The Contribution of Renewable Energy Resources on the Electrification and Development at The Guantanamo Province

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1 The Contribution of Renewable Energy Resources on the Electrification and Development at The Guantanamo Province Sotolongo Pérez Jose Angel 3 Conrado Moreno Figueredo 1 Alejandro Montesinos Larrosa 2 Centro de Estudio de Tecnologías Energéticas Renovables (CETER) (1) Sociedad Cubana para la Promoción de las Energías Renovables (CUBASOLAR) (2) CUBASOLAR Guantánamo (3) [email protected] [email protected] ABSTRACT Key words: rural electrification, governance, administration The Guantanamo province has a significance experience on use renewable energy resources in the rural communities. More than 400 rural schools, 70 rural medical offices have been electrified by means of photovoltaic systems and 3000 rural houses with inhabitants use hydropower for meeting their needs. The use of different renewable energy resources is relevant in this province. This work presents the ways used for achieving the sustainability and development of the project of rural electrification at the Guantanamo province. The objective of the renewable energy resources use is to improve the quality of living in the rural communities at the Guantanamo province. The paper shows an evaluation of the socio-economic impact in the electrificated communities by means of different renewable energy resources and the experiences on the management of those resources by the local government and institutions. Introduction In the energy matrix of Guantánamo province are included 20 energy carriers: 11 are classified as conventional, 7 of them are fuels supplying oet and the remainder 9 are classified as renewable energy sources (RES) supplying roughly oet (the major contribution is coming from biomass with 99 %). In the last years, a significative increase and diversification of RES participation has happened in the energy regional balance (44-52 %) At the beginning of the 90 years (known as special period due to collapse of Soviet Union) and during the major part of this decade, the socio-economic panorama of region presented great challenges for undertaking a really sustainable development. The problem: Deficit of specialized human resources. Little diversification in the production of electricity and great dependence of oil products houses non electrified by the National Electric System (NES). 178 communities with families and inhabitants, without possibilities to cook with electric inhabitants in 165 isolated rural communities without TV sets. Some regions classified as silence regions.

2 Little use of biomass, specially the agro industry wastes (sugar cane, coconut, coffee and cocoa). Thousand of hectares in growing aridity state, non productive and abandoned. Solutions: To solve those problems, up to date, activities in the renewable energy field has been undertaken by a number of regional institutions in response to recognized local needs. The solutions of those problems were founded within the National Program for National Resources Development approved in 1993 and later in other programs applied in the province USE OF HYDROENERGY The activities related to the hydro energy field responds to a need to diffuse knowledge of assessing micro-hydro potential in isolated communities and to meet the needs of electricity in rural area far way from the national electric grid. The problem There is an unfulfilled demand for energy by rural inhabitants Rural communities are often at large distances from regional electricity grids Base-line information of existing energy resources of rural areas is lacking Solutions: 67 hydroelectric installations have been constructed in the 80s years. 59 micro, mini and small hydroelectric are in operation. 52 are functioning with stability achieving of installed power (2 760 connected to the grid and 917 isolated). The production of electricity coming from those installation represents 8 849, 0 MW/year. and avoided emission of t of CO 2 and other gases. The great quantity of electricity is generated in the small hydroelectric Guaso which generates from Derivated benefits: Inhabitants Houses Medical centers Schools Others USE OF PHOTOVOLTAIC SYSTEMS (PVS) IN REMOTE AREAS This renewable energy resource has achieved a great development in the region and has contributed to the solution of important social problems and to lift the general and integral culture.

3 The problem: Remote area primary schools, medical centres, hospitals, libraries and other social services situated outside the national electric grid No means available to provide lighting in classrooms No means to use TV Solutions 427 rural primary schools. Derived benefits: Increase of knowledge level of more than students in rural areas 161 TV and video halls electrified with PVS. Derived benefits: Increase of general and integral culture of the rural areas inhabitants inhabitants are benefited with this solution. Electrification and informatization of 74 family medical centres and 3 hospitals. Derived benefits: Improvement of life quality and other medical services in rural areas. The population benefited is around inhabitants. Electrification of 253 farmer houses in the Yateras, San Antonio del Sur, El Salvador and Maisi municipalities. Derived benefits: Improvement of life quality and other medical services in rural areas. The population benefited is around inhabitants. At his moment 110 houses are in planning for electrifying in the next years. Electrification of various socio-economic objectives: 17 rustic social clubs, 4 communication centres, 3 installations of Interior Ministry. Supply of water using photovoltaic pumping systems. 1 well in exploitation and 6 in process. Derived benefits: A lot of hectares irrigated in arid areas USE OF SOLAR THERMAL ENERGY The problem: Necessity of hot water in social services and hotels Solutions Use of solar collector for water heating in children gardens, kindergartens and hospital Installation of solar collector for water heating in two hotels Derivated benefits: Saving of 52,9 ton/year of conventional fuel. Improvement of services in hotels and quality of life. USE OF BIOMASS AS AN ENERGY SOURCE The problem In response to a recognized need to improve cooking conditions and cooking habits in community kitchens, various regional institutions undertook a project for solving this situation. These communities are usually located on the outside of the city-centres.

4 Solutions 9 biogas digesters are functioning in farmer houses The introduction of locally-built high efficiency furnaces for coconut wastes from materials in the local conditions Use of liquid wastes coming from coffee benefits for the biogas production Dozens of efficient wood stoves have been constructed and installed in farmer houses Derivated benefits: A reduction in the consumption of firewood by 50% to 75%. A reduction of negative effects on the environment A reduction of cooking time by 50 % Women have more time available for other community and household activities A reduction of health risks associated with open fires Improvement of local capability to resolve community needs Diversification of small scale fabrication industries Training of social and technical educators from other regions in the country in the development and diffusion of wood stove technology USE OF WIND ENERGY A joint effort is being undertaken by several national and regional institutions to bring small amounts of electric power to rural schools located in remote regions of Guantánamo and to ensure the water needs to the cattle. The problem Lack of knowledge about the wind potentiality Remote area primary schools, medical centres, hospitals, libraries and other social services situated outside the national electric grid Remote area without sufficient water for cattle Solutions Several zones have been assessment and 16 zones have potentiality for electricity production 3 small capacity hybrid systems (wind-photovoltaic) have installed in rural school no connected to the national electric grid (La Llana, Boca de Jauco y Río Seco). 44 new wind pumps installed for cattle water supply Derivated benefits Identification of zones with sufficient wind potential for electricity production Increase of knowledge and culture level of a number of students in rural areas Available water for cattle

5 DEVELOPMENT OF OLEAGINOSOUS CROPS NON COMESTIBLE AND SUSTAINABLE PRODUCTION OF BIODIESEL The development of two crop varieties of Jatropha curcas in small holdings has impelled the introduction of a new technology for cultivating and using of all its derivates. Various laboratory studies and researches have been carried out for the conversion of the vegetal oil coming from this species into biodiesel. As results of this works, current 20 hectares of this botanic species crops have been developed for researching and developing. PROJECTS Renewable energy projects are underway in Guantánamo in collaboration with several local research institutions designed to improve the standard of living of populations in rural areas. The most relevant projects are: Assessment of the dendroenergy potential in the province Assessment of the energy sources, potentialities and the most important environmental benefits Use of the botanic species Jatropha curcas for reforesting semiarid zones of the province and evaluation of its energy potentiality Reforestation using the species Azadirachta Índica (Neem) and use of oil coming from it. Study of use of the oil as energy carrier. Evaluation and monitoring of photovoltaic systems in rural zones Creation of a new technology for integral treatment of coffee wastes Creation of procedure for photovoltaic systems maintenance in rural schools Creation of Geographic Information Systems of renewable energy resources and environment Elaboration of a mathematical model regarding for thermal performance of efficient stoves in order to improve the design and facilitate the parameter evaluation. FUTURE OBJECTIVES Technical formation and training of human resources, engineers and technicians. Support the universities, pedagogical institutions and research centres Intensify the activities directed to the diversification, saving and rational use of energy as soon as preservation Support the development of wind energy impelling new studies in promissory zones unstudied up to now Support new wind energy projects approved Support the development of hydro energy with priority to small hydro and hydroelectric plants. Support studies and research projects with purposes of solve the water supply problem in farmer houses at rural areas Support the electrification projects with photovoltaic systems in farmer houses in rural areas and the water supply using this systems

6 To implement sustainable technical solutions for the food cooking in rural areas through the use of biogas and new efficient stoves for farmer families and social services. To continue the researches related to the no comestible oleaginous crops, native of the region and adaptable to semiarid zone for the biodiesel production To support projects directed to increase the cogeneration from industry wastes and the dendroenergy. CONCLUSIONS An important energy project is underway in Guantanamo province in collaboration with several local research institutions focussed to improve the standard of living of population in rural areas. The focus is on training trainers. Applications include remote community solar systems, improved woodstoves for community kitchens, photovoltaic lighting for rural schools, evaluation the potential of hydropower systems and other renewable energy techonologies,s solar cookers and dryers. Demonstration projects have been put in operation in primary schools. Guantanamo province is the Cuban leader region in application the new renewable energy technologies because the high of penetration of these. The projects are continuing in whole the province.