Water pumping with solar energy

The revolution of the solar energy technology is alive and working at Chihuahua, Mexican biggest state with about 12,5% of the national Territory. It shares borders with New Mexico and Texas and has a 2,8 million population, there are agriculturists, cattle dealers, professionals, industrials, miners, farmers and plenty of American natives.

Chihuahua is the 8th place among the states less electrified in Mexico, with about 250,000 people from 8,500 communities with no access to electricity. It also receives the bigger insolation intensity on earth and has huge deserts where pumping water is a life or death issue for people, cattle and cultures. That is why, solar energy may help to achieve those growing needs of rural energy, through productive uses and basic electrification.

On the last two years, Chihuahua has settled more than 30 water pumping pilot projects working with solar energy. Under the benefits of Mexico´s Program, half of those where installed during the fist months of 1997 and there are much more on development. One key factor on the growth of the renewable energy uses in Chihuahua is the stretch relationship between American and Mexican institutions.

The Chihuahua Renewable Energy Working Group

Since 1993 under sponsorship from the U.S. Department of Energy (USDOE) and the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID), and in cooperation with the Southwest Technology Development Institute (SWTDI) at New Mexico State University, Sandia National Laboratories began working with the State Directorate of Rural Development (DGDR) to begin a plan for widespread dissemination of renewable energy technologies in the State.

This Directorate reunited a dozen governmental and non-governmental , plus some Mexican colleges entities into the Chihuahua Renewable Energy Working Group. Among thoses agencies we found the Shared Risk Trust Fund (FIRCO), the Autonomous University of Chihuahua, the Federal Electrical Commission (CFE), the Agriculture Bureau and Hydraulic Resources (SAGAR), and the Technological Institutes of both Monterrey and Chihuahua. Both Sandia and Southwest Technology Development Institute participate in the activities of the Working Group.

The group has been instrumental in the development of several aspects of a sustainable, growing market for renewable energy technologies in Chihuahua

Renewable energy as an institutional component of several state development programs.

Successful training program in renewable energy for industrial and development engineers, resulting in greatly improved installation quality and system performance.

A revolving credit fund for renewable energy issues.

A formal profile of the potential state productive market for photovoltaics

Through innovative and productive use applications, the program has also been successful in developing standard specifications for photovoltaic bids and installations. Plus U.S.-Mexican industry interaction is easier now; and it is raising in a significant way the number of users and their confidence on solar energy technology.

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