Meetings and workshops

The project organised two half-day conferences for high-profile stakeholders’ organised by the project team both in Bogota and Quibdo, the capital city of El Choco. These conferences were attended by a total of 20 national government policy-makers, industry and utilities representatives. The events presented the project’s objectives and outcomes. It was discussed to follow up with relevant authorities and link to future developments of our Newton projects to address the need for sustainable electricity access in poorly served and off-grid areas. New outlooks were discussed as a result of our institutional collaboration to keep and expand the first Renewable Energy Laboratory (REL) built in a rural area in Colombia (in the town of Andagoya, municipality of San Juan, Choco). It was established four years ago with government funds awarded to the UTCH by the regalías. The REL developed and operates a solar PV array; battery storage; gasifier; wind turbine; meteorological station and hydrogen storage/fuel cell stack. Between 2016 and 2017, the REL was able to increase energy generation, particularly from solar, by approximately 17%. It supplies all the electricity needs of the Laboratory. In addition to its scientific importance, the REL supplies free renewable energy to the nearby health centre, presenting a clear social benefit. The Laboratory is directed and fully maintained by the UTCH and its financial sustainability, and potential excess energy generation, are issues to be addressed.

The Newton Fund Award has significantly helped improve the capacity and skills of the collaborating partners through sharing of best-practice methodologies, approaches and innovation systems. Having worked on a multidisciplinary platform, this project has experimented with multi-level geographical scales modelling, various technologies and atmospheric information. Through the consideration of social, economic, policy and education factors, new capacity has been gained which can be extended in future research.

The project’s first technical workshop aimed to share expertise on impact assessment approaches and tools, discuss field work data, and plan ahead. The training workshop did as follows:

• Introduced and discussed the role of sustainability indicators
• Introduced, demonstrated and provided training on modelling tools and approaches to assess resources, demand, supply, and impacts of energy installations on poor rural and fishing communities to both the team and a larger audience
• Assessed and informed on data available for the project (PERS and SURE). Identified its relevance and any potential requirements for additional data
• Reviewed progress and requirements for the Renewable Energy Booklet to instruct users in communities
• Provided technical advice and guidelines on RE as required
• Defined next steps

A recap was made of the project’s overall aims and then each of these issues was addressed through a series of presentations, discussions and training sessions surrounding data, and technology. The next steps considered related to development of business models, publication plans and future workshops.

Technical outcomes made included broadening of knowledge and understanding amongst the Colombian teams regarding modelling approaches and real-life project requirements. Furthermore, the project’s purpose was publically broadcast on Radio Universidad del Chocó, allowing it to reach a large number of listeners

The training workshop was successful in terms of achieving its objectives, significantly propelling the project forward, and conscientiously identifying the activities the team should focus on until the next workshop.

The kick-off, or zero, meeting aimed at gaining an understanding of the capacities and expertise of the associated and collaborating institutions and individuals, as well as identify their priorities and expectations. The central focus was the hosting institution, the Technological University of Choco, UTCH, and its Centre for Renewable Energy. We learnt about the activities carried out by the Centre, and those areas which require additional capacity building. Meeting Zero also offered an invaluable opportunity to the UK partners from University College and Imperial college to meet the team for the first time, particularly partners from the Technological University of Choco, as well as the University Jorge Tadeo Bogota, and the National University in Medellin.

The meeting consisted of three days of intense discussion, as well as a field visit to the recently opened Centre of Renewable Energy, in the rural town of Andagoya. This highlight activity consisted of an instructive presentation by Prof. William Murillo at the site, explanation about the solar, wind and biomass available equipment, and a walk through the town, divided by the river. During this visit, we also learnt about and witnessed resource devastation caused by decades of uncontrolled mining activity and deforestation.