Environmental research

2.1 Project Description: The project aims to electrify a rural village using 100% renewable energy sources. The source of biomass will be locally farmed trees no wood from natural forests will be harvested. Establishing community energy reserves/tree farms will reduce pressure from the use of fuel wood from local natural forests. The species of trees proposed in the project, Leuceana, is native to Cambodia. Leuceana is a fast growing, tropical legume tree (nitrogen fixing) which will improve soil fertility. Leuceana thrives on less fertile non-irrigated land often currently underutilized by farmers. These tree farms will not displace important rice crops grown in the wet paddy areas. The tree branches will be harvested 2-3 times per year through "coppicing" to yield a continuous supply of biomass (short rotation coppicing). 2.2 Objectives: - Provide affordable, high quality eletricity that can foster local socio-economic growth; - To stimulate growth in local enterprise and small business development 2.3 Outputs: - A strong community owned electricity cooperative established by village members, registered with the Ministry of Interior and licensed by the Electricity Authority of Cambodia; - Additional farmer income will be created through production and sales of farmed trees; - tree plantations "energy reserves" are sufficient to provide the wood fuel required to power the new village electricity system with no requirement for imported diesel fuels; - A 100% renewable energy powered village electricity system which is efficiently operated, maintained and managed by 3-4 permanently employed staff and operators trained throughout the project; - Increased employment and income generation through commercially productive activities utilizing the less expensive electricity; - 150-200 households (900-1,200 persons) provided with electricity service at rates comparable to large towns and capital cities; - Improved living conditions and personal safety of rural residents (specifically women) due to household and street lighting at night; - A socio-economic survey will be conducted before and after the project to determine changes in social welfare and economic growth.

Cambodia