Energy documents - practice and learning
Papers relating to energy access and renewable technologies, reflecting Practical Action's experiences in the field.
Best practices for sustainable development of micro hydro power in developing countries
This report synthesises the experience of micro hydro developments in Sri Lanka, Peru, Nepal, Zimbabwe and Mozambique. It attempts to draw out the best practice from this experience.
Decentralised rural electrification: the critical success factors
This review of recent practice draws on our experience of supporting off-grid solutions in Sri Lanka, Nepal, Zimbabwe and Peru in particular, and on work by other organisations in other countries, such as Indonesia, Kenya, Vietnam, South Africa.
Design, development and marketing of solar lanterns
Work on the development of the Solar Lantern has generated a considerable amount of interest amongst potential customers and manufacturers alike. It is clear from the experience so far, that the unique position of development agencies can serve to bring together the necessary ingredients and...
Dissemination of smoke reduction interventions in Sudan
Cooking with biomass takes place on traditional inefficient three stone stoves, leading to indoor air pollution. This paper presents Practical Action's achievements in Sudan between 2004 and 2006, and lessons drawn from this best practice.
Energy and street food
This report presents the findings of a Practical Action project titled Energy and Street Food Vendors. The project was active in Bangladesh and Sri Lanka. The project purpose was to improve the livelihoods of street food vendors and the health of consumers by identifying and improving energy...
Estudio de Scaling-Up en Micro Centrales Hidroeléctricas: Experiencias De Soluciones Prácticas
This study looks at the development of the hydroelectric micropower stations with respect to the concept of ""scaling up"", using the experiences of Practical Action in Latin America. (Spanish language)
Small wind energy systems for battery charging
In-depth paper on wind power based on Practical Action's experiences
Smoke health and household energy
A summary of the issues around indoor air pollution.
Smoke, health and household energy, volume 1: participatory methods for design, installation, monitoring and assessment of smoke
This publication describes a research project done by Practical Action in three very different communities in Nepal, Sudan and Kenya, and how it has supported large numbers of people living in poverty, especially women and children, to reduce the major health risks caused by smoke from kitchen...
Smoke: the killer in the kitchen
Smoke in the home from cooking on wood, dung and crop waste kills nearly one million children a year. In this report, first published in 2004, Practical Action called for global action to save the lives of two million men, women and children lost each year to lethal levels of household smoke.
Smoke: the killer in the kitchen - appendices and notes
Lessons to be learnt from improved stoves programmes; Getting the market right for wide-scale dissemination; Action by key stakeholders on indoor air pollution
Smoke: the killer in the kitchen - executive summary
Smoke in the home from cooking on wood, dung and crop waste kills nearly one million children a year. In this report, first published in 2004, Practical Action called for global action to save the lives of two million men, women and children lost each year to lethal levels of household smoke.
Smoke: the killer in the kitchen - part five - a global action plan
The United Nations should instigate a global action plan to address this neglected killer.
Smoke: the killer in the kitchen - part four - weighing up the cost of smoke alleviation
Poor people are willing to invest in improved cooking if they see the benefit, as has been demonstrated by programmes to introduce fuel-efficient stoves.
Smoke: the killer in the kitchen - part one
Smoke from burning fuels in the home is one of the four leading causes of death and disease in the world's poorest countries.
Smoke: the killer in the kitchen - part three - reducing exposure to indoor air pollution
The solution to indoor air pollution is relatively simple: either stop smoke getting into the home or remove it from the home.
Smoke: the killer in the kitchen - part two - smoke's increasing cloud across the globe
Women and children are exposed for up to seven hours a day to pollution concetrations 100 times and more above accepted safety levels.
Study to determine outline plans for eliminating energy poverty in Nepal
Practical Action in Nepal has conducted a study to determine outline plans for eliminating energy poverty in residential sector of Nepal.
The Africa-EU Energy Partnership - high-level meeting 2010
A briefing paper on the Africa-EU Energy Partnership (AEEP) high-level meeting held in Vienna, Austria on 14 and 15 September 2010, with energy ministers from several African countries, ministers from EU Member States, and Commissioners from the EU and AU.