Solar pegged for urban expansion
Solar power has always been an easier sell in sun-drenched rural Cambodia, where millions of villagers live beyond the reach of electrical grids and those with connections face tariffs up to a staggering 3,000-riel per kilowatt hour. Declining prices of solar technology and a growing array of instalment plans geared for low-income families have convinced an increasing number of villagers to harness the sun to power their homes. But convincing Cambodia’s city-dwellers to invest in solar power is a much steeper challenge, though one that solar energy provider Kamworks Utility says it is now ready to tackle. Ken Bradley, the company’s director of business development, said yesterday that after years of routine installations in rural areas, Kamworks is considering opportunities to deploy solar technologies in Phnom Penh’s urban jungle. He said the initial focus would likely be on new residential developments, such as apartment buildings and condominiums.
