A Policy Framework for Integrating Distributed Solar Energy for Rural Cambodia

Abstract

This thesis seeks to provide a policy framework for the Royal Government of Cambodia (RGC), to aid them in the integration of solar energy resources into their power sector, focusing specifically on the goal of rural electrification. One of the main hindrances to poverty alleviation in developing countries is a lack of electricity. Cambodia has one of the worst national electrification rates in the world with nearly 70% of its rural population lacking adequate access to electricity. It has become popular in places like India and sub-Saharan Africa to provide this access to electricity through distributed solar energy in the form of solar home systems and micro-grids. The environmental benefits of solar versus other sources of electricity are clear, but the economic benefits have become compelling as well. Lower cost solar technology and high cost grid infrastructure expansion have attracted international investors to the distributed solar energy space in developing countries. Cambodia, however, still lags far behind other developing nations in the growth of their renewable energy capacity. The proceeding document seeks to uncover the key barriers to implementation and integration of distributed solar energy for the electrification of rural Cambodia, so as to provide a framework from which the RGC can legislate policy to effective address and overcome these barriers. What can they do to create an enabling environment for solar to expand across the country and reach the people who need it most? How can public/private partnerships be established to coordinate the ascertainment of both political and commercial goals? While these questions inevitably give rise to others–some of which may not be answerable at this time–it is a worthwhile endeavor to explore them and analyze the currently available data, in order to provide conclusions and policy recommendations for the benefit of the Cambodian people.