Skip to content
Exhibición virtual de experiencias comunitarias de Transición Energética Justa > Experiences 2020 > Photovoltaic systems to improve the quality of life in isolated areas of Pueblo Viejo, in Socotá, Boyacá.

Photovoltaic systems to improve the quality of life in isolated areas of Pueblo Viejo, in Socotá, Boyacá.

List item 1

In the village of Pueblo Viejo in the municipality of Socotá, there is no access to electricity, which means that there is a vulnerable community that cannot meet their needs to dignify their living conditions.

The communities behind the experience are aware of the importance of caring for the environment and water, as they live near the Pisba paramo national park, a place where several rivers and streams originate. 

In order to identify the energy needs, a study was conducted in the area to visualize the potential for solar photovoltaic systems, for which a design was made. 

The energy needs of the population were mainly domestic, but there were also families with requirements for their productive processes such as fences to control livestock, or agricultural activities for sugarcane processing.

The lack of resources made the full implementation of the system impossible, so initially the energy systems were adapted in some homes that could have LED lamps, which led to many people being able to light a light bulb in their homes for the first time. Thanks to this, the children had more daylight hours to do homework and it was possible to have more time in the evenings to do other kinds of chores. 

A higher capacity power system could guarantee people access to information, communication and other domestic activities, which they are unable to perform due to lack of connectivity.

Technical characteristics of the proposal

For this experience, photovoltaic systems were installed in homes that did not have electricity and are located in a remote rural area of the village of Pueblo Viejo, in the municipality of Socotá in the department of Boyacá. 

Photo credits: Muysquyn Foundation “Youth, Environment and Territory”.

Systems with a maximum power of 50W were adapted in four houses with 10Ah batteries, MPPT charge regulators and an inverter was installed in one house generating a total of 1400 Wh/day, this is not enough to meet all the energy needs, since the study conducted to understand the energy demand of each home determined that  that an average of 2200 Wh/day should be generated per dwelling.

Video credits: Muysquyn Foundation “Youth, Environment and Territory”.

Productive, community, environmental, or economic processes or activities that were positively impacted by the implementation of the community experience of TEJ.

Pueblo Viejo’s economic activity is based on agriculture and cattle ranching, and the inhabitants carry out annual controlled burns, which are used to adapt the land. 

The villagers would like to implement a sustainable tourism project taking into account the scenic offer, their knowledge of the environmental importance of the páramo and the history of the area, which is attractive to visitors because of its relation to the liberation route; however, these activities require energy to be carried out, which is another reason why energy is demanded.

Beneficiaries of the experience

12 families composed of 16 males, 12 females, 13 adolescents (between 13 and 18 years of age), 12 boys and girls (between 0 and 12 years of age)

  1. To bring energy through photovoltaic systems to some homes that had never had access to energy and allow them to light their homes.
  2. Encourage community children about the importance of caring for the environment and water.
  3. Education of the inhabitants, including children about the importance of energy and the possibilities of alternative energy.
  1. Location of the community, since it is located in an isolated area, which is not easily accessible and can only be reached by horseback, which increases the price of the materials for the photovoltaic system.
  2. Marginalized conditions due to lack of access to public services. 
  3. Equipment and tools for system installation are scarce in the area and the nearest town is 7 hours away. 
  4. There are no resources to implement systems that meet all the needs required in the community. 
  5. The technical dependence aspect has been successfully mediated, since those who carry out the work have been trained in system design, energy generation capacity, installation and impacts of the experience on the environment.

The population will be trained on energy systems, so that they can perform maintenance themselves. With respect to the management and use of the systems, the population has been taught to make an adequate and efficient use of energy according to the hours of greatest energy production, taking into account that they are people who have never had electric energy service.

Women’s participation in the TEJ community experience

Women contribute with their knowledge of environmental issues, and they are also the ones who recognize the greatest need in terms of energy for household maintenance. It is the women who are in charge of involving the children in these issues.