energy
A solar panel system on the roof of an isolated rural house in Chubut Province, southern Argentina's Patagonia region, during winter. Renewables provide power to isolated communities that previously could only be powered by diesel engines, which are more expensive, less efficient and produce more greenhouse gas emissions. CREDIT: Permer
- When asked about the implications of using solar energy in Atraico, the remote rural area he runs in Argentina's southern Patagonian steppes, Claudio Amaya Gatica has a clear answer. Change lives not only for the school, but for the entire community."
Atraico's rural school has been one of the beneficiaries of the Rural Markets Renewable Energy (Permer) project, a government initiative that has been bringing electricity to rural communities and cities off the national grid for more than 20 years.
"Electricity means independence for people. Especially for women taking care of goats. With solar electric fences for goat pastures, women have more time for themselves or their children.” - Graciela Legizamo
Only about 20 families live in Atraico, which means "water behind the stone" in the indigenous Mapuche language, in the municipality of Ingeniero Jacobachi in southern Rio Negro state.
The lack of water is, in fact, the most important fundamental factor for which the villagers raise goats and sheep. Few take the risk of raising cows, which need more and better pastures. they are scarce due to lack of rain.
The Atra school had electricity from a gas generator. From 2021, when battery-powered solar panels are launched, they receive electricity 24/7, which also allows them to connect to the Internet, benefiting the entire community.
"Nine of our 15 students are inside the classroom because they can't go home every day because they live far from school," Amaya Gatika told IPS Ingeniero Jacobacci, about 35 kilometers from the city's capital, Atraico. Where do you live "Now we have a refrigerator and a washing machine. And children can go to the toilet at night and turn on the lights by pressing a button, which is a new experience for them."
"Neighbors come to use the Internet. It's nice to see locals on horseback sending messages from cell phones that have recently been broadcast on the radio, or notes that someone has sent to recipients,” he added.
A small rancher in the municipality of La Cumbre, Cordoba, Argentina, uses a small solar panel on his electric cattle fence. Electrification allows better management of livestock and pastures. CREDIT: Permer
legal guarantee
The first phase of Perm's program ran from 2000 to 2015. The second, thanks to the World Bank loan of 170 million dollars, lasted from 2015 to 2020.
As the government admitted, the implementation of the program was interrupted in 2016-2019, when only 15 percent of the loan was paid. As a result, it was on the verge of collapse in 2020 when the Energy Department renegotiated with the World Bank, securing a delay until 2022.
Since then, tenders for works have been accelerated in several localities with the aim of improving the quality of life of the scattered rural population and reducing environmental pollution by promoting renewable energy sources.
According to the Department of Energy, investments of 163 million dollars have already been made, are in progress or are in the negotiation phase. Permer covered 41,510 homes and 681 schools, serving a total of 345,712 people, according to official figures, through already installed renewable energy systems and ongoing projects.
"The program serves a part of the population that lives in the deep regions of Argentina and not only does not have grid electricity, but also has other needs. The arrival of electricity opens up a different panorama for this population," said IPS Luciano Gilardone, Permer's chief coordinator.
The official said that due to the size of Argentina, the eighth largest country in the world at 2,780,000 square kilometers, it is not economically feasible for the national power grid to reach the smallest and most remote communities. - Creation of local isolation is the only possible solution.
"Traditionally, small diesel engines were installed with poor productivity. Since 2000, renewable energy sources have become cheaper and cheaper, and then they began to be used not only for more efficient production, but also for reducing greenhouse gas emissions,” added Gilardón in Buenos Aires.
A family stands in front of their house equipped with solar panels in a remote rural area of Potrero de Uriburu in the northwestern province of Salta, Argentina. The Rural Markets Renewable Energy Project provides electricity to homes, schools and government offices in remote areas that are not accessible by the national grid. CREDIT: Permer
Energy that brings independence
In addition to homes and schools, Perme's beneficiaries include remote government facilities such as primary health care centers, border crossings, and national park refuges.
The project has also been used for agriculture and livestock by smallholder farmers and indigenous communities in the form of solar well pumps and solar-powered electric pasture fences.
There are 1,500 electric cow pastures powered by solar panels, and this month the Ministry of Energy commissioned the company to supply and install another 2,633 pastures in 11 provinces. The purpose of rangeland fencing is to improve and increase rangeland, reduce losses and protect crops and livestock from hunting.
The National Institute of Agricultural Technology (Inta), a government research organization operating in rural areas of the country, is involved in the identification of beneficiaries, distribution of equipment for efficient use and training in its use.
Graciela Leguizamo, an agricultural engineer and researcher in the province of Inta Santiago del Estero, explains that in many areas of this state, in the northern region of Chaco, it is very difficult to think about a broad public policy of access to electricity and drinking water. water , because there are rural families whose nearest neighbor is up to four kilometers away.
"It is difficult to live in these countries. Sometimes they walk 15 to 20 kilometers to charge their mobile phone. Electricity makes life more pleasant, allows children and young people to learn and encourages people to stay in the countryside,” Leguzamon told IPS from a town in Kimili province.
"Electricity means independence for people. Especially for women taking care of goats. With solar-powered electric fences for goat pastures, women have more time for themselves or their children,” she added.
Electricity for indigenous peoples
Perme's largest project is located in the Luracatao Valley in northwest Argentina's Puna ecoregion, at an altitude of 2,700 meters above sea level. About 350 indigenous families in Diagita and Kolchak villages live in nine communities that use candles or kerosene lanterns at night.
A solar farm with an installed capacity of 1.25 MW will be built in the valley with electricity storage batteries and electricity distribution infrastructure as the community is spread over 42 kilometers. It is also planned to install a diesel engine if the weather conditions do not allow to produce solar energy.
The budget is 6.5 million euros, according to the Provincial Council of Salta.
"It is a project that is not possible for the community because of the costs, and the national and regional governments of Salta have promised since the 1980s," said Mauricio Aban, mayor of Seclantas in the municipality of Luracato. sink
"In recent years, thanks to the river in the valley, various opportunities to generate electricity from renewable sources, including hydroelectric power plants, have been explored. But in the end it was decided that the best alternative is the sun, because the radiation is very good all year round,” he tells IPS in his town.
"Today we see the pillars and cables being laid, and a project that seemed like it would never happen is becoming a reality," he added.
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