ABSTRACT
This chapter explores the history, benefits, and challenges facing the Renewable Energy and Rural Electricity Access Project (REAP) in Mongolia, an internationally sponsored $23 million program that has thus far distributed more than 40,000 solar home systems (SHS) and small-scale wind turbine systems (WTS) to these herders. REAP suggests that rural energy programs work best when they ensure the participation of the private sector and also solicit feedback from consumers and end users. It took an integrated approach to coupling rural electricity services with development and focused on deploying SHS and wind units to nomadic herders, and also on rehabilitating electricity grids and shifting from diesel-produced electricity to hybrid diesel-renewable and fully renewable energy micro-grids. The program undertook efforts to improve technology through certification, standardization, and after-sales service alongside efforts to improve regulatory frameworks, build institutional capacity, train workers, and demonstrate solar and wind applications for herders.
