ICT Power Considerations for Afghanistan

1
ICT Power Considerations for Afghanistan

• 25 April 2006
• Jim Craft, Senior Telecommunications Advisor
• Afghanistan Reconstruction Group
• US Embassy Kabul

2
ICT Power Considerations

• Need against supply cost, quality, and
  dependability
• Afghanistan power grid
• Most economical model but is limited and unstable
• Will take many years and significant
  infrastructure investment the majority of the
  country (some may be left out)
• Critical core elements of ICT need 7x24 power.
• Emergencies happen 7x24
• A sporadic network is of limited value
• Frequent power outages and deep draining of
  batteries will increase maintenance issues

3
ICT power needs in rural areas

• Computer systems, peripherals and network devices
• Broadcasting receivers and recording devices,
  including television sets, radios, videocassette
  recorders and DVD players
• Customer premise equipment for two-way wireless
  communications includes
• Mobile cellular phones and fixed cellular phones
• Mobile satellite phones and fixed satellite
  phones
• Land mobile and HF radio handsets
• Spread spectrum wireless terminals (e.g. WiFi and
  WiMax)
• VSAT remote stations.
• Telekiosks (voice and Internet) and Internet
  cafes
• Cellular network and other Telecom access
  arrangements

Expanding mobile phone coverage plus National
Infrastructure (GCN-DCN-VCN) plus other ICT
4
Rural Area Power Considerations

• Demand Management is Key
• Minimize HVAC requirements
• Many Energy-Saving ICT Options
• Low power devices (e.g., computers, printers,
  etc)
• ICT selection factors
• Example of the
• Alternative power sources (mainly rural areas)
• Grid extension
• Solar
• Small wind
• Micro-hydro
• Generators
• Battery backup

5
Off-Grid (Rural Areas) Power Considerations
Energy-Saving ICT Options
Source Winrock
6
ICT Selection Considerations

• Not simply a question of finding the lowest
  price, involves balancing a range of features and
  life cycle costs, including
• Total cost of ICT equipment plus required power
  system
• Current and anticipated application requirements
• Maintenance and repair options
• Mobility, theft and security considerations
• User acceptance
• Waste disposal and environmental hazards

7
Off-Grid (Rural Areas) Alternative Power
Considerations

• Diesel/Gas generators gt Cost will
  go up
• Technologically and commercially mature option
• Manufactured on large scale worldwide
• High running costsfuel and maintenance
• Micro-hydro
• Proven and reliable source where resource exists
• Produce more energy per rated kilowatt than wind
  and solar
• Depends on availability of reliable water
  flowdry spells, competing usage such as
  irrigation, nature disasters
• Small wind
• Commercially available and reliable
• Depends on amount of wind available
• Solar photovoltaics (PV)
• Proven and reliable source
• No moving partssunlight directly into
  electricity
• Require minimum maintenance
• Technical and commercial infrastructure needed to
  sustain long term operations

8
Off-Grid (Rural Areas) Alternative Power
Considerations
Source Winrock
9
Opportunities at the ICT Power Breakout session

• 1000 to 1200, Wednesday 26 April 2006 in side
  conference room.
• Panel (one hour) followed by Question, Answer and
  Discussion Period
• Opportunity for groups involved in Alternative
  Energy to network and share information

Come and Add your Energy to this Group