Factors that influence the choice of technology include customer and load density, relative distance to the national or regional grid, landscape, the availability of natural resources such as wind, sun, water and forests, economic and financial aspects (including consumer ability and willingness to pay), and the availability and maturity of any chosen technology (Niez, 2010). The number of users served might vary from single users (stand-alone system) to whole villages (minigrids). Remote, sparsely populated and/or low-income regions make grid extension economically unviable and the alternatives provide access to electricity that can be deployed relatively quickly without the need to increase generation capacity.