Energy Access Project – Lesotho

Date: 2007 – 2008
Client: European Union Energy Initiative/GTZ
Location: Lesotho
Outcome: The overall objective of this project is to significantly improve access to clean, reliable and affordable energy for cooking, lighting and productive use in rural and peri-urban areas of Lesotho. The immediate objective is a detailed, implementable programme describing how energy needs of the low-income groups in rural and peri-urban areas of Lesotho can be supplied with reliable and affordable modern energy forms, including possibilities for the productive use of energy. Restio Energy was sub-contracted to PDC to specifically look at productive use opportunities.

The Integrated Rural Energy Utility (IREU): Making energy service delivery more sustainable

Date: 2007 – 2009
Client: Renewable Energy and Energy Efficiency Partnership (REEEP)
Location: Tanzania, Uganda, South Africa and Kenya
Outcome: The IREU investigated the feasibility, practicalities and requirements of establishing integrated models for energy service delivery in rural areas. Rural areas are notoriously difficult to service, being characterised by scattered settlements, high unemployment, poor infrastructure, etc. The study reviewed various energy service delivery models in South Africa, Tanzania, Uganda and Kenya, investigating the feasibility of integrating grid and off-grid service options. A prominent consideration for off-grid energy services included LPG, a well positioned thermal fuel which, when accompanied by PV electricity, presents a complete and distributed household/institutional energy solution.

Develop a sustainable business plan for a PV/Diesel Mini-Grid

Date: 2010
Client: Desert Research Foundation Namibia
Location: Namibia (Tsumkwe)

Outcome: Restio Energy has been subcontracted by OneWorld Sustainable Investments to lead the project on their behalf. The task involves developing a sustainable business/operational model that protects the assets, offers an accessible and reliable service and promotes economic activity in the area. Part of the project looks specifically at using LPG as an option for managing electricity demand and promoting more practical energy options for distributed households.

Kigoma PV project initiative, Tanzania

Date: 2010/11
Client: Millennium Challenge Account – Tanzania
Location: Tanzania
Outcome: The project focuses on developing a sustainable Solar PV delivery solution for the Kigoma Region, including solar home systems (household/businesses), Pico PV lighting systems (household), institutional (schools and clinics), small enterprises etc. The project requires us to understand current energy use demands and to facilitate – through marketing and finance – a transition from non-renewable to renewable (PV) energy solutions. The objectives are two-fold: determine the viability in a pre-selected target area, and design commercially-oriented, simple, implementable solar PV programs for Households (Solar Home Systems), Public Institutions (Schools, Clinics) and Productive Use Applications (Businesses, Small Industries etc.)

Mid-term evaluation of the Developing Energy Enterprises Project – East Africa

Date: 2011
Client: The Global Village Energy Partnership International (GVEP)
Location: Kenya, Tanzania & Uganda

Outcome: The Developing Energy Enterprises Project (DEEP) aims to increase access to improved and clean energy services for close to 2 million people across East Africa through establishing and developing energy enterprises. The mid-term evaluation of this 5-year project not only reviews the current status of the project ¬vis-à-vis its stated objectives, but also advises project management and partners on strategic interventions needed to achieve the original goals and targets and use resources efficiently.

Monitoring the Eastern Cape off-grid concession utility

Date: 2010 – 2014
Client: Department of Energy/KfW
Location: South Africa (Eastern Cape)

Outcome: Restio Energy has been subcontracted by EDG (Energy & Development Group) to monitor the operations of an off-grid concession utility in rural Eastern Cape province, South Africa. The monitoring is mainly done by field workers through frequent technical and social surveys of new installations and “older” customers. Other monitoring activities include laboratory testing of equipment, remote monitoring of sample systems (mainly performed by EDG), focus groups and quarterly stakeholder meetings. The main purpose of the monitoring consultant is to check and approve the quality of installations and maintenance as well as adherence to technical & customer service standards, consequently also approving invoices submitted by the off-grid service provider to the client.