Initiated one year ago, coinciding with the landing of revolutionary solar airpl

ane Solar Impulse in Myanmar, a community solar project is now enabling communit
ies to take off in their own ways, leading global technology company ABB said in
a recent statement.
Solar Impulse landed in Mandalay, Myanmar a year ago, demonstrating that much is
achievable when it comes to pioneering technology as well as harnessing the pot
ential of clean and renewable energy. To unlock the benefits of solar power on t
he ground, ABB embarked on a solar project with Pact Myanmar to make a differenc
e to thousands of villagers living in Mandalay.
Now that Solar Impulse has resumed its round-the-world flight, how has life in t
hese villages changed?
In Myanmar, only about 1 in 3 people has access to electricity, and the numbers
are even lower in small and remote villages that are located away from the grid.
Accelerating electrification is key to powering a growing economy and raising t
he rural population out of poverty.
Since March 2015, the collaboration between ABB and Pact Myanmar has provided el
ectricity from solar energy to more than 3,600 people across some 20 villages in
Mandalay, and a basis to raise funds for village development.
Daw Lwin Mar Myint from Wun Pa Tae village in rural Myanmar, used to worry about
poisonous animal bites when she wakes up in the early morning to prepare for wo
rk in the fields. Today in her village, thanks to solar power, she feels like sh
e is walking in a brightly lit city at night.
We now have light at night thanks to electricity from solar power. This is very i
mportant for our children s education, as students can now study their literatures
at night, commented Daw Maw Lay from KyaungKone village.
Demonstrating solar charging stations at Ye Htwet Kyi village. Photo: Pact Myanm
ar. The charging stations, which charge special batteries for household lighting
and mobile device charging, are run by women s empowerment groups, where women ha
ve been trained to maintain solar equipment and manage charging businesses . These
businesses collect a monthly fee of around US$1 for each household battery charg
ed. The proceeds are then accumulated in a central fund for loans.
Community sensitization workshop at Inn Latt village to collect interest and int
roduce different types of solar home systems. Photo: Pact Myanmar
The project also provides financial support for villages to purchase photovoltai
c equipment at the community level through hire-purchase schemes. Through commun
ity sensitization workshops, the villagers are introduced to different types of
solar home systems that correspond to their electricity requirements and financi
al ability, and receive training on loan repayment finances.
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