Roberto Bonilla isn’t waiting for the government to do something about climate change and poverty, he’s taking matters into his own hands. He’s not a politician or pop star, nor does he head an international organization or grassroots movement. Mr. Bonilla is just a businessman running a small electrical supply store in El
Salvador.
But what a difference a business makes. Mr. Bonilla owns and operates SEESA, an electrical supply store turned solar system shop in San Salvador. In a country of over 7 million people where more than 1/3 of the population lives without access to energy, SEESA’s solar home and grid-connected systems will provide lighting and electricity to 7,500 people, saving approximately 15,000 tons in
carbon dioxide emissions over the next 20 years. No small feat for a family-run business.
The direct beneficiaries of Mr. Bonilla’s work include Rosa and Valentin Argueta. The family of five plant beans to sell in the market. With a recently installed solar panel, they see the difference that solar energy can make. During the day, the Arguetas collect their beans; at night, by solar illumination, they count them. “What can I
say?” said family matriarch, Rosa. “Happiness is the best word to describe what we are feeling now that we have the solar panel installed.
E+Co recently invested $220,000 in SEESA to expand its solar division, enabling the company to provide more access to clean energy in a greater number of rural areas. This loan was followed up with an additional $200,000 investment to support further expansion.
In addition to selling and installing clean energy products, SEESA also hosts a weekly radio show called Energia Limpia (Clean Energy). “I believe this initiative is pretty important, because we are educating low income people about clean energy and energy efficiency alternatives,” Bonilla said. “It’s a very casual and successful show, but I have a mission to educate people on the consequences of climate change and what every person can do to save our planet.”
Local efforts aside, Mr. Bonilla knows that regional collaboration is not only necessary to reduce climate change but also plain old good business. With E+Co’s assistance, SEESA has connected to a network of solar photovoltaic suppliers in Central America, including Nicaragua’s top seller, Tecnosol. “I have visited Tecnosol and have
learned about their experiences in the market and how they have grown their business,” Bonilla notes.
Mr. Bonilla’s work is being admired from near and far. Mr. Bonilla’s German supplier recently visited him in El Salvador, and was positively impressed by the quality and standards of the SEESA operation.
One of SEESA’s recent projects was the installation of a solar photovoltaic (PV) system for the Executive Hydroelectric Commission of Rio Lempa (Comision Ejecutiva Hidroelectrica del Rio Lempa, or CEL). This facility has a 24 kilowatt hour capacity and will primarily provide electricity to CEL’s headquarters building in San Salvador. The facility will also double as a solar “laboratory” which will provide the ground work for other on-grid systems in El Salvador. According to Mr. Bonilla, CEL is considering a larger solar farm within the next two years. This would be a step forward in renewable generation in El Salvador and Central America as a whole.
By Karla Gonzalez, Monitoring & Evaluation Officer Central America
