Extending the benefits across the region and around the world
The solar panels and storage system installed by GSEP in Colonia Delta have been donated to the community. After training by GSEP and its partners, the community members have the necessary tools to continue operating the systems successfully.
Colonia Delta and the farmers agreed to create a fund financed by the selling of electricity to the grid by Colonia Delta and Alfred Regehr’s farm, as well as the savings from the battery installed in Klaus Dietrich’s farm. The fund is to be used to facilitate the replication of the project in other farms that are part of Colonia Delta.
Data analyzed in an internal replicability report find that, if the project were to be replicated by the community in 2023, costs would be significantly lower and would be further mitigated by government subsidies.
The replicability of the project outside of Colonia Delta will be promoted by the Intendencia de San José, whose mission is to improve farmers’ quality of life. The Intendencia will promote the projects and help farmers reduce operational costs.
On a broader scale, the lessons learned through this project can support the implementation of similar storage systems coupled with renewables across Uruguay’s dairy sector.
The solar and storage project led by GSEP was the first of its kind in Uruguay. Never before has there been the integration of a battery storage system paired with renewables behind the grid at one of our country’s farms. After seeing the success of the project and hearing about the lessons learned to improve future efforts, we find that the potential to replicate the system throughout the country is strong.