Photo J.C Scholle Solar dryer of bricks. |
Solar energy and development
For years, the technicians and engineers have tried to set up solar energy projects such as energisation projects or projects consisting of putting energy at the disposal of rural populations. The numerous failures of this "social" step confirmed the UNIDO (United Nations Industrial Development Organization) in its industrial strategy which consists of tackling the projects of promotion and spreading of new solar technologies, not as an objective, but as the consequence of a substantial help to the development of industry.
| Photo J.C Scholle Solar dryer of bricks. |
" The steady growth of industry and its multiplying effects on other sectors are the best means to achieve the socio-economic transformation of developing countries and countries in transition " (Mauricio Maria y Campos, permanent under-secretary of the UNIDO, 1996). The support to industry (the development of small businesses, the promotion of investments, the valuation of human resources, the promotion and technology transfer, the rural industrial development, etc.) is indeed the guarantee of a durable development,which is particularly true in the field of new technologies such as those connected to the use of solar energy.
PHOTOVOLTAIC AND DEVELOPMENT - a Guatemalan achievement (1994)
Etzé is a village and an agricultural and craft community, remote from Chajul, which was waiting for the realization of the fulfilment of connecting to the network. A photovoltaic solar installation, supplying lighting electricity, today allows women to weave in the evening, while meeting. In addition, a refrigerator allows the nurse of the village to permanently have vaccines and urgent medicines at her disposal. Before realizing the installation, the inhabitants, helped by the Head office of new and renewable resources DGFNR, have founded a banking cooperative to finance the installation and an installation and maintenance workshop. A contract was signed between the Head office of new and renewable resources which owns the installation and the community which benefits from the usufruct of it as well as technical and financial responsibility.
The contribution of this " energy of relay " has allowed these 30 families to take surer commitments of linen production and consequently conclude long-term agreements with American and Canadian customers, resulting in the strengthening of the durability of the weaving mill cooperative's project. |
