Key factors for the success of village hydro-electric programmes

Village-scale hydro-electric programmes exist in many developing countries throughout the world. Well-implemented schemes provide a cheap and reliable source of power from a renewable, indigenous source. Despite the massive demand and scope for these programmes, they tend to be very small-scale and, though beneficial to the villages that they electrify, they only make a minor impact on overall rural electrification needs. This paper addresses the key technical, organisational and economic factors for successful village hydro-electric programmes in order to promote a wider and more sustainable use of small-scale hydro power for rural development.