3 ms·

yes, but the tech needed to bring electrification from 11% to say 50% or maybe even 80% is there already. i read for example that uganda is capable of producing

by em-bee 3y ago

yes, but the tech needed to bring electrification from 11% to say 50% or maybe even 80% is there already. i read for example that uganda is capable of producing much more electricity than they need themselves. and there certainly are more untapped resources in africa that can be accessed with existing technology before we reach the point of needing new tech to reach everyone else. let's not perfect be the enemy of the good here. as more people get access to electricity and better education their combined wealth will rise creating the financial resources to tackle the harder problems. on step at a time.

MrsPeaches 3y ago
> but the tech needed to bring electrification from 11% to say 50% or maybe even 80% is there already. Do you have any basis for this claim? If this were true, why are so many of the companies working in the field tech and innovation-led? https://www.ruralelec.org/current-members https://www.ruralelec.org/current-members Just as example of the kind of problems faced: how do you electrify thatched roofed houses made from mud bricks? Can’t really insert plugs.
- em-bee 3y ago
  that particular problem doesn't seem very hard to me. how do you put electricity in any house? you lay a cable and attach an outlet to it. what does the wall have to do with it? i'd need to read up and learn more details to understand how this is really a serious problem that can't be worked around. seems to me the major problem is scale and distribution and cost, getting electricity to remote areas. and sure, maybe there are some technical solutions that can help make things easier and cheaper, but i don't see any problems that could not be overcome. but i have only spent a short time in africa so my understanding of the reality there is quite limited. i'd really like to know more about what the actual roadblocks are and where technological innovations are required to move forward.

by em-bee 3y ago

MrsPeaches 3y ago

> but the tech needed to bring electrification from 11% to say 50% or maybe even 80% is there already. Do you have any basis for this claim? If this were true, why are so many of the companies working in the field tech and innovation-led? https://www.ruralelec.org/current-members https://www.ruralelec.org/current-members Just as example of the kind of problems faced: how do you electrify thatched roofed houses made from mud bricks? Can’t really insert plugs.

em-bee 3y ago
that particular problem doesn't seem very hard to me. how do you put electricity in any house? you lay a cable and attach an outlet to it. what does the wall have to do with it? i'd need to read up and learn more details to understand how this is really a serious problem that can't be worked around. seems to me the major problem is scale and distribution and cost, getting electricity to remote areas. and sure, maybe there are some technical solutions that can help make things easier and cheaper, but i don't see any problems that could not be overcome. but i have only spent a short time in africa so my understanding of the reality there is quite limited. i'd really like to know more about what the actual roadblocks are and where technological innovations are required to move forward.