>
-| style="width: 94px" rowspan="2" |
+| rowspan="2" style="width: 94px" |
 '''Population''' '''(Projection 2008)'''
-| style="width: 70px" rowspan="2" |
+| rowspan="2" style="width: 70px" |
 '''No. of''' '''SBCS'''
-| style="width: 216px" colspan="3" |
+| colspan="3" style="width: 216px" |
 '''Capacity of SBCS; # of 70 Ah batteries/day'''
-| style="width: 89px" rowspan="2" |
+| rowspan="2" style="width: 89px" |
 '''Total''' '''batteries/ day'''
@@ Line 380: / Line 380: @@
 <br/>
-= Example [[Cambodia_Energy_Situation|Cambodia]]<br/> =
+= Example [[Cambodia Energy Situation|Cambodia]]<br/> =
 <u>A handful of solar battery stations (or rather solar assisted or with diesel generators as back up) are in place in Cambodia:</u>
@@ Line 419: / Line 419: @@
 <u>Important aspects to be considered for the success of SBCS are</u>:
-*Extensive [[Solar_-_Marketing|marketing]]
+*Extensive [[Solar - Marketing|marketing]]
 *Additional services to be offered such as renting/selling batteries or recharge services for mobile phones or shaving heads
 *Training of all local operators and technicians
@@ Line 429: / Line 429: @@
 = Further Information<br/> =
-*You can also download the [[:File:Rural_electrification_by_battery_charging_stations.pdf|Rural electrification by battery charging stations]] as PDF
+*You can also download the [[:File:Rural electrification by battery charging stations.pdf|Rural electrification by battery charging stations]] as PDF
-*[[Hydro_Battery_Charging_Station|Hydro Battery Charging Systems]]
+*[[Hydro Battery Charging Station|Hydro Battery Charging Systems]]
-*[[:Category:Battery_Charging_Systems|Battery Charging Systems]]<br/>
+*[[:Category:Battery Charging Systems|Battery Charging Systems]]<br/>
 *[[Portal:Solar|Solar Portal on energypedia]]
@@ Line 440: / Line 440: @@
 <references />
 [[Category:Battery_Charging_Systems]]

@@ Line 1: / Line 1: @@
 = Overview<br/> =
@@ Line 9: / Line 8: @@
 = Rural Electrification by Battery Charging Stations<br/> =
-'''[[File:Battery Terminal.jpg|frame|right|276px|Battery Terminal|alt=Battery Terminal.jpg]]'''[[:Category:Battery Charging Systems|Battery charging stations (BCSs)]] can be a viable option to provide electricity in un-electrified areas and where incomes are insufficient to pay for solutions like '''[[Solar Home Systems|solar home systems (SHS)]]'''.<br/>
+'''[[File:Battery Terminal.jpg|frame|right|276px|Battery Terminal|alt=Battery Terminal.jpg]]'''[[:Category:Battery Charging Systems|Battery charging stations (BCSs)]] can be a viable option to provide electricity in un-electrified areas and where incomes are insufficient to pay for solutions like '''[[Solar Home Systems (SHS)|solar home systems (SHS)]]'''.<br/>
 <br/>
@@ Line 328: / Line 327: @@
 === The Operator ===
-The private operator is responsible for the running of the SBCS and for maintenance and repair of all solar powered systems (SBCS, SI and Streetlighting alike) instaloled through the programme. Income from the SBCS is divided in a pre-defined way between daily running costs, income of the technicians, a fee for the operator, a contribution to teh municipality budget, a fee for the management committee and a contribution to the amortisation fund - from which replacements should eventually be paid.
+The private operator is responsible for the running of the SBCS and for maintenance and repair of all solar powered systems (SBCS, SI and Street lighting alike) installed through the programme. Income from the SBCS is divided in a pre-defined way between daily running costs, income of the technicians, a fee for the operator, a contribution to teh municipality budget, a fee for the management committee and a contribution to the amortisation fund - from which replacements should eventually be paid.
 <br/>
@@ Line 380: / Line 379: @@
 *4 SBCS have been 100% funded through the [http://sgp.undp.org/web/projects/12855/solar_battery_charging_project.html GEF Small Grants Programme under UNDP.]they are community owned. Charging rates are lower than at diesel operated charging services.part of the income is saved within the community for later maintenance and repair, yet the amount is very low. The remaining money is used to pay the operator.
 *[http://www.locab.org/ LOCAB] has been partner of the GEF Small Grants programme and has also installed privately owned and funded solar battery charging stations in very remote regions, e.g. Mondulkiri (Gold Mine villages in the mountains).
-*GIZ also cooperated with LOCAB in a iPPP solar battery station with a private investor in Kampong Chnang province. 2.88 kWp of solar panels were installed to charge arund 45 batteries (around 50 Ah). GIZ provided an improved charge controller, testing equipment, training for the operator and customers as well as marketing support and support in accessing a loan. Yet, the cost of taking out money has been so high that the operator could not repay his loan with his income from solar battery charging.
+*GIZ also cooperated with LOCAB in a iPPP solar battery station with a private investor in Kampong Chnang province. 2.88 kWp of solar panels were installed to charge around 45 batteries (around 50 Ah). GIZ provided an improved charge controller, testing equipment, training for the operator and customers as well as marketing support and support in accessing a loan. Yet, the cost of taking out money has been so high that the operator could not repay his loan with his income from solar battery charging.
 == <br/>Experiences from Cambodian Solar Battery Charging Stations (SBCS)<br/> ==
@@ Line 389: / Line 388: @@
 *Information on the possibilities and functioning of solar energy is not widely spread, awareness needs to be created
 *The business model and technology is new which needs to be explained to customers in order to overcome obstacles
-*Customers are used to batteries being hot when they collect them from diesel run battery charging stations as these tend to overcharge the batteries. When batteries are charged properly at a solar station, they are not as hot which is why customers are of th eopinion that they have not been charged. In Many cases customers complained that batteries became empty more quickly when chargedwith solar. The charging quality, according to them, was not satisfactory.
+*Customers are used to batteries being hot when they collect them from diesel run battery charging stations as these tend to overcharge the batteries. When batteries are charged properly at a solar station, they are not as hot which is why customers are of the opinion that they have not been charged. In Many cases customers complained that batteries became empty more quickly when charged with solar. The charging quality, according to them, was not satisfactory.
 *A lot of awareness raising and training is needed.
 *Very old car batteries are used. It is very difficult to change (de-)charging habits and educate customers about the advantages and importance of solar charging and the proper usage of batteries.
@@ Line 431: / Line 430: @@
 <references />
 [[Category:Battery_Charging_Systems]]

@@ Line 8: / Line 8: @@
 = Rural Electrification by Battery Charging Stations<br/> =
-'''[[File:Battery Terminal.jpg|frame|right|276px|Battery Terminal|alt=Battery Terminal.jpg]]'''[[:Category:Battery_Charging_Systems|Battery charging stations (BCSs)]] can be a viable option to provide electricity in un-electrified areas and where incomes are insufficient to pay for solutions like '''[[Solar Home Systems|solar home systems (SHS)]]'''.<br/>
+'''[[File:Battery Terminal.jpg|frame|right|276px|Battery Terminal|alt=Battery Terminal.jpg]]'''[[:Category:Battery Charging Systems|Battery charging stations (BCSs)]] can be a viable option to provide electricity in un-electrified areas and where incomes are insufficient to pay for solutions like '''[[Solar Home Systems|solar home systems (SHS)]]'''.<br/>
 In electrified areas grid-based BCSs moreover can <span>serve to extend access to electricity to those who </span>have no direct connection in their home, thus profiting indirectly from the electricity infrastructure.
 Charged (car) batteries in fact can provide services comparable to the upper end of the pico PV range at lower investment costs, though running costs eventually are higher.
 A little electricity, like from car batteries, can considerably improve living conditions of its users. Electrically powered lamps improve domestic working conditions at night in particular for women and can also enhance studying conditions for children, not only because of the better light but also since they reduce fire hazard and do not emit noxious pollutants. Other services that are highly valued and only require a little electricity as can e.g. be delivered by car batteries are radio and tv for information and entertainment, and air circulation (fans) for basic cooling. Also mobile phones, crucial for access to modern communication, helping people in rural areas to obtain information and thus e.g. facilitating commercial operations, can easily be charged off car-batteries, though they can also be charged directly at a BCS. In order to provide such services a car battery should be recharged a few times a month.
 To a small extent, electricity from charged (car) batteries can also contribute to raising incomes of small businesses and handicraft, especially in communal market towns. Shop owners, for example, can open their shops in the evenings thus not only raising their income, but also delivering an improved service to the community.
 In such schemes mostly lead-acid wet cell car-, truck- and / or motorcycle batteries are used as they are most easily available on the market, either new or second hand, and as they are produced locally in some countries. While thus often the least cost option, this type of (starter) batteries cannot really stand deep discharging as normally done when used for such services, implying their capacity is decreasing over time and their effective lifespan is limited. Proper deep-cycle batteries have much better performance in such set-ups but often are hard to find and cost a lot more.
 Electricity from rechargeable batteries can provide a lot more service at far lower costs than disposable dry cell batteries. They are also the environmentally friendlier option provided their eventual disposal / recycling, is properly organised, which in itself is worth doing.
@@ Line 44: / Line 56: @@
 In addition to battery charging (S)BCSs may include additional services like a shop selling solar and electric equipment.
 = Example "Energising Development" Mali =
 Mali's power grid covers only a few urban areas; over 95 % of the rural population has no access to electricity from a grid. In order to enhance living conditions of the rural population, in total 50 SBSBs were installed in 17 rural municipalities as a part of the Communal Electrification Programme '''‘Électrifcation Communale’ (ELCOM) '''which is an element of the Local Government Support Programme (‘Programme d’Appui aux Collectivités Territoriales’ (PACT)) and forms an integral part of [[Energising Development (EnDev)|‘Energising Development’ (EnDev)]], a German-Dutch partnership.
 ELCOM’s objective is to provide access to electricity in rural areas of Mali, not only by constructing SBCSs for local people, but also by installing solar powered systems for street lighting and in key public buildings like health centres, schools and town halls
@@ Line 302: / Line 313: @@
 The user should have a battery that can be recharged in a SBCS. Batteries are costly in relation to the income of the rural population - that mostly live below the 1$/day threshold: new 70 Ah batteries cost about 40,000 FCFA (€ 61), second hand batteries cost 10 - 15,000 FCFA (€ 15 to 23). Smaller (motorcycle)batteries can also be used, costing quite a bit less while obviously also bigger (truck) batteries can be charged at the SBCS.
 The charge of a 70 Ah battery in Bamako or in regional and district centres costs roughly FCFA 500 (€ 0.8). Additional transport costs (for distances sometimes up to 100 km) can lead to a total expense of FCFA 1,000 per charge.
@@ Line 314: / Line 327: @@
 The private operator is responsible for the running of the SBCS and for maintenance and repair of all solar powered systems (SBCS, SI and Streetlighting alike) instaloled through the programme. Income from the SBCS is divided in a pre-defined way between daily running costs, income of the technicians, a fee for the operator, a contribution to teh municipality budget, a fee for the management committee and a contribution to the amortisation fund - from which replacements should eventually be paid.
 The management committee, established in each municipality, is responsible for supervising the operation. It consists of village representatives and is responsible for the operator renting fee, for repair of equipment and for investments. The operator participates in their meetings regularly so as to ensure a mutual control of actors involved.
@@ Line 327: / Line 342: @@
 In general, the SBCS are operating reliably; good quality components were used and . They are known and reputed among the clients for their high quality of charge, which allows battery utilisation for about two weeks (15 to 20 days, depending on the quality of the battery). The quality of charge of other BCS is usually much lower (utilisation of 2 to 5 days) as they do not apply charge controllers. Nevertheless, the advantages and potential savings on energy expenditures have to be explained to the costumers, who often only see the higher price, not considering the superior price-service ratio and the amount of money saved on transport costs. Word of mouth seems to be the most effective means of marketing.
-With all the SBCS running approximately 1,100 batteries are charged per month. As a result 6,470 people currently profit from the SBSC and have access to electricity. However, the number and the capacity of the SBCS in some of the municipalities were over-estimated as the number of costumers’ remains low and the SBSC are running on approximately 35 to 40 % of their capacity on average. This is partly due to the lack of rechargeable batteries. Most of the batteries brought to the SBCS are car batteries that are not suited for delivering a steady amount of current over a longer time but the only ones which are readily available in rural areas. Many households cannot even afford to buy a car battery and others have second hand batteries which are in such a poor condition that recharging them is impossible. Many potential customers had to be rejected by the operator due to the bad state of their battery. However, even those who do not own a battery profit indirectly from charging services as they can watch TV in their neighbours’ home or have their mobile phone recharged by someone owning a battery. The maintenance of all solar installations including communal PV systems and an acceptable level of profit for the operator is not guaranteed if the degree of capacity utilisation does not reach 60 to 70 %. Currently, only in one municipality is the revenue high enough for the operator to pay the total fee. In the other municipalities the operators meet on a monthly basis with the management committee and representatives from the town hall to discuss the repartition of the revenue. In this way it is avoided that the operator is discouraged.
+<br/>
 Almost all municipalities have had large difficulties in mobilising their share. This led to major delays in the construction of the SBCS as the communal contribution had to be paid directly to the construction companies. The municipalities, who were also the contracting authority, were unwilling to put the construction companies under pressure to terminate the construction as they were depending on the goodwill of the contracted companies to pre-finance the communal share. These dependencies sometimes resulted in less transparent awarding of contracts to construction enterprises. In addition, the inhabitants of the municipalities could not be easily mobilised to contribute their manual support for construction.
 A positive development of the programme is that the private operators have begun to install solar home systems, sell solar lanterns and provide after-sales services in the rural municipalities that go beyond the original ELCOM intervention.
@@ Line 393: / Line 418: @@
 = Further Information<br/> =
-*You can also download the [[:File:Rural_electrification_by_battery_charging_stations.pdf|Rural electrification by battery charging stations]] as PDF
+*You can also download the [[:File:Rural electrification by battery charging stations.pdf|Rural electrification by battery charging stations]] as PDF
 *[[Hydro Battery Charging Station|Hydro Battery Charging Systems]]
 *[[:Category:Battery Charging Systems|Battery Charging Systems]]<br/>

@@ Line 14: / Line 14: @@
 Charged (car) batteries in fact can provide services comparable to the upper end of the pico PV range at lower investment costs, though running costs eventually are higher.
-A little electricity, like from car batteries, can considerably improve living conditions of its users. Electrically powered lamps improve domestic working conditions at night in particular for women and can also enhance studying conditions for children, not only because of the better light but also since they reduce fire hazard and do not emit noxious pollutants. Other services that are highly valued and only require a little electricity as can e.g. be delivered by car batteries are radio and tv for information and entertainment, and air circulation (fans) for basic cooling. Also mobile phones, crucial for access to modern communication, helping people in rural areas to obtain information and thus e.g. facilitating commercial operations, can easily be charged off car-batteries, though they can also be charged directly at a BCS. In order to provide such services a carbattery should be recharghed a few times a month.
+A little electricity, like from car batteries, can considerably improve living conditions of its users. Electrically powered lamps improve domestic working conditions at night in particular for women and can also enhance studying conditions for children, not only because of the better light but also since they reduce fire hazard and do not emit noxious pollutants. Other services that are highly valued and only require a little electricity as can e.g. be delivered by car batteries are radio and tv for information and entertainment, and air circulation (fans) for basic cooling. Also mobile phones, crucial for access to modern communication, helping people in rural areas to obtain information and thus e.g. facilitating commercial operations, can easily be charged off car-batteries, though they can also be charged directly at a BCS. In order to provide such services a car battery should be recharged a few times a month.
 To a small extent, electricity from charged (car) batteries can also contribute to raising incomes of small businesses and handicraft, especially in communal market towns. Shop owners, for example, can open their shops in the evenings thus not only raising their income, but also delivering an improved service to the community.
-In such schemes mostly lead-acid wet cell car-, truck- and / or motorcycle batteries are used as they are most easily available on the market, either new or second hand, and as they are produced locally in some countries. While thus often the least cost option, this type of (starter) batteries cannot really stand deep discharging as normally done when used for such services, implying their capacity is decerasing over time and their effective lifespan is limited. Proper deep-cycle batteries have much better performance in such set-ups but often are hard to find and cost a lot more.
+In such schemes mostly lead-acid wet cell car-, truck- and / or motorcycle batteries are used as they are most easily available on the market, either new or second hand, and as they are produced locally in some countries. While thus often the least cost option, this type of (starter) batteries cannot really stand deep discharging as normally done when used for such services, implying their capacity is decreasing over time and their effective lifespan is limited. Proper deep-cycle batteries have much better performance in such set-ups but often are hard to find and cost a lot more.
 Electricity from rechargeable batteries can provide a lot more service at far lower costs than disposable dry cell batteries. They are also the environmentally friendlier option provided their eventual disposal / recycling, is properly organised, which in itself is worth doing.
@@ Line 348: / Line 348: @@
 = Example [[Cambodia Energy Situation|Cambodia]]<br/> =
-<u>A handful of solar battery stations (or rather solar assited or with diesel generators as back up) are in place in Cambodia:</u>
+<u>A handful of solar battery stations (or rather solar assisted or with diesel generators as back up) are in place in Cambodia:</u>
 *[http://www.kamworks.com/ Kamworks] piloted a SBC station at an already existing battery charging station, yet stopped after half a year as the operator was not satisfied- the timing was not ideal as the project started in the rainy season, when solar irradiation is not sufficient.Also, the donated solar panels did not reach electricity generation expectations.
 *4 SBCS have been 100% funded through the [http://sgp.undp.org/web/projects/12855/solar_battery_charging_project.html GEF Small Grants Programme under UNDP.]they are community owned. Charging rates are lower than at diesel operated charging services.part of the income is saved within the community for later maintenance and repair, yet the amount is very low. The remaining money is used to pay the operator.
@@ Line 364: / Line 364: @@
 *A lot of awareness raising and training is needed.
 *Very old car batteries are used. It is very difficult to change (de-)charging habits and educate customers about the advantages and importance of solar charging and the proper usage of batteries.
-*There are allegedly more than 10,000 charging stations in Cambodia. Due to the poor charging technologies and low level of know-how of operators, focus should be put on capacity building with regards to technical aspects of charging, including saftey and effeffiency issues. With little effort, a lot of energy can be saved. At the moment, due to the high price of diesel, many diesel charging stations are not profitable as operators do not calculate all of their costs when pricing their services. Diesel charging is often a side business of rural business men.
+*There are allegedly more than 10,000 charging stations in Cambodia. Due to the poor charging technologies and low level of know-how of operators, focus should be put on capacity building with regards to technical aspects of charging, including safety and efficiency issues. With little effort, a lot of energy can be saved. At the moment, due to the high price of diesel, many diesel charging stations are not profitable as operators do not calculate all of their costs when pricing their services. Diesel charging is often a side business of rural business men.
-*Even in areas where the grid is reaching, battery charging stations are common as they supply the poorest households who cannot afford grid connection. Also, batteries are used in times of poer cuts, for water pumping on the fields, etc.
+*Even in areas where the grid is reaching, battery charging stations are common as they supply the poorest households who cannot afford grid connection. Also, batteries are used in times of pore cuts, for water pumping on the fields, etc.
-*As the price for a kwH from a battery charged with diesel is the most expensive form of energy and as it is at the same time often the only source of electricity for rural households, which are amongst the poorest in Cambodia, new ways of providing these houeholds with electricity need to be found.
+*As the price for a kwH from a battery charged with diesel is the most expensive form of energy and as it is at the same time often the only source of electricity for rural households, which are among the poorest in Cambodia, new ways of providing these households with electricity need to be found.
-*The efficiency of using solar energy to old car batteries is very low, especially keeping in mind the current level of know how with operators. If donors support rural electrification, battery charging is only a short time bridging technology wich serves the lowest needs. Investing in solar home systems or rural mini grids (running on biomas, solar, or hybrid systems) will be a more sustainable investment with greater quality energy services.
+*The efficiency of using solar energy to old car batteries is very low, especially keeping in mind the current level of know how with operators. If donors support rural electrification, battery charging is only a short time bridging technology which serves the lowest needs. Investing in solar home systems or rural mini grids (running on biomass, solar, or hybrid systems) will be a more sustainable investment with greater quality energy services.
 <br/>
@@ Line 388: / Line 388: @@
 <br/>
 = Further Information<br/> =
-*You can also download the [[:File::Rural_electrification_by_battery_charging_stations.pdf|Rural electrification by battery charging stations]] as PDF
+*You can also download the [[:File:Rural_electrification_by_battery_charging_stations.pdf|Rural electrification by battery charging stations]] as PDF
 *[[Hydro Battery Charging Station|Hydro Battery Charging Systems]]
-*[[:Category:Battery_Charging_Systems|Battery Charging Systems]]<br/>
+*[[:Category:Battery Charging Systems|Battery Charging Systems]]<br/>
 *[[Portal:Solar|Solar Portal on energypedia]]
 <br/>
 = References =
@@ Line 403: / Line 403: @@
 <references />
 [[Category:Solar]]