Creating A Sustainable Energy Business In Rural Honduras
- Conference
- Location
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Austin, Texas
- Publication Date
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June 14, 2009
- Start Date
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June 14, 2009
- End Date
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June 17, 2009
- ISSN
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2153-5965
- Conference Session
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Entrepreneurship Education: Innovation, International Cooperation, and Social Entrepreneurship
- Tagged Division
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Entrepreneurship & Engineering Innovation
- Page Count
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17
- Page Numbers
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14.379.1 - 14.379.17
- DOI
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10.18260/1-2--5480
- Permanent URL
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https://peer.asee.org/5480
- Download Count
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519
Paper Authors
William Jordan Baylor University
WILLIAM JORDAN is the Mechanical Engineering Department Chair at Baylor University. He has B.S. and M.S. degrees in Metallurgical Engineering from the Colorado School of Mines, an M.A. degree in Theology from Denver Seminary, and a Ph.D. in mechanics and materials from Texas A & M University. He teaches materials related courses and does research concerning appropriate technology in developing countries. He also writes and does research in the areas of engineering ethics and engineering education.
Ryan McGhee Baylor University
Ryan McGhee graduated from Baylor University in December 2008 with a joint M.B.A. degree and Master of Engineering degree. His graduate project included the creation of the company described in this paper.
Brian Thomas Baylor University
Brian Thomas is a Senior Lecturer in Electrical and Computer Engineering at Baylor University. His research is focused on appropriate technology for the developing world, and in particular, electrification systems using renewable resources. He has deployed wind power, solar photovoltaic, and hydro power systems in Kenya, Uganda, Honduras, and Texas. He is co-founder and board member for the 501(c)3 organization Engineers with a Mission.
Elizabeth Lemus Baylor University
Elizabeth Lemus in a junior student at Baylor University, majoring in Electrical and Computer Engineering.
Abstract
NOTE: The first page of text has been automatically extracted and included below in lieu of an abstract
Creating a Sustainable Energy Business in Rural Honduras
Abstract
International service learning has become a significant component of many engineering education programs. Much of the work has been done as volunteer projects where a group of students and faculty go to another country and install some engineering project in a poor community. The students then go home and leave the local community to try to maintain it.
Many of these projects have a long term effect upon the student participants as they gain a perspective on the needs of the world. However, their impact on the local community they tried to serve can be much shorter in duration.
This paper describes our work in rural Honduras. Several years ago we started out by designing and installing a micro-hydroelectric system in a poor mountainous village. It began operations in 2007 in a village of about 50 homes. Although the villagers were trained in the general operation of the equipment, they were not trained well enough to operate a small business with it. Therefore, cash was not available to repair or maintain the system. We have, therefore, transitioned to a different working model that not only deploys equipment, but also provides a system of enterprise which helps the system operate as a financially sustainable venture.
During July and August of 2008, ten students and two faculty members worked for extended periods of time in Honduras. Part of the project was to create a pico-hydroelectric utility company in a village of 25 homes. A pico-hydroelectric system was deployed to generate electricity and a company was formed to collects fees from villagers, maintain the system, and prevent theft of electricity. These fees pay the salaries of three families to work for the company on a part-time basis. This local company will be a franchise. Part of their profits will be paid to the franchiser. The franchiser is a second, parent company, incorporated in the United States with operations in Honduras. Fees paid by the franchisee to the franchiser will allow another energy company to be created in a nearby village. We are in the beginning stages of the process, having formed only one franchise at this present time. Future papers will describe the results of this franchising.
This project can have a broader impact than just rural Honduras. The choice of franchising was made for rapid scalability. We can use the knowledge gained by creating these micro- hydroelectric systems in other developing countries. Cheap and clean electricity, along with local jobs, can help improve the health, education, and economic burden of rural people.
Project Background
Our program of international involvement is a significant step in our goal to make service learning a larger component in our engineering program. This project is also one step in the process of expanding our research work in appropriate technology. We use the term
Jordan, W., & McGhee, R., & Thomas, B., & Lemus, E. (2009, June), Creating A Sustainable Energy Business In Rural Honduras Paper presented at 2009 Annual Conference & Exposition, Austin, Texas. 10.18260/1-2--5480
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