ENERGY AND ENVIRONMENT PARTNERSHIP WITH CENTRAL AMERICA Project Profiles Form Project Name (topic and country): REGIONAL: Installation of solar system for the energy generation required to operate freezers for fishermen’s products in Chame, Panama. a) Organization leader data: Organization: Environment National Department (ANAM) Contact Person: Dra. Ligia Castro. Position: General Manager Telephone: (507) 315-0527, 315-0867 Fax: (507) 315-0663, 315-1026 e-mail: [email protected]; [email protected]; [email protected]; [email protected]; [email protected] Address: Albrook, edificio, 804, ciudad de Panamá, República de Panamá b) Others Group member data: Organization: Nueva Gorgona Cooperative Address: Chame, Panama Contact person: Mr. Apolitano Herrera Position: Administrator Telephone: (507) 648-2262 c) Project specific context and brief analysis of the existing problems, as well as the main problem justification that leads to the project. The Chame District is located to the south of Panama; the main economical activity is fishing, which is also the principal source of food, reason why the community has organized many Fishing Cooperatives. The project will be developed in one of these cooperatives, Nueva Gorgona Cooperative, which is formed by 13 boat owners, depending on the climatologic conditions can be fished an amount between 15.000 and 60,000 pounds per year. Existing Problems One of the limitations that the fishing industry has is the fish conservation process, if it is not the correct one, the product could be spoiled. The cost of the necessary supplies is high and reduces the few income perceived by the sale of the product. The implementation of freezers operated by photovoltaic solar energy is an alternative to alleviate the high cost originated by the use of hydrocarbon energy and also help to the environment conservation. The Panama Government through the National Department of Environment (Anam) present this project, with the purpose to provide freezers operated by photovoltaic systems to the Nueva Gorgona Cooperative in order to improve the life quality of the fisherman. Government is working with national and international organism to find financing for this kind of project and benefits more fishing communities. The photovoltaic systems to be used does not contaminate the environment, they don’t produce gas emission, noise, neither solid nor liquid wastes. The conventional systems contaminated the environment and damage nonrenewable productive factors. Justification: • Adequate conservation of the product fishing during the day • They do not have to pay private freezers to keep their fish, it will reduce cost, increase their income and therefore it will improve their life quality. • They do not have to use the plastic bathtubs with pricked ice to conserve the fish. Problems to be solved • The product decay will be solved • They will have more time to distribute their product • It allows to select orders previously asked by the costumers • Increase the family income • Allows to increase the distribution channels d) General Objectives To provide freezers operated by solar system to be use for the fish products conservation in order to improve its sales, allowing the fisherman to increase their family income. e) Specific Objectives 1. To create a Beneficiaries Agreement, in which they compromise to make the Project sustainable 2. To procure that fisherman sells their products to a better price than the rest of the market. 3. To take advantage of the freezer preservation offering more time for the distribution 4. Avoid the use and cost of using private freezer 5. Avoid the fish damage when private freezers doesn’t work for electricity short off (In this cases the freezer owners don’t take any responsibility). f. Results 1. Installation of three photovoltaic systems to operate freezers, which will be use for the fish products conservation in Nueva Gorgona Cooperative, Chame district, Panama. 2. Guarantee the fish products quality to the distributor and final consumers 3. 35 trained persons (including ANAM personnel) about the use, maintenance and installation of photovoltaic systems. It will be achieved through 2 workshop of three day long each one. 4. Informative pamphlets of the Project. 5. Beneficiaries Agreement, in which they compromise to make the Project sustainable 6. Reduce the environmental damage 7. Improve the economy of the fish product industry 8. Increment of the fish offer, giving the final customer a healthier product to a better price. g) Activities 1. Sign and agreement between the beneficiaries and the Environment National Department, in which the beneficiaries compromised to make the project sustainable and to follow the agreement guide lines for the installation, performance and maintenance of the system. Also they should be available to share with other producers their experience, participate in technical demonstrative workshops and collaborate as advisor in similar projects. 2. Hiring a company to install the photovoltaic systems and equipment acquisition. 3. Equipment installation and testing 4. Organize three training workshop for three days for the beneficiary communities 5. Performance of two training workshop of three days long each one. This will direct to the Gorgona Cooperative Fisherman and to other non associated region Cooperatives. 6. Production of the training and awareness material 7. Distribution of informative pamphlets about uses and benefits of the Photovoltaic systems 8. Project performance according agreed conditions 9. Working plan control and follow up 10. Presentation of Final Reports 11. Field visits 12. Results presentations to the General Administration h) Project length 4 months i) Project Resources No Description Quantity 1 Solar module of 80 watts each one to 12 VDC 9 2 Load controller with screen 12-24 VDC 30 amp 3 3 Freezer of 7.5 cft 165 lts 3 4 Batteries of 100 ah deep cycle or captive electrolyte 6 5 Lightning rod, earth system. Copper rod 1/2 " x 8 feets 3 Ducts, cables and accessories. Note: All the wiring between panels and from panel to the controller is 6 with rubber cable cord, resistant to water and sun. 3 7 Metal structure to set up modules with manual solar dredge for three positions 3 8 Fence material, anonyzed aluminum tubes, etc and its installation 1 9 Labor, equipment transportation, installation, user manual and training 1 j) Project cost and financing The estimated total cost is 40,000 Euros, which includes the purchase of the photovoltaic systems: freezers, panels, controller, installation material, installation, local labor, training for personnel in charge of photovoltaic systems operation and maintenance, Project coordinator’s salary and allowance for field visits. EUROS US$ Partnership 39,000.00 46,800.00 Cooperative (cash and kind) 1,000.00 1,200.00 Total 40,000.00 48,000.00 .