『Abstract
　Given the fact that 1.4 billion people, over 20% of the world's population, lack access to electricity, rural electrification remains a common challenge for many developing countries. The ‘Township Electrification Program’ launched by the Chinese government in 2002 is known as the world's largest renewable energy-based rural electrification program in terms of investment volume ever carried out by a country. This study gives an in-depth examination of the program implemented in two selected townships in remote of rural areas of western China. The results showed that the implementation of the program possessed a technical orientation (e.g., construction of stations, installation of systems), and underestimated the financial implications (e.g., electricity tariff, households' ability to pay electricity fees, financial management) as well as human resources available (e.g., training for operators, household participation) and institutional capacity building (e.g., good governance, regulatory framework) at the local level. Even though electricity was provided by the solar PV power stations, households still relied on traditional energy sources, such as candles and dry cell batteries, due to the fact that electricity service was unreliable and electricity supply was not sufficient for households' needs.

Keywords: Rural electrification; Renewable energy; China』

1. Introduction
2. Background: Township Electrification Program
3. Methodology
　3.1. Household survey
　3.2. Interviews
　3.3. Transect walks and mapping
4. Results: Implementation of the Township Electrification Program in the two selected townships
　4.1. The situation of electricity use
　4.2. The situation of electricity supply from the solar PV power stations
　4.3. Energy use pattern
5. Analysis of implementation problems of the Township Electrification Program
　5.1. Financial aspect
　5.2. Human resource aspect
　5.3. Institutional aspect
6. Evaluation of the Township Electrification Program
7. Conclusion: Implications for developing countries
　7.1. First, national governments and parliaments should take the lead in setting policy frameworks for rural electrification, and also should determine to resolve the problem of electricity access for the poor in remote rural areas of developing countries
　7.2. Second, governments should subsidize renewable energy-based rural electrification programs, particularly for the poor in remote rural areas of developing countries
　7.3. Third, the design of renewable energy-based rural electrification programs in developing countries should focus on ‘local capacity building’ to ensure sustainable electricity supply in remote rural areas
　7.4. Fourth, renewable energy-based rural electrification programs in developing countries should be integrated into wider national development plans and rural development plans
Acknowledgement
Appendix A. Supporting information
References