Rural electrication planning software (LAPER)

Today, 40% of the world population need rural electrication (RE). The World Bank and other donors for RE-projects need a clear assessment of the viability and sustainability of the proposed electricity generation facility. Electricite de France (EDF) and the French Agency for Environment and Energy Management (ADEME) have developed LAPER, a planning software package using a GIS-based method for the electrication of vast regions. This program determines a masterplan using geographical data enhanced by socio-economic inquiries. After choosing the optimal means of electrication (MV-network, PV-panels, gensets, micro-wind generators or micro-hydrogenerators) for each village, LAPER calculates an investment plan and an electrication schedule for the region, taking into account political, financial and geographical criteria. The results are stored graphically and by tables in the GIS