Sustainable small hydro and solar power for rural island communities in Cambodia

Renewable energy, clean water, and sustainable agriculture are key to address sustainability challenges in the booming economies of the global South. Energy costs in Cambodia are amongst the highest in the region. Cambodia also relies on electricity imports to meet peak demand. Rural areas are often not connected to a grid and use diesel generator for backup. Cambodia's 2019 Basic Energy Plan aims at increasing reliable and affordable electricity supply. This includes increasing installed renewable energy capacity, particular for solar as well as small and large hydropower. Only 13 percent of Cambodia's potential for large and small hydropower is tapped, making it an important future source of energy. Cambodia has developed a number of large hydropower dams, which have significant environmental and social consequences. Large dams have also led to significant resistance in local communities, which required the temporary cancellation of such projects.

This project, led by Achelous Energy and funded by Innovate UK, is a feasibility study that aims at studying the potential for integrating a small hydrokinetic + solar power plant with sustainable agriculture for rural island communities in the Mekong River near Phnom Penh. By developing an innovative technological solution that can meet the requirements for socially and environmentally sustainable power production, the project aims to protect local identities and livelihoods and ensure local community participation in the development phase, as well as potential subsequent planning and operation phases. As part of the feasibility study, Dr Oliver Hensengerth (Northumbria University) leads the Gender Equality and Social Inclusion (GESI) part of the project. As part of this, he works closely with the Cambodian and UK BM InvestConsult, EnergyLab and Cranfield University on co-designing with the local island community technological solutions for sustainable energy provisions that are socially inclusive and are appropriate for the local environment.

For more information, please contact Dr Oliver Hensengerth.