CAN SOLAR-BIOGAS HYBRID SYSTEMS BE THE SOLUTION TO SUSTAINABLE ENERGY SUPPLY IN RURAL AREAS?

Access to modern energy services is a fundamental prerequisite for poverty reduction and sustainable human development. Many remote rural South African communities are characterised by low energy demand and low population densities, making centralised energy generation and transmission prohibitively costly. However, most rural areas are endowed with renewable energy resources that can be transformed into usable energy appropriate to rural and remote areas. This study explores the use of modern and hybrid energy supply for poverty reduction and environmental protection in remote rural areas of South Africa. A conceptual and practical framework is presented that incorporates sustainable livelihoods thinking with the provision of sustainable energy services to inform poverty reduction policy