The Important Contribution of Photovoltaics in a Rural School Electrification Program

This paper describes Brazil\´s photovoltaic rural school electrification program developed in the southeastern state of Minas Gerais, from its demonstration phase through its current larger-scale (near 1000 systems) deployment. Based upon several successful initial demonstration projects, which have shown PV could be both reliable and cost effective in remote rural areas, over previous 10-year period, CEMIG-Energetic Company of Minas Gerais (the largest utility in Brazil) has developed a PV rural-electrification program that is driven by quality-of-life improvement objectives for the electricity consumer. The Luz no Saber has been specifically designed inside a larger-scale rural electrification program (Luz para Todos - M.G.). It has been implemented in rural areas of Minas Gerais State by CEMIG, in collaboration with state and federal governments. The main objective has been to find an energy delivery alternative to grid connection for dispersed rural communities to realize the recent "Universal Attendance Law" (10438). That is, starting July, 2002, electric utilities in Brazil have been required to electrify the entire areas they serve. Because of solar resource availability and geographical constraints, PV is the most important complementary technology to satisfy the universal electrical delivery to rural and remote communities in Minas Gerais. The technology allows the access of lower-income people to lighting, communication, as well as a variety of educational delivery opportunities. A major impact has been reducing illiteracy and improving the quality of education. The major conclusion of this 10-year CEMIG investment is that an adequate service infrastructure is required to make projects viable, mainly characterized by a technical network which guarantees the system\´s technical performance, system design, qualified technical support, and also avoids a lack of unreasonable and unfulfilled user expectations. The lessons learned under several phases of the CEM- IG\´s PV programmes focused on the "Luz no Saber Program" are detailed in this paper, with the conclusion that they have helped avoid potential failures in this sustainability model program