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The level of literacy in remote communities should be above 85%.
Residents will need to be open to interact with the utility and other
professionals to share their experiences and needs. For residents to
correctly express their specifications it would require some creativity
and innovation through analogy. The energy assessment activity will
also help to educate the residents about the various energy technologies
and offer a platform for them to analyze different options

OEMs already have teams who address R&D so the RES model will not be incommodious. Instead, they will
utilize the various design techniques and customer satisfaction measures which will inform and enhance the
electricity service delivery.

CONCLUSION
The remote electricity services (RES) model is being proposed following my exploratory study to design an
electricity system for a traditional economy in practical fulfilment of my PhD in Mechanical Engineering at the
University of Canterbury . This model has not been piloted and hence, an opportunity to implement it would
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be accepted. The RES model hypothesized would be applicable in the remote areas of Latin America and the
Caribbean, Africa, and East Asia where the residents do not have electricity.

To pilot an RES program, it will require a willing group of persons in a village with no electricity, the national
utility or body authorized to provide electricity services to the citizens and at least one OEM that is open to the
concept of partnering with the utility and the end-user to deliver the appropriate electricity solution. Together
the groups will meet, agree, and institute a strategy for continuous work over the lifetime of the asset. The
financing streams for implementing the RES can be grant funding, loan allocations and private investment or
a combination of them all.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Dr. Niebert Blair has more than 16 years of experience supporting climate change,
sustainable development, renewable energy, e-mobility, and climate financing, at the
national and regional levels and, within the private sector, donor institutions, and regional
organisations where she has served in various management positions. Dr. Blair is the Energy
and Transport Coordinator for the NDC TEC project in the Caribbean supporting partner
countries in policy and regulatory work that encompasses the energy and transport sectors
and the NDCs. Dr. Blair also worked as the Capacity Building Advisor for the 11th European Development
Fund (EDF) Technical Assistance Programme for Sustainable Energy in the Caribbean (TAPSEC). Niebert also
has experience in the power utility and manufacturing entities working on design, implementation, and
management. Besides, having a MPhil in Industrial Systems, Manufacture and Management, she also has a
PhD in Mechanical Engineering from the University of Cambridge and the University of Canterbury, respectively.
She is also a chartered engineer with IMECHE and in her pastime she enjoys playing cricket, basketball, and
the guitar.

7 Blair, N.D.F.C.: Sustainable electricity for traditional economies: the design of a sustainable electricity system for remote electrification.
University of Canterbury (2020)

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