Project: Solar for South America

Steve and I recently visited our partners in Tarija, Bolivia. During our time there we met with Bolivian entrepreneur Roberto Cortez, Alvaro Bazán from micro-finance organisation EMPRENDER and representatives of Nativa - a large environmental organisation based in the Chaco region of Bolivia. Nativa had heard about our programme through discussions with Alvaro and were keen to discuss potential partnership work. Nativa work in rural communities, many of which have little or no access to light or electricity, needless to say they were eager to have a look at our microsolar kit.

Roberto Cortez at the Mercado Campesino market in Tarija.

One of the highlights of the visit was spending time with our enterpreneur Roberto, who has travelled extensively in the region to ascertain the demand for microsolar. Roberto took us to Mercado Campesino, a large market on the outskirts of Tarija, where he is interested in renting a small kiosk to sell products from. It was fantastic to see Roberto's natural entrepreneurial skills in action; by the time we left he had already caught the interest of three potential buyers.

Álvaro Bazán of EMPRENDER with Steve Woodward and Ellie Higham of SolarAid.

Meetings with EMPRENDER were extremely productive, we assessed the project to date and made plans to work together in the future. Both Alvaro and Roberto were enthusiastic about our microsolar product and its potential to help communities and the local environment in Bolivia. We were informed that in one year over 500,000 single-use batteries are bought and discarded in the immediate area surrounding the small city of Tarija. In South America single-use batteries are the most common energy provider and have serious environmental consequences. Batteries are also extremely costly for families on low incomes. SolarAid's microsolar units combat these issues by providing sustainable and affordable energy sources.

Ellie

SolarAid would like to say a massive thank you to volunteer Prasanna Krishnan, who has recently left our Argentinian project to pursue other career plans. Prasanna joined the South America pilot project in June 09 and stayed with us until February this year. Pras originally joined the programme to support international volunteer Karel Van Zand and took over the project when Karel returned to Malawi in September.

volunteer Prasanna Krishnan (left) chatting with Micro-Enterprise Coordinator Steve Woodward.

During his time with SolarAid, Pras oversaw the training of entrepreneurs, ensured products were imported successfully, created and maintained relationships with partners and supported entrepreneurs with their first sales. Prasanna's commitment and enthusiasm was integral to the project's success.

"Estuvo bueno trabajar con Pras, un buen tipo y con mucho empuje. Desde jujuy te deseamos lo mejor en tus nuevos rumbos. Un abrazo." (It was great to work with Pras, a wonderful and very enthusiastic person. From Jujuy we wish you the best of luck with your new life.)

Hector Solis (long term SolarAid volunteer in Argentina).

SolarAid has recently visited Cerro Negro, a small community of 20 houses located at an altitude of 4,000 metres in Puna, Northern Argentina and home to our entrepreneur, Prudencio. To my delight we met with nine very happy owners of microsolar units, who having bought the systems eagerly discussed how happy they were with our product.

Gavino and his youngest daughter (right) with Hector Solis (SolarAid volunteer).

Gavino, a member of the local salt cooperative, was one such satisfied customer. He was so impressed with his product that he bought a second unit to power his family's radio. Praising the ease with which the product can be charged, he said how the solar panels can be placed on the roof - out of reach of livestock, or even taken on family excursions. Having seen other larger solar systems in the area, Gavino's family were particularly grateful for how easy our product is to operate.

Before investing in solar Gavino's family had been dependent on candles. Concerned that there could be an accident with the naked flame, Gavino feared leaving his children to study at night unless he or his wife was around to supervise. Since the arrival of the solar panels, the children have been able to study unsupervised and for much longer into the evenings.

Cerro Negro is located in the beautiful but harsh Northern Argentina landscape of Puna.

These incremental changes make a real difference to peoples' lives. Parents relax in the knowledge that there is less risk from household fires caused by candles and children can more easily pursue their education.

Stories like Gavino's remind us how important SolarAids work is. Please support our us and make a donation.

My name is Ellie Higham and along with Steven Woodward, a long-term volunteer at SolarAid Head Office, we have started as Project Coordinators in Argentina. Steve and I are already enjoying the challenge of working for SolarAid in South America.

We are taking over from Prasanna, a Solar Engineer, who has been with the project for eight months. Now pursuing new opportunities, we would like to say a massive thank you to Prasanna for all his hard work and we wish him the best of luck in the future.

Prasanna (right) with new Project Coordinator Ellie.

Steve and I have been in Argentina for two weeks now. A 20 hour bus ride took us from Buenos Aries to SolarAid's South American base in San Salvador de Jujuy. Eager to start work we met with Prasanna and our South American project implementation partners, Avina, to discuss and plan for the future. During our week together, Prasanna gave us a comprehensive introduction to working in the region and an analysis of the project's achievements to date.

Steve (left) and Ellie begin strategy planning in San Salvador de Jujuy.

There is real appetite and excitement in this region for solar energy, making it an inspiring and exciting place to operate in. In the coming months we hope to build upon the excellent work of Prasanna, Solar Enterprise Volunteer Carl and our Avina partners. We will use the knowledge gained and lessons learned to expand operations; the ultimate aim being to generate lasting solutions for energy poverty and climate change in South America.

More updates to come in my next blog...

Please support SolarAid's work in South America by making a donation.

I am glad to report that a recent trip to visit several key partners across Argentina has been a resounding success: the trip revealed a host of entrepreneurs and companies keen to expand our franchise throughout Argentina.

Prasanna (right) with volunteer Hector.

Our first stop was the city of Cordoba to meet local businessman Hector Feole. Hector imports SolarAid products through his business and is a very important link to rural communities. Employees in this region are often denied work and healthcare benefits by tax-avoiding employers. Hector strives to change this by improving working standards and promoting ethical practice.

The city of Mendoza was our second stop. 200 km away, in the Lavalle desert, the conditions are extreme. There are no local services supplying electricity or water and to make matters worse it has not rained for over a year. Water is collected from underground rivers and wells. However, local entrepreneur Lucero sees this region as a tremendous opportunity for micro and macrosolar installation. The community are eager to work with SolarAid and invest their own funds to support the venture.

No rain has fallen in Lavelle desert for over a year.

Our final location was Bariloche. The microsolar package again received excellent feedback. Encouragingly, having tested the product, members of the community suggested modifying the equipment to charge batteries. Macrosolar installation was also top of the agenda for a community looking to bring solar power to the region.

One of our biggest challenges is creating a widespread distribution network that will reach as many communities as possible. By working with local and ethical entrepreneurs we can reach out to an ever growing network of rural communities.

Please help SolarAid work with entrepreneurs and bring solar power to regions like the Lavelle desert by donating here .

Cerro Negro, which means 'Black Hill', is home to Prudencio Alancay, one of SolarAid's entrepreneurs. It is a small, 20 home community. Recently, SolarAid volunteers travelled to the village to research rural communities' energy needs.

The rural village of Cerro Negro.

Although well organised and successfully running several business initiatives - including a salt mine cooperative - the community is not connected to the electrical grid. Families use up to six packs of candles a week and many more batteries to power their equipment. Refrigerators and TV are but distant possibilities for the residents in Cerro Negro.

There is an 8 panel solar system installed on the school of the village. It was a system from the old schoolhouse in the town and was installed by the utility in the province. The system was awarded to Cerro Negro after winning national contest and is maintained by the government. Such a system would cost around $100 a month to finance over two years. Although this is a lot for a family, it is an affordable cost for a community.

The school house, with solar on the roof, Cerro Negro.

SolarAid's superstar volunteer Carl Van Zand has recently left SolarAid's South America project. Carl will be leaving Jujuy and heading back to Tanzania soon - we wish him all the best and hope to see him again soon!

Carl has been working with us for over 18 months and was key in the establishment of our programmes in Malawi and South America. His hard work has seen the training of over 120 entrepreneurs, mentoring Brave and Prasanna to ensure the sustainability of the projects and important design development for both the products and the marketing and training materials.

We will miss you Carl!

From Katie and all the SolarAid Team

I wouldn't call Argentina a developing country, certainly not if you compare it to Malawi. So I was very curious to see the reaction to the five micro-solar products that just arrived in Jujuy. The plan is to conduct a small market study with the three sets of five products we have. These would take place in Bariloche (thanks to Gustavo from Gente Nueva) and in El Arca in Mendoza (thanks to Pablo and Eduardo).

Here up north, my plan was to go out to the communities living in the Puna, Salta and Jujuy provinces and in Tarija (Bolivia) and hope to convince myself that there is interest and need for the kind of products that proved to be so useful for the people in our African projects.

First on the list was the community of Cerro Negro in Salta province. Livorio Flores, a very socially active member of Cerro Negro, had gathered people of his community. We went through a questionnaire to find out what people use for light, how many hours per day they use their radio, how they charge their mobile phones and how much they pay for candles, batteries and kerosene. Then we showed them the five different products and how to use them.

Five of our micro-solar products being tested in our community-based market study

People had never seen such small solar panels as these. It turns out that some people have big solar panels on their homes but they were still interested in the micro-solar products.

"Many of us get our income from animals such as goats or llamas. Often we leave our houses for a couple of days with our animals. We rely on batteries for our radios and lanterns during those days. A portable product like the one you show us will save us a lot of money on batteries", said Pablo.

Some members of the community in Cerro Negro test our micro-solar products and give their feedback.

The product with the most possibilities was the most popular but many, especially the youngsters, also liked the "cool" table lamp.

More about the next community I visited in my next blog.

Being a high altitude plateau in the Jujuy region, Puna has one of the highest insolation levels in the world. No wonder that an NGO promoting solar power is already active in the area.

The local foundation, EcoAndina, recently opened a solar workshop in the area. When I went to visit the workshop, I was given a tour by Christophe Muller - a solar specialist from Germany.

"EcoAndina investigates the need for solar technology in Puna. We train people and coordinate fabrication and distribution of solar equipment. Five Argentinian companies fabricate the equipment, mainly for thermal applications, and EcoAndina distributes on a commercial basis or through donor funding." said Christophe, as he showed me the different applications in the workshop: a solar water heater, a solar dryer, a solar cooker, a solar oven.

The application of the solar oven is impressive. Sun rays are concentrated by a parabolic dish on the oven which can reach temperatures up to 320 degrees celsius. Enough to bake bread.

panels absorb energy from the sun in the high altitude region of Puna, northern Argentina

The sun really is a powerful force. To help us reach more rural communities and give them the opportunity to harness this power, please support this project.

I am now happily settled in San Salvador de Jujuy, having travelled to Mendoza and Bariloche to meet our local partners. San Salvador is the capital of the province of Jujuy, a tourist-friendly area split into four geographical regions.

La Quebrada de Humahuaca is an andean valley, spanning 150 kilometres, where indigenous people have maintained their religious beliefs, rites, festivities, art, music and agricultural techniques. Quebrada was declared a World Heritage site by Unesco in 2003. I look forward to visiting it next week when we go north for a market study with one of our partners.

Besides la Quebrada, there is Yungas in the east of the province with wet, misty, dense woods on the side of the mountains covering an altitude between 400 and 3000 m. The central and southern part of the province is called Los Valles, the Valleys, where San Salvador is located. Finally the Puna, a high andenean plateau where the sun burns during the day and temperatures drop to minus 20 at night.

We urgently need more funds for our South America programmes; to move forward and to achieve our ambitious goals. Please support us today.