**7. Planning rural electrification systems**

Recently, studies in developing procedures to improve the electrification systems with renewable energies in the broadest sense have been initiated: the development of rural electrification plans as a method for the diagnosis, selection and implementation of projects. The conventional strategy for increasing access to electricity is extending the national electricity grid; however, this option is limited by the complex terrain and dispersed nature of rural villages in some regions. Under these circumstances, stand-alone electrification systems that use renewable energy sources are a suitable alternative. A methodology for evaluating and analyzing the energy needs and potentials is required in order to design a rural electrification plan where each community has its own stand-alone electrification system. Progress has been made on a methodology that: 1) encourages and involves the coordinated participation in all institutional and community levels; 2) obtains proposals of projects and the technological designs from the analysis and comprehensive studies that considers the needs and potentials of the people; and 3) considers and

The formation of these knowledge networks, which will be promoted with greater emphasis on Latin American countries, will shape new ideas and proposals that contribute to reduce the gap of isolation between academicals, governmental, NGO and private institutions. Strengthening the approach between these institutions will result in, among others, the opportunity to influence public policies related to the technical

In particular, the CEDECAP is the permanent headquarters of the technical secretariat of the Latin American Network of Hydro energy (HIDRORED), whose framework is the use of renewable energy in rural areas. HIDRORED is made up of public and private organizations, mostly universities, development cooperation organizations and centers that promote renewable energy in Latin America and Europe. The magazines HIDRORED and Energía y Desarrollo offer an information service about the experiences and activities of the organizations working in the field of energy and development. Currently, there is an extensive broadcast coverage: around 50 countries receive the editions of the

Among the events organized and held in the CEDECAP, for example, must be highlighted the XIII Latin American and Caribbean Meeting on small hydropower exploitation that took place between 20 and 24 July 2009. The event was organized by the Latin American Network of Energy (Hidrored), Practical Action – ITDG, Engineers Without Borders (ESF) and Green Empowerment (GE). The event was divided into 3 parts: 1) a course on evaluation, design, implementation and management of small-scale wind energy systems; 2) a conference including specialists, professionals, researchers and interested persons from Latin America; and 3) a meeting of the Latin American Network Hidrored. The target audience was: researchers and professionals interested on spreading their progress and experiences, officials of non-governmental institutions related to the implementation of PAH in Latin America and the Caribbean, officials of financial institutions, international cooperation agencies, multilateral development agencies, equipment manufacturers,

Recently, studies in developing procedures to improve the electrification systems with renewable energies in the broadest sense have been initiated: the development of rural electrification plans as a method for the diagnosis, selection and implementation of projects. The conventional strategy for increasing access to electricity is extending the national electricity grid; however, this option is limited by the complex terrain and dispersed nature of rural villages in some regions. Under these circumstances, stand-alone electrification systems that use renewable energy sources are a suitable alternative. A methodology for evaluating and analyzing the energy needs and potentials is required in order to design a rural electrification plan where each community has its own stand-alone electrification system. Progress has been made on a methodology that: 1) encourages and involves the coordinated participation in all institutional and community levels; 2) obtains proposals of projects and the technological designs from the analysis and comprehensive studies that considers the needs and potentials of the people; and 3) considers and

proposal of the center.

magazines.

contractors and consultants.

**7. Planning rural electrification systems** 

includes funding instruments to ensure that the plan successfully translates in implemented projects.

The isolated rural electrification is usually accomplished by means of individual photovoltaic systems- without assessing the demand, needs, energy potentialities or community's organization. This lack of evaluation criteria tends to lead to inadequate solutions that do not meet demand, that install generators in non-priority sites, or that are technologically inappropriate. The omission of these factors implies the risk that the community will not appropriate itself the system, which would lead to inadequate management and maintenance. Consequently, many projects stop working in a few years due to technical or management problems. In most cases, standard solutions are not suitable and the appropriate design of the solutions, unlike what is normally considered, is not simple or easy. Furthermore, in isolated systems that do not have the flexibility to absorb new users or possible changes in the demand or in the demand profile, thus, a detailed project design is even more necessary in order to cover these aspects. In this sense, planning is essential to ensure the appropriate design of these autonomous projects.

It is important to define what Rural Electrification Plan using Renewable Energies means. It is a process aiming to identify needs and energy potentialities from a geographic area, which is not included in the rural electrification plan of the country or a regional government. Furthermore, domestic and productive demand can be met through appropriate technologies at local and regional levels. It is noteworthy that this process is not independent or isolated, but aims to strengthen the work done by the regional energy agencies, providing real information and promoting internal dynamics that may be useful for a more harmonious development of the national energetic sector.

The methodology to implement a plan should consider the particularities of the electrification systems of each of the communities included in the plan. In particular, a rural electrification plan of isolated systems should: 1) encourage and involve the coordinated participation in all institutional and community levels, 2) obtain project proposals from complete analysis and studies that consider needs and potentials of people, and 3) consider and include funding mechanisms that ensure the plan runs successfully, translating in implemented projects. With this information, the CEDECAP coordinates with authorities such as the Ministry of Energy and Mines trying to link them to the energy access proposal from the population.

Thus, the first experiment in regional or local energy planning was carried out in the region of Cajamarca, province of San Pablo, where the rural electrification rate has increased from 13.6 to 19% in the period from 2007 to 2009, although it still remains one of the lowest of Peru [HDR, 2009]. The process lasted 10 months, and the projects portfolio was obtained and made funding search possible, both internally (FONCOMUN, Canon) and externally (international cooperation and regional government). The REP of San Pablo cost \$ 4000 and allowed to engage municipalities to invest S/. 4000000 (a quarter has already been spent on the development of isolated rural electrification projects). It is noteworthy the participation of district municipalities with their technical teams

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throughout the development of the plan, as well as community participation, since they are the ones who will ultimately be present at the implementation of the system. Currently, the CEDECAP has the strategy of working with local governments for making an energy planning in each of the districts jointly.

Due to lack of references, CEDECAP's technical team is working to adapt the public investment system to project profiles in renewable energies. Mechanisms and guidelines have been created to support municipalities in the formulation of investment projects; the main idea is to save administrative processes. This guidance will also be delivered to the regional government presidency.
