March 3, 2010
Newsletter Nยบ 6
Summary Summary .......................................................................................................................................................... 1 ITER is developing an installation management application for the EURO-SOLAR Programme .. 2
............................................................................................................................................................ 3 The first electricity generation equipment installed in Bolivia ......................................................... 3 ......................................................................................................................................................... 4 The energy and health equipment has arrived in Ecuador ............................................................. 4 ................................................................................................................................................... 4 Launching of the tender for supply of internet connection equipment ............................................ 4 ....................................................................................................................................................... 4 Training activities in Honduras ........................................................................................................ 4 .................................................................................................................................................... 5 Start of the civil work and reception of the equipment in Guatemala ............................................. 5 ..................................................................................................................................................... 5 The shell and core work has been completed in the 42 communities selected by EURO-SOLAR 5 ....................................................................................................................................................... 6 Progress in civil works..................................................................................................................... 6 ................................................................................................................................... 6 Installation of the first Kits in Peru................................................................................................... 6 Internal coordination workshops for the Programme in Guatemala ............................................... 7 EURO-SOLAR participates in a workshop on the Action Plan for Isla Santay ............................... 7
March 3, 2010
Newsletter NÂş 6
ITER is developing an installation management application for the EURO-SOLAR Programme The web application for management of the EURO-SOLAR installations created by the Technological Institute for Renewable Energies (ITER) has been designed as a web tool for monitoring the installation of the EUROSOLAR programme kits in the beneficiary communities and their subsequent operation. As soon as the system is up and running, the application will serve not only to manage content but also as a communications and learning tool for communities. The web application for management of the EURO-SOLAR installations created by the Technological Institute for Renewable Energies (ITER) has been designed as a web tool for monitoring the installation of the EUROSOLAR programme kits in the beneficiary communities and their subsequent operation. As soon as the system is up and running, the application will serve not only to manage content but also as a communications and learning tool for communities. The purpose of the application is: -
To control, manage and supervise installation of the kits in the beneficiary communities.
-
To assist and support end users in maintaining the installations.
-
To facilitate and encourage communication with and between the various leaders of each community.
-
Reception of monitoring data on the progress of the kits, based on information supplied by the community leaders.
The tool has two clearly differentiated parts: one comprises management of the kit installation process, which manages all the information involved in the process of provisional reception, and the other part acts as a communications and content management tool which manages all the information concerning messaging, chat, forums, news, online training and operation of the installation. The web application is located at http://instalaciones.programaeuro-solar.eu and has both a public and private area. The public area will provide general information available to anyone who is interested in the nature of the EUR-SOLAR programme and its installations. The private area corresponds to the EURO-SOLAR application and access is restricted to a group of users involved in the Programme.
The most significant developments in the Programme during the last three months have focused on the different activities involved in the installation phase of the Euro-Solar kits. In this respect almost all the refurbishment work on the premises which will house the equipment have been completed in all the countries and civil work will continue in preparation for equipment installation at various levels of development, depending on the country.
The most significant progress made in this respect was that by the end of February 2010 EUROSOLAR managed to install 11 energy generation kits, 9 in Peru and 2 in Bolivia. The Communities in question are Quebrada Honda and Morochata, in Bolivia and nine communities in the regions of Ayacucho, Ica, Cajamarca, Piura, Amazonas, Huancavelica, JunĂn, Puno, Lambayeque and Tacna, in PerĂş.
March 3, 2010
Newsletter NÂş 6
Furthermore, in most of the beneficiary communities of the eight countries Local Community Organisations (LCO) have been formed and work is now underway in training the Kit Management Committees. Additionally, the suppliers, who are responsible for the technical skills required to manage the kits in the communities are continuing to develop the materials needed for acquiring these skills. A number of ancillary skills also required in respect of the kits, from a perspective of health, education, productive and communications uses, are being devised by the CNCs who are liaising with the Ministries of Education and Health, aided by Technical Assistance, in planning these activities. With respect to the Programme monitoring and control activities, various meetings were held with the different Programme associates. th
th
On 19 and 20 January 2010 the European Union and the Technical Assistance group (SOCOIN) convened a meeting in Brussels in which they analysed the Programme’s progress in the 8 participating countries, future regional coordination missions were planned and the status of compliance
with the Annual Operative Plans (AOP) was reviewed for 2010 along with the Sustainability Plan. In addition, communications streams between the participants were analysed in respect of the deconcentration of the supply contract and the work programme proposed by the CNC in Ecuador for the III Regional Workshops. Subsequently, on 10, 11 and 12 February Technical Assistance internal workshops were held in Guatemala and these addressed themes such as internet connection and the scope of supply contracts and their implications. A representative of ITER attended the workshops in order to provide a detailed explanation of the Provisional Reception Protocol and the responsibilities for all the Heads of Technical Assistance in the various countries, who are required to transfer this knowledge to the CNCs and the respective EU Delegations. Finally, preparations have begun for the III Regional Workshops which will take place in Ecuador on 30 May to 5 June 2010.
The first electricity generation equipment installed in Bolivia During February the installation of the first electricity generation equipment was completed in the communities of Quebrada Honda and Morochata. Along with the electrification kit which, in the case of Bolivia, comprises hybrid solar-wind power systems; computers were also supplied together with a projector, multifunction equipment water purifier and a refrigerator.
for the local community managers.
The tender for the supply, installation and commissioning of the electrification kits and related materials for Bolivia was awarded to the consortium CYMI S.A. - INELSACONTROLS S.L in an international bidding process launched by EuropeAid in 2008. The scope of the contract includes the provision of a post sales service for operation and maintenance and training
Alongside the installation work CNC has carried out the necessary works for setting up Local Community Organisations (LCO) in all the communities as well as Kit Management committees with three members.
March 3, 2010
Newsletter Nº 6
The energy and health equipment has arrived in Ecuador
Almost all the energy and health equipment has arrived in Ecuador and all that now remains to be received is the computer equipment. The equipment sent has been exempted from taxes and duties and is currently in the process of nationalization. There is great expectation among the communities awaiting implementation of the technological kits. 78 % of the huts for housing the equipment have been built, the remaining percentage awaiting construction and technical implementation in the other communities shall be addressed at the same time.
Launching of the tender for supply of internet connection equipment SOLAR Programme, located in rural areas of El Salvador.
On 4 January 2010 the Delegation of the European Union in El Salvador announced its bidding procedure for the Purchase of Satellite and Internet Connection Equipment. Reference: ALA/ 2006/17223
As established, the contract will be signed on 4 April 2010 following the competition result.
The purpose of the contract is to purchase equipment for satellite connection to internet including: satellite dish, ODU (Out Door Unit) and satellite MODEM which should be installed by the supplier in 48 Schools, beneficiaries of the EURO-
The limit for submission of bids ended on Wednesday 3 February 2010 at 16:00h (local time). The conditions may be consulted on the Delegation website http://www.delnic.ec.europa.eu in the “bidding” sector.
Training activities in Honduras The main activity in Honduras at the end of 2009 consisted of monitoring the refurbishment work and the civil project currently underway with a view to future installation of the kits. In addition, in November and December 2009, 35 communities were trained in basic IT skills, using computer equipment installed in another Project developed by COHCIT, known as APRENDE, consisting of the provision of computer equipment in schools in those communities where there is access to electricity energy in the network. For training purposes the managers sent the district leaders for training on the Extending Horizons Programme (EHP) which is another programme set up by COHCIT for training teachers from the schools which will be equipped with computer systems.
March 3, 2010
Newsletter Nº 6
Start of the civil work and reception of the equipment in Guatemala Following finalization of the community organization phase, the civil work has begun on installation of the electrification kits in the 117 schools selected.
present, and the Director of Las Flores Chitoc Community School, César Bin. In addition, during February two shipments arrived with the equipment supplied by CYMI which was transported from Puerto Quetzal in Escuintla to the warehouses in the Guatemalan capital in 12 vans for their preparation and transfer to the communities where they are to be installed. Transfer to the warehouses was coordinated and supported by the Ministries of Defence and Government in order to safeguard the content during transit. In accordance with the planned schedule, the equipment will be transferred to the communities from the last week in February and the process will be concluded by June of this year, in accordance with plans.
The work began on 9 December led by the European Union Representative in Guatemala, Diego González Marín, Director of the Programme, Byron Del Cid, representing the Ministry of Education, Juan Carlos Golcher, Head of International Technical Assistance, Carmen Magzul; the Chairman of the EUROSOLAR Committee Otto Ramiro, was also
The first sets of equipment will be installed in the communities in the North of the country starting in Cobán, Alta Verapaz in the communities of: Chajmacan, Chitoc, Chinasayub, Nimlasayub y Nuevo Aquil. Subsequently work will begin in the western region to cover the remaining departments.
The shell and core work has been completed in the 42 communities selected by EURO-SOLAR
The shell and core work has been completed in the 42 communities selected by EURO-SOLAR and in March the next stage, which is the installation of the equipment, will begin.
Furthermore, the training activities providing economics and services skills to 156 people including the coordinator of the Euro-Solar committee, the School Headmaster and two community managers have now been completed. 50% of those trained were women, which has been a tremendous achievement, as normally the
majority of trainees are men, but increasingly the area is opening up and women are also gaining access to skills. The training activities in the communities have managed to renew and create further interest among the population regarding the Programme and its benefits. In order to teach the necessary skills, groups of participants from various communities were gathered together, which helped to promote an exchange of ideas between the groups, encouraging them to socialise and learn aspects of each other' s culture as well as sharing problems.
March 3, 2010
Newsletter Nº 6
Progress in civil works The civil work and the installation of photovoltaic generation equipment in many schools in the San Pedro Department have made significant progress. In Colonia Defensores del Chaco, installation of the electrification kit is nearing completion and there has been a great deal of interest and expectation among the population as a result. According to the Professor Aurora Benítez de Céspedes, Head of School Nº 1.473 “Mariscal Estigarribia” with over 300 pupils: “the enormous qualitative advantage in terms of knowledge for students, improved education and access to communications will undoubtedly be the most significant event since the school was inaugurated over more than 15 years ago".
Installation of the first Kits in Peru The rural community of Camacho, in the district of San Clemente, Pisco province, department of Ica, was the first community out of the 130 beneficiary communities in Peru to benefit from the EURO-SOLAR Programme which has installed the first kit for its 240 inhabitants. The other nine communities with electrification equipment and related materials already installed are: four communities in Chicha-I-Ca , four more in Chulucanas-Piura and the most recent in Cayrani-Puno. These communities are located in the regions of Ayacucho, Ica, Cajamarca, Piura, Amazonas, Huancavelica, Junín, Puno, Lambayeque and Tacna and together have an estimated population of 4000. Alongside the fitting out of the premises and the installation of the equipment, training was provided to the three members of each Community who will be responsible for the technical management and maintenance of the Kit. Furthermore, work is being carried out with the communities in order to identify and encourage the beneficiaries to make best use of all the possible uses for the kit, with access to communications and information, education and culture, health, social and productive development.
March 3, 2010
Newsletter Nº 6
Internal coordination workshops for the Programme in Guatemala On 10, 11, and 12 February the Technical Assistance members of the EURO-SOLAR Programme attended a three day workshop in Guatemala City Guatemala, in order to review the activities carried out to date and to plan the Programme’ future activities. Eight heads of Technical Assistance in each of the countries attended, along with the heads of Technical Assistance in Madrid and two representatives from ITER.
The second day of the workshop focused on the most operational aspects of the Programme, such as installation, commissioning of the kits, and their subsequent provisional reception. In order to analyze these aspects two representatives from the Institute of Renewable Energies and Development (ITER) explained in detail the Provisional Reception protocol and the responsibilities involved. Other matters debated in this session were internet connection, and the scope of the supply contracts and their implications.
On the first day, a review was held of the Monitoring Mission’s recommendations, which were implemented in all the countries during November, in order to address the responsibilities deriving from the results. Subsequently, within the framework of the Programme’s internal organisation a balance was drawn up of the activities carried out to date, the Programme’s targets for 2010 were reviewed and prioritised actions to be taken by Technical Assistance were defined. In this respect one of priorities raised for Technical Assistance was the development of measures for encouraging empowerment of institutions in every country.
Finally, other issues to be developed in 2010 were addressed, such as ancillary skills and training (use of computer tools, internet, etc.) the sustainability of the Programme and preparation for the Programme’s III Regional Workshop which will be held in Ecuador.
The first measure developed during the work sessions was to create a series of presentations which each country Head will undertake to make in order to demonstrate and explain to each CNC and to the European Union delegations.
The final outcome of the Workshop was that each Country Head devised a proposal for the "Detailed 2010 Action Plan” for the debate, revision and approval in the CNC of each country.
EURO-SOLAR participates in a workshop on the Action Plan for Isla Santay On 18 February 2010 a workshop was held on the Isla de Santay in the Gulf of Guayaquil convened by the Ministry of Environment in order to declare the island of Santay as a Protected Area. The workshop was attended by representatives from the Ministries of Health, Education, Urban Development and Housing, the National Development Bank and the Government of Guayas along with local inhabitants, and these revealed the specific activities planned for the zone, in respect of the recent plans of the other institutions. The Ministry of Electricity and Renewable Energy was represented by the National Coordination Department of the EURO-SOLAR Programme with a view to making the community of Isla Santay one of the beneficiaries. The event was an opportunity to provide information on the current status and progress of the Programme.