Solar Energy Helps Indonesian Villagers Do More
2023-05-22
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1On Indonesia's eastern island of Sumba, solar power is providing people with electricity.
2Having electric lights can mean many things. It can mean being able to work later in the evenings, making more money and having more social gatherings.
3Before electricity came to the village of Laindeha almost two years ago, the day ended when the sun went down.
4A few families who could pay for them would start loud generators, which release smoke.
5Some people connected lights to old car batteries, which would quickly run out or ruin appliances.
6Children sometimes studied by oil lamps, but these sometimes burned down homes when knocked over by the wind.
7Then social organizations brought small, solar panel systems to Laindeha and other villages on the island.
8For Tamar Ana Jawa, it means much-needed extra money.
9"It used to be dark at night, now it's bright until morning," the 30-year-old mother of two said.
10"So tonight, I work...to pay for the children."
11Around the world, hundreds of millions of people live in communities without regular electricity.
12In Sumba, off-grid solar energy equipment is bringing people limited electricity years before normal power systems reach them.
13The International Energy Agency (IEA) says 775 million people around the world lacked electricity service in 2022.
14The IEA says Sub-Saharan Africa and South Asia are home to some of the largest populations without electricity.
15The United Nations and World Bank said in a 2021 report that not having electricity at home keeps people poor.
16People without power struggle to work in the modern economy, the report said.
17Indonesia has brought electricity to millions of people in recent years.
18The World Bank says that, between 2005 and 2020, the country has increased the percentage of people with electricity from 85 to 97 percent.
19But there are still more than half a million people in Indonesia living without electricity service.
20There are experts who say off-grid solar programs could be reproduced across the large nation of thousands of islands.
21They note the energy is renewable.
22Now, villagers often gather in the evening to continue the day's work.
23They also gather to watch television shows on cellphones that are recharged by solar panels and that help children do schoolwork by providing light.
24But solar power is still rare in Indonesia.
25The country wants more solar energy to meet its climate goals.
26But there has been limited progress.
27This is because households that are not already connected to a power grid cannot sell electricity back to the company that supervises the power grid.
28Sumba Sustainable Solutions, based in eastern Sumba, aims to increase solar use.
29Working with international donors, it provides imported home solar systems.
30The systems can power light bulbs and charge cellphones.
31The company says on its website that it provides the equipment for monthly payments equal to $3.50 for three years.
32The organization also offers solar-powered appliances like wireless lamps and grinding machines.
33It said it has sent over 3,020 solar light systems and 62 grinding machines across the island, reaching more than 3,000 homes.
34Similar programs exist in places like Bangladesh and Africa south of the Sahara Desert.
35The World Bank says these programs help provide electricity for millions.
36But off-grid solar energy systems like these do not provide the same amount of power as a grid.
37While cellphones and lights can be charged, the systems do not create enough power to operate devices like a sound system for a church.
38Off-grid solar projects face problems too, Jetty Arlenda said.
39He is an engineer with Sumba Sustainable Solutions.
40The company depends on donors to pay most of the cost of the equipment because villagers could not pay the high cost of the solar equipment at market prices.
41Villagers without off-grid solar panels continue to wait while Sumba Sustainable Solutions looks for more money from donors.
42The company wants support from Indonesia's $20 billion Just Energy Transition Partnership deal.
43The deal, signed last year, involves loans and other money from developed nations and international financial companies.
44There have been problems with villagers failing to make payments.
45And when solar systems break, they need imported parts that can be hard to find or costly.
46But for now, villagers like Jawa said the solar systems are making a big difference.
47I'm Dan Novak.
48And I'm Anna Matteo.
1On Indonesia's eastern island of Sumba, solar power is providing people with electricity. Having electric lights can mean many things. It can mean being able to work later in the evenings, making more money and having more social gatherings. 2Before electricity came to the village of Laindeha almost two years ago, the day ended when the sun went down. 3A few families who could pay for them would start loud generators, which release smoke. Some people connected lights to old car batteries, which would quickly run out or ruin appliances. Children sometimes studied by oil lamps, but these sometimes burned down homes when knocked over by the wind. 4Then social organizations brought small, solar panel systems to Laindeha and other villages on the island. 5For Tamar Ana Jawa, it means much-needed extra money. 6"It used to be dark at night, now it's bright until morning," the 30-year-old mother of two said. "So tonight, I work...to pay for the children." 7Around the world, hundreds of millions of people live in communities without regular electricity. In Sumba, off-grid solar energy equipment is bringing people limited electricity years before normal power systems reach them. 8The International Energy Agency (IEA) says 775 million people around the world lacked electricity service in 2022. The IEA says Sub-Saharan Africa and South Asia are home to some of the largest populations without electricity. The United Nations and World Bank said in a 2021 report that not having electricity at home keeps people poor. People without power struggle to work in the modern economy, the report said. 9Indonesia has brought electricity to millions of people in recent years. The World Bank says that, between 2005 and 2020, the country has increased the percentage of people with electricity from 85 to 97 percent. But there are still more than half a million people in Indonesia living without electricity service. 10There are experts who say off-grid solar programs could be reproduced across the large nation of thousands of islands. They note the energy is renewable. 11Now, villagers often gather in the evening to continue the day's work. They also gather to watch television shows on cellphones that are recharged by solar panels and that help children do schoolwork by providing light. 12But solar power is still rare in Indonesia. The country wants more solar energy to meet its climate goals. But there has been limited progress. This is because households that are not already connected to a power grid cannot sell electricity back to the company that supervises the power grid. 13Sumba Sustainable Solutions, based in eastern Sumba, aims to increase solar use. 14Working with international donors, it provides imported home solar systems. The systems can power light bulbs and charge cellphones. The company says on its website that it provides the equipment for monthly payments equal to $3.50 for three years. 15The organization also offers solar-powered appliances like wireless lamps and grinding machines. It said it has sent over 3,020 solar light systems and 62 grinding machines across the island, reaching more than 3,000 homes. 16Similar programs exist in places like Bangladesh and Africa south of the Sahara Desert. The World Bank says these programs help provide electricity for millions. 17But off-grid solar energy systems like these do not provide the same amount of power as a grid. While cellphones and lights can be charged, the systems do not create enough power to operate devices like a sound system for a church. 18Off-grid solar projects face problems too, Jetty Arlenda said. He is an engineer with Sumba Sustainable Solutions. The company depends on donors to pay most of the cost of the equipment because villagers could not pay the high cost of the solar equipment at market prices. Villagers without off-grid solar panels continue to wait while Sumba Sustainable Solutions looks for more money from donors. 19The company wants support from Indonesia's $20 billion Just Energy Transition Partnership deal. The deal, signed last year, involves loans and other money from developed nations and international financial companies. 20There have been problems with villagers failing to make payments. And when solar systems break, they need imported parts that can be hard to find or costly. 21But for now, villagers like Jawa said the solar systems are making a big difference. 22I'm Dan Novak. 23And I'm Anna Matteo. 24Dan Novak adapted this story for VOA Learning English based on reporting by The Associated Press. 25__________________________________________________________________ 26Words in This Story 27generator - n. a device that produces electricity usually by from a fuel-powered motor 28battery -n. a device that stores an amount of electricity that some machines can use 29appliance - n. a machine, like a stove, refrigerator or washing machine, that runs on electricity and does household work 30off-grid - adj. not connected to a complex electricity system that provides constant, dependable electrical power across power lines that run from generation centers to homes, businesses and factories 31recharge -v. to connect a device with a battery to an electrical source so the battery can be refilled with electrical charge 32grind - v. to crush or break into small pieces or even powder