Table 5 Scores for the social sustainability dimension
From: Sustainability assessment of a micro hydropower plant in Nepal
Themes | Dimensional weighting (%) | Code | Indicators | Score | Notes on scoring | Theme score |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Community involvement | 20 | S1 | Training of community members and local operators | 1.67 | Since the main operator left, a substitute has taken the role of operator and the management committee had not found a trained operator. The government wants that the communities are self-dependent. However, there is a need to improve ongoing capacity building measures. The certification was not given in local language; this prevented many locals to participate in the certification | 3.76 |
S2 | Sense of ownership | 5 | The community was very aware that the plant belongs to them; there was also an active involvement during maintenance activities | |||
S3 | Self-governability | 5 | For this particular MHP, the whole management committee was from the local community | |||
S4 | Self-sufficiency | 3.5 | Since the MHP was located in a very remote village, almost everything is brought from the outside. However, the construction and O/M works were performed by locals. There is always a need for an external expert for some technical problems in the plant | |||
S5 | Equality | 4 | Some villagers from the Chepang caste are not included in the process. Women were present in the management committee | |||
Social stability | 5 | S6 | Resettlement/disturbance of living space | 0 | Not a big issue for this small MHP | 0 |
Affordability | 15 | S7 | Share of household income spent on electricity | 4 | Everyone interviewed agreed to the price of electricity | 4.00 |
Accessibility | 15 | S8 | Grid access | 4 | Chepang households were not yet connected | 4.00 |
S9 | Ease of grid connection | 0 | Unable to score | |||
Health | 10 | S10 | Safety of electricity use | 5 | No accident has been reported | 4.60 |
S11 | Access to improved medical supply | 5 | The local medical facility has electricity connection and has freezer/refrigerator that would not be possible without electricity | |||
S12 | Risk of respiratory diseases | 4 | The use of kerosene for lightning purposes is reduced by the access to electricity. However, many households still use it as a backup for any interruption of the service | |||
S13 | Working conditions of operator | 2 | The MHP operator lives in the powerhouse with significant noise pollution and wears sandals during operation, no earplugs | |||
Electrical service | 5 | S14 | Electrical service reliability | 4 | It is always running except when there is some repair or maintenance work is ongoing | 4.50 |
S15 | Electrical service quality | 5 | Two bulbs can always be used by each HH | |||
User satisfaction | 15 | S16 | Satisfaction of the management | 4 | 3-phase supply is needed and a low power supply in dry season; complaints about wooden polls of the grid | 4.75 |
S17 | Satisfaction with costs | 5 | All interviewees told that everyone is very satisfied with the price and with the service provided | |||
S18 | Perceived change in quality of life | 5 | All interviewees told that everyone values and sees the importance of the service provided | |||
Education | 10 | S19 | Improved teaching by use of electricity | 5 | The local school has access to electricity and is able to power an entire computer lab | 4.50 |
S20 | Extended studying hours | 4 | All interviewees stated that their children now learn longer due to electricity light at night | |||
Communication | 5 | S21 | Electricity use for communication purposes | 4.5 | All interviewees stated having at least one of these devices | 3.25 |
S22 | Internet users (per 100 people) | 2 | 3 HHs (of 15 interviewed) have an Internet access | Â | ||
S23 | Computer usage (%) | 2 | In the local school and 4 HHs | Â | ||
Aggregated score—social dimension | 4.17 | |||||