Solar Home System (SHS) is an alternative way to get electricity where grid electricity is not available. Sometimes Solar Home System is misunderstood as solar water heating system. In this handbook, however, Solar Home System means Photovoltaics system which converts solar radiation into electricity.
Electricity provide,
* Entertainment at night (watching TV, listening radio and cassette player)
* More information (Visual information by TV, which has much impact than non-visual information by radio)
* Quality lighting (no odor, no smoke, much brighter than candles)
These important aspects about electricity usually improve the quality of rural life dramatically. Therefore, people living in unelectrified areas need electricity and SHS is the only realistic and practical way to have electricity in those areas at reasonable cost.
It is sad to note that electricity is not included in Basic Human Needs. Of cause, poor people need food and water, but once they are satisfied, the next step is electricity to improve their quality of life. Therefore, electricity should be considerate as a Basic Human Needs.
* What is a Solar Home System?
* Features of SHS
* Simplicity of SHS
* Vulnerability of SHS