Private Sector Financed Community Solar Microgrids and Agricultural Accelerators

Overview

Innovator	Universidad del Valle de Guatemala
Project	Private Sector Financed Community Solar Microgrids and Agricultural Accelerators
Collaborators	Development Ventures (United States) GreenergyzeS.A.(Guatemala)
Location Applied	Guatemala

Small-scale producers from low-income agricultural communities Guatemala are among the most vulnerable actors in agricultural value-chains across the country. Suitable technologies, including irrigation systems and cold storage facilities, are readily available in Guatemala, however, there are three main constraints preventing producers from accessing them: lack of affordable clean energy to power facilities; lack of affordable finance for investment in clean energy power generation; and lack of skilled service providers who can sustainably operate services at a price-point affordable to producers.

Clean Energy Solution

UVG uses an innovative approach to developing low-cost community utility companies in ‘off-grid’ agricultural communities called Community Accelerators. Each Accelerator will consist of a localized photovoltaic (PV) mini-grid and will be operated by a local for-profit service provider company that also provides agribusiness service. This “utility in a box” approach is designed so that private sector financing can be used to fund the establishment of Accelerators, making this clean energy solution scalable without additional donor funding.

Impact

The project will provide access to clean energy to operate irrigation systems and cold storage facilities. Micro-financing will allow operators to provide services at an affordable price, while generating enough revenue to remain profitable year-round. Increasing the availability of clean energy in communities will reduce reliance on carbon-based fuels currently used to power generators, kerosene lamps, etc. Deforestation may also be reduced as the CES provides an alternative to wood-fueled fires used to dry cardamom.

UVG Accelerator Diagram © Powering Agriculture

Organization

The Universidad del Valle de Guatemala (University of the Valley of Guatemala (UVG)) is a private, not-for-profit, secular university located in Guatemala City, Guatemala. Founded in 1966 by a private foundation, it was the first private university in Guatemala to give a strong emphasis to technology. UVG has partnered with Development Ventures and Greenergyze, S.A. Development Ventures will serve as the technical lead on financial infrastructure activities. Greenergyze will lead the physical infrastructure activities.

Progress Update

The project team has selected five pilot sites and expects to begin initial installation of 2 minigrid systems in the coming year. The systems will be used to power a variety of equipment, including a cold room, an air dryer for coffee beans, and irrigation systems. Future plans include training associated with greenhouse operations, which require electricity, as well as training on the use of a de-husker to support agricultural activities. The project has also succeeded in sourcing two impact investors–one Guatemala-based and one international–and is in the process of completing the legal requirements for the investments to proceed.

Further Information

• Water and Energy for Food (WE4F) portal on energypedia
• Powering Agriculture Homepage, Winners/ Innovators
  
• Powering Agriculture: An Energy Grand Challenge for Development
  
• Powering Agriculture Newsletters
  
• Website Universidad del Valle de Guatemala
  
• Website Development Ventures
  
• Website Greenergyze S.A.