The solar power system saved my life

The solar power system saved my life

Part of solar power’s allure is the ease with which one can get electricity out of ‘simple’ hardware in very complex moments. In southeast Asia, Africa, the Middle East and the Caribbean we’re seeing solar power – right now – offering huge services to people in trying times.

In Myanmar, fleeing Rohingya are carrying one key asset: solar panels. Over 600,000 Rohingya Muslims have fled on foot from Myanmar to Bangladesh due to religious persecution. The trip, which lasts 5 to 15 days on rugged terrain, was complicated by Myanmar’s military patrols.

Ayatullah, an 18-year-old refugee from Myanmar’s Mongdu township explained why he took only clothing and a solar panel:

This solar panel saved my life. They were killing everyone they came across. We had to depend on information from our people about the safe route, and a mobile phone was needed for that. This solar panel helped us to charge the mobile phone. I thought even if I could not take anything, I must take the solar panel.

The panels are about the size of a laptop and come with a battery and a small light. Refugees said that a 20 watt solar panel kit in Myanmar – about $15 – was about 1/10th the what the cost was in Bangladesh. The cost differential was said to be a clear motivation to carry the panel versus getting a new one upon arrival.

Multiple refugee camps managed by the United Nations have installed larger sized solar installations to take care of longer term populations.

Jordan recently completed installation of the largest solar plant at a refugee camp – a 12.9MW plant at the Zaatari refugee camp. The project, on the border of Syria and Jordan, was funded by the German government and saves the United Nation Refugee Agency $5.5 million a year. The camp of 80,000 Syrians  will get electricity from the solar panels for up to 14 hours a day.

A camp in Dadaab, Kenya has installed 278 solar panels that are being used to pump 280,000 liters of water per day.

We’ve seen hurricanes cause major complexities in North America. When hurricanes hit Florida and Texas, the utilities were able to react quickly. However, Puerto Rico has not fared so well – and again – solar power has stepped up.

Tesla has also been busy in Puerto Rico – but instead has focused on getting facilities up and running by combining solar power with Tesla’s energy storage solutions in creative solutions. Below you see solar panels lain on the ground and Powerpacks deployed on trailers.

The purpose of writing this article is to show how solar power is having an affect on more than just western lifestyles and upgrades to our homes, but that its importance has grown in far more areas.

Before we even consider the climate benefit in lowering the amounts of CO2 being produced, or the health benefits in that we’re not putting things in the air that we later breathe in, or the economic benefits in that the price of energy is coming down – we have the security benefit being delivered to these high risk groups.

The solar power system saved my life

Solar Irrigation Pump To Boost Farming

Solar Irrigation Pump To Boost Farming

Solar Irrigation Pump To Boost Farming

A solar-powered irrigation pump has been launched to help smallholder farmers in the country to undertake an all-year-round agriculture to ensure food security as well as increase their incomes.

The Solar Irrigation Pump is a robust but portable facility designed to be light enough for farmers to conveniently move around the farm while irrigating their crops.

The product is designed to liberate the farmer from the high cost associated with maintaining engine-powered irrigation pumps while also providing an alternative source for environmentally friendly agricultural practice.

The Solar Irrigation Pump had the potential to help the country to double her yearly agricultural yield to be able to guarantee her food security and feed the rest of the world.

Alhaji Alhassan Issahaku, Northern Regional Coordinating Director said the Solar Irrigation Pump was in line with government's 'One Village, One Dam' initiative to ensure an all-year-round agricultural production

Solar Irrigation Pump To Boost Farming

New policy of solar powered pumps being formulated

New policy of solar powered pumps being formulated

NEW DELHI,

The government is in the process of formulating a new scheme for solar pumps to promote standalone solar off-grid pumps with an objective of replacing existing diesel pump sets.

The meeting focused on the functioning of NHPC and implementation of the Solar Rooftop Programme and the Solar Pumps Programme.

Speaking at the meeting, Miniser of State (Independent Charge) for Power and Renewable Energy, RK Singh said that Hydro projects have relatively longer useful plant life and help in providing inexpensive power in long term and is ideal for meeting peaking load and as a spinning reserve.

Also the event, Chairman and Managing Director at NHPC Limited, Balraj Joshi, said that they are closer to completing 14,000.5 MW of hydro, solar and thermal projects.

An official statement said that out of these, 3 hydro projects with a capacity of 3130 MW and one solar project of 50 MW in Tamil Nadu are under construction. One hydro project of 1000 MW of a JV Company, CVPPL, has got clearance from the Cabinet Committee on Economic Affairs and re-tendering is under finalisation.

This is in addition to commissioning of 22 projects of 6691.2 MW (including joint ventures), and 14 projects of 9167.5 MW are at various stages of clearances for their implementation.

Six hydro projects of 553 MW are in the pipeline for preparation of feasibility report and another 3 hydro projects of 805 MW are on anvil.

New policy of solar powered pumps being formulated

Solar poweredd water pump help pump well water to 80 homes in Samail

Solar poweredd water pump help pump well water to 80 homes in Samail

Solar poweredd water pump help pump well water to 80 homes in Samail

For the first time in the sultanate, solar energy is being harnessed to pump water from a well that will supply water to 80 homes in Samail in Dakhliyah governorate. Eng Abdullah bin Hamoud al Husseini, head of the operation department at the Public Authority for Electricity and Water (PAEW) in Samail said, “We used solar energy for the first time to operate a well in Wadi Sijani in Samail because the well location does not have access to electricity supply points.”

The technology will help 80 homes in Al Sinsila and Wadi Sijani. “The solar water pumping system will pump water from the wells and provide abundant water to these houses,” said Husseini. He said the authority has installed 40 solar panels.

“We have installed 40 solar panels with a productive capacity of 10kWh which will help produce 2,200 gallons of water per hour. Water is pumped into the tanks of Wadi Sijani. A diesel generator has also been installed in case the panels stop working. The system was installed in six weeks.”

More info:Solar poweredd water pump help pump well water to 80 homes in Samail

Ranson Elementary set up Solar Water Pumo to plants a garden

Ranson Elementary set up Solar Water Pumo to plants a garden

Ranson Elementary set up Solar Water Pumo to plants a garden

Kindergarten students at Ranson Elementary School planted vegetables in a garden on school property with a little help from Engineers Without Borders co-founder Roger Either and his“Lil Sprout” solar water pump.

“We’re going to plant lettuce. On Monday or Tuesday or Wednesday when you come here and look you’ll see little shoots coming out,” Either said to a group of students during the demonstration.

“I am going to make my garden so it faces south. The most sun will get on your garden as the sun goes from the east to west. We need water and we’re going to use the sun to make a pump (send) water and then we’re going to water each row,” Either said.

The children helped plant and water the new crop. “That’s what we’re trying to do and get the kids kind of excited about gardening and nutrition,” Shepherd University SNAP ED program Assistant Director Emma Barr said. She was on hand to help teach children about healthy eating choices.

After making the rows for planting in the large raised garden bed and planting the seeds, the solar pump was set up.

“We are using solar to pump this water,” Either said.

“There’s no better way than having the kids involved from planting it to harvesting it, to eating it,”Teacher and school coordinator for wellness committee chair Ann Miller said.

It was Miller’s idea to bring the program into the school. An area was selected and raised beds were installed. Now she says she has even bigger plans. “We’re going to expand the garden. This is permanent. We have two more rectangular gardens coming by spring and SNAP is offering to help us to purchase more,” Miller said.

The U.S. Department of Agricutlure, which funds part of Barr’s work, has information about benefits of better education on food choices. “They can do this at home. We’re trying to get the kids excited about gardening so then they go home and say ‘we tried a tomato at school today. Can we grow these at home?’ We (teach) nutrition and things with them as well using Shepherd University students,” Barr said.

“A lot of the parents I talked to didn’t know that you use SNAP dollars at farmer’s markets and you can actually double your SNAP dollars,” Barr said. “Growing your own food and being able to do that in your own apartment, eventually saving your seeds and just becoming self-sustaining,”Barr added as ad possible plan for families.

The garden will offer many benefits to not only students but also their families. “That’s our goal and it’s also our goal that in the summer, when we are doing this, we will actually be able to provide some fresh vegetables for our families to come in here, pick, and take home,” Miller said.

Ranson Elementary set up Solar Water Pumo to plants a garden

Farmers become solar power water pump for irrigation.

Farmers become solar power water pump for irrigation.

International Water Management Institute(IWMI) managed to fund a pilot project with a view to promote the use of solar power for irrigation purposes. The project which was initiated in Dhundi village in Anand district some two years ago, with a team of six farmers has now managed to generate one lakh kWH of power, some 45% of which they use for irrigation purposes.

The six farmers formed a cooperative and later adopted using of solar irrigation pump, as part of the project. According to water expert of IWMI, Dr Tushar Shah, the pumps have a unique capability to pool and inject surplus solar power to electricity grid, and therefore, farmers earn Rs 4.63 for every sold unit.

The connection of the pumps to state electricity grid has therefore proven to be a major incentive for the farmers. Till date, these pumps have generated nearly one lakh kWH of green energy of which 43,897 kWH was used for irrigation. Therefore, the cooperative injected more than 52,000 kWh of green energy into the grid and generated an income of around Rs 4 lakh from sale of surplus solar power.

"This not only saved the government Rs 2 lakh in farm power subsidy but also expanded irrigation availability and access in the village by bringing down water prices to half; and contributed as much as 65 per cent to the annual income of its members," he added.

Some Rs 46 lakh worth of funds were facilitated by IWMI for the project while the rest of the amount was invested by the farmers who participated. By now, they have also recovered the amount they have invested by trading power and saving on other costs.

More info Farmers become solar power water pump for irrigation

Solar powered water pumps to save 100 water bodies in forests

Solar powered water pumps to save 100 water bodies in forests

Solar powered water pumps to save 100 water bodies in forests

100 water holes will be refilled through solar water pumps

About 100 watering holes and lakes in forests across the state will be refilled through the use of solar water pumps this year. The Forest Department is launching this scheme to revive dried-up water bodies to mitigate the acute water crisis faced by wild animals in deep forests.
The project, costing `10 crore, will be funded under corporate social responsibility schemes while the deficit amount will be raised through the major works scheme.  

A solar pump can refill 50,000 litres of water

A few solar-powered pumps have already been set up in Nagarhole and Bandipur where partially dried-up lakes and tanks were recharged. In Bandipur, the pumps were set up in collaboration with WWF-India. Working 7-8 hours a day, a solar pump can refill a partially dried-up watering hole with almost 50,000 litres of water while allowing the excess water to flow downstream.

Each solar pumping unit costs `10 lakh and has been installed in Southekere and Kundakere in Omkar range of Bandipur National Park and Antarsanthe Range of Nagarhole National Park. According to park officials, this initiative has benefited big carnivores and herbivores as more than 50 per cent of water bodies had gone dry.

How cant solar pumps benefit the wild animals

Principal Chief Conservator of Forest (Head of forest force) K S Sugara explained that wild animals usually come out of the forests during the summer season or during droughts in search of water. If this new technique is utilised in protected areas, then water could be pumped to the lakes in the forest areas.

Some criticism about the solar water pumps system

However, criticizing the scheme, wildlife activists add, “If this project is initiated, borewells can be drilled in protected areas. In the long run, it will not only adversely affect the habitat but also disturb many species. Moreover, drought is a natural phenomenon, some animals may die while some may survive.

This is how nature balances the wild animal population. Why should we interfere with nature?” they asked.Wildlife activist G Veeresh added, “This has been installed in Nagarhole Tiger Reserve and is totally unscientific - if the forest department is providing water to animals then will they provide food too? If the population of wild animals increases, this will again cause an imbalance in the food chain. Such schemes and programmes are a sheer waste of precious resources.”

Solar powered water pumps to save 100 water bodies in forests

Over 12,000 solar pumps distributed to farmers in C'garh

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During the meeting, the chief minister instructed the officials to focus more in 85 tribal-dominated development blocks for the distribution of the solar energy-based irrigation pumps, the official said

"About 12,161 solar powered pumps had been provided to the farmers till now against the target of 11,300 under 'Saur Sujala Yojna' since the inception of the scheme in November last year," an energy department official said here today.

Chief Minister Raman Singh was informed about the development under the scheme while he was chairing a review meeting of the energy department at his official residence today, he said.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi had launched the 'Saur Sujala' scheme on state’s foundation day on November 1, 2016 in Raipur.

It's aim was to strengthen agriculture by providing irrigation facilities, particularly where there is no power supply, and development of farmers in the state, he said.

During the meeting, the chief minister instructed the officials to focus more in 85 tribal-dominated development blocks for the distribution of the solar energy-based irrigation pumps, the official said.

Singh expressed satisfaction that the department had distributed more solar pumps than the set target and congratulated the officials, he said.

The CM further stressed on the need to cover 20,000 farmers under this scheme by the end of this year pointing that farmers belonging to remote areas and inaccessible regions, should be given priority while distribution.

Notably, farmers are being provided solar-irrigation pumps of 5-horsepower and 3-horsepower at heavily subsidized rates in the state.

Solar irrigation pump worth Rs 3.5 lakh (3hp) is being given to Scheduled Caste and Scheduled Tribe classes at the cost of Rs 7,000, to Other Backward Class (OBC) at Rs 12,000 and general category farmers at Rs 18,000.

The remaining amount is borne by the state government, he said.

Besides, the chief minister also directed the officials to complete electrification of all villages and hamlets by March next year.

Similarly, he also asked to complete the installation of 32 power substations being established in different parts of the state, by March next year.

These power substations will facilitate quality electricity supply in nearly 95 per cent areas of the state, the official said.

Meanwhile, the officials informed in the meeting that 4,105 solar pumps had been installed for providing drinking water purposes in the state and there is a proposal to install 1,886 more such pumps in near future.

Chairman of Chhattisgarh Power Holding Company Shivraj Singh and other officials were present on the occasion.

Over 12,000 solar pumps distributed to farmers in C'garh

Uganda Starts Up First Solar Power Plant in Bid to Tap Renewables

Uganda Starts Up First Solar Power Plant in Bid to Tap Renewables

In this photo taken June 30, 2016, a Ugandan worker levels the ground at a solar plant in Soroti about 300 kilometers east of Uganda capital Kampala.

Uganda on Monday started up its first grid-connected, 10 megawatt solar power plant as the east African country moves to tap its renewable energy resources and expand its electricity generation capacity.

Funded by Norway, Germany, UK and the European Union, the $19 million plant was developed by Access Power and Eren Re, two energy sector investors based in Dubai and France respectively.

Uganda, a prospective crude oil producer of some 34 million people, generates about 850 megawatts of electricity, mostly from hydro power dams.

Officials have said they want to increase that capacity to 1,500 megawatts by 2018 and are seeking foreign investors to develop the country's non-traditional energy sources such as solar and geothermal.

The plant, a vast field of some 32,600 photovoltaic panels, is located in Soroti in northeastern Uganda and the electricity generated will help power at least 40,000 homes.

Last week Uganda signed a 90 million-euro ($95.55 million) loan deal with German development bank KfW and French government finance agency AFD to build a 45 megawatt (MW) power plant in the country's west.

Uganda Starts Up First Solar Power Plant in Bid to Tap Renewables

Solar water pumps provide water in power-hit areas

Solar water pumps provide water in power-hit areas

Solar water pumps provide water in power-hit areas

As many parts of Odisha are experiencing acute scarcity of drinking water and over 500 piped water supply projects lying defunct, the State Government on Saturday directed the collectors to install solar pump sets in areas where power supply is erratic.

Low voltage and frequent disruption of power being a common feature during summer months across the State, non-availability of power makes it difficult to supply piped water to households.
The collectors have been advised to identify water scarcity areas where drinking water supply could be possible through solar water pumping system.

Chief Secretary AP Padhi gave this direction while reviewing the availability of drinking water and measures taken to meet the water need of people in water scarcity areas through video conference with the collectors.

Padhi asked the collectors to develop at least 10 solar water pumping systems in their districts without delay.According to Panchayati Raj department, piped water supply is provided to 38,445 out of 1.56 lakh habitations in the State. While the number of defunct piped water projects was 942 in April, the department claimed 432 have been repaired and water supply restored.
The majority of habitations of the State meet their drinking water need from 4,15,558 tubewells and sanitary wells.

Pending power bills are the other major reason behind these projects being non-operational. Though the State Government had directed power distribution companies not to discontinue power supply to water projects in case of unpaid dues, the order is not followed in most places, official sources said.

In the April review meeting of the Chief Minister, it was decided to expedite the process of installation of solar energy-based drinking water projects in the Integrated Action Plan (IAP) districts like Koraput and Malkangiri. However, the achievement in this front is very negligible.

In its three-year achievements report, the State Government said over 1.30 lakh habitations are fully covered and 25,946 villages are partially covered under drinking water supply schemes. All the partially covered villages will get piped water supply by 2018-19, the report added.

More info:Solar water pumps provide water in power-hit areas

Ujjain: Govt offers 90% subsidy on solar water pumps to farmers

Ujjain: Govt offers 90% subsidy on solar water pumps to farmers

Ujjain: Government of Madhya Pradesh and new and renewable energy department has launched a solar pump programme to solve power crisis in agriculture sector. The purpose of this programme is to enable round the clock power supply to farmers for irrigation purposes. Under the programme, farmers can get solar-powered pumps at subsidised rate and will have to bear only 10 per cent cost of the pumps while 90 per cent will be borne by the government.

Divisional commissioner MB Ojha instructed officials of Energy Development Corporation and agriculture department to endorse the programme vigorously and reach out to farmers and motivate them for installing pump as Ujjain division has received a target. The pumps will be available in one horse power to 10 horse power. As per the scheme, if a farmer goes for one HP pump of Rs 1.75 lakh then that farmer has to bear only Rs 17,500 while the government will pay the remaining amount. Till now, a total of 16 solar-powered pumps have been installed in the district covering villages Narvar, Bisakhedi, Malikhedi, Runija, Ghattiya, Taran, Mahidpur and at the office of council of agriculture research. 

 Ujjain: Govt offers 90% subsidy on solar water pumps to farmers

Off-grid renewable energy storage market to be worth Rs16,500 crore

Off-grid renewable energy storage market to be worth Rs16,500 crore

New Delhi: The energy storage market for off-grid renewable energy in India will be worth Rs16,500 crore by 2022, Delhi-based Council on Energy, Environment and Water (CEEW) said.

In an analysis released on Friday, the climate think-tank said rooftop solar alone will make up 80% of this, touching Rs13,000 crore. It stated that the battery market in India for renewable applications has been growing steadily with increasing renewable penetration across different segments.

“The Ministry of New and Renewable Energy’s target to install 10,000 micro-grid/500 MW of micro and mini-grids will offer an additional opportunity to the tune of Rs3,300 crore for battery manufacturers. Batteries are a critical component of micro/mini-grid systems, since 100% backup is often required to supply electricity to rural households during evening hours,” said the analysis.

The analysis also highlighted key challenges for battery manufacturers like high-technology costs and uncertainty around performance in Indian climatic conditions.

“While the need for managing intermittency of renewable energy is often highlighted, flexibility in our generation resources is desirable. This can come from various sources and energy storage technologies are just one among them. Though a number of projects for grid-connected storage are being called for, the markets that are served poorly by the existing grid—mobile towers in remote locations, petrol pumps, ATMs are easy pickings for storage systems to cater,” said Arunabha Ghosh, CEO, CEEW.

It emphasised that advanced battery technologies could support rapid deployment of rooftop solar installations in the commercial and industrial segment.

“Currently, the higher cost of energy storage solutions limits rooftop solar system installation to cater to base load. Solar PV systems with energy storage could be a potential replacement to existing diesel generators and it would also save about Rs4-5 per unit of electricity, compared to diesel, for industrial and commercial consumers,” the analysis added.

In June 2015, Prime Minister Narendra Modi led National Democratic Alliance government increased its solar power target from 20,000 MW to 1,00,000 MW by 2022. The total renewable power target set by government by 2022 is 175,000 MW.

Of the 100,000 MW solar power, 40 GW is targeted from rooftop solar alone. But progress has been very slow. As per a recent report, India’s total installed rooftop solar capacity is estimated at only 1,247 MW (till 31 December 2016) which is about 3% of the targeted 40 GW by 2022.

Storage is one of the problem areas in developing the renewable market.

The report further said that, “Though the solar segment offers a huge market opportunity for advanced battery technologies, manufacturers (and researchers alike) have some ground to cover in addressing technical limitations of batteries such as charging characteristics of a battery, thermal performance and requirement of boost current to charge deep cycle batteries”.

“Also, since solar companies directly procure batteries from manufacturers and require after sale services and technical support, battery companies should have wider presence to address these expectations,” it added.

Off-grid renewable energy storage market to be worth Rs16,500 crore

Solar off grid systems are smart way to power all Kenyans

Solar off grid systems are smart way to power all Kenyans

Solar off grid systems are smart way to power all Kenyans

Kenya’s rate of electrification is one of the fastest in the world. It is part of an audacious plan by the Government to provide universal access to energy by 2020 in the context of Vision 2030.

Much has been said about the Last Mile Connectivity Programme. But I believe Kenya will achieve its electrification goals in the two-and-a-half years remaining, if smart, scale-up strategies are employed.

The Sh16.4 billion allocation to renewables in the last Government budget shows Kenya is light years (pun intended) ahead of most of its peers in Africa in its thinking about our energy challenges. The Government is willing to explore innovative ways to achieve results and allocate the necessary resources. 

Innovation and Government support has created the next big homegrown success story – a pioneering mix of solar energy, technology and financial services. This is pay-as-you-go off-grid solar. This sector is providing the broader energy industry with a number of lessons on how to scale up rapidly. 

I saw this for myself in a recent visit to a family in Kwale. Full disclosure here: I was there in my role as chairman of M-Kopa, the company that introduced pay-as-you-go solar home systems to the world. 

My first lesson was that, any power provider – both on and off grid – needs to create a massively simple and transparent proposition for Kenyans and they will take embrace it wholeheartedly. 

Power is still a big cost for all Kenyan homes and businesses. In a way, we have learnt to accept and plan for that. But when money is tight, it is hard to accept the uncertainty and fluctuations in the pricing proposition and supply. 

It is just as important that the proposition is actually tailored to an individual’s real needs. Is it worth the State and its agencies deploying resources to connect a pre-paid meter with 30 units, if those are not going to be used within 12 or even 24 months after the initial units run out?

There are other options for Kenyan consumers and other priorities for investment in our power value chain, including improved transmission.

That brings me to my second takeout from Kwale. The whole industry needs to be thinking about value-added products and services for their customers.

In the off-grid power sector, TV, smartphone, radio and more are being bundled into power connections. That is immediately meeting the short and medium term needs for millions of Kenyans who have been excluded from using these items due to cost and geography.

A power meter on its own is useless. It is important that customers have the right equipment to safely utilise the power and they know how to get the most out of their power spend.

Kenya Association of Manufacturers and KPLC are doing a great job with large power users on energy efficiency. I look forward to similar initiatives flowing down to the small-scale pre-paid users.

My third and final takeout from Kwale was that data is king. Increasing numbers of off-grid systems are following M-Kopa’s lead and embedding Sim cards into their systems.

This means that the providers are able to build a real understanding of when, how and where power is being utilised.

A company such as M-Kopa takes over three million data readings per day from its systems. This means that they can quickly and easily pick up anomalies in a system’s performance. And they are able to track exactly where a system is being used at any time.

For off-grid power providers, that data is being used to develop a pipeline of smart systems and appliances. For KPLC, this would be a huge step forward in the fight against tampering and theft.

Having an effective power grid is absolutely critical for us to achieve Vision 2030. As a country we have revolutionised both the mobile and the off grid pay-as-you-go sectors. I hope we can come together to apply our experiences on 

More info:Solar off grid systems are smart way to power all Kenyans