Market assessment of photovoltaic power systems for agricultural applications in Colombia
An assessment is made of the market potential for photovoltaic systems in the agricultural sector of Colombia. Consideration was given to over twenty specific livestock production, crop production, and rural services applications requiring less than 15 KW of power without backup power. Analysis revealed that near-term potential exists for photovoltaic technology in applications in coffee depulging, cattle watering, rural domestic users, rural water supply and small irrigation, rural telephones, rural health posts, and vaccine refrigeration. Market size would be in the 1200 to 2500 KWp range in the 1981-86 timeframe. Positive factors influencing the market size include a lack of electrical services, potential for developing the Llanos Orientales Territory, high fuel costs in remote areas, balance of system availability, the presence of wealthy land owners, and a large government-sponsored contract for PV-powered rural telephone systems. The anticipated eligibility of photovoltaic equipment for loans under the Fifth Law would be a further positive factor in market potential. Important negative factors include relatively inexpensive energy in developed locations, reliance on hydropower, lack of familarity with PV equipment, a lack of financing, and established foreign competition in PV technology. Recommendations to American PV manufacturers attempting to develop the Colombian market are to offer complete systems, perform as much production and assembly of systems as possible in Colombia or another Andean Pact country to avoid higher tariffs, and consider forming corporations with majority Colombian participation in light or trade advantages.
- Research Organization:
- National Aeronautics and Space Administration, Cleveland, OH (USA). Lewis Research Center; DHR, Inc., Washington, DC (USA); ARD, Inc., Burlington, VT (USA)
- DOE Contract Number:
- AI01-76ET20485
- OSTI ID:
- 5249509
- Report Number(s):
- DOE/NASA/0180-5; NASA-CR-165524; ON: DE82012351
- Country of Publication:
- United States
- Language:
- English
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Related Subjects
29 ENERGY PLANNING
POLICY AND ECONOMY
AGRICULTURE
PHOTOVOLTAIC POWER SUPPLIES
MARKETING RESEARCH
BUSINESS
CATTLE
COFFEE BEANS
COLOMBIA
CONSTRAINTS
CROPS
DEMOGRAPHY
EXPORTS
FINANCIAL INCENTIVES
FINANCING
INSOLATION
IRRIGATION
LENDING INSTITUTIONS
LIFE-CYCLE COST
MEDICAL CENTERS
PLANNING
POWER RANGE 1-10 MW
RESIDENTIAL SECTOR
TELEPHONES
WATER SUPPLY
ANIMALS
COMMUNICATIONS
COST
DOMESTIC ANIMALS
ELECTRONIC EQUIPMENT
EQUIPMENT
INDUSTRY
LATIN AMERICA
MAMMALS
POWER SUPPLIES
RUMINANTS
SEEDS
SOLAR EQUIPMENT
SOUTH AMERICA
VERTEBRATES
140600* - Solar Energy- Photovoltaic Power Systems
140300 - Solar Energy- Economic
Industrial
& Business Aspects
299001 - Energy Planning & Policy- Solar- (1989-)