In the face of 391 power outages in its main power lines during the first half of 2008 and an estimated national energy shortage of 1,000 to 2,000 megawatts, Venezuela is expanding its energy production with various renewable energy projects, one of which incorporates solar.

Through its Energy Revolution Mission, the South American nation has launched a project called “Sowing Light,” which installs solar panels in small towns removed from the large electricity generators of the country’s major cities. The government has already installed solar panels in 550 households across the country, as well as 81 solar-powered water treatment plants in several communities. While the panels are not homegrown—they originate from Spain, are assembled in Cuba, and ultimately exchanged for Venezuelan oil—it’s a crucial first step for a country rich in oil and largely dependent (perhaps overly so, according to the link in paragraph one) on hydroelectricity. The program may be in its nascent stages, but with a 10 million bolivar ($4.65 million US) government investment, there’s a lot of room for growth.

The project may sound humble, but, as China has proven, rural solar electrification can come a long way.