Regional Initiative for Promoting Small-Scale Renewable Energy Applications in Rural Areas of the Arab Region Small-Scale Renewable Energy Technological Solutions in the Arab Region: Operational Toolkit - December 2020 VISION ESCWA, an innovative catalyst for a stable, just and flourishing Arab region MISSION Committed to the 2030 Agenda, ESCWA’s passionate team produces innovative knowledge, fosters regional consensus and delivers transformational policy advice. Together, we work for a sustainable future for all. E/ESCWA/CL1.CCS/2020/TP.8 Economic and Social Commission for Western Asia Regional Initiative for Promoting Small-Scale Renewable Energy Applications in Rural Areas of the Arab Region Small-Scale Renewable Energy Technological Solutions in the Arab Region: Operational Toolkit December 2020 UNITED NATIONS Beirut © 2020 United Nations All rights reserved worldwide Photocopies and reproductions of excerpts are allowed with proper credits. 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Photo credits: ©iStock.com 2 Small-Scale Renewable Energy Technological Solutions in the Arab Region: Operational Toolkit Acknowledgements Small-Scale Renewable Energy Technological Solutions in the Arab Region: Operational Toolkit is a product of exceptional collaboration between the United Nations Economic and Social Commission for Western Asia (ESCWA) and the Swedish International Development Cooperation Agency (Sida) in the framework of the Regional Initiative for Promoting Small-Scale Renewable Energy Applications in Rural Areas of the Arab Region. This report was developed by the Energy Section in the Climate Change and Natural Resources Sustainability Cluster (CCNRSC) of ESCWA. The lead authors are Ms. Radia Sedaoui, Chief of the Energy Section (CCNRSC), and Ms. Syham Bentouati, Renewable Energy Expert and Managing Director of NAFAS International, Oman. Valuable inputs and substantive contribution were provided by Ms. Stephanie Chaban, Regional Advisor on Gender Equality and Women’s Empowerment in the Gender Justice, Population and Inclusive Development Cluster of ESCWA, Mr. Jil Amine, Sustainable Development Officer, CCNRSC, ESCWA, Ms. Reema Sipra, Consultant at NAFAS International, Oman and Mr. George Saliba, Individual Contractor, CCNRSC, ESCWA. Support was also provided by Ms. Asma Boudellioua, Senior Project Engineer at NAFAS International, Oman, Ms. Majda Al Mahrouqi, Research Assistant at NAFAS International, Oman, Ms. Ghadeer Al Kalbani, Project Engineer at NAFAS International, Oman, and Ms. Maya Antoine Mansour, Research Assistant, CCNRSC, ESCWA. 3 Contents Acknowledgements 03 Abbreviations and Acronyms 07 Introduction 08 1 Small-Scale Renewable Energy Technologies for Rural Areas 11 A. Solar energy 12 B. Wind energy 13 C. Marine (ocean) energy 14 D. Hydropower energy 14 E. Geothermal energy 15 F. Bioenergy 15 2 Renewable Energy Potential in the Arab Region 19 A. Solar energy 19 B. Wind energy 20 C. Ocean energy 21 D. Hydropower energy 21 E. Geothermal energy 22 F. Biomass energy 23 G. Current status of the Arab region 23 3 Matching Small-Scale Renewable Energy Technologies and Applications in Rural Areas 29 A. Assessment of RETs 29 B. Methodology for mapping renewable energy types and technologies 31 C. Renewable energy types and technologies for various applications 32 4 Potential Benefits of Small-Scale Renewable Energy Technologies 59 A. Technical considerations 59 B. Economic considerations 59 C. Environmental considerations 60 D. Social impact 60 5 Critical Aspects and Potential Adverse Impacts of Small-Scale Renewable Energy Technologies 63 A. Technical considerations 63 B. Economic considerations 63 C. Environmental considerations 63 D. Social impact 65 4 Small-Scale Renewable Energy Technological Solutions in the Arab Region: Operational Toolkit 6 Case Studies of Deployed Small-Scale Renewable Energy Technologies 67 A. Mini-grid case study 67 B. Individual RETs 70 C. Additional case studies 75 7 Raising Awareness for the Deployment of Small-Scale RETs in Rural Contexts 79 8 Conclusion and Recommendations 83 Endnotes 85 List of Tables Table 1. Hydropower classification according to the output power 15 Table 2. Population without access to electricity in the Arab region, 2018 24 Table 3. Renewable energy sources, main technologies, examples of applications 33 Table 4. Examples of small-scale renewable energy technologies successfully deployed worldwide 76 List of Figures Figure 1. Renewable energy categories 11 Figure 2. Examples of solar systems 13 Figure 3. Small-scale wind turbine 13 Figure 4. Pilot tidal energy turbine at Raz Blanchard, France 14 Figure 5. (a) Galičnik small hydropower plant; (b) Turbulent hydropower innovation 15 Figure 6. Climeon geothermal plant 15 Figure 7. 15 kW modular Biogas systems by Community Power Corporation 16 Figure 8. Solar resources potential in the Arab region 20 Figure 9. Wind resources potential in the Arab region 21 Figure 10. Jezzine waterfall, Lebanon 22 Figure 11. Maison de L’oasis geothermally heated greenhouse, Tunisia 22 Figure 12. Natural hot waters in Hammam Maskhoutine, Algeria 23 Figure 13. Banana agricultural waste, Egypt 23 Figure 14. Electrification rates in the Arab region, 2000-2018 24 Figure 15. Evolution of electrification access deficit, 2005-2017 25 Figure 16. Electricity access for rural and urban populations in selected countries, 2018 25 Figure 17. Share of renewable energy sources in the overall energy consumption for the Arab countries, 2017 27 Figure 18. Renewable energy (excluding solid biofuel) share in final energy consumption, 2017 27 Figure 19. The recommended process for selecting renewable energy technologies 32 Figure 20. (a) PV windmill integrated water pump; (b) PV water pumping 38 Figure 21. (a) Schematic of a biomass fueled dryer; (b) picture of fabricated dryer 39 Figure 22. Modular solar dryer 39 Figure 23. Proposed solar hydroponics project in Qatar 40 Figure 24. Schematic of a solar PV refrigeration system 41 5 Figure 25. Schematic of a solar thermal refrigeration system 42 Figure 26. Schematic of a biogas refrigeration system 42 Figure 27. Solar air heating system 44 Figure 28. Solar PV-based cooling 44 Figure 29. (a) Schematic; (b) picture of a solar evaporation cooling system 45 Figure 30. Example of an improved cooking stove 46 Figure 31. Biofuel stove model 47 Figure 32. Parabolic solar cooker 47 Figure 33. Schematic of solar home systems 49 Figure 34. Estimated costs for SHSs, 2017 49 Figure 35. Cost comparison of SHS running standard vs. super-efficient appliances 50 Figure 36. Schematic of a wind powered home system 50 Figure 37. 1 kW pico turbine 52 Figure 38. Solar, wind/solar hybrid and wind streetlamps, 53 Figure 39. (a) Schematic of a typical flat plate collector; (b) and evacuated tube collector 54 Figure 40. Roof-mounted solar water heating system 55 Figure 41. SODIS application in Indonesia 56 Figure 42. Somali women with their smart phones 80 List of Boxes Box 1. Modular geothermal generators in Indonesia 35 Box 2. Land installed marine powered energy transformer (LIMPET) in Scotland 36 Box 3. Small-scale biomass gas plant in a dairy farm in Sweden 43 Box 4. Windmills for small power generation in poor rural areas of Peru 50 Box 5. Small hydropower case study Sarhad Rural Support Programme – overall small-scale hydropower 51 portfolio in Pakistan Box 6. Solar heating system for ecotourism in Kenya 55 6 Small-Scale Renewable Energy Technological Solutions in the Arab Region: Operational Toolkit Abbreviations and Acronyms $ United States Dollar RET renewable energy technology AC alternating current SDG Sustainable Development Goal DC direct current SHP small-scale hydropower °C degree Celsius SHS solar home system °C/km degree Celsius per kilometer SODIS solar water disinfection ESCWA Economic and Social Commission SRSP Sarhad Rural Support Programme for Western Asia UVA ultraviolet A ICT information and communications V volt technology W watt km kilometer Wh watt-hour km/h kilometer per hour Wp watt-peak kW kilowatt YUSI Yayasan Usaha Sejhatra Indonesia kW/m kilowatt per