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FAQS

In Renace we are engaged with the environment and with the development of the population in a sustainable manner. We are ready to solve any doubts regarding our projects and the benefits we offer as a hydroelectric

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Our most frequent questions

Renace develops power generation projects with renewable sources to benefit the country through competitive fees and promoting the social development and sustainability of the electric market.

Following you can solve some of the most frequent questions of our operation and the electric market. 

WHAT IS A HYDROELECTRIC?

A hydroelectric central is a power generation system through the potential energy of a riverbed.

To generate electric power, the hydroelectric takes advantage of falling water movement, that passes  through a hydraulic turbine, transmiting energy to the generator.

HOW DOES THE HYDROELECTRIC OPERATE AND WHAT BENEFITS ARE OFFERED TO THE COMMUNITIES WHERE IT OPERATES?

The basics of a Hydropower central are determined according the country of establishment. In the case of Renace, is a project located in Guatemala, runned by CMI Energia and of Guatemalan owners. The promotion of human rights and the conservation of the environment are part of the compromise of the Complex with the community of San Pedro Carchá. To accomplish this compromise, Renace has developed a series of Sustainable Social Programs that follow the growth of the population, as the promotion of local production and a stable economy.

WHERE ARE THE RENACE HYDROELECTRIC PLANTS LOCATED?

The hydroelectric plants are benefited from the water flow, therefore they are strategically positioned so that they may take advantage of the river flow.

In the case of Renace Hydroelectric Plants, they are found in the Cahabón River in a 21 kilometer section inside the municipality of San Pedro Carchá, district of Alta Verapaz. The Renace Hydroelectric Complex only has its only located over the Cahabón River and has no expansion plans in any other area of Alta Verapaz.

WHAT ARE THE OBLIGATIONS A HYDROELECTRIC MUST COMPLY WTH, IN ORDER TO OPERATE IN GUATEMALA

The hydroelectric must fulfill several permits and authorizations to operate. Between them, we can mention:

· Pre-feasibility Studies
· Environmental Impact Studies
· Geotechnics-Geological Studies
· Topographic Studies
· Hydrologic Studies 
· Mediation and consensus with neighbor communities
· Resolution approving by the Ministerio de Ambiente y Recursos Naturales
· Resolution approving by the Comisión Nacional de Energía Eléctrica
· Resolution approving by the Ministerio de Energía y Minas
· Construction Permit
· Financing
· Power delivery produced to the National
Power system

IN ORDER TO OPERATE IN GUATEMALA, WHICH ARE THE PERMITS AND LICENSES, RENACE HAS TO COMPLY WITH?

In the case of the Renace Hydroelectric Centrals, all studies were presented for its evaluation before the ministry; since they are individual projects, they were established individually pursuant to law.

The authorization documents for the use of the Cahabón River (Authorization for the Use of Public Domain Property) were granted by the State of Guatemala through the Ministerio de Energía y Minas in the years 1991 (Renace I, II and III and V) and 1994 for Renace IV.

Since the authorizations are previous to the ratification by the State of Guatemala in the year 1997 of the Convenio 169 of the International Labour Organization, a prior and informed consultation it's not applicable.

Notwithstanding the above, since the beginning Renace has made processes of socialization including not only the opportune transference of information of the positive and negative impacts of the projects to all the neighbor communities.

Renace through the execution of agreements, has engaged in benefits provided by the hydroelectric for the communities.

WHY DOESN´T RENACE SELL ELECTRIC POWER INDIVIDUALLY AND TO WHOM IT GIVES WHAT IT GENERATES?

In Guatemala, the law protects the energy final consumer therefore it has separated the generator, the carrier and the distributor. All the power generators in Guatemala deliver the energy they generate to the electric system of the country.

Even though the generator of energy wished to deliver energy in the area of influence where its generation central is found, the law prohibits it to do it.

HOW HAS RENACE REDUCE THE ELECTRIC POWER TARIFF?

Renace actively participated in the processes of public tender named PEG28 and PEG39 directed by the distributing entities EEGSA and ENERGUATE and supervised by the Comisión Nacional de Energía Eléctrica (CNEE), offering the lower tariffs in comparison to other competitors.

With this form of generation, the cost of energy has dramatically fallen in Guatemala and in the last 4 years it has fallen in more than 46% for the regulated user.

WHAT IS THE ROLE OF A POWER GENERATOR?

The role of a generator is the development of power generation projects, administering each central to generate power and later deliver it to the National System of Energy.

In Guatemala, the law protects the final consumer of energy, therefore it has separated the roles in: generator, carrier and distributor.

DOES A HYDROELECTRIC CONTAMINATE THE CHANNELS?

No, in fact it is very common for the Hydroelectric to remove waste found in the rivers, since this waste cannot go through the turbines in the process of power generation. Therefore, besides not consuming water, they remove waste and trash of the water to continue its course, cleaner than it came to the central.
 
Besides it is a lower cost form of generation. In fact the investment and initial work which generates impact in the area of influence, is completely relieved through programs of reforestation, water care and environmental education.

The River Cahabón (regrettably like many other rivers in Guatemala) is the drainage of the municipalities it goes through. The Renace projects help the natural purification of the River Cahabón, since a great amount of solid waste from the municipalities is removed, contrarily it would end up in the Izabal Lake, affecting the biodiversity as it goes through. Only in 2015, 10 tons of solid waste were removed.

DOES A HYDROELECTRIC CONSUME OR ALTER WATER?

The Hydroelectric centrals do not consume water, they only take advantage of its movement and fall. They return 100% of the water which is used by the flow.

The water passing through the power house does not carry energy, since the only thing used by the hydroelectric is the force of the water to move the turbines. When the water unites with the ecological flow, it returns cleaner and more oxygenated.

ARE HYDROELECTRIC HARMFUL FOR THE ENVIRONMENT?

The Hydroelectric is not harmful for the environment, in fact hydraulic energy together with Aeolic and Solar energy are some of the more friendly forms of power generation.

Many times, the Ministerio de Ambiente has visited each one of the phases of Renace to make environmental audits and learn about their operational practices. In such audits, it can be evidenced that the final opinions have been of “zero findings” which shows the excellent operational management and the meticulous care of the environmental section from Renace, which constantly monitors all environmental indicators of biodiversity and others, generating programs which guarantee the environmental transcendence in the area.

WHAT IS RENEWABLE ENERGY?

Renewable energy is all the energy coming from systems of generation which are friendly with the environment. These generate energy through natural sources which are inexhaustible or which regenerate after being used.

There are several renewable energies such as:
o Hydraulic
o Eolic
o Solar / Thermic
o Biomass
o Biogas
o Maritime
o Geothermic

WHAT IS A HYDROELECTRIC?

A hydroelectric central is a power generation system through the potential energy of a riverbed. 

To generate electric power, the hydroelectric takes advantage of falling water movement, that passes  through a hydraulic turbine, transmiting energy to the generator.

HOW DOES THE HYDROELECTRIC OPERATE AND WHAT BENEFITS ARE OFFERED TO THE COMMUNITIES WHERE IT OPERATES?

The basics of a Hydropower central are determined according the country of establishment. In the case of Renace, is a project located in Guatemala, runned by CMI Energia and of Guatemalan owners. The promotion of human rights and the conservation of the environment are part of the compromise of the Complex with the community of San Pedro Carchá. To accomplish this compromise, Renace has developed a series of Sustainable Social Programs that follow the growth of the population, as the promotion of local production and a stable economy.

WHERE ARE THE RENACE HYDROELECTRIC PLANTS LOCATED?

The hydroelectric plants are benefited from the water flow, therefore they are strategically positioned so that they may take advantage of the river flow.In the case of Renace Hydroelectric Plants, they are found in the Cahabón River in a 21 kilometer section inside the municipality of San Pedro Carchá, district of Alta Verapaz.

The Renace Hydroelectric Complex only has its only located over the Cahabón River and has no expansion plans in any other area of Alta Verapaz.

WHAT ARE THE OBLIGATIONS A HYDROELECTRIC MUST COMPLY WITH, IN ORDER TO OPERATE IN GUATEMALA?

The hydroelectric must fulfill several permits and authorizations to operate. Between them, we can mention:

· Pre-feasibility Studies
· Environmental Impact Studies
· Geotechnics-Geological Studies
· Topographic Studies· Hydrologic Studies  
· Mediation and consensus with neighbor communities 
· Resolution approving by the Ministerio de Ambiente y Recursos Naturales
· Resolution approving by the Comisión Nacional de Energía Eléctrica
· Resolution approving by the Ministerio de Energía y Minas
· Construction Permit
· Financing· Power delivery produced to the NationalPower system

IN ORDER TO OPERATE IN GUATEMALA, WHICH ARE THE PERMITS AND LICENSES, RENACE HAS TO COMPLY WITH?

In the case of the Renace Hydroelectric Centrals, all studies were presented for its evaluation before the ministry; since they are individual projects, they were established individually pursuant to law.

The authorization documents for the use of the Cahabón River (Authorization for the Use of Public Domain Property) were granted by the State of Guatemala through the Ministerio de Energía y Minas in the years 1991 (Renace I, II and III and V) and 1994 for Renace IV. 

Since the authorizations are previous to the ratification by the State of Guatemala in the year 1997 of the Convenio 169 of the International Labour Organization, a prior and informed consultation it's not applicable.

Notwithstanding the above, since the beginning Renace has made processes of socialization including not only the opportune transference of information of the positive and negative impacts of the projects to all the neighbor communities. 

Renace through the execution of agreements, has engaged in benefits provided by the hydroelectric for the communities.

WHY DOESN´T RENACE SELL ELECTRIC POWER INDIVIDUALLY AND TO WHOM IT GIVES WHAT IT GENERATES?

In Guatemala, the law protects the energy final consumer therefore it has separated the generator, the carrier and the distributor. All the power generators in Guatemala deliver the energy they generate to the electric system of the country. 

Even though the generator of energy wished to deliver energy in the area of influence where its generation central is found, the law prohibits it to do it.

HOW HAS RENACE REDUCE THE ELECTRIC POWER TARIFF?

Renace actively participated in the processes of public tender named PEG28 and PEG39 directed by the distributing entities EEGSA and ENERGUATE and supervised by the Comisión Nacional de Energía Eléctrica (CNEE), offering the lower tariffs in comparison to other competitors.With this form of generation, the cost of energy has dramatically fallen in Guatemala and in the last 4 years it has fallen in more than 46% for the regulated user

WHAT IS THE ROLE OF A POWER GENERATOR?

The role of a generator is the development of power generation projects, administering each central to generate power and later deliver it to the National System of Energy.

In Guatemala, the law protects the final consumer of energy, therefore it has separated the roles in: generator, carrier and distributor

DOES A HYDROELECTRIC CONTAMINATE THE CHANNELS?

No, in fact it is very common for the Hydroelectric to remove waste found in the rivers, since this waste cannot go through the turbines in the process of power generation. Therefore, besides not consuming water, they remove waste and trash of the water to continue its course, cleaner than it came to the central. 
  
Besides it is a lower cost form of generation. In fact the investment and initial work which generates impact in the area of influence, is completely relieved through programs of reforestation, water care and environmental education.

The River Cahabón (regrettably like many other rivers in Guatemala) is the drainage of the municipalities it goes through. The Renace projects help the natural purification of the River Cahabón, since a great amount of solid waste from the municipalities is removed, contrarily it would end up in the Izabal Lake, affecting the biodiversity as it goes through. Only in 2015, 10 tons of solid waste were removed.

DOES A HYDROELECTRIC CONSUME OR ALTER WATER?

The Hydroelectric centrals do not consume water, they only take advantage of its movement and fall. They return 100% of the water which is used by the flow.

The water passing through the power house does not carry energy, since the only thing used by the hydroelectric is the force of the water to move the turbines. When the water unites with the ecological flow, it returns cleaner and more oxygenated.

ARE HYDROELECTRIC HARMFUL FOR THE ENVIRONMENT?

The Hydroelectric is not harmful for the environment, in fact hydraulic energy together with Aeolic and Solar energy are some of the more friendly forms of power generation.

Many times, the Ministerio de Ambiente has visited each one of the phases of Renace to make environmental audits and learn about their operational practices. In such audits, it can be evidenced that the final opinions have been of “zero findings” which shows the excellent operational management and the meticulous care of the environmental section from Renace, which constantly monitors all environmental indicators of biodiversity and others, generating programs which guarantee the environmental transcendence in the area

WHAT IS RENEWABLE ENERGY?

Renewable energy is all the energy coming from systems of generation which are friendly with the environment. These generate energy through natural sources which are inexhaustible or which regenerate after being used. 

There are several renewable energies such as:
o Hydraulic
o Eolic
o Solar / Thermic
o Biomass
o Biogas
o Maritime
o Geothermic