Sustainable Solutions

Short course on solar anergy in Nicaragua: An opportunity to offer your hands, heart, and a unique gift: Electricity!

One doesn't often think twice about turning on the light switch. But for more than 40% of Nicaragua's population, this is not even possible: they have no electricity. For many, the cost of purchasing an electrical lighting system is way beyond their means. A farm laborer fortunate enough to have work all month in a country with massive unemployment makes about $40. His family in the countryside either goes without the luxury of light, or spends $10-$15 per month on candles and kerosene. Alternatively, some communities have managed to obtain noisy diesel generators that are silenced when they run out of expensive scarce fuel, while others use old car batteries, requiring money to recharge before they fail within months. In 1996 a group of third-year electrical engineering students at the National Engineering University in Managua (UNI), saw a need without a means. So together with their enthusiastic professor they created one: GRUPO FENIX. They are bringing electricity to Nicaragua's countryside: not electricity born of large generators and high-voltage power lines, but of an abundant Nicaraguan natural resource -- the sun.

FENIX is supported by a diverse assortment of individuals who have a personal and/or professional vision of providing the world with renewable energy resources. Dr. Richard Komp, President of Sunwatt Corp., and Susan Kinne, Associate Professor of Electronics Engineering at UNI, are key leaders in this effort. Bridging the gap between North and Central America, Richard and Susan are combining their expertise and resources to make this project possible. FENIX invites interested parties to participate directly in its growth and vision. We are offering an 11-day workshop/tour in which participants will learn about solar energy systems, study applications specific to Central America, visit renewable energy installations, and install PV lighting systems in a rural village. The program includes recreational and cultural activities and excursions. The 11-day workshop will run from January 2nd - January 12th, 2001.

The cost of the entire trip, excluding air fare and airport expenses, is $850 per person, which includes a $200 subsidy towards a solar system for the village where we will work. The course will be taught in English (although Spanish ability greatly enhances your experience of Nicaragua). The Grupo FENIX, affiliated with Dr. Komp's nonprofit Foundation Skyheat, has been manufacturing and installing small photovoltaic systems in remote villages in Nicaragua. The entire system, consisting of a 35 Watt PV module, fluorescent lamps, a deep-cycle storage battery, charge controller and wiring is made by these pioneers in Nicaragua from local parts (except for the solar cells and some other special electronic parts). The system is sold to cash-poor rural dwellers on a long-term time payment arrangement geared to their limited means. FENIX is engaged in other renewable energy activities, such as designing, installing and maintaining village scale PV systems for rural health clinics and working with land mine victims to train them to be solar practitioners. Future plans include developing an affordable but highly-efficient 12 volt refrigerator to be made in Nicaragua.

THE SCHEDULE: Monday, January 1st, 2001 or Tuesday January 2nd Arrive in Nicaragua and be picked up at the airport. Reception and settling into the barrio (neighborhood) where we will stay in Managua. The housing is modest; participants will have an option for fancier accommodations in a local guest house or motel (for an additional fee). Tuesday, January 2 Tour of the barrio and the part of Managua where the UNI is situated. This is the heart of the new center of Managua, and universities, shops, art galleries and many other cultural features are located within walking distance. Meet Grupo Fenix participants and UNI faculty.

Wednesday, January 3 through Friday January 5 Courses on solar energy at the UNI. These will include the history and philosophy of using solar energy, passive solar architecture, active solar systems for heating water and air, a half day session where we will build solar box cookers, and finally sessions on photovoltaics, where we will actually solder solar cells together to make small pv modules as well as learn the theory of operation of solar cells.

Saturday, January 6 Visit solar installations in Malay, including a solar powered wood drier at a local furniture cooperative and the large, high temperature solar water heater on the hospital. Visit the local Malay Volcano National Park.

Sunday, January 7 Activities with barrio residents mixed with (optional) field trips to nearby beautiful places like Lake Nicaragua at Granada or the overlook at Catalan.

Monday, January 8 through Wednesday January 10 Leave for the remote village with renewable energy site visits on the way. Reception in the village and cultural exchange. Settle into sleeping accommodations in simple village homes. Install two Fenix photovoltaic systems on village buildings. Use the solar box cookers made earlier and now donated to the village. Evening, celebrate the light in the night! Then return to Managua, again visiting interesting places like Caudal Dairy and a large hydroelectric power plant, rest in the late afternoon and time to reflect on our trip.

Thursday, January 11 Visit the Lacuna de Ahoy, a beautiful volcanic crater lake where the participants can go swimming and visit a reforestation project sponsored by the American group, seder. Meet with the elders of the Nicaraguan environmental movement. Shopping for handicrafts then fiesta in the evening!

Friday, January 12 Final class session at the UNI, where we will review the various solar experiences and go into those aspects of solar energy of most interest to the participants. All full participants will receive a Certificate from the UNI, confirming their successful completion of the course.

Friday afternoon or Saturday January 13 Leave Nicaragua from the Managua airport. Second weekend, Sat. January 13 / Sun. January 14 Optional overnight eco-tour to the Silva Near or the San Radon area (additional cost $100).

We also plan to offer this course again July 31 - August 10, 2001 with the same type of schedule. Note: fees will be the same for the second course.

THE INSTRUCTORS: Richard Komp, Ph.D., the principal instructor, is the author of PRACTICAL PHOTOVOLTAICS and has been working on solar cells since 1960. He has taught numerous courses and workshops on solar energy all over the world; is currently the president of the Maine Solar Energy Association and has a small photovoltaics company, SunWatt Corporation. Richard will also be teaching a graduate course on Solar Energy at the UNI. Susan Kinne, the tour leader and second instructor, has been teaching electrical engineering courses at the UNI for the past 10 years, has traveled and studied in Central America and Cuba, is fluent in Spanish, and speaks German as well as her native English. Susan has worked in the manufacture of silicon wafers for electronic integrated circuits at Cincinnati Milacron and is the organizer of the Grupo Fenix. Many of the engineers working on photovoltaics in Nicaragua (as well as a good number of electric utility engineers) are her former students.

THE COST: The total cost of the course, including all meals and accommodations in Nicaragua, is $850. This includes local transportation costs, the fee to the UNI for the course, and a copy of Dr. Komp's book. $200 of the course fee will go to subsidize Fenix photovoltaic systems installed in the villages, and an additional $100 will go to improvement funds in the barrio and villages. The extra cost for staying on longer should amount to around $30 per day, depending on the type of activities and accommodations.

PAYMENT: A $50 deposit by December 15th, 2000 will save you a place in the course, which will be limited to total of 20 participants. All checks should be made out to SKYHEAT ASSOCIATES, the nonprofit US group that Richard Komp has been associated with since 1974. The checks can be sent to Richard Komp's address. While we have discussed the possibility of some scholarships for students with limited means, we suggest that you consider organizing your own donations, with discussion groups and other fund raising ideas.

AIR TRAVEL: Although January 1st is the better arrival date, flights may be difficult to schedule, so you may also arrive on January 2nd. We can recommend a "Green" travel agency, EARTH ROUTES, travel@earthroutes.net, 207-326-8635, RFD 1, Box 22-B, Penobscot ME 04476.

FOR MORE INFORMATION, CONTACT: Richard J. Komp, Skyheat Associates, RR 2 Box 7751, Jonesport ME 04649, e-mail: sunwatt@juno.com, phone 207-497-2204 or Barbara Atkinson, e-mail: lightstream@igc.org.