Successful Projects
Feasibility Studies for Energy Self Sufficiency in Coffee Mill The General Secretariat of the Central American Integration System (SG-SICA) through the Energy and Environment Partnership with Central America (EEP), with the support of the Ministry for Foreign Affairs of Finland, the Austrian Development Cooperation and the European Union, enabled the successful execution of two feasibility studies in the Coffee Mill Atapasco, located in El Salvador, in order to be replicated in other coffee mills in Central America. The projects: "Feasibility study for the self sufficient supply of energy" and "Feasibility study to produce pellets from coffee pulp", have demonstrated that the coffee industry can be energy self-sufficient, increasing the social, economic and environmental benefits. Supporting these projects the EEP seeks to give an answer to the environmental problems of the typical residues of the coffee milling process and an added value, enabling the identification of suitable technical alternatives for self-sufficient energy production, supporting
the development of renewable energy and energy efficiency projects in the region. The Coffee Mill Atapasco, has implemented for more than 100 years, several environmental systems that aim to protect natural resources, allowing them to reduce the water and wood consumption of the milling process, and a 65% reduction in the electricity bought from the national electric grid; they also have installed a wastewater treatment plan which reduces the organic compounds in the waste water to biogas. "Through the EEP´s support and the feasibility studies implemented, we have enough information to continuing the work on being more efficient in the use of the resources available to us and the re-utilization of the waste we generate in our prod uction process", said Mr. Lenin Gonzalez, representative of the Coffee Mill Atapasco.
Successful Projects Binational project was inaugurated El Salvador-Honduras
The Small hydro power station "El Calambre" was inaugurated on January 27th in the village of La Joya in El Salvador. The total cost of the project was € 136,484 and was built by the members of the community, with the supervision of SABES (Saneamiento Básico, Educación Sanitaría y Energías Alternativas), a non-profit organization which worked as the project. The power generation capacity of the small hydro "El Calambre" is about 58 kW, allowing to generate electricity using water from the river for household lighting, to ensure rural electrification to 46 families in the village of La Joya in El Salvador and 45 families from the village of Monte Cueva in Honduras, becoming the first transboundary renewable energy project in the border of both countries. The project was financed by the EEP, the Government of Aragón (Spain) through the Foundation Ecology and Development, HIVOS, the Municipal Government of Perquín and the community, where their residents will pay US$ 2 per month for the service. In order to ensure the success of the project management, they created an Electrification Committee, integrated by members of the community, who will be responsible of the system administration. "The community involvement has been excellent and has helped to the success of the project, due to the enthusiasm and the contribution of the beneficiaries" Mr. Luis Boigues, President of SABES. The EEP supported these projects with seed money from the cooperation of the Ministry for Foreign Affairs of Finland, the Austrian Development Cooperation and the European Union.
"We used to live in the darkness, we use to burn pines and wood to heat up our homes and cook our food" Juan Inocente Benítez, member of La Joya Community.
Successful Projects
Energy for better living conditions in Nicaragua The Energy and Environment Partnership with Central America (EEP) with the support of Finland's Ministry for Foreign Affairs, the Austrian Development Cooperation and the European Union, financed the project for the synchronization of a Small hydro power station located in Bocay, Nicaragua, with the grid of the Municipality of El Cua’s and the national grid, allowing to provide electricity to the residents of the Village Ayapal. The EEP in order to support and promote renewable energy projects for the sustainable development in the region and improve the access to clean energy services, has financed this project to ensure that more than 1,000 households will be supplied with electrical power in the Village of Ayapal in Nicaragua, who are expecting to receive electrical service for the very first time. The project involved the equipment replacement in the Small hydro power station located in the village of San Jose de Bocay, providing it with the required components and technical equipment to allow the synchronization with the nearby grid powers and supply energy more efficiently to the community. This project represents an important technical advance in the electrification of this village and the development of renewable energy technologies. The synchronized mode operation will provide energy 24/7 to the community, the Bocay power station will generate at full power as the water flows through the generating station, without being limited by the user´s demand as is the case when a the plant is operating in an island-mode distribution system. Another benefit of this project is that it will be possible to provide the service more efficiently and with high quality to the rural households, according to Mr. Felix Rosales, of the Association of Rural Development Workers -Benjamín Linde (ATDER-BL), a non-profit organization, developer of the project: "The families will enjoy almost uninterrupted electricity, because if they need to perform a preventive maintenance to the power plant, they will be able to choose to purchase electricity to the National grid to supply the service, and would not notice when the plant is not operating". Mr. Rosales, emphasize that there is still much to be done in this sector of the Department of Jinotega to achieve and supply the growing demand for rural electrification.
“You have changed our lives" Ms. Maria Lourdes Aguilar, resident of Village Ayapal
Successful Projects
Increasing rural access to Clean Energy in Waslala, Nicaragua The General Secretariat of the Central American Integration System (SG-SICA) supported through the Energy and Environment Partnership with Central America (EEP), the project for the construction of the small hydropower plant “La Florida” which, with a capacity of 300 kW is supplying electricity for the first time to more than two thousand residents of eight rural communities located in the municipality of Waslala, Nicaragua. A total of 360 households distributed in the regions of: Zinica, Las Jaguas, Kubalí, Las Lajas, Kusulí, La Limonera and La Esperanza, will be receiving the electricity service. The project aims to contribute to the economic and social development of these communities, allowing them to have clean electricity at low cost, and contributes to improve the quality of life of these community integrated by farmers and to the improvement of their production. The total cost of the clean generation project was US$ 1.5 million and it was financed thanks to the contribution of the Swiss Embassy in Nicaragua, the United Nations Develop-
ment Program (UNDP), the Nicaragua´s Government, COSUDE Cooperation and the EEP, which supports these projects with seed money from the cooperation of the Ministry for Foreign Affairs of Finland, the Austrian Development Cooperation and the European Union. ''When we were informed about this project, we didn't believe in it, we thought that it was going to be only a promise; but now, we are glad to have energy all day long”, said Ms. Maribel Ubeda, beneficiary of Kusulí community. For the operation of the small hydro, the beneficiaries have created a company with 109 partners who are responsible for the distribution and recollection of an average fee of C$ 60 for the electricity service. "With this project we´re contributing to the change of the Nicaragua´s energy matrix", said the General Secretary of the Nicaragua´s Ministry of Energy and Mines, Mr. Donald Espinosa.
Successful Projects
BENEFICIARIES
EEP Promotes Renewable Energy and Energy Efficiency Training Project in Nicaragua The General Secretariat of the Central American Integration System (SG-SICA) and the Central American Commission on Environment and Development (CCAD), through the Energy and Environment Partnership with Central America (EEP), support the Project:
100 low income young men and women from 71 Villages in four Communities of Northern Chinandega, Nicaragua, can be trained in an intensive theoretical and practical course for at least 1,100 hours of classroom training time.
“Renewable Energy and Energy Efficiency Training Center” financed with seed money from the cooperation of the European Union, the Ministry for Foreign Affairs of Finland
FIRST GRADUATION
and the Austrian Development Cooperation in order to promote the development of
The Project´s first graduation ceremony, was held on May 23RD 2012, in this opportunity were benefited 38 low income young students from different villages of the northern Chinandega, whom has finalized the course: “Technical Maintenance of Thermal and Photovoltaic Systems and Energy Efficiency”.
renewable energy and energy efficiency projects in the region. The course has a duration of seven months and takes place in the facilities of the Solar Training Center (CENICASOL), located in El Espino Village, Cinco Pinos, Nicaragua. It is addressed to young men and women aged between 15 and 24 years old, allowing them to link the theory and the practice by designing and installing different photovoltaic systems, promoting their technical capabilities in the installation and expansion of renewable energy productive systems, operating in remote villages, encouraging the involvement of women in technical careers.
The first graduation ceremony was chaired by the
Ms. Argeñal, Minister of MARENA, highlighted the valuable
Minister of Environment and Natural Resources of
support provided by the EEP to rural communities in
Nicaragua, Ms. Juanita Argeñal Sandoval; the Mayor of
Nicaragua and encouraged all present to multiply efforts to
San Pedro Village, Mr. Moises Martinez; the General
increase this support.
Director of Renewable Resources of Energy and Mines (MEM), Mr. Humberto Reyes; the European Union Advisor, Mr. Alain Peigné; The Business Attaché of the embassy of Finland for CA, Ms. Eeva-Liisa Myllymäki; the SICA´s General Secretariat representative, Mr. Jorge Vasquez and the CHICA´s Coordinator, Mr. Elmer Zelaya Blandon, who emphasized the importance of the Renewable Energy and Energy Efficiency training for young people living in rural communities.
Ms. Myllymäki, representative of the Embassy of Finland, congratulated the young graduating students for being interested on studying subjects that are "crucial to humanity, for our future and the future of the next generations" especially to "combat the climate change that we are facing". She also stressed the importance of the EEP in the execution of renewable energies pilot projects and technical studies in the region, "it´s a big challenge to us now, to multiply these projects so that can be a change of
On behalf of the graduating class, one of the students
paradigm in the energy sector politics and on the consumers
representing the group, praised the support of the
behavior, for a change towards a sustainable development
donors and developers involved in the project, and
where you with your knowledge, enthusiasm and willingness
stressed the learning process they had during the
are going to play an important role", she said.
course and the strengths developed by acknowledging and understanding the basic operations on the installation of different photovoltaic systems, efficient stoves and the implementation of different measures for energy efficiency reduction, in order to reduce the energy consumption in the training center, to the minimum.
Through educational projects, the EEP is able to fortify the capabilities, increase the coverage and to improve the quality of the technical education, especially in Renewable Energy and Energy Efficiency topics, to low income young people from 71 villages in four Communities in Northern Chinandega, to strategically combating the region's poverty and the environmental protection in their communities.
More information about this and other projects on our website :
www.sica.int/energia
Successful Projects Successful projects
Renewable Energy project has benefited to 85 families in Choluteca, Honduras The project supported by the General Secretariat of the Central American Integration System (SG-SICA) and the Central American Commission on Environment and Development (CCAD), through the Energy and Environment Partnership with Central America (EEP), and Fundacion Vida is part of a wider initiative that aims to provide a sustainable model to enhance the integral development of rural villages in the region.
Approximately 400 people living in Las Pitas village were beneficited with this project, addressing four strategic components: 1) The provision of a solar powered water pumping system to deliver drinking water to the community, included the installation of four solar panels, a submersible pump, a 1,321 gallons storage tank and distribution pipes. 2) The installation of a solar energy cooperative, managed by local women which will allow to raise founds for the sustainability of the systems installed and to improve their quality of life, this component includes: 5 solar panels, one freezer, the automatic controller, the inverter and two lamps. 3) The installation of a solar power system in two schools: Las Pitas and Cristobal Colon, where more than 150 children
will expand their educational opportunities learning about renewable energy, the component included the installation of solar panels, one battery, one inverter and a TV with DVD player. 4) Finally the installation of photovoltaic systems to bring rural electrification to 85 households, including: one panel of 85 or 65 watts depending on the housing conditions. The complete project will be sustained by the monthly contribution of the beneficiaries to ensure the sustainability of the installed equipment. The EEP supports these projects with seed money from the cooperation of the Ministry for Foreign Affairs of Finland, the Austrian Development Cooperation and the European Union.
www.sica.int/energia
EEP's Successful Projects ENHANCING CAPACITIES
FOR ENERGY POLICIES KEY
ACTORS IN THE REGION
The second Workshop on "Energy Policy for Executors: Tools for an Effective Management" was completed successfully. The event was organized by the SICA's General Secretariat through the Energy and Environment Partnership with Central America (EEP). It was intended for executives, managers and key technical officers of regional entities involved in the design and implementation of energy policies in their countries. The aim of the one week Workshop was to provide a deeper understanding of regional energy policies from it’s design to it’s implementation to expand the portfolio of approaches, ideas and tools in the search for a better effectiveness in achieving demonstrable results and indicators to policy makers. The Workshop is also aimed at raising awareness of current challenges the energy sector faces and the implications of such challenges for the regulatory framework.
them the welfare gains associated with the energy, as well as to support more than 200 micro and small companies, in order to start their renewable energy projects. The representative of Panama's National Secretariat of Energy, Ms. Marta Raquel Bernal, thanked the organizers for inviting them to the course: "It was a very interesting and enriching course for our work in the Mauricio Ayala, EEP's Project Manager, stressed the
Secretariat". Also, Mr. Eduardo Mencia, from the El Sal-
importance of the event: "One of the EEP's fundamen-
vador's Executive Hydroelectric Commission of the
tal role is to promote the removal of legal and
Lempa River (CEL), urged to continue the effort next
institutional barriers that limit the implementation of
year: "This course has expanded our criteria, the
renewable energy projects".
sharing of regional experiences developments and
The workshop brought together representatives from
advances in the field have been very rewarding”.
the Energy Departments of Regional Ministries and
The promotion of renewable energy that EEP has made
related Government Institutions, all of them members
since it’s launch, including the organization of 22
of the 8 SICA countries. It was held from June 25th to
regional forums and the implementation of 281
June 28th, at the Holiday Inn Hotel in San Salvador and
projects,
was presented by international consultants: Agustin
training, where countries can share experiences and
Gimenez and Lilia Perrone, policy experts in the field
disseminate best practices to facilitate renewable
of energy.
energy development in Central America.
includes
different
efforts
to
facilitate
During the event participants expressed their expectations and shared their experiences on energy policies in their respective countries from the formulation, development
to
it´s
implementation.
The
EEP's
Regional Coordinator, Salvador Rivas, presented the program’s successful projects video, which provide more information about the EEP's executed projects in the SICA countries, which have allowed us benefiting more than 11,500 families living in rural areas bringing
The EEP supports these projects with seed money donated from the Ministry for Foreign Affairs of Finland, the Austrian Development Cooperation and the European Union.
www.sica.int/energia
Successful Projects
Solar thermal system will benefit 22,000 patients annually in National Regional Hospital of El Salvador In order to support the development of renewable energy and energy efficiency in the region, the General Secretariat of the Central American Integration System (SG-SICA) and the Central American Commission on Environment and Development (CCAD), through the Energy and Environment Partnership with Central America (EEP) supported the project: "Solar thermal system for water heating for Hydrotherapy and Pediatric Services in the National Regional Hospital" San Juan de Dios" located in El Salvador. The project was executed thanks to the support of the Ministry of Health, the Ministry of Environment and Natural Resources and the Ministry of Economy through the National Council on Energy of El Salvador, it will benefit more than 20,000 patients annually who require hydrotherapy and pediatrics treatments at the Hospital, providing hot water for more efficient and quality in medical treatments. The solar thermal system installed by the EEP, will provide 6,000 liters daily of hot water for the following hospital services and processes: 1) Hydrotherapy, therapeutic treatment for children
and adults; 2) Pediatrics Surgery Room, shower and treatment for children; 3) Pediatrics Department Block "A" children shower, baby bottle washing, cleaning and sanitation of the room equipment; 4) Pediatrics Department Block "B”, shower of preadolescent children; 5) Pediatric intensive care unit, cleaning and sanitation of the equipment. The opening ceremony of the Project was chaired by the Minister of Health, Ms. Maria Isabel Rodriguez; the Vice Minister of Environment and Natural Resources, Ms. Lina Pohl; the Minister of Economy and Chairman of the National Council on Energy, Mr. Armando Flores; National Director of the Regional Hospital "San Juan de Dios" in Santa Ana, Dr. Ramon Antonio Abrego; the representative de SG-SICA, Mr. Jorge Vasquez; the representative of the Austrian Development Cooperation, Mr. Till Süßdorf and the Representative of the European Union, Ms. Yolanda Cativo. The EEP supports these projects thanks to the cooperation of the Ministry for Foreign Affairs of Finland, the Austrian Development Cooperation and the European Union.
Installed technology : 42 solar collectors which is equivalent to 126 m2 total area; 2 Stainless steel vertical tanks 3,000 liters each, for the hot water storage; umping electromechanical equipment, piping and control valves to provide water where required; hospital and staff training
Costo total aproximado del Proyecto: US$100,000
www.sica.int/energia