Myanmar
Teaching local technicians to optimize, hybridize, operate, and maintain their own (and others’) mini-grids
Energy poverty is particularly severe in Myanmar where 84% of the rural population do
not have access to electricity. Polluting, unreliable petrol-powered minigrids are often
the only option currently available. Remote Energy was recently awarded a grant
through the Global Washington - University of Washington Philanthropy program, in
partnership with the Myanmar-based NGO Mee Panyar, to develop an innovative,
hands-on curriculum and scalable capacity-building program that trains local technicians
to hybridize the diesel minigrids with solar electric systems and develop a marketable
workforce that promotes clean, renewable energy in the region.
With over 13,000 existing diesel mini-grids as learning tools for rural electricians, the opportunity for operations and maintenance (O&M) training is tremendous.