**2.2.1 Energy module**

The energy module has facilities in relation to micro hydro, wind and photovoltaic power (Figure 5):


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

Promoting and Improving Renewable Energy Projects Through Local Capacity Development 155

5. Later follow-up and support in technical and social aspects: The CEDECAP team is responsible for supporting and monitoring technical and social projects, and to respond

The training of some community members in the use and maintenance of the systems (operators) is a first step but, to ensure long-term sustainability, technological training is not enough. In order to keep the system running along its useful lifetime, it is also necessary to develop technical and economic management systems (Figure 1) that make possible to face up with the costs of repairs and periodic replacement of components (preventive maintenance). In this regard, some classical trainings that omitted management issues, have erroneously led the community to think that the systems work by themselves, without

In general, beneficiaries of projects and CEDECAP users come from communal practice and reinforce their knowledge to provide a suitable service to their community. Generally, their community would not have electricity in the short and medium term, except by the renewable energy projects. Some farmers have had experience of other projects of Practical Action and are beneficiaries of water training programs, among others. They look for increasing their qualification to specialize in maintenance and operation of renewable energy techniques. Thus, they are involved from the beginning in the process of research and socio-economic diagnosis to establish the access mode to energy. Together with the technical team and the community, they are responsible of the selection of the users to electrify. This implies that the user must have family at scholar age and have participated in the previous processes (meetings, community work), in recognition of its counterpart.

To select a promoter or administrator, the first stage is to call for a meeting with all the community. In each community, eight people are formed to be promoters and administrators through a three to four days training in the CEDECAP, where they learn the operation and management of the renewable technologies to be implemented in the community. In order to improve the selection process, the technical team organizes a mini competition to select the best pairs of administrators and/or technicians basing on work plans presentations. The evaluator committee selects the best couple (operator and administrator), trying to make interdisciplinary teams. Then, the couple receives strengthening capabilities program for the appropriate operation and maintenance of the

The installed electrification system passes through a stage of validation. This implies technical support to the facilities and the operators' decisions; this technical assistance helps to correct the problems promptly. However, despite the support, some systems may have different technical difficulties during the pilot test; these situations are in most cases promptly and progressively corrected. The technical support of the project team does not avoid that some operators seek support from other specialists, for example, the leading power generation and energy trading. This aspect is positive because it reflects the interest of the operator to expand his expertise in order to maintain the system properly. In most cases, when the system "reaches the operating point" the operator has already acquired

**3.1 Training and linkage with the operators-administrators** 

creating the awareness of the need to manage sustainably.

generating machines and the microgrids.

capacities to maintain the system.

to specific queries.

#### **2.2.2 Information and communication technologies module**

The information and communication technologies (ICT) module aims to provide a proposal for training and research in ICT and telecommunications, and to design, to plan and to develop projects related to the use of low-cost ICTs in order to contribute to the development of disadvantaged people. To do this, there are:


#### **2.2.3 Water and sanitation module**

The water and sanitation module has:


#### **3. Support to rural electrification projects**

Access to information, training, work experience, transfer, business management strengthening is needed in order to to ensure that rural electrification projects are carried out with the right technology and can be self-sustaining from its initial design.

The CEDECAP began as a tool for the improvement of projects in social and technical aspects, to ensure the projects' effectiveness and their long-term sustainability. Nowadays, it still maintains this role, among others, and supports the implementation of projects at all stages: from the project identification and design (technical and social aspects) to the implementation and subsequent follow-up and performance monitoring:


5. Later follow-up and support in technical and social aspects: The CEDECAP team is responsible for supporting and monitoring technical and social projects, and to respond to specific queries.

#### **3.1 Training and linkage with the operators-administrators**

154 Modeling and Optimization of Renewable Energy Systems

The information and communication technologies (ICT) module aims to provide a proposal for training and research in ICT and telecommunications, and to design, to plan and to develop projects related to the use of low-cost ICTs in order to contribute to the




Access to information, training, work experience, transfer, business management strengthening is needed in order to to ensure that rural electrification projects are carried

The CEDECAP began as a tool for the improvement of projects in social and technical aspects, to ensure the projects' effectiveness and their long-term sustainability. Nowadays, it still maintains this role, among others, and supports the implementation of projects at all stages: from the project identification and design (technical and social aspects) to the

1. Identification of the project: Presentation and explanation of the project to the authorities and the community members, in technical and social terms, to confirm their

2. Training of the community: In technical terms (use of energy and proper functioning of the systems) and in social terms (rights and obligations of users of the systems). 3. Design of the management model: The scheme of organization that will be responsible of economic management and technical maintenance of the system is designed and

4. Training of candidates to operator-administrator (Vilar et al, 2006): Candidates to be operators and administrators of the system receive a specialized training in technical and economic issues. In the end, the community elects two candidates to be an operator and an administrator, who will receive an extra course in order to strengthen their

**2.2.2 Information and communication technologies module** 

development of disadvantaged people. To do this, there are:


**3. Support to rural electrification projects** 

decided jointly with the community.

capabilities for running the systems.

enhance trainings and an electronic screen with laser pointers.


out with the right technology and can be self-sustaining from its initial design.

implementation and subsequent follow-up and performance monitoring:

printer.


interest in it.

**2.2.3 Water and sanitation module**  The water and sanitation module has:


The training of some community members in the use and maintenance of the systems (operators) is a first step but, to ensure long-term sustainability, technological training is not enough. In order to keep the system running along its useful lifetime, it is also necessary to develop technical and economic management systems (Figure 1) that make possible to face up with the costs of repairs and periodic replacement of components (preventive maintenance). In this regard, some classical trainings that omitted management issues, have erroneously led the community to think that the systems work by themselves, without creating the awareness of the need to manage sustainably.

In general, beneficiaries of projects and CEDECAP users come from communal practice and reinforce their knowledge to provide a suitable service to their community. Generally, their community would not have electricity in the short and medium term, except by the renewable energy projects. Some farmers have had experience of other projects of Practical Action and are beneficiaries of water training programs, among others. They look for increasing their qualification to specialize in maintenance and operation of renewable energy techniques. Thus, they are involved from the beginning in the process of research and socio-economic diagnosis to establish the access mode to energy. Together with the technical team and the community, they are responsible of the selection of the users to electrify. This implies that the user must have family at scholar age and have participated in the previous processes (meetings, community work), in recognition of its counterpart.

To select a promoter or administrator, the first stage is to call for a meeting with all the community. In each community, eight people are formed to be promoters and administrators through a three to four days training in the CEDECAP, where they learn the operation and management of the renewable technologies to be implemented in the community. In order to improve the selection process, the technical team organizes a mini competition to select the best pairs of administrators and/or technicians basing on work plans presentations. The evaluator committee selects the best couple (operator and administrator), trying to make interdisciplinary teams. Then, the couple receives strengthening capabilities program for the appropriate operation and maintenance of the generating machines and the microgrids.

The installed electrification system passes through a stage of validation. This implies technical support to the facilities and the operators' decisions; this technical assistance helps to correct the problems promptly. However, despite the support, some systems may have different technical difficulties during the pilot test; these situations are in most cases promptly and progressively corrected. The technical support of the project team does not avoid that some operators seek support from other specialists, for example, the leading power generation and energy trading. This aspect is positive because it reflects the interest of the operator to expand his expertise in order to maintain the system properly. In most cases, when the system "reaches the operating point" the operator has already acquired capacities to maintain the system.

Promoting and Improving Renewable Energy Projects Through Local Capacity Development 157

In this section, the capacity development program of the CEDECAP is presented in terms of the offered courses, used pedagogical methodologies and their involvement in education

The CEDECAP has developed training activities especially designed to meet evident demands at different levels: universities, municipalities, regional governments, technicians, specialists and manufacturers have improved and increased their knowledge. Moreover, these events answer to local, regional and international demands. Table 1 shows the main

programs. Finally, a summary of the realized activities is provided.

Fig. 6. Training of operators in the CEDECAP

**4. Capacity development program** 

types of scheduled training activities:

**4.1 Training proposal** 

#### **3.2 Training and participation of the community beneficiaries**

All the community receive training on the mechanisms of installation and maintenance of home systems. Users were trained on both technical and administrative topics, how to operate the household equipment, read the controller, manage battery charging and understand the tariff and late fees. The training program include education for all the inhabitants on the proper use of energy, such as: the use of energy efficient light bulbs and the prohibition of irons or other equipment that would not work with the system. The theoretical lessons take place at the school and the practice is undertaken during the installation of the systems. The implementation of the management model is developed in parallel to the installation of the systems, and promete participation of the entire village. Moreover, many communities now require training to reinforce the one received during the execution of the project, which in fact should always be included in post or impact assessments. Therefore, one of the useful or indispensable tools to ensure sustainability in the medium and long term of the technology-based development programs are Regional Training Centers, to offer continued support to the projects. Additionally, operators have played an important role in promoting the proper use of energy, going door to door to explain the residents the proper use of the systems from the in-door wiring to the mechanisms of saving electricity.

Communities lighting usually consists of two or three 15W bulbs and for some families a TV and a DVD player. In some areas not reached by the broadcast TV signal there are also satellite dishes. The energy is used to charge cell phones and even to sell the cell phone charging service to users from other communities who have not energy yet. The CEDECAP has developed complementary and transversal learning on the use and saving of domiciliary electric energy. This issue usually does not receive enough attention by the beneficiaries, as part of the training to the access to electricity. However, in micro hydroelectric facilities where there is normally an excess of energy during the day, people are encouraged to seek new commercial outlets and small businesses by a proportionally lowering rate when increasing consumption.

It is critical to promote the active participation of the beneficiaries, representatives and community leaders in the entire process of project implementation. In the project identification phase, meetings were held with all of the beneficiaries to explain in detail the advantages and limitations of the energy systems as well as their rights and responsibilities so that the energy supply is maintained (Figure 6). These responsibilities include the active participation in the installation of the system and a commitment to pay a monthly tariff to guarantee the maintenance and replacement of the equipment. Finally, gender perspective is an institutional policy and has to be taken into account when formulating and implementing projects. In practical terms, gender perspective allows access to project benefits to a greater number of women, since the existence of gender inequities in rural areas is admitted and considered from the beginning. With this objective, organizations led by women are sought to identify their advances on promoting gender equality in the area. In particular, participation of women in trainings was promoted and monitored to ensure their appropriation of the technology and the project.

Fig. 6. Training of operators in the CEDECAP
