Rural areas and communities in DPR Korea lack access to adequate and reliable energy services due to: (i) insufficient supply of primary energy inputs, (ii) inadequate infrastructure, technological and managerial know-how and competences for the sustainable exploitation of local renewable energy sources; and (iii) lack of appropriate operational modalities enabling the sustainable delivery of the technologies to provide basic energy services.

The SES Project is addressing this development problem by drawing upon the lessons from the previous two UNDP projects that focused of sustainable energy i.e. Sustainable Rural Energy Development Programme (SRED), and Small Wind Energy Development Project for Rural Areas (SWEDPRA). The SES project is focusing on the attainment of effective and sustainable local energy solutions that generate positive impact among rural beneficiaries, rather than involved in technology development.

The project objective is to provide local rural communities in targeted areas with adequate, secure and reliable access to renewable energy resources, cost-effective energy efficiency and energy conservation solutions for meeting basic energy demands under appropriate operational modalities.

The primary data of energy demand and resource assessments were completed in 15 Ris during 2016. The data clearly indicates that there is unmet demand for both electricity and thermal energy.

It was assessed that electricity demand is mainly for lighting and appliances. When the annual consumption of electricity is compared with international standard, deficiency ranges from 10 to 30 kWh/person/y. When compared with the actual demand, the supply deficiency is 50 to 105 kWh/person/y (unmet demand of electricity).

Major thermal energy demand for a household is for heating then for cooking. When the annual consumption of thermal energy for cooking is compared with international standard, 2 to 3 GJ/person/y is the deficiency. When compared with the actual demand for cooking, space and water heating, the supply deficiency is 15 to 20 GJ/person/y (unmet demand).

SES project will address this gap in energy demand through 9 RE and EE technologies and measures.