Section C — Resource ManagementRenewable EnergyPeruPaper 2
Chambamontera Micro-Hydro Scheme, Peru
Remote Andes village · 60 families · replaced wood burning · sustainable energy for an LIC community.
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60 families
~300 people
2+ hours
From nearest town
Key facts — from Seaford 2025–27 case study notes
Background — why it was needed
Small remote village in the Andes Mountains, northern Peru (Cajamarca region)
About 60 families (~300 people) · over 2 hours from the nearest town
Not connected to the national grid due to remote, mountainous location
People relied on wood burning, candles and kerosene for energy — expensive, polluting and unsustainable
Lack of electricity limited education, healthcare and economic development
The micro-hydro scheme
Small-scale hydroelectric scheme using a local stream to generate electricity
Appropriate technology — simple enough to be maintained by local people
Provides affordable, reliable electricity to the village
Funded by international NGOs and aid organisations
Benefits of the scheme
Environmental: Replaced wood burning — reduced deforestation and air pollution · renewable energy source
Social: Electricity for lighting → children can study after dark → improved education · refrigeration → better food storage and healthcare · communication via mobile phones and radio
Economic: Freed up time previously spent collecting wood · enabled small businesses · reduced kerosene costs
Sustainable: Renewable, low-maintenance, community-owned and operated
Exam questions — 3 questions · 11 marks
⚡ Geography exam tip: Always use named examples with specific data. "An earthquake in Nepal" scores fewer marks than "The 2015 Nepal earthquake (magnitude 7.9, 9,000 deaths)." Learn the statistics on this page.
1 markWhy micro-hydro
Why was a micro-hydro scheme an appropriate energy solution for Chambamontera?
A The village is near a large river suitable for a major hydroelectric dam
B The remote mountainous location made connection to the national grid impractical, and a local stream provided a reliable renewable energy source
C The Peruvian government funded a large-scale renewable energy programme
D Solar panels were too expensive so hydro was the only option
4 marksImpacts of the scheme
Explain the social and environmental benefits of the Chambamontera micro-hydro scheme. (4 marks)
Hint: Cover BOTH social AND environmental benefits. Be specific about what having electricity enables people to do.
+40 XP
3 marksCompare Camisea and Chambamontera
Compare the Camisea and Chambamontera energy schemes as approaches to meeting Peru's energy needs. (3 marks)
Hint: Compare scale, energy type, environmental impact and who benefits. A good answer will say why both approaches have a role.