ABOUT US

What We Do 

Grupo Fenix's primary goal is to research, develop and apply appropriate, renewable energy technologies in Nicaragua. Grupo Fenix has the following objectives: 

• To conduct practical research into appropriate energy technologies 
• To support community self-determination and local responsibility for the projects 
• To increase the technical skill level and employability of local people 
• To improve health and living standards of families and communities 
• To preserve natural resources.

Who We Are

Eager to explore the promise of renewable energy in post-Somoza Nicaragua, a group of students from the National Engineering University, itself born during the revolution, began discussing how they might work together to bring these technologies to the people of Nicaragua.  The students formed a club, which they called Grupo Fenix, to symbolize Nicaragua’s rise from the ashes of its recent civil war, as well as the renewable nature of energy from the sun, wind, and other such resources.  Guided by their professor, Susan Kinne, they took advantage of learning opportunities to install solar pumps, solar drip irrigation systems, micro-hydroelectric systems, PV battery charging centers and hundreds of photovoltaic systems in rural communities.  They also built solar dryers, solar water heating systems, biogas digesters, dozens of solar ovens, hundreds of photovoltaic panels and a hand full of miniature solar cars. 

From these early efforts, several organizations have come into being, primary among them, the renewable energy program at the National Engineering University of Nicaragua (UNI), Programa de Fuentes Alternas de Energía (PFAE); a private renewable energy business, dealing primarily in solar applications, and now among the most prominent energy businesses in the country, Suni Solar and the Solar Women of Totogalpa, a group of women in the department of Madriz, working together to create a sustainable solar community.   In addition, Skyheat Associates is a Grupo Fenix partner and its US fiscal sponsor.  And young professionals trained during these efforts and instilled with the values of serving the rural poor are now working in government agencies, businesses and various other NGOs.   All of these organizations and people, including long time international volunteers, donors and advisers, working together to improve the quality of life of rural Nicaragua while preserving and fostering its local culture and environment, comprise the consortium and spirit that is Grupo Fenix.

The mission of Grupo Fenix is to contribute to the well-being of rural communities, creating an awareness of sustainable life styles through technical and cultural exchange, and promotion and investigation of renewable energy technologies.  Its guiding principles are community participation, respect for the environment and human dignity.

Grupo Fenix works to achieve its mission through its Center for Research, Promotion and Production of Renewable Energy (CIPPER) to facilitate a “knowledge cycle” between universities and the rural community.  Through a dynamic exchange of ideas, knowledge is shared between the university and the community.  In the community, ideas are applied and tested against the reality of daily life.   The lessons learned from rural applications in turn inform researchers and professors at the University and the cycle of knowledge continues to improve the technologies and their application. 

Ultimately the CIPPER aims to develop renewable energy products and processes that can be adopted and adapted by other institutions and organizations.

The members of Grupo Fenix appreciate the importance of the social aspects of technology transfer and that technology alone does not bring about change.  They have learned that change is possible only when community members experience first-hand the positive effects of renewable energy technologies and only if they are empowered to take ownership of the process of change.  Grupo Fenix is focusing its current efforts on a group of women in one community who had begun to experiment with renewable energy technologies and who dream of bringing a renewable energy development model to other poor rural communities in Nicaragua.  These are the Solar Women of Totogalpa. 

Community members have been working with Grupo Fénix since 1999, when Grupo Fenix began a project to create jobs in solar energy for land mine victims.  The Solar Women of Totogalpa grew out of these early efforts, and have advanced their dream to become a model solar community over the past ten years and are now making and selling solar panels, cookers, and dryers.  They also sell solar roasted coffee, and solar dried fruits and medicinal herbs.  They engage in CIPPER exchanges regularly with national and international universities and other environmental research and learning centers.  

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