Energy Access in Peru
18 November 2014
English Webinar Content
Presentation—Introduction to the webinar and panelists
Presentation—Christopher Jensen: Light Up The World
Presentation—Carmen Becerril: Luz en Casa
Presentation—Richenda Van Leeuwen: Energy Access in Peru”
The Clean Energy Solutions Center, in partnership with the United Nations Foundation’s Energy Access Practitioner Network, hosted this webinar on work underway in Peru to support energy access using off-grid renewable energy. This webinar was part of the broader work the UN Foundation is undertaking around energy access within the UN and the World Bank’s Sustainable Energy for All initiative.
The webinar explored residual energy access issues in Peru in the run up to the UNFCCC Conference of the Parties that will be held in Peru later this year. The webinar showcased efforts underway to increase energy access in Peru with four presenters.
- Rafael Escobar, Energy Program Manager, Practical Action Peru
- Carmen Becerril, President, ACCIONA Microenergía
- Christopher Jensen, Regional Operational Manager, Light Up The World
The webinar was the first effort from the Practitioner Network and the Clean Energy Solutions Center to provide training materials to practitioners in multiple languages, and it was held twice—once in English and once in Spanish—to accommodate the audience.
Panelists
Richenda Van Leeuwen, Executive Director, Energy Access Initiative
Richenda Van Leeuwen is Executive Director, Energy Access Initiative overseeing the UN Foundation’s work on energy access and its engagement with the UN’s Sustainable Energy for All Initiative. She founded and leads UNF’s Energy Access Practitioner Network, a 900-strong global network catalyzing market-led solutions for energy access in developing countries. She joined the UN Foundation in 2010 from Good Energies, a global renewable energy private equity firm where she led its work both on commercial emerging markets transactions and as a founding board member of the Good Energies Foundation, on the application of renewable energy technologies for poverty alleviation in developing countries. Prior to this, she served as the Executive Director of Trickle Up, an international microenterprise development non-profit organization from 2001-2005. A sought-out speaker on energy access, gender equity and poverty issues, she has over 20 years of executive management experience with the UN, private sector and non-profits on several continents, in particular focusing on impact investing for micro- and small and medium sized enterprises as well as post-conflict reconstruction, refugee issues and economic empowerment. She currently serves on the board of SELCO India, a leading renewable energy social enterprise focusing on energy solutions for poor families in India. She gained both her BS and MBA degrees from Durham University, UK.
Carmen Becerril Martínez, Member of the Board of Directors at ACCIONA, S.A., President of ACCIONA Microenergía Perú
Her professional career in ACCIONA group started in 2005. In June 2014, she was appointed member of the Board of Directors at ACCIONA, S.A. From May 2013 to June 2014, she acted as Chief International Officer at ACCIONA, S.A., where she also was responsible for the area of Sustainability. From 2010 to April 2013, she was President of ACCIONA Energía. She completed her degree in Law through the Universidad Autónoma of Madrid and holds a MBA in Senior Management from IESE Business School. At present, she belongs to the State Senior Civil Administrators Corps and also to the Madrid Autonomous Region Senior Technician Corps. She acted as General Director of the Institute for Energy Diversification and Saving (IDAE) and as General Director for Energy and Mining Policy at the Finance Ministry. She was also Counsellor at ENDESA, representing ACCIONA (2007-2009). In the private sector, she has been Director of Consulting in the area of energy at PricewaterhouseCoopers. From 2002 to 2007, she acted as President of Energía Sin Fronteras Foundation, and from 2008 to 2011, she was President of ACCIONA Microenergía foundation (FUNDAME); she is currently member of their Board of Trustees, and president of ACCIONA Microenergía Perú and ACCIONA Microenergía México.
Christopher D Jensen, International Development Practitioner
Chris is an International Development Practitioner with professional experience working in the private sector, with NGO’s and government addressing issues related to business development, water and sanitation, and rural household energy solutions. Chris is the Regional Operations Manager for Light Up The World (LUTW) in Peru. LUTW is a Canadian non-profit organization focused on energy access. Founded in 1997, LUTW has deployed de-centralized solar systems in 54 countries with a range of community partners. LUTW’s focus has been to develop the capacity of local NGO’s to serve as local service providers and training community technicians. Chris has worked extensively in the Latin American region and holds two MAs: Sustainable International Development and Coexistence and Conflict.