Context
In February 2016, triangular cooperation between Germany and Mexico as donor countries and El Salvador and Nicaragua as beneficiary partners was devised with the aim of improving energy efficiency and energy management systems in the latter countries based on the positive experiences in Mexico and the best practices identified there. Until the end of its term in December 2018, the project cooperated with the Association of Salvadoran Industry (Asociación Salvadoreña de Industriales, ASI) in El Salvador and with the Nicaragua Chamber of Industry (Cámara de Industrias de Nicaragua, CADIN) in Nicaragua, as the focus was primarily on the private sector.
Objective
Measures for energy efficiency and the use of energy management systems are improving the competitiveness of industry in El Salvador and Nicaragua.
Approach
Learning networks for energy efficiency and energy management systems: The project is making use of learning networks in El Salvador and Nicaragua that provide technical support to participants and foster the mutual exchange of experience and best practice.
Energy management systems: The project sets up energy management systems in companies to systematically monitor energy flows and continuously increase energy efficiency. The improvements have contributed to an increase in productivity and to cost reductions; these gains in turn have boosted the competitiveness of industry.
Capacity development: Capacity development aims to support people and organisations to shape their own development in the long term. Courses are being held in El Salvador and Nicaragua to train a group of advisors as specialists in energy efficiency and energy management systems.
Results
- Two learning networks for energy management systems have been successfully established – one in El Salvador, the other in Nicaragua.
- The project is the first of its kind in the Central America region to address the topics of energy management systems and the learning network method. As part of the measures for publicising these important issues, a regional forum on energy management systems was held.
- Financial savings (up to April 2018) amounted to over USD 1.5 million per annum in Salvadoran companies. Alongside the financial savings achieved, companies have also acquired knowledge in the areas of energy efficiency and energy management systems.
- The companies selected students for internships and thus benefited from additional personnel.
- In addition, special consideration was given to the participation of women as a cross-cutting issue for the network.
- The project produced various materials, including guidelines on the introduction of learning networks for energy efficiency and energy management systems in a Latin American setting and technical guidelines on implementation. The first manual on the introduction of an energy management system in a Central American context has also been published.
- Events for training in energy efficiency and energy management systems were held for local technicians in El Salvador.
The project supported the Nicaragua Chamber of Industry in setting up an energy division. The division assists energy-intensive companies in reducing their energy consumption.