ACCIONA Microenergía Foundation

It was created in November 2008 in order to facilitate sustainable access to basic services such as energy, water and infrastructure to isolated rural populations in developing countries, on three strategic lines:

• Access to modern energy forms
• Access to safe water and sanitation
• Other basic infrastructures

To pursue its mission, ACCIONA's Microenergía Foundation started a nonprofit association in January 2009, in Peru. The association is called Peru Microenergía and its model is that of a small social company, i.e. the user receives basic electrical service and pays an affordable fee. With this fee, Peru Microenergía covers its operating, maintenance and equipment replacement expenses and thus ensures the sustainability of the project.

"Light at home" program

The first program undertaken by Peru Microenergía, "Luz en casa" aims to provide basic access to electricity through solar panel home systems to 3,500 households in rural areas where power networks are not expected to reach in the Department of Cajamarca (Peru).

In 2009, Peru Microenergía put into service the first ten household PV systems in homes in various locations of the area to familiarize potential users with the features and limitations of the service.

In 2010, 610 household PV systems have been set up to provide basic electricity service to as many households in the districts of San Pablo, Tumbadén and Namora in the Department of Cajamarca.

Installed PV systems allow families to replace candles and kerosene lamps with low-consumption electric lamps. In addition to improving the quality of illumination, they avoid the emission of smoke and eliminate negative health effects, not to mention the reduction of fire hazards. It also allows, during four additional hours per day, an increase of productive time for certain activities such as crafts, care of livestock and cheese production. The better quality lighting allows reading and homework activities at home in better conditions for children and adults.

In addition, the PV systems installed allow the connection of a low-power television and mobile phone charger, for a few hours per day. This equipment helps alleviate the isolation of these communities.

The 610 household photovoltaic systems have been purchased in their entirety through an ACCIONA donation. On November 2, 2010, the Chairman of ACCIONA, José Manuel Entrecanales, along with regional authorities, proceeded to the inauguration of this initial phase of the project in Carrerapampa, one of the beneficiary communities.

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"Community light" program

In 2011, the ACCIONA Mircroenergy Foundation, along with Energy Without Borders and the ICAI Engineers for Development Foundation, are jointly promoting the "Community Light" project in Cajamarca (Peru), which aims to provide basic access to electricity to community centers where electrify is not expected to arrive over the next twenty years.

The goal is to supply electricity to 40 community centers in the districts of San Pablo and Tumbadén (San Pablo Province) and in the Namora district (province of Cajamarca).

This power will make it possible for people to use the facilities (schools, health centers, churches and meeting places) during non-daylight hours, and using electronic equipment (computers, TVs, DVDs, etc.) to carry out their activities.

Study on isolated rural communities

FUNDAME has participated with its electrification project in Cajamarca (Peru) through renewables energies in the study-publication, Human Development Technologies for Isolated Rural Communities, led by the Royal Academy of Engineering.