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the flow

CONNECT WITH HPNET'S WORK STREAMS!

1/5/2020

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At the core of HPNET's approach to South-South knowledge exchange-for-impact are its nine thematic work streams – covering technology, socio-environment, and policy aspects to advance community-scale hydropower.  As we kick off the new year, we encourage our members to check out overviews of each work stream below and let us know how you'd like to take part, as we continue to advance the sector.

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HPNET's work streams as of January 2020. Credit: HPNET

​What is an HPNET work stream?
HPNET evolves to the needs and challenges of local practitioners, in order to enable them to advance sustainable pico, micro, and mini hydropower (<1MW).  HPNET's work streams are an opportunity for network members and multi-actor partners from across the globe to synergize in bringing forth South-South knowledge and advocacy outputs to generate local impact.  

Is a work stream the same as a working group?
Work streams were formerly called working groups.  Since many members contribute to more than one or change their focus based on their real time challenges and since the HPNET Secretariat plays a key role in facilitating as different members contribute at different times, we thought it was best to re-name as work streams.  ​More information on how the thematic areas were identified can be found here.

How do they work?
HPNET's internal exchange platform is structured around the nine main work streams, allowing members and partners to contribute or request support on sub-themes of each work stream. In addition to the nine cross-country thematic work streams, members can take part in country-focused work streams, which allow members to strategize toward country-specific impact. Via the online platform and conference calls, the HPNET Secretariat then facilitates collaboration on knowledge and advocacy outputs specific to the needs and challenges expressed by members and partners.  The ​HPNET Secretariat's annual work plans are structured to provide facilitation time to each work stream.

How can I take part in a work stream?
Apply to become a member of HPNET here.  Once you're a member you will be sent a login for HPNET's internal exchange platform, where you can take part in any of the work streams, providing inputs from and/or requesting support for your local context.

Can I take part in more than one work stream?
Absolutely!  This is the primary reason the working groups are now framed as work streams, whereby HPNET members can contribute to multiple streams on sub-topics that matter the most to their specific work.

Do work streams overlap with each other?
Yes, to some extent and in some cases, because key factors for long-lived micro hydro are interconnected. This is why, while each work stream focuses on specific themes, HPNET's cross-thematic initiatives leverage the overlaps for country-focused activity.  For example, HPNET's Social Enterprise for Energy, Ecological and Economic Development (SEEED) connects the work streams of productive end use, local social capital, watersheds, and access to finance.  HPNET's Earth Voices series connects the work streams of local social capital, environmental impact, productive end use and strategic advocacy.

TECHNOLOGY

Training and Manufacturing Centers
​This work stream focuses on micro hydro local manufacturing centers and training centers that build the capacity of local technicians, fabricators, and engineers to design, build, install, and upkeep their own electro-mechanical systems (i.e. turbine assembly, generator, and load controller).  Since currently micro hydro training and manufacturing centers remain under utilized or under resourced, the current aim of this work stream is to:
  • Co-create, identify, or share curriculum to improve the quality of local fabrication, operation and preventive maintenance;
  • Facilitate partnerships between members seeking technical knowhow and members who have micro hydro training or manufacturing centers;
  • Promote local technology research and development with academia and other multi-actors;
  • Develop advocacy and knowledge exchange material to promote local knowledge centers, such as this webinar and these videos from Malaysia, Philippines, Indonesia, and Myanmar training/manufacturing centers.

Grid Interconnection
International focus on energy access has meant the greater extension of the national grid.  Since most micro/mini hydro projects are typically off-grid, sustainability issues arise with the main grid's arrival. Practitioners across the region are voicing for policies that allow mini-grids to interconnect to the main grid.  In 2016, HPNET organized a practice-to-policy exchange engaging government, developers, and utilities actors from eight countries in the region to learn about pioneering grid interconnection micro hydro projects and to strategize change.  Building on this, the work stream has helped to bring forth grid interconnection policy and projects in Nepal.  In the wake of this progress, it has contributed to evidence-based advocacy. The current aims of this work stream focus on additional solutions to addressing sustainability issues of main grid arrival:
  • Resolve techno-institutional challenges to interconnecting multiple micro hydro projects into a single mini-grid;
  • Evidence to promote policies and funding resources for alternative business models after main grid arrival (e.g. anchor loads, selling to neighboring villages, incentives to compete with the main grid, etc.);
  • Support advocacy and knowledge exchange material, such as this ESMAP publication, HPNET webinar, presentation, UNDP-RERL fact sheet and UNDP-RERL video.
​
Load Management and Controllers
The aim of this work stream is to improve the quality and utilization of electricity in micro hydro projects through:
  • Establishing technical standards for micro grids, by collating existing standards with best practices based on field experiences and allowing practitioners to develop sourced standards that are specific to their approach and context;
  • Improving availability of affordable micro grid controllers and load management technology, such as the Bluebird Open Source ELC and Canary Load Indicator;
  • De-mystifying local controllers and additional features to open source load controllers.

SOCIO-ENVIRONMENT

Productive End Use
Micro hydro projects typically receive funding for implementation only.  Once commissioned, projects must sustain themselves financially.  Without financial viability, the governance body of the project cannot fund technical maintenance and repairs.  Financial viability depends on income generated from the micro hydro system, typically as tariff paid by consumers.  Many projects are not financially viable due to poor utilization of electricity, where only lighting is the main load.  This work stream:
  • Collates case studies of productive end use on the micro hydro, such as those here and presented in this webinar;
  • Analyzes ownership and management models that lead to higher load factors;
  • Assesses how financing models impact load factors;
  • Supports barely sustainable projects to transition to financially viable projects.

Local Social Capital
This work stream focuses on social transformation aspects of micro hydro development and in turn its impact on the viability and sustainability of micro hydro projects.  Micro hydro developers' capacities are limited to that of their community organizers because project implementation requires a unified and well managed community.  Local change agendas trusted by the village are the key to community-driven project completion and long-term sustainability. They can come from various social sub-groups of the community. The objectives and activities of this work stream are centered on understanding and strengthening local social capital of community-scale micro hydro projects:
  • How to ensure projects serve the needs of women and how to measure impact of women leaders on micro hydro sustainability and socio-economic benefits;
  • How to promote youth leaders and consumers in micro hydro development;
  • How to ensure local developers and NGOs have access to equal opportunities as do foreign developers;
  • How to develop projects within social enterprise models;
  • Collating the work of local change makers and enabling ways to communicate and scale their work, such as this local capacity building and this webinar.
​
Environmental Impact and Watersheds
Environment impact and watersheds are critical but often overlooked aspects of micro hydro development.  Without a sustainable water source there can be no micro hydro project.  Yet funding resources for watershed strengthening are rarely available for micro hydro implementation.  In addition, as climate change worsens, the environmental impact to and from micro hydro projects will be changing.  This work stream focuses on collating best practices to reduce micro hydro impact on the environment and find solutions to strengthen micro hydro catchment areas -- leading to increased climate resilience.  The work stream's current aims are to:
  • Understand the challenges and opportunities of HPNET members to integrate environmental impact safeguards and watershed strengthening in their projects;
  • Identify knowledge gaps and target the development of specific knowledge products;
  • Quantify the impact of climate change on catchment areas, as well as the increased climate resilience of micro hydro projects and communities due to healthy watersheds;
  • Develop advocacy material that helps to link multi-actors that focus on nature-based solutions and watershed conservation to micro hydro implementation and practitioners.

POLICY

​Access to Finance
Accessing grants is becoming increasingly difficult and has always been difficult for local practitioners.  In addition, an assessment across HPNET contexts shows that grant-funded projects often have issues in developing high utilization, whereas projects financed through a loan or some other finance have an innate structure for establishing financial viability.  Thereof, this work stream:
  • Documents evidence from HPNET contexts that shows how a project is funded or finance impacts its outcome;
  • Identifies institutions that provide finance to energy access projects;
  • Connects local practitioners to project finance advisors;
  • Promotes solutions that enable access to finance, such as enabling the role of local banks, as presented in this webinar.

Integrated Energy Planning
Although there is evidence showing the advantages of mini-grids versus the central grid and analysis on how interconnecting mini-grids to the central grid has benefits for both, most energy access resources in the global South are spent on grid extension.  Hydro mini-grids are particularly advantageous, providing 24-hour reliable electricity, typically at lower LCOE and costs per kW than most other types of mini-grids, and leading to lower tariffs for rural consumers and greater end use.  Despite their obvious advantages, in most developing contexts decentralized renewable energy mini-grids continue to be framed as “pre-electrification” solutions at par with solar home lighting, or “not as important as the central grid.”  To address these gaps this work stream advocates for integrated energy planning to scale up mini-grids with the following activities:
  • Spotlight the work of local energy planners that are developing techniques and programs for integrated energy planning, as in this webinar;
  • Facilitate knowledge sharing and access to mapping tools for mini-grid planning;
  • Develop advocacy and knowledge tools to the make the case for integrated energy planning.​

Strategic Advocacy
Although micro hydro interventions have been around for many decades, it is currently an underdog in the mini-grid context, which is dominated by solar PV mini-grid development.  Therefore, this work stream focuses on awareness-building of multi-stakeholders on the cost-benefit of community-scale hydro and on the themes mentioned above, in the following ways: 
  • Online advocacy through webinars, videos, and other multi-media;
  • Bi-lateral exchange between local practitioners and relevant multi-actors;
  • ​Multi-lateral round tables to address challenges and opportunities for specific contexts.
  • Advocacy at international conferences and events through panel discussions and presentations, such as this 'Deep Dive Session' at the Asia Clean Energy Forum 2019.
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HPNET WELCOMES 2018!

1/31/2018

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This year marks a new phase in HPNET’s development.  When we established the network in late 2013, we were 15+ members from 8 countries.  Now, 4 years later we’re 100+ members in 19 countries, including all of the who’s who of pico, micro, and mini hydro (MHP) in South and Southeast Asia.  From individuals like Mr. Gerhard Fischer to organizations like Practical Action South Asia and the Swiss Resource Center and Consultancies for Development (Skat), we’ve been fortunate to develop HPNET with the pioneers who created the foundation of our sector -- 30 years ago!  As we move into 2018, I’d like to overview sector developments of 2017 and provide a glimpse of what’s to come for HPNET this year. 
Strategic Advocacy of MHP

Across the region, MHP practitioners are increasingly facing an un-equal playing field because “mini-grids” are generalized as being synonymous to “solar PV mini-grids”.   The ultimate result of this phenomenon is missed opportunity to accelerate rural energy access toward SE4ALL goals.  Its root cause is that decision makers of international and government supported rural energy programs are technology agnostic but do not yet acknowledge technology differentiation, i.e. the cost-benefits of each type of mini-grid technology. 

To start addressing these critical gaps, in mid-2017 HPNET launched the "Mini-Grids Webinar Series" in partnership with Energypedia and the Skat Foundation.  The series featured themes that de-mystify the value-add of MHP toward meeting national electrification targets:

  • Webinar 1, May 2017:  Differentiating Between Mini-Grid Technologies
  • Webinar 2, June 2017: Grid Interconnection:  What happens to micro hydro projects when the national grid arrives?
  • Webinar 3, July 2017:  Productive End Use of Micro Hydro: Three Examples of How to Make It Happen

With senior most experts as speakers, well-prepared content, interactive facilitation, and follow up knowledge products, the webinars attracted ~400 participants!   We realized that webinars can be a low carbon and effective solution to knowledge exchange, and therefore we look very forward to  launching our 2018 webinar series.

In addition to webinars and other online advocacy, HPNET works with seniors advisors to develop strategy and partnerships to empower proven local practitioners, ensuring they have access to an enabling environment for contributing their expertise to national electrification programs.
HPNET Operations and Outcomes
​

At our last biennial gathering, in late 2016 in Kathmandu, we heard a resounding call from our members for a country-wise network operations structure, to instill inclusive decision-making for a growing and diverse membership.  Therefore, using a consensus-building approach in 2017, we refined our structure to include a Board of Representatives, Board of Advisors, Thematic Advisors, and a Secretariat, designed to support our Working Groups in creating country-specific and regional impact.  We’ve kicked off 2018 by operationalizing the new structure, building onto outcomes of our first 4 years.  

​HPNET’s formation and development thus far could not have been possible without the WISIONS of Sustainability initiative at the Wuppertal Institute for Climate, Environment and Energy.  This month I took part in WISIONS’ webinar on energy practitioner networks to present HPNET’s approach and outcomes.  The webinar was a follow up to WISIONS' side event at the COP23, "From Paris to Action at Local Level in the Global South -- What Role Can Local Energy Practitioners and Existing Knowledge Networks Play," where I had the privilege to take part.
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Dipti Vaghela at WISIONS' event at COP23. Credit: WISIONS
South Asia Developments

​
HPNET synergizes MHP practitioners in Afghanistan, Bangladesh, India, Nepal, Pakistan, and Sri Lanka.  With the exception of Bangladesh where MHP still requires much advocacy, all of these countries have a long established practice of MHP implementation. However practice-to-policy development varies in each context.
  • Sri Lanka and Nepal have paved the path in policy for scaling and sustainability of MHP.  In Sri Lanka, the sector has tapped nearly every site below 1MW and now with 99% of the country having access to the central grid, Energy Forum is facilitating community-owned MHPs to sell electricity to a welcoming utility.  A similar scenario has unfolded in Nepal, with the country's first grid interconnection policy established in 2017 and the first interconnected MHP commissioned this month, thanks to the AEPC-RERL/UNDP initiative.   Capacity building continues to play a key role for Nepal MHP, with the Nepal Micro Hydropower Development Association being supported by AEPC partners to re-establish the Regional Center for Excellence in Micro Hydro, and with the RERL/UNDP-Winrock partnership to increase knowledge exchange at the village level.  HPNET will facilitate learning between these developments and practitioners in other countries.
  • Afghanistan and Pakistan are also leading contexts for MHP in South Asia, with several thousand projects implemented by local practitioners.  The Aga Khan Rural Support Programme (AKRSP) anchors MHP developments in Pakistan, facilitating local partners to advance socio-technical aspects of MHP, including community-run utilities, project-to-project interconnection, smart meters, and local manufacturing.  In the Chitral the MHP Resource and Service Centre has been newly established with WISIONS support.  In Afghanistan MHP continues to receive attention in national electrification policy but implementation has been challenged. Community-based practitioners, such a Remote Hydrolight, continue to advance the sector but with isolated efforts.  In 2018 HPNET will work closely with leading practitioners in Afghanistan and Pakistan to support knowledge, advocacy, and networking needs.
  • India is a context where MHP has had a presence in multiple sub-regions for decades;  however, due to a lack of well-developed local capacity building and financing programs for the local practitioners, it has not been able to come out of the shadow of solar PV mini-grids development.  Over the last 2 years, HPNET has supported leading MHP practitioners in India to develop knowledge and strategy partnerships. 2018 will culminate in a series of activities – ground truthing, online forum, and practice-to-policy round table – facilitated by HPNET with organizations that understand the value add of MHP in India’s rural electrification scenario.  In parallel practitioners continue to address local needs.  For example, VillageRES and the Meghalaya Basin Development Authority  are incubating local manufactures and entrepreneurs in Meghalaya to adopt MHP for local livelihoods development.
Southeast Asia Developments
​​
  • Indonesian MHP has been an immense source of inspiration for our members in Southeast Asia.  GTZ (now known as GIZ) and EnDev Indonesia's investment in capacity building of local practitioners for 25 years led to local manufacturing with import quality outputs.  The Indonesian government has also supported MHP over the years, with 7 ministries having supported implementation of hundreds of projects.  Much of these developments took place thanks to local organizations, such as the Asosiasi Hidro Bandung, IBEKA, and Yayasan Mandiri, facilitating between local practitioners, international organizations, and the government.  
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March 2017 reunion of Indonesia micro hydro practitioners. Credit: Sentanu Hindrakusuma
​In 2017 a special reunion of the ‘change makers’ behind Indonesian MHP met at the ASEAN Hydropower Competence Training Center (HYCOM).  Despite their success, in 2017 practitioners severely struggled with access to financing and recent policy changes.   This year HPNET will facilitate strategy-building to support overcoming these barriers.
  • Myanmar’s MHP sector has been HPNET’s re-discovered jewel since 2014, in supporting the Renewable Energy Association of Myanmar (REAM) to ground truth and advocate for the local practitioners’ incredible progress the last 30-years -– achieved without the support of government or international aid. However, with Myanmar now a young democracy local practitioners must transition to collaborating with government and international agencies. REAM and HPNET's role in this process has been critical. The financing, technology, and policy solutions that HPNET is facilitating in Myanmar serve as blueprints for our potential contributions across the S/SE Asia region.  In 2017 I was honored to serve as a Fulbright Public Policy Fellow in Myanmar  under REAM's mentorship, developing partnerships among diverse stakeholders and voicing the perspectives of the local private sector at every opportunity, including these webinars by organized by HPNET and Smart Villages.  HPNET has exciting upcoming milestones in Myanmar, including access to financing, improved productive end use, and a country-wide mapping MHP!

  • Malaysia MHP development has been led by Tonibung’s CREATE and its partner Green Empowerment.  Their approach is founded upon an indigenous rights movement, which in recent years has been able to facilitate the government to acknowledge decentralized renewable energy alternatives to large hydropower.  Their activities empower the most local of stakeholders with CREATE as their vehicle.  In 2018 Tonibung will focus on the strengthening of village entrepreneurs that implement MHP and develop productive end uses.  HPNET will facilitate learning between CREATE and other MHP training centers in region.
  • Philippines MHP implementation is anchored by SIBAT and Yamog.  Some level of knowledge exchange is also hosted at the government’s Affiliated Renewable Energy Centers (ARECs).  In 2017, along with inspiring implementation of community-based MHP and watershed protection, there has been a shift among practitioners to consider local manufacturing of turbines and electronic load controllers.  This year HPNET will support its members with knowledge exchange activities that support their goals for development of local technology.
Cross-Regional Themes for 2018

HPNET’s approach to in-country impact relies on cross-regional knowledge exchange on thematic areas prioritized by HPNET members, namely:
  • Grid Interconnection and Project-to-Project Interconnection
  • Access-to-Financing
  • Productive End Use and Financial Viability
  • Socio-Environmental Sustainability
  • Technical Training Centers and Tools
  • GIS Mapping for Scalability
  • Strategic Advocacy of MHP

With an enhanced network structure in place, key priorities identified, and a dynamic set of diverse members, I look very forward to the year ahead!  Please always reach out to us with ideas and inquiries.


Dipti Vaghela
Network Facilitator and Manager
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INTRODUCING HPNET'S 2017 WORKING GROUPS

3/26/2017

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The Flow took another hiatus as HPNET focused on the planning, hosting, and follow up of its 3rd Annual Gathering (November 2016).  But we're back and excited to introduce to you the major outcome of our last 6-months -- HPNET's 2017 Working Groups!

What is an HPNET Working Group?
HPNET evolves to meet the needs of its members, focusing on Policy, Technology, and Socio Environmental aspects of sustainability and scalability of pico, micro, and mini hydropower (< 1MW).   Encompassing these themes, our Working Groups are an opportunity for network members and partners to synergize to bring forth tangible outputs, e.g. knowledge products, exchanges, and strategy.  Groups include members from across 14 countries of South and Southeast Asia, along with partners from leading external organizations.​
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HPNET's organizational structure and the role of its Working Groups.
How are HPNET Working Groups formed?
The groups are formed during our Annual Gatherings, using a facilitation technique that allows each member to voice his/her priorities, identify members with similar interests, and formalize a group.  During the Gathering, each group identifies the overarching goal and develops objectives and activities for the year.  Thereafter, all HPNET members and partners are invited to join each group, and the final group refines and embarks on its annual work plan.

​What do HPNET's 2017 Working Groups do?
Below is a glimpse of the current working groups.  They can be classified as cross-regional working groups or country-specific groups.  
Cross-Regional Working Groups

Advocacy
Within the mini-grids dialogue, micro and mini hydropower is often overlooked, despite the large number of beneficial projects operating globally, particularly in rural regions of Asia, Africa, and Latin America.  Hence, the Strategic Advocacy Working Group's  goal is to make decision-makers and other relevant stakeholders aware of the advantages of pico, micro, and mini hydro, using appropriate knowledge exchange and products designed in partnership with leading advocacy groups.  The group is currently working on fact sheets, videos, and webinars, focusing on HPNET members' practice-to-policy priorities.
Community Transformation
Micro hydro developers' capacities are limited to that of their community organizers because project implementation requires a unified and committed community.  Local change agents or external activators trusted by the village community, along with the social transformation of the community, are the key to long-lived community projects.  Thereof, the Local Social Capital Working Group's  focus is to understand social transformation aspects of micro hydro development.  Its objectives are to identify ways to strengthen the inherent local social capital of micro hydro projects.   This group was inspired by HPNET's 2016 exchange Strengthening Community Organizers in Southeast Asia.
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Venancio Barril, community faciltiator in Mindanao. Credit: Dipti Vaghela.
Controllers and Load Management
Load controllers and load management devices are crucial and complicated aspects of micro hydro systems, requiring de-mystification and inputs at the local level to prevent technical failure.  The Micro Grid Controllers and Load Management Working Group is a continuation of HPNET's 2014 research and 2016 training on load controllers.  The group's goal is to improve the quality of electricity in micro hydro projects by
  • establishing technical standards for electro-mechanical aspects.
  • improving the availability of micro grid controllers and load management technology.
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Electronic Load Controller (ELC), Bandung, Indonesia. Credit: Ardi Nugraha.
Environmental Impact
Unlike large and small (> 1MW) hydropower, micro and mini hydropower have less negative impact on the environment and in fact require healthy watersheds for long-term sustainability.  However, as practitioners advancing the sector, we want to understand how our projects impact the local ecology, find approaches that strengthen the natural environment, and monitor the impact of climate change on stream flows across the region.  In this regard, the Environmental Impact Working Group will develop guidelines to ensure minimal negative impacts and optimize positive impacts of micro/mini hydro projects on the local environment. ​
​
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Micro hydro ecosystem in Indonesia. Credit: Gerhard Fischer.
Financing
While government and international aid organizations tend to focus on subsidies/grants for rural electrification, the local private sector for micro/mini hydropower development seeks low interest, no collateral, long-term financing.  The Innovative Financing Working Group shares, explores, and strategizes innovative financing for micro/mini hydro projects, examining what has worked and current gaps, including financing mechanisms (e.g. debt and guarantee financing, credit lines) and the awareness and capacity of local banks to support decentralized renewable energy projects.​
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GIZ EnDev Nepal's micro hydro debt fund. Source: "Policies and Regulations for Private Sector Renewable Energy Mini-Grids, IRENA 2016.

​Grid Interconnection
International focus on energy access has meant the extension of the national grid.  Since most micro/mini hydro projects are off-grid, sustainability issues arise with the main grid's arrival. Practitioners across the region are voicing for policies that allow for main grid interconnectivity of mini grids.  In 2016 HPNET hosted a regional practice-to-policy exchange engaging government, practitioners, and utilities actors from eight countries, to learn about pilot grid interconnected micro hydro projects and strategize a scaled effort. Building on this, the Grid Interconnection Working Group focuses on addressing gaps in knowledge exchange, policy, and advocacy to bring forth scaled grid interconnection of micro/mini hydro projects.  The group also considers the knowledge needs of practitioners who seek to interconnect multiple micro hydro projects into a mini-grid.
​
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Grid interconnected mini hydro project in Himachal Pradesh, India. Credit: Dipti Vaghela.
Productive End Use of Electricity
Productive end use (PEU) of electricity is increasingly highlighted in advocacy and policy forums for mini-grids. It can form the financial base for technical maintenance of the mini-grid, while also providing electricity-based services for household income and reducing drudgery.  Its implementation, however, has been slow.  HPNET members face challenges in building the community's capacity to organize and link to local markets.  The Productive End Use Working Group aims to gather best-practices and communicate them to decision makers and practitioners.  It stems from HPNET's 2016 collaborative research and PEU portal.

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Carpentry using electricity from a micro hydro project, Indonesia. Credit: GIZ EnDev Indonesia.
Training Centers and Curriculum
Several HPNET members have in-house fabrication and/or training centers for local technicians and engineers, however, they remain under utilized due to lack of advocacy, resources, or knowledge capacity. The Training Centers and Curriculum Working Group focuses on strengthening regional training and fabrication centers by
  • creating, identifying, and sharing curriculum to improve the quality of local fabrication, operation, and preventive maintenance.
  • nurturing partnerships between members and micro hydro training centers in South and Southeast Asia.
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HPNET training at ASEAN's Hydropower Compenance Center (HYCOM). Credit: Dipti Vaghela.
PictureFrancis Turbine of Sai Htun Hla Brothers, Lashio, Myanmar. Credit: Patrick Pawletko.

​Country-Specific Working Groups
​

Myanmar's Local Private Sector
The micro/mini hydro sector in Myanmar has quietly thrived during the last 25-years, without support from international funding and knowledge.  Experienced family businesses are adept in civil works construction; penstock, turbine, and transformer fabrication; and overall project design, installation, and O/M, including the transmission, distribution, and house wiring.  These local social entrepreneurs have implemented 2000+ micro/mini hydro projects with innovative self-financing and integrating productive end use.  As Myanmar's National Electrification Plan unfolds, it has become critical to support its integration of local micro/mini hydro developers.  Since 2013 HPNET has worked to bring regional hindsight and forward steps, including the formation of the Small Hydropower Association of Myanmar (SHPAM).  The Myanmar Advancement Working Group focuses on strengthening SHPAM, with customized mentorship and training from Indonesia, Nepal, and Sri Lanka, stemming from HPNET's 2014 practice-to-policy exchange in Myanmar.

PictureHPNET members with local community, Shillong, India. Credit: Dipti Vaghela.
Northeast India's Climate-Energy-Water-Livelihoods Nexus ​​
The northeastern states of India are endowed with rich natural resources, exceptional biodiversity, and vibrant indigenous cultures.  However, the development scenario of the region sits at a crossroad, with high unemployment, climate vulnerability, and inequitable extraction of its natural resources.  To help address this, the Northeast India Clusters Working Group is inspired to demonstrate micro hydro within a climate-energy-water-livelihoods nexus.  Contrary to the micro hydro approach used in existing projects in Arunachal Pradesh, Manipur, Nagaland, and Sikkim, the group is developing a cluster of projects to demonstrate micro hydro and ram pump technology integrated with watershed management, local skills building, productive end use, climate resilience, and local governance.  The group is also helping to forge HPNET's strategy in India.


Please 
contact us for further information on HPNET's 2017 Working Groups.

Dipti Vaghela
HPNET Coordinator
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