The rural electrification of developing countries is not simply a matter of the provision of technology; it requires an approach to electrification that is appropriate to local social, cultural, economic and environmental contexts. For a rural electrification project to be sustainable, the community’s ownership of the project is essential. To help ensure this outcome, the community must be involved in every aspect of the project: design, implementation, operation, management, and maintenance. However, many rural communities lack the technical skills to design, install, operate, and maintain a system and the institutional/organizational skills to manage it. Therefore, capacity building and institutional support are critical for any community-based electrification initiative to succeed. This training and support must be done in a culturally appropriate manner.

This paper introduces “The Community Powerhouse” a community-based rural electrification model for Vanuatu—that approaches the issue of electrification as a social and cultural issue.
The key characteristics of a Community Powerhouse project are:
• The project is owned and managed by the community, there is a strong capacity building/organizational development component.
• It is a renewable energy powered micro-grid/battery charging station hybrid.
• It provides power to community institutions, micro-enterprise zones, and households.
• It is financed by a combination of donor funds, community funds, and end-user funds

The Community Powerhouse is a pilot program that focuses on the targeted application of technology within a community ownership framework. The paper details lessons from this project that may have wide ranging significance for Vanuatu and other Pacific island nations.