Through its SEPS initiative, initially launched in 2004, WISIONS has provided support to innovative projects that aim to achieve sustainable energy solutions.

In each of the four calls for applications - 2004 (SEPS I), 2005 (SEPS II), 2006 (SEPS III) and 2007 (SEPS IV) - we received a large number of high quality proposals. Last year, 2007, a record number of 180 applications were received by WISIONS. Following our thorough and demanding evaluation process, based on ambitious selection criteria, we selected those projects considered to be the most promising. Unfortunately, WISIONS had to reject a significant number of very good proposals.

Thank you to all SEPS applicants for their interest, enthusiasm and comprehensive proposals!

In the fours rounds of SEPS to date, 37 projects have been selected and all these projects received support – mostly of a financial nature – through SEPS. WISIONS offers short-term support; consequently around 14 of the 37 projects have been successfully completed, whereas the others are in the early stages of implementation.

The scope of the projects covers a broad range of energy applications in different contexts and from regions across the world. A list of all SEPS projects can be found here. Brief descriptions of each project can be found in these pages; for further information on the projects please contact us.

Detailed summaries of the successfully implemented projects will be compiled in a brochure due for publication in late summer 2008.

Most of the projects combine an innovative mode of organization, education/training and financing with the application of specified technical energy solutions - it is this combination that makes them indeed sustainable and suitable for WISIONS support. However, in the following the projects are grouped in regards to the main energy application:

The energy provided by solar radiation exceeds current energy consumption by 2850 times. In particular in those countries with high solar radiation solar energy offers a wide range of applications from electricity generation, lighting, food processing, water heating, and more. The challenge is to make solar energy an easy to use energy source for everyday life. The projects from Africa and Asia demonstrate how solar energy can be used for various purposes combining advanced technology that is adapted to local conditions to improve the livelihoods and to realize this potential for renewable energy.

Solar Food Processing & Conservation:  Implementation - Evaluation - Development (Solar Food Phase II, SEPS III)

The International Solar Energy Society (ISES) with help of WISIONS already established a working network sharing knowl-edge and experience on solar food processing (www.solarfood.org). Solar processing of food is important in many countries for house-holds and small enterprises to secure food and income. However, the full potential of these innovative technologies has yet to be explored. Together with partners from 4 different countries – that already use solar technology on a professional level - existing solar food technologies will be tested, evaluated and improved to obtain high quality standards in sustainable food production and to further promote this economical and ecologically viable technology through the network. The aim is to achieve solar food products ready for local markets and export.
*implementation in progress*

The “Solar Food Processing & Conservation” project, launched by ISES four years ago, aims to develop efficient methods of solar food processing and to extend the use of this technology (see Phase I and II). The focus of this third phase is an international conference of solar food processing, which will take place at the beginning of 2009 in Indore, India. The conference (www.solarfood2009.org) will provide an active exchange platform for members of the established network (Phase I, SEPS I), facilitate to share experiences from all over the world, offer workshops with food, marketing and technology experts and foster new cooperation between participants. 
*implementation in progress*

CAMEROON SUSTAINABLE SUN BAKERIES PROGRAM (SEPS III)

The Cameroon Sustainable Sun Bakeries Program will establish, equip, train, and implement self-sustaining bakery enterprises. Each bakery will employ 7-10 women to prepare, bake, sell, and deliver goods. This project by UNEP Centre on Sustainable Consumption and Production addresses the need for locally produced, fresh bread for reduced consumer price, provides employment and protects local forests. By installing a revolving fund where a proportion of revenues is reinvested into new bakeries (financial) sustainability is ensured.
*implementation in progress*

Carbon Credits in Benefit of Andean Solar Villages (SEPS III)

For several years Fundacion EcoAndina is successfully promoting solar technology for cooking and heating in the Argentinean province of Jujuy. Technically proven and socially well accepted by local population the Solar Andean Villages still lack sustainable financing. Main objective of this project is thus to develop a strategy for optimal use of carbon credits to make solar artefacts affordable for the users.  50 solar cookers will be monitored in a field test to assess CO2 reductions. Together with partners in Germany a strategy will be developed where through the carbon credit market local users can finance their solar cookers.
*implementation in progress*

Sustainable Rural Energy Development (SEPS II)

SOLUCIONES PRACTICAS will develop a rural electrification project in Peru’s highlands. 10 villages will be provided with electricity from solar and pico-hydro power systems. Main activities are the building of technical and managerial capacities, thus each community will be able to own and operate the project on an economically sustainable model. Access to electricity will improve the quality of life for residents, the bottom-up implementation approach will promote local leadership and community decision-making, and the whole project will serve as a demonstration of an appropriate and replicable development model for village-scale renewable energy projects.
*implementation completed*

Integrating Solar Powered Drip Irrigation with Sustainable Charcoal Production (SEPS IV)

Energy for Sustainable Development Africa (ESDA) is in the process of designing and implementing a solar water pump and drip irrigation system for a community in Turkana, Kenya. The scheme is based on a previous project where a model for sustainable charcoal production and marketing was developed to set up the appropriate technology and to build capacity in tree regeneration for charcoal. The improved water system will be coupled with the integrated food, fuel and fodder sustainable production system, with the result that a variety of products will be able to be produced efficiently and sustainably. This diversification offers a new source of income to the community, while also enhancing the integrity of the environment.
*implementation in progress*

Promoting Sustainable Livelihoods at Lake Victoria by Introducing Solar Lamps for Night Fishing (SEPS IV)

In this project, located on the Ugandan and Kenyan shores of Lake Victoria, Global Nature Fund plans to replace kerosene lamps with more reliable, low energy lamps. The lamps are powered by a battery, charged during daytime at a photovoltaic energy hub, which is run by local energy hub managers. Fishermen, who will use the lamps for night-fishing activities, will be able to borrow the batteries.  This will eliminate the possible financial risks involved in investment. The project, which is based on the outcomes of a feasibility study, is being combined with a dissemination campaign about the new technology and will reach around 1,000 fishermen in its first year.
*implementation in progress*

Solar Food Processing & Conservation – Conference and Dissemination (Solar Food Phase III, SEPS IV)

The “Solar Food Processing & Conservation” project, launched by ISES four years ago, aims to develop efficient methods of solar food processing and to extend the use of this technology (see Phase I and II). The focus of this third phase is an international conference of solar food processing, which will take place at the beginning of 2009 in Indore, India. The conference will provide an active exchange platform for members of the established network (Phase I, SEPS I), facilitate to share experiences from all over the world, offer workshops with food, marketing and technology experts and foster new cooperation between participants. 
*implementation in progress*

Promotion of improved cooking/heating tsoves in Paek District, Xienkhuang Province, Lao Peoples Democratic Republic (SEPS III)

In Lao PDR most people rely on fuelwood for cooking, using traditional “3 stone”- stoves. Improved versions of these stoves that reduce energy consumption, costs and improve overall efficiency are rarely in use. The Technology Research Institute wants to disseminate around 3000 improved stoves in a province whose forests are affected by overuse of fuelwood. Educational campaigns and market testing will be undertaken to inform about the qualities of the improved stoves. In the following, local produc-tion capacities will be enhanced by training artisans on the produc-tion of improved stoves. This sustains replication, allows independence from imports and improves local livelihoods. The gained information will be further spread through campaign materials, manuals etc. 
*implementation in progress*

Building Replicable Public/Private Partnerships to Expand Markets for High-Efficiency Low Emission Biomass Household Stoves in Western China (SEPS IV)

The China Association of Rural Energy Industries (CAREI), in cooperation with the Center for Entrepreneurship in International Health and Development (CEIHD) USA, has launched a project with the aim of helping rural households in Western China to access efficient and cleaner cooking and heating stoves.  The project will result in a reduction of air pollution and unnecessary fuel use, which will help to improve health and economic wellbeing. There will be pilot demonstrations, training programmes and a media campaign to raise awareness about the health and environmental advantages of wood saving stoves. In addition, a network of local stove manufacturers and related parties in China will be established. The project is co-funded by USEPA, the Chinese Government and SEPS.
*implementation in progress*

Transport fuels are responsible for a high share of current GHG-emissions. With the annually increase of flow of traffic and the scarcity of oil, the need for new fuels is evident. Sustainable and locally produced biofuel is one option to replace the finite fuel oil, thereby reduce import dependency and CO2 emissions. Critical aspects of the biofuel production chain, like competition of energy crop vs. food crops, use of pesticides/fertilizers and biodiversity vs. monocultures need to be discussed. 
The highlighted projects aim to make use of biofuels in a sustainable manner focussing on the different stages in the process from introduction, generation and various end-uses of biofuels each sensitively adapted to the respective contexts.
Next to the supported SEPS projects, WISIONS PREP-brochure no. 8 gives examples for  on Sustainable biofuel production.

Providing Access to Modern Energy Services in Uganda’s Rural Areas using Multi Functional Platforms (SEPS III)

EDG (Uganda) aims to provide modern energy services through the installation of four Multi Functional Platforms (MFPs) in rural communities that have no access to modern energy yet. Each MFP consists of a small diesel engine mounted on a chassis, to which a variety of end use equipment can be attached, e.g. grinding mills or nut oil presses that allow improved opportunities for local income-generation. Main objective is to run these MFP on locally produced bio-diesel where the MFPs are part of the bio-diesel production cycle themselves. The project will test and evaluate four different implementation models with varying types of organsiation to find optimum solutions. UNDP, Ugandan govern-ment agencies and the beneficiary communities are partners in this project.
*implementation in progress*

Biogas can be generated by fermenting all sorts of organic material such as manure or bio-waste from the agriculture. Biogas can be used both for thermal energy and electricity generation. It is considered sustainable being CO2 neutral and renewable. Our examples from India, Sri Lanka, Kenya and Bangladesh show innovative applications of how to use this technology in a sustainable manner that benefits both local communities and the environment.

Energy enterprises for development in rural areas: the case of clean cooking (SEPS III)

Objective is to promote rural enterprises that deliver improved household energy-based services and to sustain this delivery through integration with income-generation. International Energy Initiative intends to demonstrate this sustainable approach in a Indian village with fifty households: biogas for cooking will be generated and distributed in a micro-grid using cattle-dung from a co-operatively managed dairy, whose milk sales will assist in financially supporting the operation. The proposed scheme is unique because of its reach, financing mechanism, and innovative use of proven technologies and operational structures. Here, all families get better fuel at a co-operatively-agreed fee, rather than only those who can afford the increased cost. By demonstrating the feasibility of this project further opportunities for replication are expected.
*implementation completed*

Mainstreaming biogas power as an off-grid electricity generating source in Sri Lanka (SEPS III)

In off-grid communities of the Dry Zone of Sri Lanka Energy Forum will pilot test and demonstrate biogas-generated electricity. Biogas is a cheap off-grid technology - though technically possible, and proven at domestic level - generation of electricity using biogas technology has not been demonstrated at community level in Sri Lanka. Two proven technologies (Chinese wet batch type and Sri Lanka dry batch type) will be implemented each adapted to specific environments. By developing a strategic template, they aim to make biogas technology a viable opportunity for villages. Monitoring including financial management mechanisms and wider replication where biogas generated electricity can access national funding schemes are long-term goals of the Energy Forum.
*implementation completed*

Fuel substitution in Kenya learning institutions (schools): A microfinancing and capacity building approach (SEPS III)

With this project IT Power Easter Africa aims to substitute fuelwood with biogas in institutions of learning to avoid further depletion of local forests. So far, schools are the largest consumer of fuelwood in Kenya after households. In three pilot boarding schools biogas facilities (bio-latrine) will be installed that will be using human waste and cow dung as raw material to generate energy. Technical manuals for installers and end users of the facilities will be produced which will enhance the quality and standards of biogas system installation, operation and management of biogas units by the end-users respectively. Improved quality, standardization, and affordability for wider uptake of biogas technology are the project goals. By installing a revolving fund system, existing financial thresholds for participating institutions and micro-credit agencies will be decisively lowered. The project will culminate with the institutionalizing of a “Biogas Promotion Program (BPP)” using a revolving fund mechanism and gained experiences to promote and facilitate widespread dissemination and adoption in Kenya..
*implementation in progress*

Micro finance model for dissemination of biogas technology in Bangladesh (SEPS I)

A new finance model will be demonstrated by the University of New South Wales to disseminate environmental friendly technologies in Bangladesh. This model describes a self-sustaining mechanism for recovering the costs of capital expensive renewable energy technologies through energy business. According to this model, an implementation agency will assist rural poor villagers in the business to sell electricity to wealthier members of the village. Poor people will get ownership of the technology after the payback period of the technology. In this project, small biogas plants connected to latrines will produce methane to generate the electricity for the rural costumers.

Biogas Demonstration Units for Small Animal Farms (SEPS IV)

The project is to be implemented by the National Energy Research Center of Jordan, with the objective of introducing small-scale biogas technology in rural areas of Jordan, where people rely on raising animals for their source of income. The project’s aim is to develop and promote the construction of small animal farm biogas digesters with a size of 10m³, fuelled by cattle manure. In the second stage of the project, training courses and site visits will be held for local farmers and the technology will also be promoted to interested stakeholders and the financial sector.
*implementation in progress*

Energy efficiency has an enormous potential to save both energy and money. Even simple measures can reduce the energy demand tremendously, for instance the eletricity saving potential through efficient lighting is estimated between 30 - 50%. The realization of this energy savings potential, however, not only requires availability of energy efficient devices but a fundamental rethinking of energy consumption, too. The following projects in Mexico and India aim to access these saving potentials within large-scale institutions to demonstrate to public administrations and the public the effectivity of energy efficiency, and to encourage further replication.

Efficient lighting for the University of Mexico (SEPS III)

Büro ö-quadrat identified a huge potential for saving both energy and money in the current illumination system at the University of Mexico City – attended by around 300.000 students. The pilot project that includes four refitting measures will demonstrate and prove the high saving potential and the economic efficiency of the measures. Furthermore, the activities shall practically show how by better illumination learning conditions can be improved and the costs of maintenance reduced. These experiences are then to be documented and disseminated worldwide in stakeholder education workshops together with the project partner UNEP Centre on Sustainable Consumption and Production to show: saved energy is best energy. 
*implementation in progress*

Improving Energy Efficiency on the University of Mauritius Campus (SEPS IV)

The University of Mauritius (UoM) has initiated the "Eco-Campus Initiative" to improve its environmental performance. The main objective of this SEPS cooperation project is to improve the energy efficiency of the campus through the installation of compact fluorescent light bulbs, photovoltaic light sensors for the street lighting on campus and power correction factors. The second target, and a very important part of the project, is to raise awareness amongst both the university and wider communities. This will be achieved through an information campaign (by means of brochures, posters and the design of a general module) about energy efficiency and the possibilities of changing personal behaviour.
*implementation in progress*

Renewable Energy and Energy Efficiency in the Urban Health Sector - Bhubaneswar City Health Services (SEPS IV)

ICLEI South Asia aims to promote the application of renewable energy and energy efficiency in urban health services in India. Following the identification of appropriate appliances, the pilot project at a hospital in Bhubaneswar, state capital of Orissa, will showcase the significant existing potential of this technology. This will result in the development of the decision-making capacity of the municipal hospital management. The building of a framework strategy to include sustainable energy appliances in the health sector and the dissemination of the results will help to convince other local governments in India. For low-income communities in particular, the use of this technology could result in the decrease of energy costs and improvements in the quality of municipal health services.
*implementation in progress*

The Use of Solar Energy Applications in Sheep Breeding in Georgia (SEPS IV)

The main objective of this project, launched by “Sustainable Energy Center – Sun House”, is the introduction of the practice of solar energy usage in sheep breeding in Georgia through capacity-building and pilot implementation. In conjunction with the demonstration of solar energy technologies in a designated sheep-breeding farm (e.g. solar battery charging system, portable solar cooking and water heating system), capacity-building within local SMEs and awareness-raising amongst the shepherds are key issues. The results of the project, to include an outline of a sustainable financial scheme, will be presented to interested stakeholders and potential investors.
*implementation in progress*

Hydro energy is a well established energy source and has been used to produce electricity for about a century. Especially on the small scale with ´run-on-the river` power stations negative effects on the environment that are associated with large hydro power plants can be avoided. To tap this energy source in a sustainable manner and to provide hydro energy to communities is the aim of the following projects.

Sustainable Rural Energy Development (SEPS II)

SOLUCIONES PRACTICAS will develop a rural electrification project in Peru’s highlands. 10 villages will be provided with electricity from solar and pico-hydro power systems. Main activities are the building of technical and managerial capacities, thus each community will be able to own and operate the project on an economically sustainable model. Access to electricity will improve the quality of life for residents, the bottom-up implementation approach will promote local leadership and community decision-making, and the whole project will serve as a demonstration of an appropriate and replicable development model for village-scale renewable energy projects.
*implementation completed*

Community-based Water Resource Utilisation for Hydropower Generation (SEPS IV)

At four isolated sites located in the Eastern Philippines, AIDFI aims to use water resources for hydropower generation via the Firefly system. This small micro hydro electrification system will generate the power to run a battery charging station. A local operator will be responsible for its operation and maintenance. Around 100 families will each own a battery-powered home system for lighting and other appliances. Users will have to pay a charging fee, meaning that costs are directly linked to electricity consumption. The integration of watershed protection and conservation of the surrounding areas will be carried out in parallel to ensure a steady supply of water.
*implementation in progress*

Low Head Micro Hydropower Systems for Application in Poor Villages in the Amazon Region of Brazil (SEPS IV)

IARA is working on a project that exploits innovative hydropower technology. The principle of this technology is to apply broad water wheels with a small diameter to the low water levels of creeks on the river Tapajos region in the Amazon. The wheels will substitute the diesel engine generators that currently provide polluting and expensive energy for only 3 hours a day. The possibility of clean energy for 24 hours a day will enable the two villages involved in the project to make a huge leap in development. It will not only be possible to power electric lights for longer hours than before, but there will also be a constant source of energy for cooling devices, drinking water supply and power tools.
*implementation in progress*

Community-based Micro Hydropower for Electrification and Livelihood of Remote Indigenous Villages in Mindanao (SEPS IV)

The project, which is run by SIBAT, combines the installation of a community-based micro hydropower (MHP) system for household lighting with the establishment of a community-based corn mill enterprise. The MHP system will be supported and sustained by tariff payments from household consumers and corn mill users. The outcome of the project will be that the MHP system will provide off-grid electricity to at least 60 households and will aim to promote the establishment of income-generating enterprises for at least 260 households in Southern Mindanao, the Philippines.
*implementation in progress*

Wind power has become one of world´s fastest growing energy sources. The technology is becoming more and more sophisticated in terms of efficiency, cost effectivity and ease of installation. Especially smaller wind turbines are a viable energy alternative for areas that have no access to electricity - which is demonstrated by our project in Vanuata. It further aims to make wind power an integral element of an overall sustainable energy system of energy generation and consumption.

The Answer is Blowing in the Wind - The Wind power Electrification of the Island of Futuna (SEPS III)

The project wants to provide sustainable energy generated by wind to remote communities in Vanuatu. In short-term it will install wind generators at schools and other institutions. On the long run the viability of RETs shall be demonstrated and thus support to ambitious Vanuata policies to achieve 100% renewable energy. Special focus of VANREPA is on establishing a Renewable Energy Service Cooperative (RESCoop) that will provide the necessary technical and management support. The coop as a non-profit will sell renewable energy to end-users. This organization is seen as essential to ensure the sustainability of the project, as it is “by strength of its management and support, rather than by strength of its technology” that a project succeeds.
*implementation in progress*

Small Wind Power Generation Systems to Provide Clean Energy in Poor Rural Areas of Peru (SEPS IV)

The project proposes to install a 100 Watt wind generator in every household in the community of Alumbre, in the department of Cajamarca, which has a low electrification coefficient of less than 40%. Around 30 homes in the community will benefit directly from the project, which will be the first example of a community wind project in Peru. To ensure the sustainability of the systems, ITDG aims to establish a training programme to increase the knowledge of the local population in the efficient use of energy. In addition, local people elected by the community will be trained to take over control of the operation, maintenance and financial management of the systems.
*implementation in progress*

All SEPS projects include measures to demonstrate and to disseminate the respective project objectives and successes to a wider public. Whereas in the following projects, the specific focus and overall objective is on this aspect - fostering capacity building and showing practical solution -they explicitly promote renewable energy technologies and energy efficiency in Central Asia. In these regions not only a great potential for sustainable energy use can be identified but as well a high demand for information and demonstration of alternative energy solutions.