Sustainable Electric Energy Systems in the Non-Interconnected Zones of Colombia
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SUSTAINABLE ELECTRIC ENERGY SYSTEMS IN THE NON-INTERCONNECTED ZONES OF COLOMBIA J.C. Ramírez Arjona Delft University of Technology 1 SUSTAINABLE ELECTRIC ENERGY SYSTEMS IN THE NON-INTERCONNECTED ZONES OF COLOMBIA by J.C. Ramírez Arjona in partial fulfilment of the requirements for the degree of Master of Science in Sustainable Energy Technology at the Delft University of Technology, to be defended publicly on the 23th of April 2014. Supervisor: Prof. Dr. Ir. L.M Kamp 2nd Supervisor: Prof. Dr. Ir. W. Revesteijn Thesis committee: Prof. Dr. Ir. L.M Kamp Prof. Dr. Ir. W. Revesteijn Prof. Dr. Ir. K. Blok An electronic version of this thesis is available at http://repository.tudelft.nl/ ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS I would like to thank firstly to God who was my rock and fortress during this process. A special mention goes to Leonie Boortman who was my guide and angel; thank you for helping me and encouraging me always to find the light. To my supervisor Linda Kamp I’m very grateful for your academic insight, but mostly for bearing with me during this process. It wasn’t easy for you and I know it. You’re are great mentor and person. Pr. Dr. Wim Ravesteijn thank you very much for your rich contribution to this work. It was not only through your valuable feedback, but also in the hours spent in the classroom learning from you and our discussions. Professor Blok, for accepting being part of my evaluation committee. I appreciate the time you kindly dedicated to the assessment of my work. Igor Rodriguez, Carolina Ribon, Felipe Gómez and Fanny Rodríguez thank you for contributing selflessly with your valuable knowledge and time to this research. To my family I have no words to describe how blessed I feel to have your support and unconditional love. Without you I couldn’t have made it through; I love you with all my heart Dad, Mom, Carlos, Gloria, Julieta and Lucas. My brother from life Angel: thank you for being someone beyond a friend. You’re a true brother and thanks to your family for also making me part of it. I feel you as my own. To all my SET friends who were always supportive till the end. Juan Oritz: you are one of a kind friend and you’re an immensely talented human being. I admire and love you with outmost respect. Hillsong Amsterdam family!! Thank you for helping me find identity and purpose. I love walking this journey with you. Brabantse Turfmarkt 68, thank you for having me there even when I had not even a nickel to afford the rent. I truly appreciate it. Thijsie thanks for always opening your house for me and for being an amazing friend. Thanks for your encouragement in this and also for the amazing designs. You’re great! To anyone who contributed in this journey to help me become a better person and professional my gratitude goes also to you. 3 4 PREFACE J. C. Ramírez Arjona Amsterdam, 2015 “…Lo que hay es otra cosa; es la hermosura de vivir al tope…Porque la vida no es sólo recibir, es antes que nada dar algo de lo que tenemos, y por jodido que estés siempre tenés algo para darle a los demás.” José “Pepe” Mujica SERENDIPITY I came to the Netherlands looking for a degree in Sustainable Energy Technology, with the idea of studying the dif- ferent technologies, the artifacts and how they worked. My goal was to learn how to implement sustainable energy technologies to bring development to the most needed people and to create a significant difference in the world. Instead, I found myself immersed in a journey of self-awareness, of rediscovery and reinvention. I learned that tech- nology has no purpose, power or importance when it doesn’t meet any societal needs. I got to appreciate culture, history and heritage above a phony sense development and automation. I found a new dimension of what humanity and purpose meant to me. But, there was a time I felt upset, disappointed and frustrated. We all dream about becoming meaningful, important and to have an impact in the world around us, it’s human nature. For a moment during this entire journey I felt mean- ingless, and purposeless. A failure, some may think. I could see everybody else, but me, using their enormous talents, having their breakthroughs and achieving all they could think about. Everyone was constantly portraying their perfect lives, and it ironically some came back to me thinking I had one as well. Then, I realized that we are all in our battles, our struggles, and that big or small, we’ve all felt lonely and felt aside at some point. We’ve all felt disappointed about ourselves and defeated. It’s easy choosing to dive into sadness, anger and frustration and blame the whole universe of your disgrace. Nonetheless, trials and burdens are not something made to condemn or punish us, but to build character. “Consider it a sheer gift, friends, when tests and challenges come at you from all sides. You know that under pressure, your faith-life is forced into the open and shows its true colors. So don’t try to get out of anything prematurely. Let it do its work so you become mature and well-developed, not deficient in any way.” James 1:2-4 (MSG) So, this thesis is not really about the theories, or how good, or how brilliant I can attempt to be. It’s all about the journey that made me who I am today. It stands up for the path and process that reshaped and redefined my mindset. This work here represents that I made it through; I surpassed my barriers and conquered my inner demons. That’s the real value of it, nothing more and nothing less. I have found myself loved, valued, and significant regardless of my rights and wrongs. My major concern isn’t that you agree with or understand what is written in this thesis work from now on. It will be much more meaningful if this small preface can serve as a word of encouragement for you to find your real purpose and your true identity. Please, never let whatever you achieve or fail at, whatever you do for liv- ing or what everyone speaks about you or the labels set over you define who you are. Instead, let who you really are, your true colors and whoever you’re aiming to be paint whatever you achieve, whatever you choose to do and whatever is spoken about you. Rejoice in your trials, stand up and be brave and keep on going because in the middle of it you’ll find your true value, which you may not fathom during your crisis. Might not be easy, but when the work inside is finished you’ll see that a whole new layer of thick skin has grown over you. And only then, you’ll be taken to places you’ve never imagined and you’ll achieve what seemed impossible. It is when you realize who you really are and get hold of your identity, that you get awareness of your true potential. That’s more valuable than any distinction or diploma and at the end you’ll know it was all worth it, it was all about personal growth, about becoming more human. 5 I can now really tell who I am, and it is defined by the amazing grace and love I received in the cross. I was created to love, to serve, to give and to live life to the fullest in response. What is written ahead is just a small piece of that calling, of that God given purpose. Now to him who is able to do immeasurably more than all we ask or imagine, according to his power that is at work within us, to Him be glory in the church and in Christ Jesus throughout all generations, forever and ever! Amen. Ephesians 3:20-21 (NIV) 6 ABSTRACT Colombia has recently been recognized as one of the rising economies in the world, and has been changing the marginal image of a failed state it has had during decades all around the world. Part of the strategies to continue this path towards development is to satisfy the basic needs of those in the country who are still unreached. Electricity is one of those needs that people in vulnerable areas must satisfy in the so called, non-interconnected zones (NIZ) where the national electricity grid cannot reach. Sustainable energy technologies (SETs) show up as an alternative to the 1,200 settlements with a population of around 2,000,000 people to provide a reliable, affordable and sustainable electric energy solution. This situation raises the main question this thesis project addresses: What are the main barriers and drivers for the development of sustainable energy technologies as a solution for electric energy supply in the NIZ? For this purpose a combined framework has been created using the Multi-Level Perspective (MLP) approach and Functions of In- novation Systems (FIS) as by Van Alphen. The FIS van Alphen framework is used to assess the performance of the innovation system posed by the SETs in the non-interconnected zones. It is more systemic framework that helps to evaluate punctually through indicators what are the drivers and barriers within a niche around a certain technologi- cal innovation. The MLP helps to identify the drivers and barriers for the new innovation within the market that the innovation has to compete with and within the country as a whole.