Academic literature on the topic 'Rural renewal – Colombia'

Abstract. Clear-cut evidences of global environmental change in Colombia are discussed for diverse hydro-climatic records, and illustrated herein for increasing minimum temperature and decreasing annual maximum river flows records. As a consequence, eight tropical glaciers disappeared from the Colombian Andes during the 20th century, and the remaining six have experienced alarming retreat rates during the last decade. Here we report an updated estimation of retreat rates in the six remaining glacierized mountain ranges of Colombia for the period 1987–2007, using Landsat TM and TM+ imagery. Analyses are performed using detailed pre-processing, processing and post-processing satellite imagery techniques. Alarming retreat rates are confirmed in the studied glaciers, with an overall area shrinkage from 60 km2 in 2002, to 55.4 km2 in 2003, to less than 45 km2 in 2007. Assuming such linear loss rate (~3 km2 per year), for the near and medium term, the total collapse of the Colombian glaciers can be foreseen by 2022, but diverse physical mechanisms discussed herein would exacerbate the shrinkage processes, thus prompting us to forecast a much earlier deadline by the late 2010–2020 decade, long before the 100 years foreseen by the 2007 IPCC Fourth Assessment Report. This forecast demands detailed monitoring studies of mass and energy balances. Our updated estimations of Colombia's glacier retreat rates posse serious challenges for highly valuable ecosystem services, including water supply of several large cities and hundreds of rural settlements along the Colombian Andes, but also for cheap and renewable hydropower generation which provides 80% of Colombia's demand. Also, the identified changes threaten the survivability of unique and fragile ecosystems like paramos and cloud forests, in turn contributing to exacerbate social unrest and ongoing environmental problems in the tropical Andes which have been identified as the most critical hotspot for biodiversity on Earth. Colombia requires support from the global adaptation fund to develop research, and to design policies, strategies and tools to cope with these urgent social and environmental threats.

The implementation of electrification programs in non-interconnected rural areas in Colombia is a challenge for the country in order to reduce the social gap in these regions. This task is responsibility of the Mining and Energy Planning Unit (UPME), which has as challenges the implementation of renewable energy projects that allow diversifying the national energy matrix. For this reason, this paper proposes a support framework for multicriteria decision-making in the electricity supply of non-interconnected rural areas for the Colombian Caribbean Region. The multicriteria method of the Fuzzy Analytical Hierarchical Process (FAHP) was used, which allows the incorporation of a fuzzy triangular scale to improve the imprecision in the judgments made by experts. A hierarchical structure with 6 renewable energy alternatives, 4 criteria and 16 sub-criteria was designed, which allowed the implementation of a paired comparison survey that was answered by 10 experts from the region. The results obtained show the relevance of all alternatives, which is evidenced by a percentage difference of less than 5% between all the options. The best alternative was solar PV (20,27%). Regarding the criteria, the most relevant were economic (39,6%) and environmental (30,8%). The most relevant sub-criterion was the renewable fraction, related to the possible reuse of equipment (20,2%).

Context: The increase in rural electrification projects has led to the emergence of technologies that allow operating local distribution networks such as isolated microgrids. However, the successful implementation of these isolated microgrids requires that their planning, operation, monitoring, and control consider a framework that allows maintaining technical, economic, and environmental sustainability over an extended time horizon. Therefore, this paper proposes a model that allows identifying the main technical, economic, regulatory, and environmental variables that should be considered for the successful planning of Colombian rural electrification solutions. Methodology: This paper proposes the use of System Dynamics to create a model that allows describing the causal relationships between the different variables essential for the design and operation of isolated microgrids. To this effect, the identification of the related variables and their corresponding classification are presented, together with a model of theoretical expectations about their relationships. Results: A model that integrates and describes the behavior of the main variables involved in the operation of microgrids was formulated to analyze the possible implementation of policies that guarantee the sustainability of these solutions and enhance the use of renewable energy resources while improving the continuity of the electric energy supply. Conclusions: It was possible to show that operation by means of isolated microgrids with the integration of Distributed Energy Resources is a sustainable solution for rural electrification in Colombia, given that it enhances the use of generation resources with a reduced carbon footprint that are present in the territories under study. These microgrids have the potential to improve the living conditions of users by reducing unsatisfied basic needs. Funding: Universidad Nacional de Colombia – Sede Manizales.

At a global level, hydrokinetic power has been considered as a renewable energy source, and it has become an attractive alternative for the rural electrification of non-interconnected areas with the presence of water resources. Aspects such as the low rural electrification rate, the increase in energy demand, the decrease in fossil reserves and the climate change, are some of the factors that have driven the use of this technology for the electricity production. The aim of this work is to give a review of the hydrokinetic energy potential of water resources, the requirements and impacts of the implementation of hydrokinetic technology in different countries, and the current development in the Colombian case. At present, it can be observed that the implementation of this technology in different regions of the world, especially in Colombia, has several challenges and barriers, including gaps in knowledge, information and data, such as well as limitations of water resources and infrastructure, finally, impacting on a low adoption of this technology. On the other hand, publications on studies of implementation and potential of hydrokinetic technology have been increasing over time, indicating that this topic has been gaining interest despite the challenges.

Currently, electricity generation in off-grid communities is done through polluting and often inefficient diesel generators. When renewable energies are implemented, they are often coupled with chemical batteries, whose specificities do not fit well with remote and harsh environments. As a more sustainable alternative, this paper looks at micro pumped hydro energy storage coupled with solar photovoltaic production. Rural electrification in Colombia is selected as the best potential context for such a solution. Several electrical machines are considered for energy conversion (associated with one pump also utilized as turbine for robustness and cost reasons) and rated over-dedicated criteria: reactive power, efficiency, price, flexibility of power intake, complexity, and robustness. This sketching phase highlights two machines, induction and permanent magnet synchronous machines, both coupled with a variable frequency drive. Two microgrid configurations are also selected that best suit this storage technology to the needs of Colombian non-interconnected zones. A pursuit of low-tech, robust solutions is carried in this paper for reasons of costs, maintenance, and local appropriation.

Abstract. This article observes the Latin American debate on “territory” through the lens of the “territorial-peace” approach agreed in the peace accord between the Colombian government and the FARC guerrillas in 2016. It explores the different notions of territory entailed in this concept and shows that the territorial-peace approach builds on a political-programmatic understanding of territory due to its rural focus. An ethnographic analysis of the urban renewal programme PRIMED, implemented at the disputed urban periphery of Colombia's second city, Medellín, in the 1990s, demonstrates how this programme anticipated the idea of territorial peace in a conflictive urban context. The ethnography reveals the ambiguities and inconsistencies of the production of urban territory, both as state space and as the space of subaltern social groups, through territorial peacebuilding. The discussion why PRIMED challenges the political-programmatic understanding of territory in the territorial-peace debate concludes with highlighting why it makes a difference approaching territorial peace as a “political project to be achieved” or as an unpredictable process of territorialisation and why this distinction matters if the territorial-peace approach is to be extended to urban contexts.

Coffee is one of the most representative agricultural products in Colombia; several factors related to how it is produced, processed and marketed make it particularly important in post-conflict situations. The cultivation of coffee has acquired a very important role in the post-conflict stage that Colombia is experiencing. The rural areas hit hardest by violence are now seeing how improving agricultural conditions can help promote sustainable development and build peace in their regions. In coffee processing, women play an important role, with between 20% and 30% of coffee farms around the world being female-operated and up to 70% of labor in coffee production being provided by women. Women not only contribute to coffee processing, but they are also responsible for family activities such as cooking, and those activities are often made in wood stoves, thereby increasing their health risk. Against this background, this study presents the design and implementation of a biodigester fed by waste produced at Coffee Production Units (CPUs) located in the rural area of Tolima department in Colombia (an important scene of the armed conflict) in order to produce biogas for domestic cooking activities. Results show that implemented biodigester can produce between 1362 and 1597 kg/day (1.1704 and 1.3604 Nm3/day), which is enough energy for domestic activities for a family of four. Furthermore, it demonstrates benefits in the economic, social and environmental context of CPUs. Additionally, due to the importance of women in coffee production, this paper also evaluates the impact of the implementation of biodigesters in farms, which has shown that biodigester implementation positively impacts the production activities and activities performed by women, thereby increasing their life quality.

The electrification of rural or isolated areas coupled with increasing environmental concerns have promoted the emergence of Distributed Energy Resources (DER) and the operation by isolated microgrids. However, the integration of such resources involves technical issues related to the reliability and continuity of the electricity supply. Indeed, the uncertainty of renewable generation sources and the reduced inertia of isolated microgrids are challenges for the operation of these distribution systems. One way to address them is by providing ancillary services through all the resources involved in the system’s operation (generation assets, demand share, and storage systems). Accordingly, this paper first presents a literature review of the challenges and potential benefits of integrating DERs into the operation of a distribution system. It also includes some common strategies to mitigate the vulnerability of the introduction of these technologies in microgrids. Afterwards, the current state of each type of resource in Colombia is assessed. Finally, some basic strategies that enhance the benefits of DER integration are outlined along with the overcoming of challenges of microgrid operation in said country. To that end, we consider isolated Colombian regions to be natural laboratories where the effects of DER integration and the requirements for the operation by local production units can be analyzed.

Year after year, environmental studies show exponential growth in greenhouse gas emissions from thermos-electric plants and generators that use fossil fuels such as coal, oil, and natural gas, among others. This highlights the importance of an urgent calling to countries for developing to the maximum the implementation of clean and renewable energy. Being Colombia, the 4th country in the world to have a wide hydraulic capacity, it is one of the poorest in the implementation of regulations and incentives, by government entities, for the use of this resource in the generation of renewable energy, governments like China, they have understood the advantage that the use of these energy alternatives implies, being pioneers in the implementation of small plants in rural areas where access to electricity grids is difficult. The development of this type of generators opens up a range of opportunities for Colombia, but the most interesting is the possibility of diversifying the energy matrix and the advantage of being able to reach small communities and towns that do not have this benefit, such as electrical energy. At this point, the implementation of the mini-micro power stations is key, which is perfect for meeting these needs.

CAPES
Este trabalho apresenta o desenvolvimento de um estudo técnico social para definir as diretrizes que garantam a sustentabilidade de uma minirrede baseada em sistemas solares fotovoltaicos, localizados nas Zonas Não Interconectadas (ZNI) da Colômbia. A literatura da pesquisa está baseada na importância da energia elétrica e das construções sustentáveis para o homem e nos princípios de energia solar e de minirredes baseadas em sistemas solares fotovoltaicos. Após este levantamento, aplicou-se o método de pesquisa documental para contextualizar o leitor com os aspectos mais importantes sobre a Colômbia e sua realidade hoje. A partir destes aspectos foi possível concentrar a pesquisa em uma região, selecionada a partir de critérios de recurso solar disponível, economia, segurança, saúde e educação. Uma vez escolhida a região, foi feita uma pesquisa de campo em que foram entrevistados os agentes que podem influenciar no funcionamento de uma minirrede. Também foram observados os aspectos técnicos relacionados com as construções e a eficiência energética desta região, constatando que a mesma já contou, em alguma ocasião, com sistemas solares fotovoltaicos, mas estes foram vendidos pela própria comunidade por não encontrarem utilidade nenhuma neles. A partir das respostas encontradas nas entrevistas foi feita uma proposta de gestão da minirrede baseada em sistemas solares fotovoltaicos. Concluiu-se que é primordial que os agentes técnicos e administrativos do sistema como um todo tenham contato contínuo com o usuário para entender as suas necessidades e conseguir satisfazê-las com a instalação da minirrede. Também se observou que é importante criar no usuário um sentido de posse pela minirrede, identificando os benefícios educativos, de saúde e econômicos que esta nova tecnologia traz para ele. Este estudo abre as portas para novas pesquisas de avaliação e descrição das diretrizes propostas.
This research presents the development of a social-technical study to define guidelines to ensure the sustainability of a mini-grid based on solar photovoltaic systems located in Non Interconnected Areas (NIA) of Colombia. The literature of this research is based on the importance of energy and sustainable buildings to people, the principles of solar PV, and mini-grid based on solar photovoltaic systems. After this firt part, was applied the method of documentary research to contextualize the reader with the main relevant aspects of Colombia related to the research. From these aspects, it was possible to focus the research to a region, which was chosen by criterias such as: solar resource, economy, security, health and education. When the area was chosen, it was made a field survey. In this survey the agents that influence the operation of a mini network were interviwed. Also, it was observed the technical aspects of buildings, and the energy efficiency in this region. As a result it was observed that in the past there were PV solar systems, but these were sold by the community because they did not find them useful. From the interview answers, it was made a proposal about the management of the mini-grid based on solar photovoltaic systems. In conclusion, it is essential that the technical and administrative agents that make part of this system have continuous contact with the user to understand their needs and satisfy them with the installation of mini-grid. It is also important to create a sense of belonging from the user to the mini-grid, identifying the benefits, educational, health and economic that this new technology brings to him. This study opens the door to new research about evaluations and descriptions about the proposed guidelines.