The Need for Reliable and Durable Solar Lanterns in Third World Countries

Introduction

Solar lanterns are gaining wide popularity especially in the third world countries. Un-energized rural areas are finding solar light a very efficient substitute to kerosene lamps. Solar energy provides adequate home lighting for children to study well and parents to pursue some money making ventures after sundown.

The durability and reliability of solar lanterns come into focus now because rural people are convinced of its benefits and advantages and are seriously thinking of acquiring one.

Brief description, uses and how solar lantern works

Solar lanterns are the portable source of light powered by energy of the sun. These are environmental friendly lamps producing light at no cost and specially designed for household use in remote rural areas and far villages not reached by grid electricity.

People use solar lanterns when travelling at night similar to battery operated flashlight. They are also used to provide street lighting in rural areas.

Solar lanterns work by converting sunlight to energy. It uses a solar panel that collects the solar energy during daytime to charge up a cell battery. The stored energy powers the lantern at night. A whole day of battery charging can sustain 4 to 5 hours of light at night.

Batteries are designed to withstand many charges and discharge cycles. In the conventional lanterns the battery is charged by the domestic electricity point, but in solar lanterns the battery is charged by solar energy

Stored power can be recharged every day. Solar lantern does not require any wiring and are weather proof which makes them a highly versatile, reliable and dynamic source of light in all the conditions.

Desirable product features of solar lanterns

1. It must be durable and reliable and can withstand years of use. Kenya, one of the proponents, had produced solar lanterns since 2004 and had gained wide acceptance.
2. The lamp should be versatile. It can be placed on the floor, hang from a peg on a wall, and be carried like a flashlight or worn around the neck.
3. It can withstand drops to the floor.
4. It is designed simply so that it is easily taken apart to be fixed if something goes wrong.
5. It must have LED (light emitting diode) as the source of light. LED lamps consume very small amount of power. This increases the duration of time the lamp burns from the power stored in the battery throughout the day. The LED lamps also have long life extending well beyond 50,000 hours. LEDs are durable and reliable of surviving extremes of temperature, weather, vibration and Ultra Violet (UV).

Other features to consider

1. It must be priced right. To the rural folks, the right price is one that is affordable to them. It must be within their reach.
2. It must have a built-in micro financing component to help rural people acquire the lantern.
3. The lantern manufacturer must have a well organized and reliable after sales service.
4. Solar lanterns must be available when people want to buy a unit including the spare parts that may be needed for repairs.

We invite you to visit our Informative Solar Article page for more practical tips, simplified application guide and established solar benefits.

Author’s Box
Jacinto Demonteverde, Jr., the owner, is a strong advocate of solar power adoption. He writes practical articles to keep established and prospective solar users well informed. Visit him at: http://www.justsolarhome.blogspot.com. You are welcome to republish or reprint this article free of charge provided the content remains unchanged including the Author’s Box. No permission is needed

Solar Lanterns for Rural Areas: A Practical Approach to Brighter Homes in the Philippines

Introduction

The Philippines is a country in Southeast Asia in the western Pacific Ocean. It is a developing country with its share of rural areas unreached by electricity. Absence of electricity is most visible at night when all you see in homes is a flicker of light. It makes life difficult for people in the area to pursue substantial activities after sundown. Students can not study well and parents can not work on business to make extra income.

Why off grid solar lantern is applicable and practical

The archipelagic land base of the country makes the problem difficult for grid electricity to light the rural areas. It is expensive to build and may not reach islands and distant communities.

Here are 7 reasons why solar lantern is applicable and practical:

1. The country is endowed with plenty of sunlight which is the fuel used in solar lanterns. It is free and will never run out of supply.
2. The solar lantern is affordable. Kenya sells it at US $ 35. Suppliers in India sell at US $ 16.There are prospects for arrangements with foreign companies to manufacture lanterns here.
3. It is durable. The LED (light emitting diode) lamp if used 4 to 5 hours each day can last up to approximately 10 years. In Kenya, 15,000 lanterns have been produced since 2004. They plan to increase this to 100,000 by 2015.
4. Financing may not be a problem because the acquisition cost is low.
5. Training of personnel to service broken down units may not be a hindrance because it is one simple unit that should be repaired.
6. It is convenient to use because it is light and can be transferred from one place to another.
7. It enjoys a tremendous advantage over kerosene fueled lamp (kerosene is expensive, unhealthy because of the fumes, a fire hazard because it emits open flame and inadequate to provide good light).

Problems that may be encountered and recommended solutions

1. Rural folks remain doubtful of the durability, economy and applicability of solar unless proven otherwise.
Proponents for adoption will have to show and convince the rural people the benefits of solar light. This will involve massive information dissemination and demonstration. Each target community will have demonstration lanterns to showcase the product. To them to see is to believe that solar light undoubtedly is beneficial and superior to kerosene lamps.
2. Rural people find the price high. Up front cost may not be affordable to some.
Partial subsidy or financing may be arranged with local foundation, local government or financial institutions. Manufacturers of solar lanterns in other countries might be encouraged to produce here to bring down the cost.
3. Rural users may have fears that there may not be qualified personnel to undertake repair if they encounter problems with their lantern.
Proponents will have to prepare for this and will have personnel undergo training to provide effective and efficient after sales service.

What can fast track solar lantern adoption?

1. Establishment of economic factors first.
a. Can the consumers afford the up front acquisition cost? This has to be determined because this will certainly be a constraint in adoption if they find it is expensive.
b. Availability of subsidy or financing will certainly be significant incentive ones solar lanterns are accepted by the people. Developed countries like Germany and US have proven this an effective adoptive measure.

2. Acceptability of the solar lantern to the rural folks is the final deciding factor for its adoption. These people will have to see that the gadget is truly useful to them. All aspects involving acceptability must be carefully studied. The economic factors can not negate this.

3. Availability of trained service personnel for after service sales is very important to guarantee sustainable use of the solar lantern.

4. Availability of supply of solar lanterns and materials for repair must be guaranteed. This gives the assurance that solar lanterns can easily be acquired and repaired when needed.

While we have discussed solar lanterns in the context of Philippine setting, the information is likewise useful to un-energized rural areas of other developing countries.

We invite you to visit our Informative Solar Article page for more practical tips, simplified application guide and established solar benefits.

Author’s Box
Jacinto Demonteverde, Jr., the owner, is a strong advocate of solar power adoption. He writes practical articles to keep established and prospective solar users well informed. Visit him at: http://www.justsolarhome.blogspot.com. You are welcome to republish or reprint this article free of charge provided the content remains unchanged including the Author’s Box. No permission is needed

Off Grid Solar Light: A Viable Option to Promote Acceptance in Rural Developing Countries

Introduction:
Industry experts believe that solar light is one of the basic needs which could improve living conditions in rural developing countries. These areas have no access to electricity. The benefits of solar light encompass the field of education, health, economy and the quality of life of rural folks. The need for practical and applicable source of light should be searched and solar should be seriously considered.

The Problem

Are the rural folks fully convinced of the practicality and benefits of solar technology? If this question is not answered satisfactorily we have an acceptance problem and won’t get enthusiastic response.

Opinions vary on how solar light can be made available to the poor of developing countries. Some experts say that it should be off grid with the home solar panels likewise supplying power for TV, radio, cellphones, and other appliances.

Other proponents believe that solar power should be generated by a big array of solar panels and a grid built to distribute solar electricity to homes. These are sound propositions. In fact, these options have been tried in a number of developing countries but sadly not one claimed success.

What are the barriers to the acceptance of solar? Generally known are the high acquisition cost, lack of subsidy or financing, lack of trained personnel for after sales service, lack of local supplies and acceptability by the rural folks. Can solar light overcome these barriers?

The Role of Solar Light

A single off grid solar light can pave the way for wide scale adoption of solar energy in rural third world countries. How? Seven reasons:
1. It provides the simplest, most economical, applicable and practical demonstration the rural folks can see.
2. It provides a substitute to kerosene for lighting which is growing more expensive being a petroleum product.
3. Rural folks will find solar light more economical to use with free power from the sun. They will have extra cash for food and other needs of the family.
4. It is likewise healthful and safe to use than kerosene fueled lamps.
5. It is affordable. One foundation in Kenya sells it for US $ 35 per unit.
6. Subsidy or financing will not be a big constraint since the amount involve per family is small.
7. Since it is a simple individual gadget, training people for after sales service may not be a big problem.

The Solution

The many applications of solar power may be difficult for rural people to fully comprehend. There is a need to give solar energy in small doses for them to understand and see the benefits. A single off grid solar light is a logical start to convince them. At this stage, what is important is that a breakthrough into the household is initiated. Then the proponents can move on to the next level of solar application ones acceptance is established.

Rural folks believe that they should be shown that the technology works and improves their way of life. To them, to see is to believe. And we have to satisfy this perception. A demonstration is in order in this case.

The Use Solar, Save Lives Project

Special mention is made of the above Project founded by Evan Wadongo, a Kenyan engineer. He designed MwangaBora Solar Powered Lantern and distribute for free to the poor rural communities. Attesting to its applicability, some 15,000 lamps have been turned out since production started in 2004. Wadongo says his goal is to hit 100,000 by 2015. He plans to extend his project to other countries and is already training interns.

This is a Project worth serious consideration and hopefully foundations come across to lend a helping hand. Study and adoption by developing countries will boost acceptance of solar energy in rural areas where it is badly needed. Evan Wadongo concluded, "If every one of us started thinking about others before thinking about ourselves the world would be better,"

Solar in Germany: Know why they are the World’s Number 1

Germany is the acknowledged world leader in solar energy. They are into developing of the solar technology through intensive research and development, focused promotion to end users, manufacturing of solar panels and other accessories and building power stations across the country.

As a result, one in a hundred homes has gone as far as installing its own solar arrays. They are a model for countries seriously thinking of going solar.

How did they start?

Some brief historical events that occurred

1. The Oil Embargo of the early 1970s spurred Germany and many governments to think seriously to search for alternative energy sources other than fossil fuel. The energy crises of 1973-74 and 1979-80 which followed brought severe economic impacts and serious energy security concerns.

As a result renewable energy sources particularly solar were researched, developed and promoted as a potential means of alleviating the risks associated with high fossil fuel import dependence.

2. A federal Electricity Law (StrEG Feed) was adopted in 1991. It obligated public utilities to purchase renewably-generated power on a yearly fixed rate basis, based on utilities’ average revenue per kWh.

3. In 1999, the government also introduced the Market Incentive Program (MAP), which offered government grants for the commercialization and deployment of renewable energy systems.

What measures did Germany adopt?

Significant steps they undertook

1. The Federal Electricity Feed Law (StrEG) of 1991 became the most important instrument for the promotion of renewable energy in Germany during the 1990s. It compelled public utilities to purchase renewable-generated power from private producers on a yearly fixed basis. This was designed to encourage homeowners and private business to adopt solar.

2. The government also introduced the Market Incentive Program (MAP) in 1999. It offered government grants totaling 203 million Euro in 2003 for the commercialization and deployment of renewable energy systems.

The German government considers MAP to be one of its most effective current renewable energy promotion programs. This was another inducement by the government to encourage the power consumers to go solar

3. Feed-in Tariff was introduced into the solar industry. Considered the most important market mechanism, the tariff gives producers of solar electricity a guaranteed price for the energy they supply to the grid set for 20 years.

It is considerably higher than the price paid for fossil fuel electricity. It is extended to commercial solar providers such as power stations but also householders who connect their own solar panels to the national grid.

The tariff received by solar producers is even more generous, currently more than double the price of conventional electricity. Germany’s “feed-in tariffs” have made it profitable for businesses as well as individuals to install panels on their roofs or build solar parks.

4. . An additional element of the "feed-in" mechanism is an annual reduction of 5% in the rate set for the next 20 years. So it encourages people to get in early and benefit from a higher 20-year rate, because the rate you start at is the one you keep for the full 20 years.

What is their present state?

After over 4 decades, this is solar Germany.

1. Almost 400,000 homes in Germany, have installed solar panels. One in a hundred homes has gone as far as installing its own solar arrays.

2. The Leipzig Solar Power Station, the heart of Germany’s solar industry, is among the worlds largest covering the equivalent of 200 football pitches and providing enough electricity for 10,000 homes.

3. Last year, about half of the world's solar electricity was produced in the country. Of the 20 biggest photovoltaic plants, 15 are in Germany.

4. Germany plans to slash subsidies paid to households generating electricity by up to 15 percent, six months earlier than planned.

5. Germany has temporarily shut down seven of its nuclear reactors. The country stands alone among the world’s leading industrialized nations in its determination to abandon nuclear energy. Currently, nuclear energy accounts for 23 percent of German energy and renewable energies supply 16 percent.

Future prospects

1. Germany could derive all its energy from renewable by 2050. The European Union has targeted 20% renewable energy utilization by its members by 2020. Germany is already more than half way there.

2. Industry experts say that renewable energies would be able to cover 47 percent of German energy demand by 2020.

3. There is a massive surge in residential solar panels in Germany fueled by consumer demand for small-scale solar power projects.

Germany showed the government’s determined effort to find an alternative source of power. Solar had been identified and they went all out for it – research, development, promotion and adoption through significant incentives to business and end consumers, production and establishment of solar plants.

Above all these, the welfare of the environment had been one of the prime concerns of Germany. They provide a model worth emulating.

We invite you to visit our Informative Solar Article page for more practical tips, simplified application guide and established solar benefits.

Author’s Box
Jacinto Demonteverde, Jr., the owner, is a strong advocate of solar power adoption. He writes practical articles to keep established and prospective solar users well informed. Visit him at: http://www.justsolarhome.blogspot.com. You are welcome to republish or reprint this article free of charge provided the content remains unchanged including the Author’s Box. No permission is needed

Off Grid Solar System for Hospitals: A Critical Need of Third World Countries

Off grid solar system provides electrical power to remote hospitals in third world countries for sustainable day to day operation. Many industrialized countries saw this urgent need and have responded very positively.

Developing countries have received many aids from non profit organizations and government agencies of highly developed countries. The aids came in various forms like food, medicine; infrastructures, etc for a better life. Solar power helps in the preservation of life itself in a sustainable way.

It all comes down to - no electrical power, no hospital. While there is other off grid sources like diesel generators, solar is the outstanding choice because it only needs sunlight to keep it running.

Hospitals are a big financial burden to local government. With the availability of independent solar power and the savings from its operation, more clinics and small hospitals can be built in rural areas.

Why Off Grid Solar is urgently needed

Rural areas are always not reached by utility grid lines and putting one is almost impossible. The absence of electricity will mean no clinic and hospital at all.

People are left to fend for themselves and most often they go to quack doctors for their medical needs. Those with more serious afflictions, have to travel 10 to 15 hours to see a doctor and oftentimes medical intervention may be too late to save the patients.

No wonder mortality rate for children and adults is high. Lives could be saved if only hospitals are within the area and it is for this reason that solar energy is a critical need.

Off grid solar system is an ideal source of energy with a service life of up to 30 years. Its fuel from the sun is free. Fossil fueled generators would require oil to run it and with the attendant problem of high acquisition cost and difficulty of transportation from the urban centers, this electricity source will prove more expensive in the long run.

Basic needs of rural hospitals meet by solar

1. For refrigeration and heating
2. For kitchen appliances
3. For the hospital laundry and sterilization of medical apparatus
4. For lighting and support of communication facilities.

The problems

1. The World Health Organization on Extended Program of Immunization (WHO/EPI) identified that one of the technical problems is unstable quality of the components. WHO/EPI outlined rigid technical standards for the purchase of solar system components.

2. One major obstacle is the high capital cost. In the past, the solar panels were the most costly part. Nowadays, roughly equal amounts of capital are needed for the batteries and the solar panels. The advances in conversion efficiency and reduction of production cost have started to bring down the cost of the system.

3. Adding to the cost are transportation and the labor expenses necessary to install and maintain the systems in remote areas.

4. The lack of skilled manpower is a serious obstacle to the use of off grid solar system. Most technicians and users are not yet thoroughly familiar to handle the system. Frequent misdiagnosis of technical problems is an additional cost factor.

Conditions ideal for System adoption

1. The hospital has no economical power supply available as a public utility.

2. Other decentralized electricity sources such as diesel generators involve high operating costs, or the reliability of fuel supplies is questionable.

3. There must be qualified technicians who are familiar with the technology of off grid solar systems and their maintenance.

Foundations helping remote hospitals with solar power:

1. Worthy of mention is the work of Solar Electric Light Fund (SELF). It is an independent not-for-profit organization that designs and implements sustainable energy solutions for enhancements in health, education, agriculture and economic growth in the developing world.

In many of the countries in which SELF works, there is no other organization undertaking a similar, independent role in providing power to villages without existing resources.

2. We Care Solar is a U.S.-based non-profit organization that helps hospitals in developing regions by providing health workers with reliable lighting, blood bank refrigeration and mobile communication using solar electricity.

3. African Solar Electric Light Foundation (ASELF)improves the daily lives of children and adults by providing clean and healthy lighting. They distribute environmentally friendly, solar Systems around the world, replacing dangerous and polluting kerosene lamps.

We invite you to visit our Informative Solar Article page for more practical tips, simplified application guide and established solar benefits.

Author’s Box
Jacinto Demonteverde, Jr., the owner, is a strong advocate of solar power adoption. He writes practical articles to keep established and prospective solar users well informed. Visit him at: http://www.justsolarhome.blogspot.com. You are welcome to republish or reprint this article free of charge provided the content remains unchanged including the Author’s Box. No permission is needed.

Conversion Efficient Solar Panels: Practical Information for Beginners

The conversion efficiency of solar panels is the ratio of sunlight striking a solar panel surface (input) and the electricity it produces (output). The more electricity is produced from sunlight, the more efficient the panel.

Solar panel efficiency is very important because this will determine from the very start adequate electricity supply, the size and cost of your home solar system. As of now the efficiency of solar cells stands at around 15 to 17%.

Primer on solar panels

A solar panel or solar module is a collection of solar cells that is used to generate and provide electricity in homes and other establishments. The cells should provide a high solar conversion ratio or produce more electricity from sunlight to have a high conversion efficiency rating.

The number of panels needed depends on the amount of electricity you want to produce. Different materials display different efficiencies and have different costs.

Here are the different solar cells used in the manufacture of solar panels:

1. The first generation cells consist of the traditional single-junction, silicon-wafer, photovoltaic solar cell. They have the highest conversion efficiency, averaging from 15-20% in most cases. Although these are the most studied and popular cells in the market, their main obstacle have been production costs.

2. Second generation cells utilize thin film technology, involving amorphous or micromorphous silicon, or ignoring silicon altogether. First Solar, the largest thin film manufacturer in the nation, uses cadmium telluride based cells. These solar cells are smaller and much cheaper than their first generation counterparts.

Unfortunately they are also much less efficient, with conversion rate at the level of around 10% or less. Because the panels are so thin, they can be produced very fast and relatively cheap. This compensates for lower efficiency. These solar cells will likely surpass the first generation panels in the next few years.

3. Third generation solar cells are believed to be the most ideal for the solar industry. Unfortunately they are still in the research phase. The concept is to produce a low-cost, high-efficiency solar cell, the epitome of solar technologies.

Despite being on research phase, results have been very promising. Organic solar cells promise cheap, clean, and abundant production resources. Nanosolar cells promise strong yet tiny cells that could thrive in paint or embedded in a window or anywhere.

At present, the first generation cells have the highest conversion rates, while the second generation has the edge on production costs (with a decent conversion rate). The third generation is being designed to beat out the first two, and it looks like it will eventually succeed.

Significant gains in conversion efficiency

1. Scientists from Spectrolab, Inc., a subsidiary of Boeing, have published their research on the fabrication of solar cells that surpass the 40% efficiency milestone—the highest efficiency achieved for any photovoltaic device. The research was funded partly by the U.S. Department of Energy’s National Renewable Energy Laboratory, and will play a significant role in the government’s Solar America Initiative, which aims to make solar energy cost-competitive with conventional electricity generation by 2015.

2. SANYO has broken its own record for the world's highest energy conversion efficiency in practical size crystalline silicon-type solar cells. The company achieved the breakthrough by demonstrating an efficiency of 22% (beating a previous record of 21.8%) at a research level.

3. Recently, scientists broke a record by producing dye-sensitized solar cells with a 10% conversion efficiency. This is an exciting development, and we could begin seeing commercial adaptation within 5-10 years.

4. The top three makers in the country, Suntech, Yingli and JA Solar, have boosted the efficiency of monocrystalline silicon variants to more than 18.5 percent. Efforts are under way to raise this further to catch up with leading manufacturer SunPower. The latter has achieved a record 24.2 percent conversion ratio of solar cells in recent months.

Scientists and researchers in the solar industry are working real hard to upgrade the solar cells, in the hopes of developing the solar industry’s dream: a low-cost, high-efficiency solar panel. Only through this can we make a dent in the strong hold of fossil energy supplying the world.

We invite you to visit our Informative Solar Article page for more practical tips, simplified application guide and established solar benefits.

Author’s Box
Jacinto Demonteverde, Jr., the owner, is a strong advocate of solar power adoption. He writes practical articles to keep established and prospective solar users well informed. Visit him at: http://www.justsolarhome.blogspot.com. You are welcome to republish or reprint this article free of charge provided the content remains unchanged including the Author’s Box. No permission is needed

Defining the Role of Government Incentives in the Growth of Solar Industry

Degeneration of the environment brought about by fossil fuel emission in electricity plants is an established fact causing world-wide concern. This drove various governments including US to search for alternative sources of power. Solar is prominently considered.

Solar technology is ripe and waiting for consumer adoption. To fast track the use of solar power, the state and federal governments have offered a variety of incentives to encourage homeowners and businesses to put panels on their roofs, and for utilities to buy power from large independent solar producers.

What are these incentives? And how did it affect the solar industry?

Government solar incentives:

Federal incentives:

1. Performance-Based Incentive
Renewable Energy Production Incentive (REPI)

2. Personal Exemption
Residential Energy Conservation Subsidy Exclusion (Personal)

3. Personal Tax Credit
Residential Energy Efficiency Tax Credit
Residential Renewable Energy Tax Credit

4. The Emergency Energy Policy Act of 2005 offers a tax credit of 30% for photovoltaic system (solar home energy) and water heater with a tax credit ceiling of $ 2,000. This Act expired on December 31, 2007.

5. The Emergency Economic Stabilization Act of 2008 extended the expiration of Emergency Energy Policy Act of 2005 to December 31, 2016. This Act offered the same tax credit and increased the tax credit ceiling by removing the $ 2,000 limit.

6. The American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009, (ARRA), commonly referred to as the Stimulus or The Recovery Act, is an economic stimulus package enacted by the 111th United States Congress in February 2009. It provided $94.8 billion for clean energy. The program was established under section 1603 and provided cash grants covering 10% or 30% of the total cost of developing new renewable energy facilities.

ARRA also funded research projects to develop future renewable energy technologies which could be cost competitive to sources of electricity producing air pollutants.

According to the Solar Energy Industries Association (SEIA), ARRA has supported more than 1,100 solar projects in 42 states, creating enough new solar capacity to power 200,000 homes. ARRA has resulted in nearly 40 percent growth in the solar power market in 2009 and nearly double in 2010.

State incentives

State tax rebate.The U.S. government offers many incentives in different states to encourage solar power adoption in order to compete with conventional electricity source where the price is lower than solar generated energy.

Database of State Incentives for Renewables and Efficiency (DSIRE) is a comprehensive source of information on state, local, utility and federal incentives and policies that promote renewable energy and energy efficiency. Established in 1995 and funded by the U.S. Department of Energy, DSIRE is an ongoing project of the N.C. Solar Center and the Interstate Renewable Energy Council.

DSIRE provides a comprehensive list of the different states and the solar tax rebate they offer prospective solar users. Please visit them at: http://www.dsire.org.

The results from the different sectors showed that government investment has played a significantly role in the growth of solar industry in America.

We invite you to visit our Informative Solar Article page for more practical tips, simplified application guide and established solar benefits.

Author’s Box
Jacinto Demonteverde, Jr., the owner, is a strong advocate of solar power adoption. He writes practical articles to keep established and prospective solar users well informed. Visit him at: http://www.justsolarhome.blogspot.com