Solar Power for LHS and LPS
Solar power and Kenya should go well together one would believe. Well, it's not as easy as that. Despite the energy costs which increased enormously over the last few years, the acceptance of the so-called photovoltaic systems in Kenya has not had a break-through yet. But why?
The main problem is the national utility Kenya Power & Light Company (KPLC). It refuses to reimburse for any power fed back into the national grid. This means that the electricity used at night has to be paid nonetheless, even as the solar system generates a huge surplus of power during the day which benefits KPLC. Of course one can save the excess energy in battery packs, but they would have to have huge capacities and would be equally expensive. Generally speaking, a school can not possibly afford such a system.
However if a company such as Phoenix Solar AG decides to donate a complete solar power system together with all of the necessary equipment including heavy duty batteries, and sends a technician as well who plans, instructs and supervises the installation, then things look a lot different. Thanks to Phoenix, Likunda Primary School now has a solar power system, which is so generously calculated that the school can (almost) do without KPLC electricity in the future and still has enough capacity in order to run the water-pumps within the Lulu High School, too. As of today (2011) Mekaela Academies are the only schools in the whole of Kenya, who are running such a solar power plant.
The power plant was shipped from Hamburg to Mombasa in two parts at the end of November und during December. While the freight was at sea, Jack and his crew made preparations for the construction. In effect solar power systems are free of import duty in Kenya - well that's what we thought and actually that is correct. However once the first consignment had been off-loaded and was stored in the Mombasa harbour warehouse awaiting to be collected, the customs authority requested several thousands of Euros as import duties, claiming that only solar cells were exempt of import duty. The same situation we had to expect for the consignment of the batteries, which were expected to arrive a few weeks later.
Of course we could have gone through the legal process and certainly we would have been in the right, but when? Time was pressurising us, as the engineer Thomas Schwarz only had a few days available for the assembly of the system because he had to return to Germany under all circumstances. Besides which, every day the goods spent in the warehouse was costing us a lot of money. So we sent two teachers to Nairobi in order in apply for a waiver of the import duties for our solar power plant with the Ministry of Finance. Actually the minister granted the waiver within a few days, and finally we could unload our solar power equipment on the LPS compound.
But then the first
problems occured...
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The equipment was still floating on the Indian Ocean while Jack's crew began preparations for the assembly. construction. We wanted to have a strong and stable stage made of aluminium and steel which would endure the next 20 years of tropical weather. |
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First the workers slammed holes into the corral rock ground into which the support pillars were to be cemented. The whole process was conducted in good old-fashioned manual labour. |
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Once the pillars were in place, the team assembled the panel-support structure. Thomas Schwarz, the Phoenix Solar engineer had calculated the best angle for a maximum utilisation of the sunlight. After that had been done it was time for a break, as the solar equipment was still being held in a warehouse in the harbour. |
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Finally the equipment from Germany arrived at the school. Several tons of high-tech stuff filled the dining hall of LPS: solar cells, bearings, cables, switches, etc. |
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Jack only had three days to assemble the solar cells, as Mr Schwarz had to return to Germany for an important meeting at a fixed date. The first layer of solar cells were mounted on the aluminium bars. Day 1. |
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Still Day 1: the second layer in place and looking good.. |
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Day 2: The middle rows are almost completed, by now the team by now has far more experience and the assembly becomes easier and faster. |
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Day 3: The assembly of the solar panels is complete, the cables are lined-up ready for connection to the power-house, the control room of the system. |
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Mr. Schwarz admitted than he had been sceptical but Jack's crew managed it against all odds. In only three days they managed to assemble all solar panels on their frames. The whole area is almost double the size of a tennis court. |
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Happy and proud on Day 3: Jack and his crew after the job had been done. In the evening a few beers were enjoyed as a thank you and appreciation, which were more than well earned. The success could also be celebrated, as it was Friday after all. |
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After the weekend the batteries were released from harbour warehouse and delivered to LPS. The 24 batteries weigh approx. 6 tons, that are 250 kg per battery. No wonder our boys were struggling, and they had to endure that 24 times! |
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George from Jack's team installs electronic equipment. Hundreds of cables and connections have to be fixed, but thanks to careful planning and professional guidance the team makes further good progress. Electricity is already flowing, but the batteries are not yet ready, so most of the power goes to KPLC. Soon acid will be filled into the batteries, the funnel lies already in its place. |
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A (summarised) report from
Thomas Schwarz on Day 7: Today was the first day with a potential for frustration. Well, may it had been running too smoothly to be true after all. It all began when an express parcel from Hoppecke was being stuck in Nairobi waiting for its customs clearance. I am not expecting the parts to arrive before my departure. We then tried to switch to Plan B. We still had plenty of cables left which were long enough, but those cables required customised loops. And it was not possible to find someone in Mombasa who not only had fitting loops but also the tools to fix them. But in the end we still managed to sort out the problem. Also, we filled all the acid into the batteries without any injuries, so I don't see any more obstacles on our way. |
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Here we go! The acid is in the batteries and nobody got hurt, and all cable are properly connected, albeit according to Plan B. On the evening of Day 8 the whole system is completely assembled, installed, connected and ready to go. |
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Day 9. Everything is set. The sun is shining brightly from a cloudless sky, and power is lowing into the net of LPS and LHS and also charges the batteries. Everything runs silently, only a muted humming is audible in the power house. The solar power plant can produce up to 15 kV/h of electricity, and the batteries are big enough to supply enough power during the night. We are deeply impressed and terribly proud. |
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Jack Okello and Thomas Schwarz
who warranted the success of this project. During his stay Thomas Schwarz
was able to train two of our technical staff thoroughly enough so they can
maintain the power plant and even conduct minor repairs. From Germany,
Thomas has access to the system through the internet, so we are never
really left without support. That gives us a good feeling.
Thank you, Jack, thank you, Thomas, and of course thank you, Phoenix Solar AG. |
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© Watoto e.V. 2012 |