The project manager of the PVSYST Foundation and the technical coordinator of PVsyst visited Kyrgyzstan to monitor the PROMEE (Professionnels pour la Maîtrise de l'Efficacité Energétique) project. The aim of PROMEE is to train craftsmen in thermal insulation solutions and techniques, and to promote access to these solutions for households by granting zero-interest loans.

A second objective was to assess the possibility of developing a second project in conjunction with the teams from CAMP Alatoo, the implementing partner.

Tangible results

During this first phase (October 2021 - October 2023), the project has enabled work to be carried out on 21 houses in the Karakol area (Issyk-Kul Oblast). This figure falls short of the project's objectives: this is due to the fact that the cost of the work for each house was higher than expected, as households chose to have several types of work carried out at the same time (roofs and external walls, windows and external walls, etc.). Far from being a failure, it shows that the area's residents have been convinced of the usefulness of the insulation work.

Monitoring was carried out at around ten homes, with the installation of measuring devices (humidity, temperature). An initial analysis of the readings for the winter 2022-2023 period, carried out by PVsyst's technical collaborator, showed interesting results in terms of heat gain and humidity reduction.

This trend was confirmed by some households during the mission: they declared that they had halved their consumption (2.5 tonnes of coal used compared with 5 tonnes in previous years). In the second phase, a more detailed protocol will be implemented on a limited number of houses, with pre- and post-insulation measurements, as well as daily monitoring of fuel consumption.

Ideas for the future

During the mission, a number of areas for improvement were identified:

• Use of higher-performance insulation materials (glass or rock wool instead of polystyrene).
• Raising awareness of the importance of ventilation, to avoid problems of damp, mold and related health risks.
• Mechanical protection at key points (door stops, foundations) to prevent damage from weather, impact or pets (as shown in the photos below).

These different solutions create additional costs at the time of the work, but will increase the efficiency and lifespan of the work, as well as domestic comfort.

Communication materials (households) and technical resources (craftsmen) will be set up in a second phase of the project.

The PVSYST Foundation is currently working with CAMP Alatoo on the design of the second phase of the project.

The origin of the idea

CAMP Alatoo has identified a number of areas for action as part of its strategic review. On this occasion, cold storage needs were identified, particularly in the temperate zone around Lake Issyk-Kul, where fruit crops such as apples, pears and apricots thrive.

Many areas around the lake have few or no such structures, leaving producers dependent on market prices set by wholesalers in Bishkek, neighboring Kazakhstan or Russia. The impossibility of storing agricultural produce leaves no room for negotiation.

During the mission, cold storage centers were visited, notably in the northern zone of Lake Issyk-Kul.

This has enabled us to :

• Understand how such structures operate;
• Information on related costs (energy) and storage prices for producers;
• A lack of facilities in certain areas around the lake.

The economic benefits are considerable: for example, locally grown red apples are sold to wholesalers for around 30 soms a kilo in October and November. A month later, the price rose to 35 soms. If they are kept for a further 3-4 months and sold in the spring, the price rises to 60 som. Over and above the selling price, cold storage would also avoid losses linked to the precarious storage solutions currently used (outdoors, under mulch). These losses represent 10% of stored products (compared with a maximum of 3 to 5% in the storage facilities we visited).

Identification of an area suitable for installation

The Chon-Jargylchak Aymak (district) area (see map) appears to be the most interesting:

• Large number (400 families) of small to medium-sized producers (around 2 hectares).
• No access to storage solutions.
• An existing community dynamic to build on.

The main objective is to ensure the right balance between participative social management to benefit as many people as possible, and the economic aspect (costs, income, profitability) to ensure the viability of the structure.

The PVSYST Foundation will support CAMP Alatoo in carrying out a study aimed at identifying local interest in a participatory management storage facility and outlining a business model (activities, resources, costs, economic environment, potential customers, partners, etc.). and thus encourage the development of a socially useful and sustainable project.

The significant amount of sunshine in the area in question means that photovoltaic modules could be used to ensure the proper operation of the cooling system. Initial evidence of this was gathered during the mission. The suitability of the system will be confirmed during the study phase, taking into account various parameters (legal environment, locally available equipment, costs, etc.).

The PVSYST Foundation would like to sincerely thank the CAMP Alatoo team for its involvement and professionalism, as well as for the logistical organization of the mission.