Sector Directory

Organization

Fundacion Solar

Mission

® 
Fundación Solar (FS) was established in 1993 in Guatemala.®  It started working with energy projects and appropriate technology and has evolved into a multidisciplinary group.®  It has two main areas of expertise: energy and water, and six transversal lines: (i) environment, (ii) governance, (iii) gender and multiculturalilty, (iv) risk management and vulnerability reduction, (v) administration and finance, and (vi) planning, monitoring and evaluation.®  FS focuses in poverty reduction activities and in identifying policy gaps, from the bottom up, to bring issues to Government that would not be made visible otherwise. FS has been working with improved stove projects since 1985 and has participated in related studies since 2004.®  FS has been lobbying for a comprehensive ICS policy with regulations on quality and guarantees, as well as the incorporation of a social component for the last 8 years.

Organizational Expertise

Adoption / Behavior Change, Climate/Environment, Gender / Womens Empowerment, Livelihoods, Monitoring and Evaluation

Other Organizational Expertise

Fundacion Solar has been instrumental in supporting ICS related issues in Central America.®  Aside from working with ICS since the early 90s, it channeled financing to install the certification center in Zamorano, lobbied to get SICA (Central America Integration Secretariat) join the Alliance, as well as Guatemala, has worked with several organizations to bring to light the importance of fuelwood use in the region and suggested possible organization update to implement regional goals of firewood use and ICS programs.®  We believe there is a market, have made pilot studies showing the poor can and are willing to pay, and with the right policy and ICS availability plus financing mechanisms, it's possible to create a local market.®  Central America has excellent designs of ICS and super stoves (as the Turbococina) that can be shared. ®  Has participated in recent studies such as -Biomasa y Desarrollo- with Energía sin Fronteras from Spain, What have we learned from biomass cooking in Central America with ESMAP, and currently, a Market Assessment and Intervention Options with Energia sin Fronteras for the GACC.

Technologies & Fuels

Biogas, Biomass (Ag. Residue, Processed Biomass, etc.), Pellets / Briquettes

Other Technologies Fuels

Our main focus is on firewood, since more than 70% of the Guatemalan population cook with it.®  Biogas is a result from the installation of multiple biodigestors and we are working with a local stove model that uses the gas for cooking.®  It is an important new source, but still very limited. Some local NGOs are producing pellets from left over biomass after harvest (string beans and snow peas), and we are keen in replicating their experience.

Clean Cooking Activities

Currently we are working with Energía sin Fronteras in the Guatemalan Market Assessment and Intervention Options studies.

In the rehabilitation project of the small hydro project Los Angeles Ucubujá in San Marcos, Guatemala, we have included a stove component for the efficient use of firewood for cooking.

Partnership

Fundacion Solar can contribute with:


Support in the design and implementation of the social component,

Lessons learned from previous experiences that have been systematized,

Contacts and facilitation in Central America.

Regions Operating In

Latin America and Caribbean

Country Based In

Guatemala

Address

5 calle 17-10 zona 15
VH I, Colonia El Maestro II
Guatemala, Guatemala 1015

Website

https://www.fundacionsolar.org.gt

Primary Point of Contact

Name: Mrs. Marta X Rivera

Title: Energy Coordinator

Email: mxrivera@fundacionsolar.org.gt

Phone: (502) 2369 4402

Secondary Point of Contact

Name: Ms. Virginia Rodas

Title: Project Coordinator

Email: vrodas@fundacionsolar.org.gt

Phone: (502) 2369 1181