In El Salvador, a solution to the waste heat and steam produced by geothermal plants is helping women earn more money while also battling climate change. LaGeo, El Salvador’s power generation firm, came up with a plan to put dozens of women from 15 rural communities to work; the initiative has indirectly benefited 45,570 people and saved 1.8 tons of CO2 (per year) so far. Two geothermal fields and power plants, Berlin and Ahuachapán, produce 27% of El Salvador’s electricity; are both located in rural areas where employment opportunities are low. Women living in the Berlin municipality are able to use the geothermal condensates to grow and sell plants, and to dehydrate fruit with the steam. Using waste heat displaces approximately 1.8 tons of CO2 per year. LaGeo has also trained women to be forest rangers in the wildlife protection and reforestation project within the geothermal field. The initiative is likely to spill over into other Latin American countries and those women participating in reforestation activities will benefit as well from a a Grupo CEL project.
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