The Light at Home programme developed by ACCIONA Microenergy Foundation in Cajamarca (Peru) received a Mention of Honour in the 'Energy Development, Growth and Sustainability (EDGS)' award at the 38th International Conference of the International Association for Energy Economics.
Founded in 1977 as a response to the energy crisis of the 1970s, the International Association for Energy Economics (IAEE) is a worldwide non-profit organization that promotes an interdisciplinary forum for the exchange of ideas, experience and issues among professionals. To fulfil that goal, it holds conferences each year at regional and world level which are attended by professionals from all over the world as well as by representatives of governments, business and academic institutions.
In the context of the 38th International Conference on the IAEE, which was held from 25 to 27 May in Antalya, Turkey, and hosted by the Turkish Association of Energy Economics (EED), a number of awards for granted to recognize social responsibility activities for improving access and use of clean energy in rural areas, reducing energy poverty through better use of traditional energy forms or the development and diffusion of new energy technologies as well as raising awareness on clean energy.
The “Light at Home” programme received a Mention of Honour for its social commitment; it was also the only candidate for the awards which has documented its outcome and impact;
- The social microenterprise ACCIONA Microenergía Perú provides affordable basic electricity service to the base of the pyramid using home solar systems (HSS), having provided 3,900 families with basic access to electricity and trained them in the use of the HSS, demonstrating the advantages of clean energy and introducing highly energy-efficient solutions into their lives.
- The project has improved living standards for the approximately 16,000 beneficiaries, and this is reflected in measurements of socio-economic impact and estimates of the effect on the environment and health: there is an average saving of 39% on monthly energy bills; beneficiaries have about 35 extra minutes in which to perform productive tasks or engage in leisure activities in the home; time spent by children on homework increased by almost 10 minutes, with an impact on their school performance; each HSS avoids 397.4 kg of CO2 emissions earlier and the disposal of approximately half a kilo of batteries per year; and the risks of pulmonary and eye disease and of fire are also reduced.