Supporting electrification projects in Myanmar with Richard Harrison (Smart Power Myanmar)

We speak with Richard Harrison, CEO of Smart Power Myanmar, a non-profit organization working to accelerate the adoption of decentralised renewable energy in Myanmar by providing data and evidence, convening key stakeholders, and offering financing solutions. We discuss the current energy landscape in Myanmar, the need for an integrated approach to electrification, the importance of offering financing solutions alongside electrification efforts, and the benefits of productive energy use.

Recorded in May 2020

Visit us at www.distributingsolar.com/podcast/smart-power-myanmar

Contact us at [email protected]

Show notes: 

(0:55) Richard's background and prior work in Myanmar

(2:30) Introduction to Myanmar, its geographical, economic, and political background

(8:05) Myanmar's electricity sector, progress in recent years, and electrification targets

(11:40) Smart Power Myanmar's approach to accelerating electrification in Myanmar

(13:55) Smart Power Myanmar's strategic focus and identified barriers to electrification 

(18:12) Approaches to providing commercial and consumer financing adopted by Smart Power Myanmar - equipment financing facility and the Energy Impact Fund

(21:35) The origins of Smart Power Myanmar, and how the organisation came about

(26:30) Overview of the Decentralised Energy Report for Myanmar

(32:10) Minigrid operators, ESCOs, funding and subsidies for minigrids in Myanmar, and progress to date

(35:45) Hydro minigrids in Myanmar 

(37:45) The integration potential between private minigrids and the public national grid

(40:30) Productive Energy Use in minigrids, and the need for consumer financing solutions to support Productive Energy Use

(44:50) Examples of productive energy users who have benefited from Energy Impact Funds

(48:05) The impact of COVID-19 in Myanmar and for the energy sector

(49:20) Recommended books: Hariri's Homo Deus, Richard Rhodes' Energy: A Human History, Gretchen Bakke's The Grid

(51:00) Goals and hopes for electrification the next 5 years