Green Empowerment

Since 1998, we have calalyzed the construction of microhydro systems, which convert the energy of falling water into electricity to boost local economies and illuminate homes, schools and clinics. Community members contribute volunteer labor and local materials to build the projects, then organize to operate and manage the systems in the long term. We continue to provide the tools, experience, and support that magnify the positive effects of micro-hydro projects by facilitating trainings, providing small loans, and advising on environmental issues.

Microhydro systems rely on clean robust streams, so communities are motivated to curb erosion and stop deforestation. In Nicaragua, we have helped establish a 1300-acre community-owned El Bote Forest Reserve and other watershed projects.

MICRO-HYDRO PROJECTS BY YEAR

2010-2011 El Bejuco, El Plan, and Los Martínez

Partner: AsoFénix
Service: Regional Electrification
Technology: 3 Micro-Hydro Systems
People Served: 400

Four hundred people will be able to turn on the lights for the first time in Nicaragua. The clean energy, simply generated by a stream rolling down the mountain, will replace smokey kerosene burners. Vicente Espinar, pictured below, has contributed 200 days of volunteer sweat equity to build the community-owned energy system. He says, "I want to use the electricity to process my coffee crop, power irrigation pumps and who know, maybe even process all the tomatoes I grow."

Attracted by AsoFénix’s successful projects with Green Empowerment over the last 6 years, local and national governments in Nicaragua have encouraged a more comprehensive regional electrification program in Boaco. In response, AsoFénix and GE are building a network of four off-grid micro-hydro systems.

The rural farmers in these villages grow citrus trees, coffee, bananas, sugar cane, and raise cattle to support themselves. They have a limited income and their food production is largely subsistence except for some surplus coffee, citrus, and passionfruit crops. 

These projects were funding through a collaboration of Green Empowerment, SG Foundation, HIVOs, Alianza de Energia para las Americas, the local governments and the communities.

At the machine shop, ATDER-BL makes turbine parts

2001-2007 El Bote

Partner: ATDER-BL
Service: Regional Electrification
Technology: 1 Small-Hydro Project. 950kW
People Served: 10,000

Twenty-five kilometers Northeast of ATDER-BL headquarters in Matagalpa, in the lush rainforests of Northern Nicaragua, the El Bote Micro-hydro (MH) plant hums alongside the chorus of wildlife singing from the creeks and trees. This detailed six year project now provides electricity to 10,000 people and numerous small businesses, including roadside general stores.

2000 La Pita

Partner: ATDER-BL
Service: Regional Electrification
Technology: 1 Small-Hydro Project. 85kW generator
People Served: 700

Ex-Sandanistas and Ex-Contras came together to build this system that is beneficial to the entire community. For years the community had organized to restore war-damaged farms, construct potable water systems, a school and a health clinic. They saw electrification as the next step in improving their community and approached ATDER for their aid. While the community provided hours of labor, Green Empowerment and ATDER provided the experience, funds, and technical skills necessary to complete a renewable energy system to power La Pita. 

With help from Green Empowerment donors, ATDER-BL  built a 30kW micro hydroelectric plant in La Pita, Nicaragua, bringing electricity to 400 villagers. In 2006, Green Empowerment upgraded the system to meet the demand of the growing community, which brought electricity to 300 more people.

Today, the community is thriving. Energy has catalyzed an amazing array of local business including carpentry shops, welding of grain silos, bicycle and moterbike repair, sale of refridgerated cheese, ice and ice cream, grain mills, restaurants, vaccine refridgeration, pubic lighting, phone service, banana cooperative, dentists and even computers.

The community-owned and operated system is bringing the benefits of electricity to the entire town in a environmentally sustainable way.

1998 San Jose De Bocay

Grid Extension:

Green Empowerment first partnered with ATDER-BL in 1998 to extend the electrical grid of the San José de Bocay micro-hydro plant bringing electricity to an additional 500 people. The Bocay micro-hydro plant was completed in 1994, 8 years after Ben Linder started the project, and is still operational.

Los Angeles Watershed:

A parallel attempt to preserve water sources grew from this project. Our former sister organization, The EnerGreen Foundation, supported the planting of 200,000 trees in the Los Angeles watershed and helped purchase 840 acres of the most critical habitat in the watershed. This was our first involvement with watershed restoration and we have since taken on these efforts at other micro-hydro and water delivery sites. 

The Result:

The community of San José de Bocay contributed an incredible 10,600 volunteer work days towards their system. Community participation is essential for all Green Empowerment projects.