For centuries, water pumping, food processing, and manufacturing , amongst other productive uses, have been enhanced by the application of mechanical power. Recent technological advances in mechanical power have further enhanced productivity and reduced the drudgery of human labour associated with these tasks. However, in spite of the undoubted importance of mechanical power in meeting every day energy needs at a local level, it is generally under-appreciated to the point that there is an almost complete lack of official data and documentation of its role. Expanding Energy Access in Developing Countries surveys the variety of mechanical power applications and options available, and argues that they should be given more consideration by policy makers and practitioners responsible for improving energy access for poor communities worldwide. This publication will be of interest to anyone seeking an overview of mechanical power and its use in pro-poor development work and should be required reading for programme planners at national and local level. ‘It is an excellent report... The case studies have been chosen well to represent the geographic areas as well as range of applications of mechanical energy, and range of models used for implementing the projects. The case studies have also been documented very well. The glossary of mechanical energy devices also appears to be exhaustive and it will be a useful tool for subsequent work in this area.’ Priyadarshini Karve, Appropriate Rural Technology Institute, India. For centuries, water pumping, food processing, and manufacturing have been enhanced by the application of mechanical power. Expanding Energy Access in Developing Countries surveys the variety of mechanical power applications and options available, and argues that they should be given more consideration by policy makers and practitioners responsible for improving energy access for poor communities worldwide. Smail Khennas is a Senior Energy Specialist with ITDG. He is the author of several books on rural energy in developing countries. He has been working for more than 25 years on energy in developing countries. Expanding Energy Access in Developing Countries The Role of Mechanical Power By Liz Bates, Steven Hunt, Smail Khennas, Nararya Sastrawinata Practical Action Publishing Ltd Copyright © 2009 UNDP All rights reserved. ISBN: 978-1-85339-704-2 Contents Figures, vi, Tables, vi, Acknowledgements, vii, Foreword, viii, Summary, ix, 1 Introduction, 1, 2 Mechanical power, energy services and livelihoods, 5, 3 Development outcomes, 11, 4 Interventions expanding access to mechanical power, 15, 5 Financing opportunities, 19, 6 Conclusions and recommendations, 21, Glossary, 39, References, 45, CHAPTER 1 Introduction There has been increasing recognition in recent years of the importance of energy access in developing countries for meeting the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs). Crucial linkages between the two have been documented (DFID, 2002; Modi et al, 2006) and highlighted at global forums such as the Commission on Sustainable Development (CSD). Internationally, multilateral agencies have committed to partner with developing country governments to address energy access issues in the context of sustainable development, as defined in the Johannesburg Plan of Implementation (JPOI), adopted at the World Summit on Sustainable Development in 2002. At the same time energy has climbed the international policy agenda, driven by concerns about oil and gas prices, energy security, and links to climate change. However, even progressive agendas that promote low-carbon, alternative energy and energy efficiency in developed countries have so far not clearly meshed with the requirements of energy access for development in developing countries. These requirements are for a drastic increase in the quality and quantity of energy access by the poor. On current trends however, the existing grim energy access statistics of 1.6 billion people in developing countries without access to electricity and 2.5 billion still using traditional biomass fuel for cooking look unlikely to change by 2030 (PAC, 2008). While these figures are justifiably often quoted and act as drivers for energy access advocacy and policy, they fail to reflect the full extent of the energy access gap. In particular they do not fully reflect the need for energy in productive uses and basic processing in many different rural livelihood activities, undertaken everywhere in enterprises, farms, mines, workshops, forests, wells and river crossings to name a few. These energy services are fundamental to rural livelihoods, and to the efficient transformation of natural resources into vital products and services including food. This access to energy results in wealth creation for producers and more affordable prices for consumers. For poor people, such energy needs are often met with simple hand tools or with physical stren