**2. The project CEDECAP**

148 Modeling and Optimization of Renewable Energy Systems

technologies, these organizations usually do not consider renewable sources within their energy options portfolio. On the contrary, they focus on grid extension and the implementation of diesel generators that in most cases increase the indebtedness of countries and communities, and mortgage their development options. In addition, many rural electrification projects implemented with renewable sources in recent decades have collapsed or are in a precarious state, mainly because of lack of proper and complete training of beneficiaries (Vilar et al, 2006), both in operation, maintenance and management models, poor (or nonexistent) identification of their needs, and low (or no) community

involvement throughout the process.

Fig. 1. Barriers that slow down rural energy development

technicians training, is an increasingly pressing need.

The key factors for sustainability success and reduction of initial and maintenance costs of isolated energy systems (Figure 1) are: community participation, strengthening of community organization, training in management methods and, if possible, training of local manufacturers for the production of equipment and components (PNUD, 2005b). Consequently, capacity development of local and regional leaders, planners as well as

In this context, Practical Action (Peru), Engineering Without Borders-ISF (Spain), Universitat Politècnica de Catalunya (Spain) and Green Empowerment (USA) developed the project CEDECAP (Demonstration and Training Centre in Appropriate Technologies). Its specific aim is to develop technical and management capacities and offer training in Initially, Practical Action – ITDG boosted the construction of a training center, promoted through its programs operating in Cajamarca, as part of its institutional proposal of development of local and regional capacities and promotion of renewable energies as an alternative for rural development. After several years of preliminary activities, in 1998, the CEDECAP (Demonstration and Training Centre in Appropriate Technologies) was officially opened, with the main objective of promoting activities aimed at the training human resources and the strengthening of capacities in the field of renewable energy, with preponderance on mini-hydraulics.

Since 2005, through a partnership between the Catalan Association of Engineering Without Borders (ESF) from Spain and Practical Action – ITDG from Peru, a more sustained work was promoted to achieve the consolidation of CEDECAP as a reference in the field of capacity development. The project CEDECAP was part of the Andean Program of Rural Electrification developed by ESF in countries such as Ecuador, Bolivia and Peru. The main purpose of the program was to improve the quality of life of the Andean population, through the universal access to energy in the area, especially through renewable sources. The specific objective was to develop technical and management capacities, and offer proposals for training, creating a network of knowledge and research in the Andean region (mainly Peru, Ecuador and Bolivia) in the context of access to energy and use of renewable sources, under the approach of technology for human development (Fernández-Baldor et al, 2009). Now, Peruvian (Pontificia Universidad Católica de Peru – PUCP) and Spanish (Universitat Politècnica de Catalunya – UPC) universities participate in the advisory body of the center to give support in the definition of courses and in the strategy.

Promoting and Improving Renewable Energy Projects Through Local Capacity Development 151

Fig. 3. Interventions on capacities development: planning and implementation cycle

technologies will be accomplished through the intervention in all the thematic areas.

CEDECAP's principles are: a) to generate knowledge through applied research and development and technology transfer; b) to disseminate knowledge through the continuous training proposal that will be developed at the regional level; c) to transform the framework, which can be achieved through the access to information and advocacy. All this will be done through developing and offering a training proposal to meet current and future demands

The following figure (Figure 4) illustrates CEDECAP's strategy and the tree constructed in

The CEDECAP's initial working area was only energy but, after a while, an information and communication technologies module and water and sanitation area were added. Recently, a still incipient agronomy area has been initiated. None of the thematic areas is independent, they are all interrelated with the others, either by the type of institutions promoting capacities development, or by the type of target audience or by the teaching tools used to accomplish the goals. Although probably the area with higher impact levels is still the energy one, the objective of having a range of beneficiaries trained in the field of appropriate

[adapted from Bouille and McDade, 2002]

for training in renewable energies and related issues.

order to consolidate it..

As detailed below, CEDECAP facilities currently do not only have energy modules but also other thematic areas of rural development, such as information and communication technologies, and water and sanitation. There are also accommodations where students can stay during the courses. In view of coming years and the relevance the center is taking, there are plans to expand the accommodations, build offices and a dining hall, and create a working module in the area of agronomy to strengthen capacities development in the area of production (Figure 2).

Fig. 2. CEDECAP facilities at present and those planned

At the same time, the CEDECAP aims to enhance networking among different reference groups in the South working on access to energy and defense of rights in the exploitation of natural resources, to facilitate coordination, social connectedness, knowledge sharing and interaction between different actors involved in Education for Sustainable Development (UNESCO). Figure 3 shows a scheme of the continuous process of strengthening and local capacity development, in short and long terms. The strategy of the CEDECAP is formulated under this conceptual process. The objective goes beyond the simple approach of the punctual impartation of training lessons or technical demonstrations; the point is to insert capacity development and networking in the infrastructure and service policies in order to improve the projects' impact and to promote the role of renewable energies in rural areas.

#### **2.1 Objectives and strategy**

The CEDECAP's vision is to be the leader in capacity development for the implementation and use of appropriate technologies in Latin America. For this purpose, the center has the main objective to strengthen technical and management capacities of leaders, students, manufacturers, technicians, professionals and government's employees for the formulation, implementation and monitoring of appropriate technological systems and to be able to formulate policy proposals, in order to support the development of rural areas.

The CEDECAP's stakeholders are the government (regional and local agencies), civil society (base associations and organizations), under-national and local governments, private companies (local decision-making institutions) and academic institutions (universities and institutes). It is a priority to establish partnerships with the different actors through the development of a capacity offer in order to ensure CEDECAP's sustainability; these partnerships will allow the center to accomplish the mission within the period covered by this strategic proposal.

As detailed below, CEDECAP facilities currently do not only have energy modules but also other thematic areas of rural development, such as information and communication technologies, and water and sanitation. There are also accommodations where students can stay during the courses. In view of coming years and the relevance the center is taking, there are plans to expand the accommodations, build offices and a dining hall, and create a working module in the area of agronomy to strengthen capacities development in the area

At the same time, the CEDECAP aims to enhance networking among different reference groups in the South working on access to energy and defense of rights in the exploitation of natural resources, to facilitate coordination, social connectedness, knowledge sharing and interaction between different actors involved in Education for Sustainable Development (UNESCO). Figure 3 shows a scheme of the continuous process of strengthening and local capacity development, in short and long terms. The strategy of the CEDECAP is formulated under this conceptual process. The objective goes beyond the simple approach of the punctual impartation of training lessons or technical demonstrations; the point is to insert capacity development and networking in the infrastructure and service policies in order to improve the projects' impact and to promote the role of renewable energies in rural areas.

The CEDECAP's vision is to be the leader in capacity development for the implementation and use of appropriate technologies in Latin America. For this purpose, the center has the main objective to strengthen technical and management capacities of leaders, students, manufacturers, technicians, professionals and government's employees for the formulation, implementation and monitoring of appropriate technological systems and to be able to

The CEDECAP's stakeholders are the government (regional and local agencies), civil society (base associations and organizations), under-national and local governments, private companies (local decision-making institutions) and academic institutions (universities and institutes). It is a priority to establish partnerships with the different actors through the development of a capacity offer in order to ensure CEDECAP's sustainability; these partnerships will allow the center to accomplish the mission within the period covered by

formulate policy proposals, in order to support the development of rural areas.

of production (Figure 2).

**2.1 Objectives and strategy** 

this strategic proposal.

Fig. 2. CEDECAP facilities at present and those planned

Fig. 3. Interventions on capacities development: planning and implementation cycle [adapted from Bouille and McDade, 2002]

The CEDECAP's initial working area was only energy but, after a while, an information and communication technologies module and water and sanitation area were added. Recently, a still incipient agronomy area has been initiated. None of the thematic areas is independent, they are all interrelated with the others, either by the type of institutions promoting capacities development, or by the type of target audience or by the teaching tools used to accomplish the goals. Although probably the area with higher impact levels is still the energy one, the objective of having a range of beneficiaries trained in the field of appropriate technologies will be accomplished through the intervention in all the thematic areas.

CEDECAP's principles are: a) to generate knowledge through applied research and development and technology transfer; b) to disseminate knowledge through the continuous training proposal that will be developed at the regional level; c) to transform the framework, which can be achieved through the access to information and advocacy. All this will be done through developing and offering a training proposal to meet current and future demands for training in renewable energies and related issues.

The following figure (Figure 4) illustrates CEDECAP's strategy and the tree constructed in order to consolidate it..

Promoting and Improving Renewable Energy Projects Through Local Capacity Development 153

Making a bottom-up description, on the lowest level there is the importance of developing activities in the field of generation, diffusion and transformation in the four areas (energy, information and communication technology, water and sanitation, and agronomy). Then, the key actors (local governmental agencies, civil society and educational institutions) are approached with an offer of full and comprehensive training that contributes to strengthen individuals' and teams' of technical capacities in the field of appropriate technologies, turning the CEDECAP on a reference in capacities development for the implementation and

Although, as it has been mentioned, the CEDECAP has different thematic areas, this work mainly focuses on presenting the energy one, which is the promoter and still the one that is

The CEDECAP is located in Llushcapampa, 20 km from the city of Cajamarca, and has an area of around 6.000 m2. CEDECAP was built in the area of a former hydroelectric power plant, so it has a loading chamber and the presence of falling water. CEDECAP construction began in 1999 and was held in several stages. The CEDECAP has real-size facilities that are used both for training and for research purposes. The CEDECAP's equipment started in relation to energy, and nowadays there are hydro, photovoltaic, wind and hybrid energy generators. Recently, information and communication technologies module and water and

The energy module has facilities in relation to micro hydro, wind and photovoltaic power




Fig. 5. Micro hydro (left), wind (center) and photovoltaic (right) modules

use of appropriate technologies in Latin America.

sanitation installations have been added.

apart to be used in practical lessons.

far more developed.

**2.2.1 Energy module** 

equipment.

workshops.

(Figure 5):

**2.2 Installations** 

Fig. 4. General strategy of the CEDECAP

Making a bottom-up description, on the lowest level there is the importance of developing activities in the field of generation, diffusion and transformation in the four areas (energy, information and communication technology, water and sanitation, and agronomy). Then, the key actors (local governmental agencies, civil society and educational institutions) are approached with an offer of full and comprehensive training that contributes to strengthen individuals' and teams' of technical capacities in the field of appropriate technologies, turning the CEDECAP on a reference in capacities development for the implementation and use of appropriate technologies in Latin America.

Although, as it has been mentioned, the CEDECAP has different thematic areas, this work mainly focuses on presenting the energy one, which is the promoter and still the one that is far more developed.

## **2.2 Installations**

152 Modeling and Optimization of Renewable Energy Systems

Fig. 4. General strategy of the CEDECAP

The CEDECAP is located in Llushcapampa, 20 km from the city of Cajamarca, and has an area of around 6.000 m2. CEDECAP was built in the area of a former hydroelectric power plant, so it has a loading chamber and the presence of falling water. CEDECAP construction began in 1999 and was held in several stages. The CEDECAP has real-size facilities that are used both for training and for research purposes. The CEDECAP's equipment started in relation to energy, and nowadays there are hydro, photovoltaic, wind and hybrid energy generators. Recently, information and communication technologies module and water and sanitation installations have been added.
