Solar energy.
As part of a World Bank-funded project, a solar powered electricity system is being developed in Cambodia's provinces including Ratanakiri, Preah Vihear, and Siem Reap.
Over 10,000 solar home systems have already been installed. Previously villagers relied on electric power from car batteries and petrol generators to supply electricity for lighting in their houses.
A subsidy from the World bank of $100, reduces the cost of the panels to $160, which the customers will have to pay off over a 4 year period.
Cambodia doesn't have the hydro-electric power stations like Laos or potential for wind power like Vietnam, so solar power appears to be the only choice for renewable energy generation.
The current project is part of the government's plans to provide all households with access to electricity by 2030, according to a spokesman.
Subsidies for high electricity usage were abolished in July 2012, according to a spokesman for the Electricity Authority of Cambodia. Customers using more than 200 kw/hrs per month of electricity will no longer receive a 100 to 200 riel subsidy.
Electricity in Cambodia is expensive compared to neighboring Vietnam, ranging from 720 riel to 4000 riel per kw/hr. In rechargeable aa battery Vietnam the cost is between 150 and 200 riel per kw/hr. This high cost of electricity is deterring foreign investment, according to Hiroshi Suzuki, CEO of the Business Research Institute of Cambodia.
Asia's largest solar power station.
The west Indian state of Gugarat is home to Asia's biggest solar energy project.
It is spread across 1,200 hectares of desert and can supply 214 megawatts of electricity, making it bigger than the Golmud Solar Project in China which produces 200 megawatts.
The Indian Government and the Asia Development Bank are financing the construction of transmission lines from hydro electric power stations in Laos to Kratie province in Cambodia, linking in to the national grid.
