1. Renewable and distributed energy for a
local and sustainable development
Lorenzo Mattarolo
Program Manager UNESCO Chair, Energy for Sustainable Development
Ingegneria senza Frontiere - MI
26th March 2013

2. Technologies and Appropriateness
STARTING POINT - THE CONTEXT
Over reliance on colonial administration TOP DOWN
Top-down approach to economic development
Low technological capacity development
NEW APPROACH
Importance of local resources and local human capital
Supported by Schumacher – “Small is Beautiful, Economics as if People Mattered” (1973)
Identification of technologies 1. small-scale
2. labour-intensive BOTTOM UP
3. energy efficient
4. environmental friendly
5. locally controlled
NEW CONCEPT OF DEVELOPMENT
Technology that fits in the country's infrastructure, affordable,
easy to properly maintain, not destructive to the environment. SUSTAINABILITY
(Kaplan, 1994)
Lorenzo Mattarolo – POLIMI – UNESCO Chair

3. Appropriate & sustainable
Technology characterized by technical, social, economic and
environmental peculiarities permitting a sustainable development
Social Sustainability
AT
Environmental Sustainability Economic Sustainability
FEASIBILITY is precondition for sustainability
Lorenzo Mattarolo – POLIMI – UNESCO Chair

4. Appropriate technologies
Importance of boundary conditions
• flexibility to adapt to local conditions
• not related to a defined technology mix
• scaled to the context
• tailored to the needed services
• accounting the local culture
Ownership/commitment
• involvement of final users
• end-users requirements
• installation, management and maintenance
The ‘space pen’ example!
• enhancing job creation
• strengthening of research institutions to support
local production
Economic feasibility
• business model enhancing sustainability
• counting the coverage and cost
Lorenzo Mattarolo – POLIMI – UNESCO Chair

5. Appropriate technologies
Replicability
• Increase access to new technologies of scale
• Innovative models to scale up technologies
• Preserving the environment
Functionality
• availability of local materials
• impact on human capacity
• final user ownership (Asociación Argentina de Energía Eólica )
Impact
• Access to modern energy services and electricity necessarily need to be linked to
other social or economic strategy.
• The implementation of energy programmes have to be measured over socio-
economic indicators such as: quality of life, education, health, information,
agriculture, transport, promotion of small enterprises.
Lorenzo Mattarolo – POLIMI – UNESCO Chair

6. Strategies for access to energy
The GOAL is not to bring kWh
Energy OUTPUT
• Electricity or Thermal Energy
Services
• Education , Health, ICT….
OUTCOME
• Access to resources: food, water,
Development
• Human promotion >> individual
• Sustainable Growth >> society
IMPACT
Lorenzo Mattarolo – POLIMI – UNESCO Chair

7. Strategies for access to energy
Whatever Technologies or ensemble of technologies
Some TECHNICAL elements should be included in the strategy
• Step 1: Deep analysis of current and forecast local Needs
• Step 2: Accurate Assessment of local Resources
• Step 3: Optimize the cost/efficiency of the match Need – Resources
• Step 4: Choice of the technologies
Ex ante evaluation Gas
Needs
Resources An integrated
Electric Energy
system of
appropriate
End Use
technologies
/Services
Other Supply
Ex post evaluation
Lorenzo Mattarolo – POLIMI – UNESCO Chair

8. Strategies for access to energy
Step 1
Needs Assessment
Basic Living Condition
• Cooking: substitution of firewood, agricultural waste, cattle dung
• Lighting: public/street lighting and households
Strong dependency on
• Drinking water: purification, desalination, pumping
the LOCAL CONTEST
• Health: hot waters, distilled water, sterilization
• Education: schools In terms of
social perspective
Agricultural Productivity
• Irrigation: Most important productive application requiring power
Small Scale Industries
• Industry: flour mills , oil extraction plants, chilling center, artisanal activities…
Transportation
• Transport substitution of human and animal power
Lorenzo Mattarolo – POLIMI – UNESCO Chair

9. Strategies for access to energy
Step 2
Resources Assessment
Wind Map
Solar Irradiation
Hydrogeological situation
Biomass availability
Geothermal conditions
For the security of the supply
• electric grid in the neighborhood
• fossil fuel availability
• storage systems
Lorenzo Mattarolo – POLIMI – UNESCO Chair

10. Strategies for access to energy
Step 3
Need / Resources
Efficiency
Whenever you have Hydro
And no competition with fresh water exists, USED it
Whenever you have Biomass
And no cultural limitations exists, USED it for
Whenever you have Wind
And no specific problem for transportation USED it
You have almost always SUN
lowest cost/efficiency solutions, USED it only
when nothing else is available
Lorenzo Mattarolo – POLIMI – UNESCO Chair

11. Strategies for access to energy
Step 4
Energy Conversion Technologies
Selections
Wind
• mechanical conversion for water pumps and mills
• electric conversion for electricity distribution
Solar
• collectors for hot water supplying, stills for potable water, crop driers
• direct conversion with photovoltaic arrays
Hydro
• Water wheels for mechanical shaft power
• Micro – Mini hydro power plant for electricity
Biomass
• Organic wastes anaerobic fermentation for biogas
• Fermentation of biomass for alcohols production
• Biomass pyrolysis
Appropriate Storage
Appropriate Distribution Systems Selections Systems Selections
• “Smart” Idea of Grid: • Water tanks
• Gas pipeline, Hot water pipe line • Storage batteries
Lorenzo Mattarolo – POLIMI – UNESCO Chair

12. Strategies for access to energy
Step 5: Evaluate the impact on local Development
Physical Capital
better use and management of resources & infrastructures
Environmental Capital
conservation of the environment
indoor quality
Economic Capital
decreasing the dependence on imported fuels
improving the balance of payment
developing green economies
Social Capital
improving the human living environment
mitigation of mass migration and creation workplaces
Human Capital
local capacity and attitude to research and innovation
Participatory approach
Importance of monitoring and evaluation
Lorenzo Mattarolo – POLIMI – UNESCO Chair

13. Renewable & Decentralized Energy
• Biomass
• PV Solar
• Thermal Solar
• Hydro
• Wind
Lorenzo Mattarolo – POLIMI – UNESCO Chair

14. Biomass Energy
Biomass
means the biodegradable fraction of products, waste and residues from biological
origin from agriculture (including vegetal and animal substances), forestry and related
industries including fisheries and aquaculture, as well as the biodegradable fraction of
industrial and municipal waste
Dir 2009/28/EC, art. 2
Holistic approach
Lorenzo Mattarolo – POLIMI – UNESCO Chair

15. Biomass Energy – Supply Chains
Materials of different origin with high variability
Three supply chains
Forest residues Manure Animal fats
Woody manufacturing waste Sewage Lignin-cellulosic crops
Agricultural waste Waste Sugar/starch based biomass
Municipal waste Energy crops Vegetable oils
Industrial waste Waste cooking oils
SOLID BIOMASS BIOGAS BIOFUEL
Lorenzo Mattarolo – POLIMI – UNESCO Chair

16. Biomass Energy – Sources
SOLID BIOMASS RICE WINE OLIVE
HULLS POMACE POMACE
CHIPS PELLET FRUITS
NUTS
BIOFUEL
Lorenzo Mattarolo – POLIMI – UNESCO Chair

17. Biomass Energy – Impact
Transport Locally used biomass International traded biomass
(Source – REN21, 2012)
Lorenzo Mattarolo – POLIMI – UNESCO Chair

18. Biomass Energy – Impact
Transport Locally used biomass International traded biomass
Deforestation consists in the reduction of forestry areas, due
Deforestation
to an exploitation of the land which is not compensated by
the same re-growth rate.
Deforestation is taking place in developing countries with
high forest concentration (Amazon region, Indonesia, Congo,
South Africa, Nigeria).
According to FAO, between 2000 and 2010 almost 13 Mha of
forests disappeared.
Energy-food competition Price of soy oil
(Biomass Energy Report, 2010)
Lorenzo Mattarolo – POLIMI – UNESCO Chair

19. Biomass Energy – Impact
Policies
• Minimize the trade-offs between biomass for food and biomass for fuel
• Encourage the use of biomass residues
• Encourage sustainable and productive feedstocks and efficient conversion processes
Lorenzo Mattarolo – POLIMI – UNESCO Chair

20. Distributed generation – Biogas
Biogas anaerobic digesters in Rural Areas of Developing Countries
Floating-drum Fixed Dome Tubular type
Range of digester volume [m3] 5-70 6-91 5-20
Daily output [m3 biogas/m3 DV] 0,3-0,6 0,2-0,5 0,3-0,8
Lifespan [years] 12-15 15-20 2-5
Cost / Cost Tubular Type 1,5 - 3 1,5 – 2,5 1
Biogas research areas for Developing Countries:
 Analysis of the available substrates and assessment of potential biogas yield
 Digestion of multiple substrate (sewage, municipal and industrial)
 Small-scale plants which digest alternative substrates to animal manure
 Solar-powered digester heating and water saving devices for dissemination
Bond et al. 2011, Nzila et al. 2012, Mshandete et al. 2009
Lorenzo Mattarolo – POLIMI – UNESCO Chair

21. 21
Solar Energy
The solar resource
Technology trends: PV
Technology trends: Thermal Solar
Technology trends: Thermodynamic Solar
Lorenzo Mattarolo – POLIMI – UNESCO Chair

22. 22
Solar Energy: PV
The dominant material for creating PV panels is the silicon wafer, which can be
manufactured in three forms:
• Monocrystalline (silicon based)
• Multicrystalline (silicon based)
• Amorphous (new semi-conductor)
PVGIS (Photovoltaic Geographical Information
System) is a research, demonstration and policy-
support instrument for geographical assessment of
the solar energy resource in the context of
integrated management of distributed energy
generation.
http://re.jrc.ec.europa.eu/pvgis
Lorenzo Mattarolo – POLIMI – UNESCO Chair

23. 23
Solar Energy: PV
Design of PV systems
Solar power is characterized by its intermittence, making it necessary either to
provide a grid connection or a storage system (not connected to the grid).
Interfacing with the grid Stand-alone installation
(www.roofsolarpanels.biz)
Lorenzo Mattarolo – POLIMI – UNESCO Chair

24. Distributed Generation – PV
ELECTRICAL APPLIANCES (lights, radio, mobile charger, fan, refrigerator, TV, pump)
Size
Type Service Characteristics Cost [€]
[households, W]
Pico-PV Lighting (LED),
1, ≤10 60-240lm 25-80
system external devices Lead Acid,
Solar Home Lighting (LED, CFL), NiMH, LiMg
1, 10-200 150-600lm 80-250
System radio, TV, other devices
Multi-user
2-400, 200-5000
System
Research areas for Developing Countries:
• Adaptability to characteristics of the local context (social acceptance)
• Reliability and resilience (dust, rain, irregular charging)
• Extension of operating hours
Muggenburg et al. 2012, GIZ 2010, Mahapatra 2009
Lorenzo Mattarolo – POLIMI – UNESCO Chair

25. Innovative Supply Chain for PV
Current supply chain for solar energy in DCs
Importation of panels,
charge controller, Installation Distributor / Sales Maintenance & Service
battery, inverter
Innovative supply chain for solar energy in DCs
Importation of
Training in design Training in Installation &
cells and Local assembly
of solar system Distributors / Sales Maintenance
components
Lorenzo Mattarolo – POLIMI – UNESCO Chair

26. Innovative Supply Chain for PV
Solar panel component works Locally assembled solar panels
Production of charge controllers Assembling of solar street light Installation
Lorenzo Mattarolo – POLIMI – UNESCO Chair

27. 27
Solar Thermal Energy
Solar hot water systems use sunlight to heat water. They may be used to heat domestic
hot water, for space heating, etc..
These systems are composed of solar thermal collectors, a storage tank and a circulation
loop.
The three basic classifications of solar water heaters:
• Batch systems which consist of a tank that is directly heated by sunlight (oldest and
simplest designs, may be vulnerable to cooldown).
• Active systems with pumps to circulate water or a heat transfer fluid.
• Passive systems with circulating water or a heat transfer fluid by natural circulation.
Lorenzo Mattarolo – POLIMI – UNESCO Chair

28. Solar Thermal Energy
Solar collector
Absorber
• metal
• High conductivity
• High absorbivity
• Low emissivity
Copper/Steel with covered with chromo,
Tubi di circolazione
alumina-nickel, Tinox
Insulating systems Circulating tubes
• Low Thermal Conductivity • metal with good conductivity
• Resistant to high temperature
Rock wool, polyurethane foam, Transparent coverage
polystyrene ... • to reduce heat losses
• to maximize the efficiency of the collector
Lorenzo Mattarolo – POLIMI – UNESCO Chair

29. Solar thermal: applications
Self-build approach
Lorenzo Mattarolo – POLIMI – UNESCO Chair

30. Solar thermal: applications
Cooking System
(www.home.ix.netcom.com) (www.builditsolar.com) (www.solarcooking.org)
Lorenzo Mattarolo – POLIMI – UNESCO Chair

31. 31
Wind Energy
With the wind impacting the blades a slow down of the velocity occurs: kinetic energy is
transformed in energy over the rotor, then (possibly) in the generator converted into electricity
Two categories of aerogenerator:
• horizontal axis wind turbines (HAWT, Horizontal Axis
Wind Turbines)
• vertical axis wind turbines (VAWT Vertical Axis Wind
Turbines)
Lorenzo Mattarolo – POLIMI – UNESCO Chair

32. Distributed Generation – Small Wind
MECHANICAL POWER FOR WATER PUMPING (Wind pumps)
Water Head [m] Typical rotor
[m3/day]
supply <3 3-10 10-30 >30 diameter [m]
Domestic X X 1-3 (small farm) 1.5 to 2.5
Cattle X X 20 (500 head) 1.5 to 4.5
Irrigation X X 40-100 (1 ha) 2.5 to 5.5
Smulders 1996, Harries 2002
ELECTRICAL APPLIANCES
Small wind
Diameter [m] Power [kW] cP [$/W] MWh/year
Average 4,09 3.32 2,5 5,8
Minimum 1,95 1.30 1,0 0,4
Maximum 5,8 6.00 5,5 16
Self-constructed wind generator:
 Three wood blades 2,4m / 1,2m wind-rotor with tail vane
 Permanent magnet alternator (12 or 24 or 48V)
 Built in AC-DC converter
 Max power output 0,5kW
 Furling tail system for preventing overload
Simic 2012, Piggot 2007
Lorenzo Mattarolo – POLIMI – UNESCO Chair

33. Hydro energy
Hydropower is the conversion of the energy of moving water to electricity.
Especially in remote areas small scale hydro or micro-hydro power has been increasingly
used as an alternative energy source where other power sources are not viable
Small scale hydro power systems
• can be installed in small rivers or streams with little or no discernible environmental
effect on things such as fish migration or ‘environmental flow’
• is the cheapest and most proven renewable technology for rural electrification
2
3 1. Power group (powerhouse): turbine,
generator, control system
4
2. Weir and intake
3. Channel
4. Forebay
5. Penstock group
5
1
Lorenzo Mattarolo – POLIMI – UNESCO Chair

34. Distributed Generation – MiniHydro
ELECTRICAL APPLIANCES
Pico-hydro
Plant size [W] Inv. cost [US$/kW] LCOE [cUS$/kWh]
60-5.000 ~ 3.000 10-20
Research areas for Developing Countries:
• Improvement in electronic equipment for power quality improvement
• Integration with other RE for extending life span and reduce O&M costs
• New turbine concept for low-head site and pipe loss analysis
• Standardization
Lahimer et al. 2012
Lorenzo Mattarolo – POLIMI – UNESCO Chair

35. THANK YOU!
lorenzo.mattarolo@polimi.it
Lorenzo Mattarolo – POLIMI – UNESCO Chair