Abstract Off-grid renewable energy technologies are important in improving electricity access for rural communities. However, methods for ensuring their sustainable operation are often poorly understood. In this article, existing approaches for the assessment of off-grid projects are examined. Reliability of the technology, financial viability and community engagement are identified as the 3 key areas governing the sustainability of projects. Focusing on these areas, a methodology is proposed to understand the sustainability of micro-hydropower plants. A mixed-methods approach including a maintenance assessment and interviews with managers, operators and consumers is used to evaluate 24 sites in Nepal. Technically, the results of the study showed that trained operators delivered a higher standard of maintenance, however, technical issues were identified that arise during the design, manufacture and installation phases. The financial viability of plants was aided by charging consumers based on consumption, whilst plants with a higher rated capacity tended to benefit from a larger number of productive end uses. Community engagement was fostered through the local identity of the plant however this was threatened by societal changes. Inherent features of the site, such as rated power and the population density, internal resilience to short-term shock events (failure of components, insufficient collection of tariffs and departure of trained operators) and long-term external development (increased incomes, increased energy consumptions and growth in rural settlements) were found to affect the sustainability of plants.

中文翻译：

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了解微型水电的可持续运行：尼泊尔的实地研究

摘要 离网可再生能源技术对于改善农村社区的电力供应非常重要。然而，人们往往对确保其可持续运行的方法知之甚少。在本文中，研究了评估离网项目的现有方法。技术的可靠性、财务可行性和社区参与被确定为管理项目可持续性的 3 个关键领域。针对这些领域，提出了一种方法来理解微型水电站的可持续性。包括维护评估和与管理人员、运营商和消费者面谈在内的混合方法被用于评估尼泊尔的 24 个站点。从技术上讲，研究结果表明，训练有素的操作员提供了更高的维护标准，然而，确定了在设计、制造和安装阶段出现的技术问题。根据消费向消费者收费有助于提高工厂的财务可行性，而额定容量较高的工厂往往受益于更多的生产性最终用途。社区参与是通过工厂的当地身份来培养的，但这受到社会变化的威胁。站点的固有特征，例如额定功率和人口密度、对短期冲击事件的内部弹性（组件故障、关税收集不足和训练有素的操作员离开）和长期外部发展（增加收入、增加能源农村住区的消费和增长）被发现会影响植物的可持续性。制造和安装阶段。根据消费向消费者收费有助于提高工厂的财务可行性，而额定容量较高的工厂往往受益于更多的生产性最终用途。社区参与是通过工厂的当地身份来培养的，但这受到社会变化的威胁。站点的固有特征，例如额定功率和人口密度、对短期冲击事件的内部弹性（组件故障、关税收集不足和训练有素的操作员离开）和长期外部发展（增加收入、增加能源农村住区的消费和增长）被发现会影响植物的可持续性。制造和安装阶段。根据消费向消费者收费有助于提高工厂的财务可行性，而额定容量较高的工厂往往受益于更多的生产性最终用途。社区参与是通过工厂的当地身份来培养的，但这受到社会变化的威胁。站点的固有特征，例如额定功率和人口密度、对短期冲击事件的内部弹性（组件故障、关税收集不足和训练有素的操作员离开）和长期外部发展（增加收入、增加能源农村住区的消费和增长）被发现会影响植物的可持续性。而额定容量较高的工厂往往受益于更多的生产性最终用途。社区参与是通过工厂的当地身份来培养的，但这受到社会变化的威胁。站点的固有特征，例如额定功率和人口密度、对短期冲击事件的内部弹性（组件故障、关税收集不足和训练有素的操作员离开）和长期外部发展（增加收入、增加能源农村住区的消费和增长）被发现会影响植物的可持续性。而额定容量较高的工厂往往受益于更多的生产性最终用途。社区参与是通过工厂的当地身份来培养的，但这受到社会变化的威胁。站点的固有特征，例如额定功率和人口密度、对短期冲击事件的内部弹性（组件故障、关税收集不足和训练有素的操作员离开）和长期外部发展（增加收入、增加能源农村住区的消费和增长）被发现会影响植物的可持续性。