Draft Animal Power Versus Photovoltaic: A Benchmark

In recent years, prototypes have demonstrated the capacity of draft animal power as a primary source for generating electricity. In this paper, it is shown that the prototype of a medium-sized draft animal lifts 2,500 liters of water to a height of six meters within an hour, as well as, it can grind grains and power a sieve. After establishing the technical efficiency of this system, a comparative cost-benefit analysis has been conducted by examining the net present value of various electric generators suitable for remote villages. Our evaluation encompassed photovoltaic, draft animal power, fuel engines, and human labor as energy sources. For rural villages already employing draft animal power, this work indicates its superiority over other options. The ranking prioritizes draft animal power, followed by photovoltaic systems, fuel engines, and human labor. Additionally, this study reveals that draft animal power significantly reduces external expenditures. This means that the resources addressed to or generated in the villages can be spent on fertilizers, pesticides, and other rural needs.