Transition Area
Fair Energetics
- Alternative energy supply.
- Integration of different energy uses
The experience was born from the recognition of the human talent that exists in the community and the ability of young people to generate innovative responses to the needs of small producers, which in turn will achieve the appropriation of the commitment to protect and conserve the water, the forest in a valley known for its great biodiversity, at the foot of the Cotacachi-Cayapas National Park.
The family mechanical workshop is an initiative that contributes to the community governance of Intag’s conservation and sustainable use area, ACUS.
It encourages access to alternative, autonomous and low-cost clean energy, with the construction of small turbines to take advantage of water sources, to promote on the farm the importance of protecting water resources and to raise awareness of the possible alternatives to fossil fuel energy.
These are practical solutions from the field and for the field, with the particularity that the very construction of the hydropower equipment seeks to be exemplary by prioritizing the recycling of discarded aluminum motorcycle parts, which are melted to mold the main component of the equipment. In addition, the smelting furnace is connected to a biodigester, which runs on organic waste from a pig farm.
Technical characteristics of the proposal
Hydroelectric turbines between 150W and 2000W, artisanal smelting furnace, biogas.
Productive, community, environmental, or economic processes or activities that were positively impacted by the implementation of the community experience of TEJ.
The hydropower solutions are linked to the need for a productive farm and the possibility that it can be transformed into a bio-enterprise with the following elements: (i) illumination of a fish farming area (trout) (ii) pumping of water for agricultural plot (passion fruit crop) (iii) energy for the coffee processing process (iv) access to electricity for the home of an isolated peasant family.
Beneficiaries of the experience
15 families, composed of 29 adults, 6 adults over 60 years of age.
Achievements and problems encountered during implementation
ACHIEVEMENTS:
- Valuation of the young human talent that exists in the rural area.
- Awareness of the importance of water and forest care
- Replicable and accessible solutions due to their low cost.
PROBLEMS:
- The first challenge was in the design, as the proposal needed to be inexpensive, which meant that the materials had to be available locally. This gave rise to the idea of molding the spoons that make up the Pelton wheel in the workshop, which involved a whole process of tests and trials.
- The metal parts (aluminum) that are recycled are components of motorcycles that no longer work and which can be put to a new use by smelting. This recycled aluminum is used to manufacture the blades that make up the turbine wheel.
- Another challenge was to achieve quality energy (power and stability). The biggest obstacle is to get people to internalize the importance of finding other types of solutions that do not impact nature, which are possible to find with creativity and leaving aside the conventional.
Women’s participation in the TEJ community experience
The women of the families of the New Horizons Workshop are represented by a president of the Puranquí commune, who is leading the installation of the energy innovation route and is a female entrepreneur – trout producer. The workshop is run by 3 young people.
Impact of the community experience of TEJ on public policy
It has generated interest and understanding among community leaders that renewable energy is a driving force for the local economy and a greater awareness of environmental protection, especially water.
In 2020, the development and land use plans (PDOT) of the rural parishes of the Intag Valley included, for the most part, alternative energy projects: efficient wood-burning stoves, biodigesters and small-scale hydroelectric generation projects.
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