European rural and other off-grid electrifications

Development and proliferation of renewable energies are sponsored since 1979 by the European Union. (Programme THERMIE and predecessors). In the frame of this programme more than 150 projects of all kinds with about 3000 photovoltaic energy supply systems have been or are going to be implemented in Europe. About 69 of these projects with 2289 single pv systems concern rural and other off grid electrifications of small size. 46 of these projects are completed, the others presently go on. The main features of the systems in nine European countries are presented. The main conclusions are: For pv electrifications in rural areas the supply of AC through an appropriate inverter is the most preferable alternative and hybrid systems are much more suitable for stand-alone systems than systems with pv-only. The inverters are at present the weakest components of the systems. Preventive maintenance and prompt repair of the installed systems is essential. An adequate solution for the maintenance problem has still to be found.