By Keith R | September 9, 2008
This project is interesting to me for several reasons.
I like that it will help home owners reduce their energy consumption, will provide photovoltaics to low- and middle-income households, and will emphasize systems “financially feasible for users” (sometimes household solar systems promoted are not appropriate to the income bracket they are supposed to serve).
I like that the Baja California project is a test case that, if successful, will be duplicated elsewhere in Mexico. [To see why Baja is a good place to start, and where else in Mexico such a project might work well, see my post on LAC solar maps.]
I find it interesting that the project will include work on state-based energy efficiency standards and regulations, something that in the past the Mexican states have left up to the federal authorities. Even more interesting is the reference to setting conditions to attract more renewable energy investments to Baja and the rest of Mexico. I wonder what this will result in? Just favorable conditions on connection and selling to the grid? Or will it also include tax breaks or credits for related equipment, products and services? Stay tuned.
And I’m smiling at the fact that this project is funded by Japanese Trust Fund for Consultancy Services (JCF). My guess is that, because of the source of the funds, the project will have more than Japanese consultants — the products used (photovoltaics, etc.) will likely be sourced from Japan too.
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From the Inter-American Development Bank (IDB):
IDB Supports Renewable Energy and Energy Efficiency for Residential Use in Baja California, Mexico
Pilot project with photovoltaic panels for low- and medium-income sectors
Low- and medium-income households in the Mexican state of Baja California will soon benefit from using photovoltaic panels and other alternative technologies in a pilot project promoting renewable energy and energy efficiency.
This technical cooperation initiative, financed by a US$749,000 donation from the Japanese Trust Fund for Consultancy Services (JCF) at the Inter-American Development Bank, will help selected families in Mexicali—all currently connected to the state’s power grid—reduce their electricity costs.
The financing will support contracting of consulting services and implementation of pilot projects targeting energy efficiency and increased use of alternative energy sources.
Studies will focus on identifying and evaluating projects that are financially feasible for users and can be reproduced in other communities. Another goal will be to establish energy efficiency standards and regulations, as well as conditions for attracting future investments to Baja California and other states in Mexico.
“The idea is to learn from pilot projects on energy efficiency and solar energy resources so that the future will hold more options for supplying sustainable energy at accessible prices,” said IDB project team leader Arnaldo Vieira de Carvalho. “This will also have a positive impact on the environment, because most of the state’s energy currently comes from fossil fuels.”
The project will be executed by the IDB in conjunction with Mexico’s National Energy Savings Commission (CONAE, its initials in Spanish) and the Government of the State of Baja California. It was designed and will be implemented in coordination with the IDB’s Sustainable Energy and Climate Change Initiative (SECCI), whose core objectives are to stimulate greater investments in development of biofuels, renewable energy, energy efficiency, carbon financing and climate change adaptation.
The Japanese Trust Fund for Consultancy Services (JCF) was established by the government of Japan in 1995 and promotes cooperation and knowledge transfer from Japan by utilizing Japanese Consultancy expertise. The JCF has become the largest of the funds established within the technical cooperation funds program managed by the IDB.
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Desde el Banco Interamericano de Desarrollo (BID):
BID apoya Uso Residencial de Energía Renovable y Eficiencia Energética en Baja California, México
Proyecto piloto con paneles fotovoltaicos para sectores de bajos y medianos ingresos
Hogares de medianos y bajos ingresos del estado de Baja California en México se beneficiarán con un proyecto piloto de energía renovable y eficiencia energética, con uso de paneles fotovoltaicos y otras tecnologías alternativas.
La iniciativa de cooperación técnica, financiada con una donación de US$749.000 del Fondo Japonés para Servicios de Consultoría (JCF) en el Banco Interamericano de Desarrollo, ayudará a las familias conectadas a la red eléctrica del estado en Mexicali que sean seleccionadas, a reducir sus gastos de consumo de energía eléctrica.
El financiamiento permitirá la contratación de servicios de consultoría e implementación de proyectos piloto, con el objetivo de aumentar el uso de fuentes alternativas de energía e implementar medidas de eficiencia energética.
Se realizarán estudios destinados a identificar y evaluar proyectos financieramente viables para los usuarios y que puedan reproducirse en otras comunidades. También se buscará establecer normas y regulaciones de eficiencia energética y condiciones para atraer futuras inversiones en Baja California y otros estados mexicanos.
“La idea es aprender de proyectos piloto de eficiencia energética y recursos de energía solar, así en el futuro habrá más opciones disponibles para proporcionar energía sostenible, a precios accesibles para la población,” afirmó el jefe del equipo de proyecto del BID Arnaldo Vieira de Carvalho. “Esto también generará un impacto ambiental positivo, puesto que gran parte de la energía que actualmente se utiliza en el estado proviene del uso de combustibles fósiles.”
El proyecto será ejecutado por el BID con la Comisión Nacional para el Ahorro de Energía – CONAE y el Gobierno del Estado de Baja California. Fue diseñado y será implementado en coordinación con la Iniciativa del BID para Energía Sostenible y Cambio Climático (SECCI, por sus siglas en inglés), que busca estimular mayores inversiones en el desarrollo de biocombustibles, energía renovable, eficiencia energética, financiamiento de carbono y adaptación al cambio climático.
El Fondo Japonés para Servicios de Consultoría (JCF), creado por el gobierno de Japón en 1995, promueve la transferencia de cooperación y conocimiento desde Japón utilizando la experiencia de ese país en el área de consultoría. El JCF se ha convertido en el fondo de mayor tamaño dentro de los programas de fondos de cooperación técnica administrados por el BID.
www.bajainvestment.com
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