In Latin America and the Caribbean, interest in renewable energy sources and energy efficiency (R3E) is constantly growing. The effective implementation of the national development plans and energy policies requires the institutions of a national quality infrastructure (QI) to be functioning efficiently and to offer metrology, testing, standardization, accreditation and certification capabilities. Measuring energy quantities reliably, testing and certifying power production facilities and accrediting testing laboratories for the determination of the energy consumption of electrical appliances are only a few examples of the required services. Establishing these technical requirements and harmonising criteria and their application have a positive influence on the national and regional trade with energy and with energy-efficient electrical appliances, since they contribute to increasing market transparency, the quality of the traded products and to reducing export costs.

Data

The volume of the project amounts to 2 million EUR for the first phase (2011-2015). The target group of the project are the consumers of electrical energy and the users of equipment producing electricity from renewable energy sources – especially private households and SMEs. The intermediaries are the regional and national QI institutions, as well as the regulatory authorities and the electric utilities.Modes of delivery for the support measures are the provision of short term experts for subject-related, organizational and process consultation measures, e.g., to support harmonization processes as well as training measures, seminars and exchange of experience for employees of regional and national QI institutions in the fields of renewable energy sources and energy efficiency.

Background

The development of national accreditation bodies, metrology and standardization institutes in Latin America and the Caribbean is supported by pan-American umbrella organizations to which they are affiliated: the Sistema Interamericana de Metrología (SIM), the Comisión Panamericana de Normas Técnicas (COPANT) and the InterAmerican Accreditation Cooperation (IAAC). The regional project aims to strengthen the capabilities of these regional QI organizations and of their national members in the fields of energy efficiency and renewable energy sources and to promote mutual coordination. The focus of the first phase lies on the following topics, identified as priorities by the partners and experts during the preparation phase:

• Quality assurance for solar thermal equipment for water heating,
• smart and traditional metering for national electricity grids
• Reliable determination and documentation (e.g. labeling) of the energy efficiency of household appliances.

Partners

SIM, COPANT and IAAC serve as the project partners, implementing activities in cooperation with PTB. The leading political partner is the Organization of American States (OAS). The UN Economic Commission for Latin America and the Caribbean (CEPAL), the International Renewable Energy Agency (IRENA) and the Latin American Energy Organization (OLADE) are involved as strategic partners and consultants with regard to energy policy issues.