Peru to Give Free Solar Panels to 2 Million People

Peru is taking a big step in the green energy direction by promising to provide electricity to 2 million of the poorest residents in the country completely for free using solar panel technology.

Jorge Merino, the Energy and Mining Minister of Peru explains that the National Photovoltaic Household Electrification Program will facilitate access to electricity in the households of the country’s poorest citizens using photovoltaic solar panels.

Latin America Herald Tribune reports that the first recipients of this expansive project will be 500,000 extremely low income households where the solar systems will be provided. These installations will be given to homes that lack access to the power grid.  Not only will power be provided to those without, it will also majorly bolster the industry of domestic solar installers. Merino has stated that the contract for installing the panels in this project will be opened to bidders later in the year.

The project is already underway and so far it has found its beginnings in Contumaza- a province in the northeast part of Cajamarca.  There have been 1,601 solar power panels installed already, according to the most recent reports.  The energy minister states that when the project reaches completion roughly 95% of Peruvians will have access to electricity by the end of 2016 in comparison to the current 66% who have power access.

Merino says:

“This program is aimed at the poorest people, those who lack access to electric lighting and still use oil lamps, spending their own resources to pay for fuels that harm their health.”

To go from 66% to 95% in less than 2 years is remarkable and inspiring.  Between European, Central, and South American countries, sustainable power sources are beginning to become the norm in many places around the world, rather than an unusual example of sustainability.