Energy

Practical Action Consulting has been working in the field of renewable energy, household energy and decentralised rural electrification for over 30 years. We have a proven track record of managing complex, multi-disciplinary international projects and have worked on renewable energy policy and strategy issues in Europe as well as Africa, Asia and Latin America.

We provide independent professional advice and assistance for the following types of energy work:

• energy needs assessment, demand surveys and market studies;
• resource assessment, e.g. hydrological studies, wind monitoring, solar energy assessment and biomass surveys;
• feasibility studies covering the technical, social and economic aspects of biomass, solar wind and hydro use;
• technology development and adaptation to socio-economic contexts;
• support to local manufacturers and developers, for example, stove design methodology, induction generators and low wattage cookers;
• technology transfer, for example, of electronic control systems and turbine designs;
• policy analysis, institutional development, strategic planning and action plans;
• training courses in all aspects of rural and renewable energy, both general and technology specific.

We also provide specialist technical support for practical project design, implementation and evaluation of programmes incorporating rural and renewable energy:

• biomass combustion systems for industrial applications, agro-processing, lime making and waste incineration;
• solar photovoltaic systems for specialist and high value energy applications;
• micro, mini or small (pico) hydro power;
• wind pumping or electricity generation;
• publications and technical manuals on renewable energy.

Energy projects

Click on the following links to access further information about some of our recent projects in the energy and environment sector.

• DFID Policy Innovation Systems for Clean Energy Security (PISCES) Energy Research Programme Consortium (RPC), Kenya, Sri Lanka, India and Tanzania (DFID, 2007 - 2012)
• Assessment of Ethanol as a Household Fuel, Madagascar, Madagascar (World Bank 2008 - 2010)
•  Making Carbon Markets Work for the Poor, Vietnam (DFID, 2008)
• Study of the Contribution of Mechanical Power to Energy Access and Development, Sub-Saharan Africa and South Asia (UNDP, 2009)
• Access to Sustainable Energy Sources on a Local Level - Expert Analysis and Study on the Current Policy Issues for the EU Presidency, Global (Czech Ministry of Foreign Affairs, 2009)
• International Case Studies on the Livelihoods Impacts of Small-Scale Bioenergy Initiatives, 12 countries in Latin America, Asia and Africa (FAO, 2008)
• Review and Appraisal of Potential Transformative Rural Energy Interventions in the Congo Basin, Congo Basin (DFID 2008-09)
• Mid-Term Review of DFID/IDRC Climate Change Adaptation in Africa (CCAA) Research and Capacity Development Programme
• Rural Electrification and Renewable Energy Development Project, Yemen
• Jatropha Biofuels Study, Mali
• Technical Support to the Renewable & Alternative Energy Unit, Afghanistan
• DFID Framework Agreement for Engineering Services
• Energy Reform and Access Programme, Mozambique
• Alternative Energy Study, Afghanistan
• Institutional Structure for the Development of Rural Electrification Projects, Mexico (GVEP/World Bank, 2005-06)
• Development of Rural Energy Policy and Strategy, Nigeria
• Networking for Promotion of Renewable Energy Technology (NetPRET), Sri Lanka
• Technical Support to Renewable Energy Partnerships Project, Azerbaijan (DEFRA, 2005-06)
• Rural Electrification Strategy and Policy, Papua New Guinea
• Glowstar Solar Lantern     
• Gravity Ropeways Feasibility Study in the Chittagong Hill Tracts, Bangladesh (FAO, 2009)
• Survey, Feasibility, Design and Procurement of Micro-Hydro Installations, Laos (IED/GoL, 2007-08)
• Sustainable Charcoal Market Development in 5 Districts including Training, Marketing and Project Scale-Up Design, Kenya (UNDP, 2009)
• Revolving Fund for the Promotion of Renewable Energies, Peru (IADB and others 1992 - date)
• Study into the Legal and Regulatory Structures necessary for Bioenergy Development in the West African Economic and Monetary Union, 9 countries in West Africa (EPM/UEMOA, 2009)
• Smoke, Health and Household Energy Project, Sudan, Nepal, Kenya (DFID, KaR, 2002-05)
• Demonstration and Training Centre for Renewable Energies for Rural Electrification, Peru (started in 1997)

Useful Information

The following are links to details of courses, conventions, presentations and further resources in the energy and environment sector.

• IV International Course of Specialization in Renewable Energies for Rural Electrification
• Regional Seminar on Small Hydro Power Development in Sri Lanka
• Practical Action’s work on Bioenergy presented at the FAO Technical Consultation on Sustainable Small-Scale Livelihood-Oriented Bioenergy Initiatives, Rome, 28-29th October 2009
• A presentation at the 6th European Forum on Eco-Innovation focusing on “Technology Transfer: Creating partnerships for Stimulating Economic Renewal”, Berlin, 2-3rd April 2009