ContentsList of FiguresAcknowledgementsAbstractExecutive SummaryIntroductionThe Rural Energy Situation in Developing CountriesWomen™s Participation in Energy DevelopmentDecentralized Power: A Solution for Rural Energy NeedsSolar-Based Rural Electrification: A Case StudyMicroenterprise DevelopmentUsing the MarketGender PerspectiveSelection Stage:Training Phase:Reinforcement Stage:Access to CreditGender PerspectiveApplying SO-BASEC to a Range of Energy NeedsGender PerspectiveConclusions and Lessons LearnedStaffingFundingSide Bar Profile of a Solar Entrepreneur: One Woman™s StoryBibliographyNovember 2000 • NREL/SR-550-28995Julie A. SmithBoston, MassachusettsSolar-Based Rural Electrificationand Microenterprise Developmentin Latin America: A GenderAnalysisNational Renewable Energy Laboratory1617 Cole BoulevardGolden, Colorado 80401-3393NREL is a U.S. Department of Energy LaboratoryOperated by Midwest Research Institute •••• Battelle •••• BechtelContract No. DE-AC36-99-GO10337November 2000 • NREL/SR-550-28995 Solar-Based Rural Electrification and Microenterprise Development in Latin America: A Gender Analysis Julie A. Smith Boston, Massachusetts NREL Technical Monitor: Barbara C. Farhar, Ph.D. Prepared under Purchase Order No. 162244 This report can be viewed online at http://www.nrel.gov/docs/fy01osti/28995.pdf National Renewable Energy Laboratory 1617 Cole Boulevard Golden, Colorado 80401-3393 NREL is a U.S. Department of Energy Laboratory Operated by Midwest Research Institute •••• Battelle •••• Bechtel Contract No. DE-AC36-99-GO10337Submitted by the subcontractor and received no editorial review at NREL NOTICE This report was prepared as an account of work sponsored by an agency of the United States government. Neither the United States government nor any agency thereof, nor any of their employees, makes any warranty, express or implied, or assumes any legal liability or responsibility for the accuracy, completeness, or usefulness of any information, apparatus, product, or process disclosed, or represents that its use would not infringe privately owned rights. 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Box 62 Oak Ridge, TN 37831-0062 phone: 865.576.8401 fax: 865.576.5728 email: [email protected] Available for sale to the public, in paper, from: U.S. Department of Commerce National Technical Information Service 5285 Port Royal Road Springfield, VA 22161 phone: 800.553.6847 fax: 703.605.6900 email: [email protected] online ordering: http://www.ntis.gov/ordering.htm Printed on paper containing at least 50% wastepaper, including 20% postconsumer wasteiContentsAcknowledgements ...................................................................................................................................... iiAbstract ....................................................................................................................................................... iiiExecutive Summary .....................................................................................................................................ivIntroduction ...................................................................................................................................................1The Rural Energy Situation in Developing Countries...............................................................................1Women’s Participation in Energy Development .......................................................................................2Decentralized Power: A Solution for Rural Energy Needs .......................................................................5Solar-Based Rural Electrification: A Case Study..........................................................................................8Microenterprise Development ...................................................................................................................9Access to Credit.......................................................................................................................................12Applying SO-BASEC to a Range of Energy Needs ................................................................................13Conclusions and Lessons Learned ..............................................................................................................15Staffing.....................................................................................................................................................15Funding ....................................................................................................................................................15Profile of a Solar Entrepreneur: One Woman’s Story.................................................................................16Bibliography................................................................................................................................................20List of FiguresFigure 1: Traditional Fulfillment of Rural Energy Needs .............................................................................4Figure 2: Matching Energy Technology and Rural Need (Dispersed Population)........................................7Figure 3. Enersol’s Solar-Based Rural Electrification Model.....................................................................12iiAcknowledgementsThe National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL) sponsored this paper.The contents of the case study are the result of the author’s experiences while working on decentralizedrenewable energy projects first as a Peace Corps Volunteer in the Dominican Republic and later as anEnersol employee. The study also reflects the valuable contributions of other Enersol staff.Special acknowledgement is extended to Ms. Ana Cristina Zepeda de Servellon,