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Mexico's
Federal Electricity Commission Utilizes Renewables to
Meet a Growing Demand
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Mexico's
state-run utility, the Federal Electricity Commission
(CFE), oversees all aspects of electricity generation,
transmission, and distribution throughout the country.
In a country with almost 95 million people, 95% of which
have electricity (more than 89 million people served),
annual demand for power is growing rapidly due to continued
population growth and increasing industrialization. In
1997, overall electricity production was 161,386 GWh.
To
meet the needs of the populace for electricity, several
sources of generation are employed, including coal, oil,
and gas-fired turbines. Mexico has one nuclear power plant,
located at the Laguna Verde site in the state of Veracruz.
In addition, renewable energy sources are utilized in
several ways to help meet the continually growing energy
needs of the country. Mexico has three large geothermal
generating plants, and several more are in various stages
of development. In the state of Oaxaca, the CFE installed
a wind-electric generating farm that boasts the highest
capacity factor in the world (for a wind farm), due to
the nearly constant strength of the local wind resource.
In addition, in rural applications, the CFE has implemented
tens of thousands of photovoltaic systems for individual
homes, and ten centralized hybrid renewable systems for
remote village applications.
Two
departments within the CFE oversee the utilization of
renewable energy technologies to meet electricity needs.
They are the Office of New Sources of Energy, and the
Office of Rural Electrification. The New Sources office
works primarily with large grid-connected applications;
while the Office of Rural Electrification utilizes renewable
energy to help meet the needs of the more remote populations
with non-grid connected applications or extends the grid,
when feasible.
Office
of Rural Electrification
Although Mexico has an extensive electric grid, there
are still about 4 million people in 87,000 communities
around the country who do not have access to grid electricity.
The majority of these live in small remote communities,
where extension of the grid is often prohibitively expensive.
The Rural Electrification unit is working to find solutions
that provide electricity to the entire Mexican population,
and renewable energy technologies play a large role in
their activities.
In
1991, working in collaboration with the state governments,
CFE's Rural Electrification unit began one of the largest
initiatives in the world to electrify rural homes with
solar photovoltaic systems. Between 1991 and 1996, about
40,000 rural homes were electrified through the National
Program for Social Development. CFE worked to develop
specifications for these systems and to oversee the implementation
of the program.
The
use of photovoltaics for rural applications continues
within the electrification unit, but at a slower pace
than earlier in this decade. While the above program is
no longer in place, the use of photovoltaics for home
electrification is growing within other local and federal
development programs.
Office
of New Sources of Energy
The Office of New Sources of Energy is a working group
created within the Management of Geothermal whose main
function is to explore geothermal energy and develop it
commercially. Mexico ranks fourth in the world in installed
capacity and third in energy generated by geothermal sources.
In the area of geothermal power, Mexico has three large
electric generation stations, providing 753 MW of installed
capacity. This represents about 4% of the electricity
generation in Mexico. The plants are located at Los Humeros
(35 MW), in the state of Puebla; at Los Azufres (98 MW),
in the state of Michoacán; and at Cerro Prieto
(620 MW), in the state of Baja California Norte.
The
Management of Geothermal Electric Projects created the
New Sources office to handle projects related to wind,
solar, biomass and hybrid renewable technologies. The
activities of this unit have not only been oriented towards
grid connected wind projects, but also have become an
important technical support for agencies involved in rural
electrification. One example of these is the experimental
wind/solar/diesel system installed by the New Sources
group in Puerto Alcatraz, Santa Margarita Island, in the
state of Baja California Sur. This system was installed
to give electricity to the inhabitants as well as to obtain
experience for implementing other similar systems in other
remote communities.
Wind
power
The Isthmus of Tehuantepec is one of the windiest regions
in Mexico-and perhaps in the world-with an estimated wind
energy production capacity of more than 2,000 MW. It is
located in the southern part of the state of Oaxaca, where
the Mexican land mass narrows between the Pacific Ocean
and the Gulf of Mexico. It is here that CFE decided to
construct a pilot wind-electric generation plant in order
to gain experience with the technology and demonstrate
its benefits in helping to combat the emission of greenhouse
gases. This electric plant, named La Venta I, was commissioned
in July of 1994, and has been providing grid-connected
electricity since then.
La
Venta I consists of seven Vesta V27 wind turbines, each
rated at a production capacity of 225 kW. Between July
1994 and December 1997, the power plant supplied more
than 18.5 GWh to the electric grid. This generation has
offset the combustion of 29,000 barrels of fuel oil, which
would have produced over 14,000 tons of greenhouse gases.
The average capacity factor of the plant during the first
year of operation was measured at 51.4%, with the monthly
maximum during December 1994, of 82.4%. This impressive
rate of electricity production, coupled with the experience
gained from the construction and operation of this plant,
provide strong initiative for CFE as they investigate
the expansion of the plant to full production.
Along
this line, CFE is presently elaborating the project to
build a 54 MW wind power plant adjacent to the existing
turbines. This project will utilize wind turbines ranging
in size from 500 to 750 kW. CFE has determined that the
cost of electricity produced from this plant will be less
than US$0.04/kWh, which is highly competitive with other
fossil sources of energy in the region. Authorization
is still pending to initiate the international call for
bids, but it is hoped this will happen next year.
Community
Hybrid Systems
Both the Office of New Sources and the Office of Rural
Electrification are applying renewable energy technologies
to the development of integrated hybrid systems for remote
community applications. Several projects that are under
development in the state of Baja California Sur indicate
CFE's strong interest in utilizing renewable energy for
community power applications. One of them-a 600 kW wind
generator-is being installed in Guerrero Negro, for start-up
in August of this year. Others include Puerto Alcatraz,
Isla Cedros, and San Juanico.
Puerto
Alcatraz is a small community located on the island of
Santa Margarita, with a population of about 200 people
whose main livelihood is commercial fishing. In December
of 1997, CFE completed the installation of an experimental
62.3 kW hybrid system, consisting of two 5 kW wind turbines,
a 2.3 kW photovoltaic array, and a 50 kW diesel generator.
The purpose of this installation was to replace the older
diesel generator that ran only 3 or 4 hours a day with
a system that could provide continuous electricity with
lower diesel consumption rates. In May of 1998, CFE purchased
and installed a new 3-phase inverter. They continue to
collect data regarding energy production and use with
the system.
CFE
is presently planning the construction of a 1.5 MW wind
photovoltaic hybrid system on the island of Isla Cedros,
off the Northern Pacific Coast of Baja California Sur.
There are two small towns on the island, one of which
is built around the largest salt company in the world,
and the other is a community of fishermen. Electrical
services for the residents of the island are presently
provided using a diesel generator owned by the salt company,
Exportadora de Sal. Due to high production costs on the
island, residential customer payments are subsidized by
CFE, by the state government, and by the salt company.
The proposed hybrid project is therefore intended to reduce
these generation costs while still providing full service
to the residents. Data collection on the island should
be finished by the end of this year and the start of construction
will depend on financing obtained during 1999.
In
the remote fishing community of San Juanico, CFE is collaborating
with a prominent U.S. utility, Arizona Public Service,
on the implementation of a 187 kW wind- PV-diesel hybrid
system, to be installed late in 1998. Like the previously
mentioned locations, San Juanico now has a central diesel
generator and a community distribution system. However,
due to the high costs of operation, the system operates
only 3 to 4 hours daily. The new hybrid system, consisting
of 100 kW wind, 17 kW PV, and a 70 kW diesel generator,
will supply 24-hour power to the community.
Because
of the unique nature of the San Juanico project, funding
is coming from various sources. Arizona Public Service
has partnered with another U.S. utility, Niagara Mohawk,
and through a carbon credit trade administered by the
Environmental Protection Agency, is providing a major
portion of the costs of the equipment. Sandia National
Laboratories, on behalf of the U.S. Department of Energy
and the U.S. Agency for International Development, is
also contributing to the project. Additional contributions
are being made by CFE, the state government, and the local
community.
With
all of these hybrid projects, CFE is working very closely
with the local communities and the local and state governments
to ensure that infrastructure is developed to adequately
manage and operate these systems. With several hundred
other communities located throughout Mexico with similar
characteristics and needs, CFE is working hard to demonstrate
that hybrid systems can be a feasible option in its efforts
to electrify all of Mexico.
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Letter
From The Editor
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Welcome
to the newsletter of the Mexico Renewable Energy Program.
I am especially excited about this edition of our newsletter,
because it takes an important diversion from our earlier
editions. This edition describes the activities of several
key Mexican organizations that are paving the way for
renewable energy in Mexico. It is a very distinguished
list of individuals and organizations, and the Sandia
team is proud to have the opportunity to collaborate with
these groups.
The
Sandia Mexico Renewable Energy program is producing some
impressive results. Early efforts to build institutional
capacity to implement renewable energy projects in Mexico
are taking hold, and the rate of project installation
continues to grow rapidly. Working with our in-country
partner institutions, we have installed a total over 150
stand-alone renewable energy systems, ranging from small,
single-panel systems for facilities power and communications
to a large, 11 kW centralized system for a large research
station located in the jungle of Chiapas. The majority
of these have been photovoltaic systems, although a few
have utilized wind energy - and we presently have several
more wind projects under development.
The
chart on page 2 shows total installed renewable energy
capacity through the program over time. The projections
for 1998 and 1999 are based on projects that are already
underway. As the local acceptance of these technologies
continues, the Sandia share of the costs and the overall
prices of the systems are dramatically reduced. Perhaps
more importantly, we're receiving feedback from both Mexican
and U.S. system suppliers that each installation they
conduct through our program catalyzes several others in
the same region. These results indicate that our efforts
are indeed helping to establish sustainable, growing markets
for renewable energy technologies in Mexico.
All
of this success comes as the result of collaborations
with many esteemed Mexican leaders who have either been
actively involved with renewables for some time or have
openly and eagerly become new champions of the technologies.
The activities of the organizations they represent cover
a broad range, including basic research, new technology
applications, electrification, agricultural and rural
development, conservation, and even the development of
new policy initiatives. The articles in this newsletter
describe some of these activities, with key contacts indicated
for those who wish further information.
This
focus for our newsletter is actually very timely, because
the Sandia program is moving into Phase II, in which we
are increasing our focus on in-country institutionalization
of the use of renewable energy technologies and in-country
management of the program. We will still conduct pilot
installations, but at a declining rate as our existing
commitments are fulfilled. In its place, we'll be working
more closely with our in-country partners to identify
new sources of funding-through government programs, financing
schemes, and increased focus on private markets. Just
as in the past, all future success will depend on the
continued guidance and collaboration of the individuals
in our partner organizations.
I
would like to extend my heartfelt gratitude to the many
people who contributed to this newsletter. For many readers,
this edition will serve as an introduction to the many
interrelated renewable energy activities that are underway
in Mexico. Hopefully, the articles contained herein will
also serve as a reference for those who desire background
information and for those who may be interested in serious
exploration of market or research possibilities-now and
in the future. In this way, the contributions to this
newsletter can have a lasting impact. I would especially
like to thank Susana Roberts of New Beginnings, who has
worked tirelessly in the coordination and editing of this
and all other program newsletters.
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(ANES):
A champion of renewable
energy for Mexico
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ANES, the Mexican National Solar Energy Association, is
one of the active champions of the use of renewable energy
sources in that country. This non government association,
initiated in 1980, is made up of a group of professionals
and other specialists from both public and private institutions
interested in researching, applying, developing and commercializing
renewable energy sources in that country. Its 269 members
include researchers and implementers- academics as well
as members of Mexico's renewable energy industry.
ANES
focuses on publicizing and promoting the use of direct
solar energy from solar radiation, as well as wind, biomass,
and hydro energy. It provides a forum in which ideas may
be exchanged, results compared and shared. The organization
seeks to have a firm and definitive influence on State
institutions that determine the nation's energy policies,
by offering sound technical and scientific arguments showing
the transcendence of the different forms of renewable
energy and their potential role in the future development
of Mexico.
Main
Activities:
Some of their most important activities to accomplish
these goals are:
1. Organizing the annual conference during the
first week of October, in which the most outstanding papers
in the country are presented. Internationally recognized
researchers also share their experiences within the setting
of plenary sessions or in special training courses. Simultaneously,
different courses are offered to update members in the
area of alternative sources of energy.
2. Publishing scientific and technical papers in
The Solar
Journal (La Revista Solar), a quarterly, promoting the
use of nontraditional energy sources in environmental
protection and sustainable development.
3. Offering information to the public about national
and international congresses, conferences and seminars
related to alternative energy sources, as well as to its
members through a monthly news update, the Boletín
Solar.
4. Representing Mexican interests in the Latin
American Solar Energy Association, as well as participating
as a member of the International Solar Energy Society
(ISES).
5. Generating and updating a directory of members,
institutions and persons interested in projects akin to
the goals of the Association.
6. Promoting special events to stimulate interest
and a desire to know about renewables among elementary
and secondary school students, as well as challenging
them to study in related specialized fields at the university
level.
In its 18 years of existence, ANES has cooperated with
several Mexican institutions to promote solar energy.
Among them are the following: (UNAM) the National Autonomous
University of Mexico's Engineering Institute and its Energy
Research Center (UNAM-CIE), the National Polytechnic Institute,
the Autonomous Metropolitan University, as well as several
Technological Institutes and Universities in the interior.
Recently ANES has been working also with the National
Commission for Energy-Saving (CONAE), an agency of the
Mexican Secretariat of Energy, to promote the creation
of an Advisory Council for the Promotion of Renewable
Energy (COFER).
Earlier
this year, through a Memorandum of Agreement, the IX Board
of Directors of ANES and Sandia National Laboratories
made a formal written commitment to cooperate towards
a mutual goal of "accelerating the development and
application of renewable energy technologies in Mexico."
Host
to a world-class Forum
In September of the year 2000, the Solar Energy Association
will host the "Solar Forum 2000", organized
by the International Solar Energy Society, to take place
in Mexico City. The main objective of this Forum is to
offer the world, in the new millennium, a vision of what
the future holds for renewable energy. There will be several
outstanding events, including technical meetings, expositions,
and a high level forum on politics, economy, and education
as related to renewable energy.
Says
current ANES president, Dr. Claudio Estrada Gasca: "We
believe that in the new millennium, renewables will emerge
as the most viable option for the sustainable future of
the world, as well as for our country. We consider that
hosting this event is a great triumph for ANES and for
Mexico, because in the year 2000 we will have the opportunity
to promote renewable energy at the highest levels."
ANES's Executive Committee is responsible for organizing
national events to publicize the utilization of renewable
energy sources; and publishing La Revista Solar and the
Boletín Solar of the association to present the
state of renewables in the country and of all promising
new technologies.
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The
National Energy Saving Commission: A Government Clearinghouse
for Energy Saving and Renewables
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National
Energy Saving Commission (CONAE) is an internal government
organization created in 1989 by presidential decree and
made up of representatives of six Cabinet-level departments
and other Federal energy-related agencies. The Commission's
main objective is to be an advisory group in issues related
to energy saving and rational use of power, serving as
the Government's official pressure on both public and
private entities to take responsibility by promoting action
that would involve all levels and sectors of society.
CONAE's
main functions are to set standards for generating and
utilizing energy, to render technical assistance, and
to promote energy saving measures on a nationwide scale.
Members
of CONAE
Secretariat
of Energy
Secretariat of Communications and
Transportation
Secretariat of Finance
Secretariat of Public Education
Secretariat of Environment, Natural
Resources and Fisheries
Secretariat of Commerce and
Promotion of Industry
Federal Commission for Electricity
Mexican Petroleum (PEMEX)
Department of the Federal District
Permanent
Guests
National
Financing Company
Federation of Chambers of
Commerce
National Public Works and Services
Bank
Central Light and Power
National Chamber of
Transformation Industry
Federation of Industry Chambers
Strategic
Objectives for 1998:
- To
consolidate the new technical assistance strategy of
CONAE
- To
determine the legal identity of the Commission
- To
improve program design, operation, and evaluation capacity
- To
improve the quality of services rendered by specialized
national consultants
- To
establish a group of national policies to gain wider
utilization of renewable energy
- To
establish broad financing for projects, thus justifying
creation of specialized banking windows
Basic
Programs for 1998:
- Standardization
Formulating Official Mexican Standards (OMS) for energy
efficiency
Developing new topics
Finishing Project Proposals
Publication of the OMS
Projects under study
Accreditation of testing labs and inspections units
Distribution of the OMS
- Technical
Assistance
This includes voluntary programs to offer energy consumers
technical assistance.
This would be done through modules by subject (e.g.
lighting, generating and vapor distribution systems)
based on tools and methods developed by CONAE. The information
system is through the CONAE home page on the Internet,
and includes Internet-based technical support to energy
users, and basic information services. It links through
electronic windows, CONAE public service ports, and
Technical Assistance Centers in the CONAE central system
- Areas
of attention
Energy Sector (PEMEX and CFE)
Industrial, commercial and service sectors
Transportation
State governments
Municipalities
- Publicity:
Demonstration Projects
Transportation
Renewable energy
Co-generation
Deep-well pumping systems
Thermal Electric Plants
- Reference
Groups
Advisory Council to Promote
Renewable Energy (COFER)
Co-generation Subcommittee
Subcommittee on Standards and Norms
Industrial Sector Promotion Subcommittee
Federal Government Subcommittee
- Pilot
Projects
One hundred public buildings
One hundred private buildings
Voluntary programs for volume consumers
Vapor generation and distribution for industry
- Training,
human resources
Masters degrees in energy efficiency
Certificates in transportation, cogeneration, management
of energy and the environment
Different specialized courses
The
Advisory Council to Promote Renewable Energy in Mexico
(COFER) operates as an eclectic group, made up of representatives
from the industrial, commercial, academic, government,
and development banking sectors. Their main purpose is
to promote and strengthen the free-market use of renewable
energy in Mexico and create a base for appropriate government
policy making. It functions as an advisory group to identify
projects and design and develop programs related to the
use of renewable energy technologies. It issues recommendations
orienting initiatives needed to carry them out; identifies
and promotes the assignment of specific financial resources
to priority projects; defines publicity strategies focused
on potential users; promotes training and develop human
resources specialized in renewables applications; promotes
the implementation of voluntary and official standards,
regulations and codes related to renewable energy technologies;
and identifies and channels support for the field of applied
research to strengthen the market and facilitate the massive
application of renewable energy.
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Institute
of Electrical Research: Non-Conventional Energy Unit
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For
over two decades, the Non-Conventional Energy Unit of
the Institute of Electrical Research (UENC-IIE) has been
working on the development and application of renewable
energy technologies for rural electrification in Mexico.
Areas of work include manure-to-electricity projects with
biodigestors; micro hydroelectric technologies; stand-alone
PV systems for various applications; small wind generators
and wind pumps; and PV-wind-diesel hybrids for mini-grid
power supply.
The
work carried out at UENC-IIE hinges on the issue of sustainability,
attending to both technical and non-technical factors
that are critical to the success of any project. In this
regard, UENC-IIE was the leading institution in the development
and application of the technical normative framework for
the Mexican PV rural electrification program, now accounting
for over 40,000 solar home systems (SHS) installed in
more than 1300 rural communities.
Other current projects include: laboratory and field evaluation
of SHS, wind resource assessment in various regions of
the country, including the Peninsula of Baja California,
and development of new fields of applications such as
ecotourism. A 45-room first class hotel on the Caribbean
coast was implemented with 15 PV-wind hybrid systems in
1995. Currently, in the same region design work is underway
for a larger hotel powered with renewable energy.
Chartered
with the mission "to promote and support technological
innovation within the Mexican Electrical Sector,"
UENC-IIE will continue its activities with the private
and government sectors for electrification of remote sites
in Mexico using renewable energies.
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Center
for Energy Research
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Renewable
energy sources are an important area of basic and applied
research, as well as technology development, for the Energy
Research Center of the National Autonomous University
of Mexico (UNAM).
Its
research work is carried out in Temixco, in the state
of Morelos, where it evolved from being a Department of
Solar Energy with the Materials Research Institute, to
operating as a Solar Energy Laboratory in 1983, on a 26,000m2
property. By the end of 1992, the Laboratory already had
a solid base of academic leadership and its main focus
of research defined. The maturity, productivity, and relevance
of the work done by academic personnel led to the creation
in 1996 of the Energy Research Center, whose mission and
objectives are the following:
- Undertake
basic and applied research, and technology development,
in energy transmission, conversion, storage, use and
its impacts, particularly of renewable energy sources
- Carry
out studies, consulting and training in energy at different
institutions
- Train
students, especially graduate students, through courses
and theses; and
- Disclose
the knowledge acquired in the area of energy, for the
purpose of achieving sustainable development in the
country.
In
the opinion of several national and foreign specialists
who have followed the Center's evolution since its founding,
the institution is in a period of consolidation, judging
by the characteristics of academic personnel and the infrastructure
supporting them, as well as the experience and the breadth
achieved in their research. The 697 publications by its
academic personnel during its history up to 1997 bears
witness to the maturity and productivity of the Center:
267 articles for international journals, 112 informative
articles, 214 papers for national conferences, and 104
papers for international conferences.
The
academic and administrative organization is based upon
research projects, which are carried out in three main
departments with their corresponding areas of research.
Solar Materials: optical coatings and optoelectronics,
solar and hydrogen fuel cells, surfaces, interfaces, and
composite materials.|
Energy Systems: refrigeration and heat pumps, solar
concentrators, geo-thermal energy, and energy planning.
Thermal Sciences: mass and energy transfer, theoretical
physics.
Social
Responsibility
For CIE it is very important to carry out two different
lines of activities linking it to the greater community
to which it belongs. The first line of research seeks
out the problems most important to the public, private
and social sectors, and then CIE goes after them to present
concrete and specific solutions.
The
second line of research is that which analyzes past studies
done by CIE to determine if technology development in
that area would be advisable. Then it seeks the involvement
of some business firm interested in the transfer of that
technology. Lastly, technology is developed only by request.
(See list below for institutions with which CIE has signed
agreements or is negotiating them.)
Solar
Energy Graduate Program
The Graduate and Professional division of the College
of Science and Humanities confers the graduate degree
in Solar Energy. This degree program is part of the Materials
Research Institute and is physically located at the Center
for Energy Research (CIE).
Since
1992, the degree program in solar energy has been on the
"Excellent Graduate Program" roster of the CONACyT
(National Council for Science and Technology) and was
created to support research and technology development
through highly specialized training of human resources.
The program presents ideal conditions for linking research
and teaching through student research projects. The professors
and tutors for the program have been culled almost entirely
from CIE academic staff and the majority of the projects
follow research priorities of the Center.
Relationship
with Sandia National Laboratories
Given the academic standing of the Center for Energy Research,
an agreement is now being signed and plans firmed up for
cooperation with Sandia in joint projects. The first of
these is the Sandia Program for Renewable Energy in Mexico,
which seeks to promote and oversee installation of renewable
energy systems, especially in rural applications for sustainable
development of that sector.
This
project is a continuation of the very successful program
begun in the northern states of Mexico some years ago.
Sandia has expressed a desire to cooperate with the CIE
because of its experience in the energy sector, as well
as due to the fact that qualified human resources are
available to develop the program further.
Agreements
in negotiation:
- Sandia
National Laboratories, Albuquerque, New Mexico, USA
-
Fondo Nacional de Apoyo a Empresas en Solidaridad /
FONAES-SEDESOL (National Fund for Support of Solidarity
in Business)
- Universidad
de LaSalle, Cuernavaca, SC
- Grupo
VITRO
- Grupo
Industrial RESISTOL
- Centro
de Investigación en Materiales Avanzados (CIMAV),
Chihuahua
Agreements
in place:
|
FIRCO
- Shared Risk Trust Fund Promotes Renewables for Agriculture
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FIRCO
(acronym for "Fideicomiso de Riesgo Compartido"
Shared Risk Trust Fund), is a government agency dedicated
to agricultural and community development in the rural
areas of Mexico, and one of Sandia's principal counterparts
in promoting the use of renewable energy.
An excellent partner
With its large staff of engineers and technicians and
a well-developed network of branch offices in every state
of the republic, FIRCO stands out as an excellent partner
and end-user for the Renewable Energy program. It is an
independent agency established under the auspices of the
Banco de México and attached to the Secretariat
of Agriculture, Cattle Raising and Rural Development.
Traditionally,
FIRCO has focused on serving lower-income farmers and
ranchers. Prior to 1996, the agency focused on direct
assistance to producers, using its own budget to share
the investment costs (and risks) of projects incorporating
these technologies and practices. But in the past two
years, due to significant restructuring and decentralization
of Mexican Government programs, both the Secretariat of
Agriculture and Rural Development and FIRCO have moved
away from direct implementation of projects and towards
a broader program involving agricultural investment subsidies
for producer-selected projects.
In
states such as Sonora, Baja California Sur, Quintana Roo,
Chihuahua, and others, solar energy projects previously
supported by FIRCO are now under the Pasture Establishment
and Improvement Program, which is implemented by the Alliance
for the Countryside (Alianza para el Campo), a Federal
program which assists cattle ranchers. FIRCO is the technical
agent for the operation and oversight of the Pasture,
Fertigationand other pressurized irrigationand Dairy programs,
having also the responsibility for reviewing investment
proposals.
"Renewable"
Management of Pasturelands
The Pasture program supports livestock development of
a more rational and sustainable kindincluding improved
practices in livestock and natural resource management.
So far, photovoltaic water pumping for livestock watering,
micro-irrigation for dry-season feeding, and solar-powered
electric fences for rotational grazing have been the most
common renewable energy applications supported by FIRCO
through this program.
A
four year old partnership
In 1994, FIRCO decided to initiate a program for the use
of renewable energy in agriculture, and invited Sandia
National Laboratories to join forces with them demonstrating
the benefits of solar energy technologies in rural areas.
Joint activities were initiated that year in the state
of Sonora as a pilot or test case for a decision of whether
to expand the program into additional states. Subsequently,
by 1996 FIRCO-led renewable energy activities were also
initiated in the states of Baja California Sur, Chiapas,
Oaxaca, Quintana Roo, San Luis Potosí and Veracruz.
In
support of the decision to expand the program to a number
of states with large numbers of extremely poor or marginalized
rural inhabitants, including significant indigenous populations,
FIRCO personnel received training and experience in identifying
and screening projects, sizing and doing the preliminary
design of solar photovoltaic systems, and providing guidance
and assistance to producers. In February, 1998, FIRCO
and Sandia organized a two-day meeting in Cuernavaca to
bring together key FIRCO staff from the eight states where
renewable energy activities are underway, along with Sandia
Team members and state of Chihuahua counterparts. This
made it possible to identify a number of action items
designed to strengthen renewable energy project promotion
and replication.
FIRCO
and Sandia are continuing to work with other counterparts
in the aforementioned eight states in order to strengthen
project replication, both within and outside of the Alianza
program, and to set the stage for replication in additional
states.
The
FIRCO Baja California Sur Model
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The
state of Baja California Sur (BCS) is a good example of
the success of the collaboration between FIRCO and Sandia.
Based on El Sagitario's success (see photo), FIRCO/BCS
is actively promoting the application of PV water pumping
to sustainable cattle ranching in BCS. More than 30 photovoltaic
water pumping systems have been installed through the
program in BCS. These systems have primarily been used
to provide water for livestock, although recently FIRCO
has begun using the water to irrigate small plots of land.
FIRCO
engineers manage all technical aspects of the projects.
FIRCO and Sandia are presently defining a plan for the
transfer of all local program activities to FIRCO / BCS,
including the strengthening of technical capacity of FIRCO
engineers in neighboring states. This plan for Baja California
Sur will serve as a model for other states in which the
FIRCO / Sandia collaboration has resulted in mature markets
for water pumping systems.
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(Renewable
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(Protected Areas)
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Línea
Biósfera: A Private Conservation Partner
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Sandia
National Laboratories is working with several Mexican
conservation groups through partnerships with World Wildlife
Fund, The Nature Conservancy, and Conservation International,
to demonstrate the benefits of using renewables in conservation
of protected areas. With these international organizations
and their local partners, renewable energy projects are
being implemented throughout Southern Mexico to facilitate
reserve management activities and sustainable development
activities in the communities that surround these fragile
protected areas.
This
article highlights the activities of a partner organization
to the World Wildlife Fund, Línea Biósfera,
located in El Ocote Reserve in the state of Chiapas, in
the utilization of renewable energy technologies to meet
their needs.
One
of Línea Biósfera's main activities is training
community promoters from within surrounding communities
in the buffer zone of Mexico's El Ocote Ecological Reserve,
to develop human resources in fields such as sustainable
agriculture, alternative cattle ranching, marketing local
production, human rights and health. Besides receiving
training in these areas, members of these communities
also receive technical assistance and follow-up from Línea
Biósfera staff.
Internal
Impact
Ever since this agency began to implement solar projects
in 1995 to improve the infrastructure of its own organization
and to bring much-needed services to the poverty-stricken
people they work with, they have felt some notable impacts
on their work.
Línea
Biósfera's training center facilities, where photovoltaic
systems power the lighting, audio-visual equipment, computers,
and water pumping, are now more efficient and effective.
A solar-powered radio communications network drastically
improves communications with the isolated villages where
they work, fostering greater community involvement and
facilitating coordinated emergency efforts, for example,
in combating forest fires. Also, they have reduced expenses
involved in use of organization vehicles (boats, cars,
trucks) and fuel purchase. With their solar systems, Línea
Biósfera has enhanced public awareness of efficient
and rational use of electricity and water, influencing
local residents towards a conservation mentality.
With
the assistance of the Sandia Mexico Program, a total of
3,520 W in photovoltaic systems have been installed to
date. The initial installation of solar-powered lighting
and facilities power for Línea Biósfera's
training center was their first experience with photo-voltaics.
Subsequent applications range from water pumping systems
for the center and for a community of 200 persons, to
a solar powered radio communication network and electrification
for a women's center in one of the buffer zone communities.
External
Impact
Based on their positive experiences with solar energy,
Línea Biósfera is now also provoking a change
in how the people of the area view photovoltaics, while
improving the potential for implementing renewable energy
projects in the future. Since 1995, independent of Sandia's
assistance, Línea Biósfera has helped in
the installation of more than 8,000 W in the region. The
bulk of these systems are for home and ranch electrification
(141 systems), while others have been installed to increase
the capacity of the training center.
Línea
Biósfera's high impact on the use of renewable
energy in this region is based on high-quality, functioning
systems which are debunking some local criticisms that
solar power is not effective for electrification, while
creating a high level of confidence in the technology.
The
training center solar system is an excellent model and
Línea Biósfera, advocating quality services
and improved standard of living for communities in the
area, works with community members in acquiring quality
and economic PV systems for their needs. All the staff
members are familiar with PV technology, and Engineer
Mauricia González is also capable of estimating
energy demand, developing proposals and soliciting and
evaluating bids from local PV vendors.
As
a result, the communities themselves now also demand that
vendors provide end-user training, system guarantees and
service visits after the photovoltaic systems are installed.
With the level of experience gained, both Línea
Biósfera and the organizations with whom they are
associated have influence with decision-makers in local
government, in nongovernment organizations and in other
campesino groups, to use renewable energy in their communities.
Results
The main achievements have been the training of human
resources (campesino, promoters, and professionals) in
productive areas like agroecology and cattle ranching,
in health, and in human rights as well as business development
within the local organization made up of 10,500 campesinos.
Within the geographical area of influence of Línea
Biósfera, by promoting agroecological techniques
for productive systems, the organization has contributed
to balancing the rate of deforestation with the rate of
recuperation of secondary vegetation.
In
the future, Línea Biósfera plans to continue
to use solar power to support its activities and missionfor
example, in productive projects such as water pumping
for sustainable cattle ranching and micro-irrigationwhile
also continuing to open up and pursue local sources of
funding for photovoltaics.
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(Renewable
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(Water
Pumping)
(Protected Areas)
|
Chihuahua
Renewable Energy Working Group
(Back
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The
Chihuahua Renewable Energy Working Group is a unique representation
of government, university, and non government agencies
in the State of Chihuahua which in partnership with Sandia's
Mexico Renewable Energy Program, has successfully been
helping to meet the growing rural energy needs of the
state in productive uses and rural electri-fication. Over
forty photovoltaic projects have been successfully installed
in the past three years.These
results indicate that an integrated development approach
across a critical mass of different agency types provides
a strong base for dissemination and replication of renewable
energy projects.
Initiated
in 1994 by the Chihuahua State Directorate for Rural Development,
this state-wide working group consists of representatives
from the following agencies: the Coordination for Municipal
Development, the state's Trust Fund to Develop Agriculture
and the Economy (FIDEAPECH), the Shared Risk Trust Fund
(FIRCO), the Central Water Authority, the Autonomous University
of Chihuahua, Rural Development, the Federal Electricity
Commission (CFE), the Secretariat of Agriculture, Cattle
Raising and Hydraulic Resources (SAGAR), as well as the
Monterrey Technological Institute, and the Technological
Institute of Chihuahua.
The
Chihuahua Renewables Working Group identifies and carries
out projects for implementation throughout the state,
with project cost-share averaging 50% of USAID cost-shared
funds. This summer, the Directorate for Rural Development
is installing the world's first solar/propane hybrid-powered
icemaker in a joint project with Sandia, the New York
State Energy Research and Development Authority, New Mexico
State University, and SunWize Technologies.
Sandia
has worked closely with the Renewable Energy Working Group
to develop and institute renewable energy related policy
initiatives in Chihuahua. Under the Alliance for the Countryside
(Alianza Para el Campo)a national agriculture development
programsolar and wind technologies qualify for government
reimbursement in certain farming and ranching applications.
Also, through the efforts of the Working Group, Chihuahua
is developing a financing program for farmers and ranchers
who use solar and wind energy systems for productive uses.Immediate
plans are to install three financed systems this fall,
managed by the state Development Trust Fund, with technical
guidance provided by the Chihuahua Renewable Energy Working
Group. Sandia will be conducting a renewables financing
workshop for lending institutions in Chihuahua to inaugurate
this program.
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(Renewable
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(Water
Pumping)
(Protected Areas)
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