Executives from Honeywell’s global distributor for solar technology, Global Solar Trading BV (GST), visited El Salvador recently to meet with Solanda, a local company providing renewable energy technology.

The two companies clinched a deal to distribute and expand solar technology in Central America.

“El Salvador‘s energy potential is high, as there are an average of six hours of intensive sunshine every day throughout the year,” said Richard Duijn, GST executive. Duijn, a Dutch entrepreneur, also gave talks during his visit to industry specialists, technicians and other companies in El Salvador about the use and benefits of solar energy.

Solanda’s Operations Director, Diego Rivas, said that 4 – 5 percent of the total power generation in the country is solar. “At the moment we have focused mainly on the business and industrial sector, because they have the greatest demand for energy. The residential sector will be added little by little,” he added.

Rivas said that solar technologies, especially panels, are becoming more accessible price-wise. He affirmed that Solanda’s renewable energy systems have 20 – 25 year guarantees. “We aim to reduce the impact on the environment because it is part of its social responsibility as a company,” he said.

The Solanda executive said that anyone interested in implementing solar can call his company. “After we do the feasibility study: design the system, and evaluate of the ceilings … we make a proposal. We also can help finance these projects. Right now we have a couple of houses that are already using solar panels.”

The honorary consul of The Netherlands in El Salvador, Peter Klingeman, said that solar projects can help to improve the current electricity production capacity in El Salvador. “The greatest amount of energy consumption is in the daytime when there is plenty of sunshine, and this can help balance the supply,” he said.

Representatives of Solanda said they are developing partnerships with Dutch development banks such as FMO, Oikocredit and Triodos to fund alternative energy projects.