The document discusses a feasibility study conducted by New Mexico State University for two proposed solar photovoltaic power pilot projects in El Salvador. It identifies two potential sites for the projects located at existing hydropower plants. The study involves technical, environmental, and financial analyses to determine the viability of 4 MW photovoltaic plants at each site. The goal is to help El Salvador diversify its energy portfolio and reduce high electricity costs while also expanding markets for U.S. solar suppliers.

1. Feasibility Study for the
CEL Solar Photovoltaic
Power Pilot Project in El
Salvador
L. Martín Gómez Rocha
NMSU-Institute for Energy and
Environment, College of Engineering
New Mexico State University

2. PV Pilot Project, El Salvador
• Proposal
• In 2011, USTDA released RFPs for four
projects in Latin America
• Awarded to NMSU in January 2012
• Contract signed in May 2012 (start delayed
until August)
New Mexico State University

3. PV Pilot Project, El Salvador
• Background
• El Salvador opened its energy market in 2007
• Over 15 small utilities (most of them private)
• Comisión Ejecutiva Hidroeléctrica del Rio
Lempa (CEL), public utility that used to be in
charge of the whole electricity generation in
the country
• There is now a competitive market ~1,300
MW total
New Mexico State University

4. PV Pilot Project, El Salvador
• Background
• No fossil fuels resources in country
• El Salvador heavily depends on imported oil
• High cost of electricity ~25 cents/kWh
• El Salvador wants to expand its renewable
energy resources including hydropower, solar,
wind, geothermal.
• CEL is tendering a 14 MW PV plant.
New Mexico State University

5. PV Pilot Project, El Salvador
• Background
• CEL already has a 24 kWp pilot project at its
headquarters in San Salvador.
New Mexico State University

6. PV Pilot Project, El Salvador
• NMSU Study
• Composed of 11 Tasks:
• Task 1: Kick-Off Meeting and Inception Report
– Subtask 1.1: Kick-Off Meeting
– Subtask 1.2: Inception Report
• Task 2: Technical Analysis
– Subtask 2.1: Available Documentation
– Subtask 2.2: Solar Resource and Site Assessments
– Subtask 2.3: Preliminary Comparative Analysis of Solar Photovoltaic
Technologies
– Subtask 2.4: Technical Configuration and Preliminary Conceptual Design
• Task 3: Preliminary Environmental Impact Assessment
• New Mexico State University

7. PV Pilot Project, El Salvador
• Task 3: Preliminary Environmental Impact Assessment
• Task 4: U.S. Sources of Supply, identifying the potential
value of U.S. exports of products and services
• Task 5: Financial Analysis
• Task 6: Risk Analysis
New Mexico State University

8. PV Pilot Project, El Salvador
• Task 7: Regulatory Review
– Subtask 7.1 : Permits
– Subtask 7.2: Tariff Filing
• Task 8: Development Impact Assessment
• Task 9: Implementation Plan
• Task 10: Financing Plan
• Task 11: Final Report
New Mexico State University

9. PV Pilot Project, El Salvador
• Task 2
• It is the backbone of the study
• The results from this Task will determine the rest of the study
• Will define the size of the project, according to the available land
and solar resource
• It is the next step of the study, due by the end of January
New Mexico State University

10. PV Pilot Project, El Salvador
• Proposed locations
Hydropower plant “Cerrón Grande”
New Mexico State University

11. PV Pilot Project, El Salvador
• Proposed locations
Hydropower plant “Cerrón Grande”
• 69 Km (43 mi) from San Salvador
• Excellent roads to the site
New Mexico State University

12. PV Pilot Project, El Salvador
• Proposed locations
• Available land: 10.4 Ha
• Plots (parcelas) 19, 23 & 24
New Mexico State University

13. PV Pilot Project, El Salvador
• Proposed locations
• “Cerrón Grande”
New Mexico State University

14. PV Pilot Project, El Salvador
• Proposed locations
“Cerrón Grande”
New Mexico State University

15. PV Pilot Project, El Salvador
• Proposed locations
Hydropower plant “5 de Noviembre”
New Mexico State University

16. PV Pilot Project, El Salvador
• Proposed locations
Hydropower plant “5 de Noviembre”
89 Km (56 mi) from San Salvador
Excellent roads to the site
Available land: 9.2 Ha
Plots: 34, 36 & 38, Soccer field and La Pista
New Mexico State University

17. PV Pilot Project, El Salvador
• Proposed locations
“5 de Noviembre”
New Mexico State University

18. PV Pilot Project, El Salvador
• Proposed locations
“5 de Noviembre”
New Mexico State University

19. PV Pilot Project, El Salvador
• Proposed
locations
“5 de Noviembre”
La Pista (The runway) 5.4 Ha
Will be used temporarily for the
service facilities of the company
repowering the hydropower
plant, +20-25 MW.
New Mexico State University

20. PV Pilot Project, El Salvador
• Proposed locations
“5 de Noviembre”
In La Pista, there is a manmade
hill (~45 feet high) from the
materials removed during the
building of the hydropower plant.
New Mexico State University

21. PV Pilot Project, El Salvador
• Environmental issues (Task 3)
– El Salvador has severe problems of deforestation
– Environmental laws are really tough
– For instance, for every 8 inch diameter tree being cut, 10
trees have to be planted
– Environmental forms to be submitted for projects less than
5 MW or 5 Ha
– A comprehensive Environmental Impact Assessment is
required for projects larger than 5 MW or 5 Ha (expensive)
New Mexico State University

22. PV Pilot Project, El Salvador
• Interconnection issues
– It seems there will not be any technical problems
hooking the photovoltaic plant to the grid at both
sites
– In “Cerrón Grande” there is a distribution line @
46KV, about 200 meters from the project site
– In “5 de Noviembre” there is an “electrical bus” in
the substation that is not being used and there is
enough room in the transformers (@41.6 MVA).
New Mexico State University

23. PV Pilot Project, El Salvador
• Interconnection issues
New Mexico State University

24. PV Pilot Project, El Salvador
• Solar Resource
• They have been monitoring
in several places
• UES, UCA, Meteorological
Stations, LaGeo (DNI)
• Good solar resource in most
of the country; 5.8 kWh/m2
average solar irradiance
New Mexico State University

25. PV Pilot Project, El Salvador
• PV project already installed at the
International Airport in Comalapa
– Air Force Base (Salvadoran and USAF)
– 99 kWp total at two sites
New Mexico State University

26. PV Pilot Project, El Salvador
• International Airport at Comalapa
New Mexico State University

27. PV Pilot Project, El Salvador
• International Airport at Comalapa
New Mexico State University

28. PV Pilot Project, El Salvador
• International Airport at Comalapa
New Mexico State University

29. PV Pilot Project, El Salvador
• International Airport at Comalapa
New Mexico State University

30. PV Pilot Project, El Salvador
• Final Remarks
– The energy sector legal framework allows the development of
PV projects in El Salvador.
– El Salvador government policies are looking to diversify its
energy portfolio
– We are thinking of two 4 MWp photovoltaic plant, one for each
site
– NMSU is looking to expand markets for solar products from
American and New Mexican suppliers
– One important goal of the project is to reduce the high price of
electricity in El Salvador
New Mexico State University