Kenya

Fundraising for Power Up Kenya

$: 2,700 / 60,000 (5%)

Summary

The Kenya project aims to design and build a sustainable power source, that includes solar electricity, for a newly built computer training school in a remote village of Southwestern Kenya.

The Place

In southwestern Kenya, 200 miles west of Nairobi on shores of Lake Victoria, is the mainland town of Mbita and two inhabited islands, named Rusinga and Mfangano. This remote region, known as the Suba District, is home to the Luo tribe and very near to where President Obama’s grandmother still lives.

In June 2010, three members of our San Diego Professional Chapter traveled by plane, van, and ferry to this region to determine if building a PV solar electric system on a school would be feasible. We have returned with a new strategy for supplying power to the school as well as many stories of integrity and perseverance.

The Project

All EWB projects require a local non-governmental organization (NGO) partner. Our project’s NGO is the Island Technology Center’s (I.T.C.), a post-secondary computer training school that will offer a curriculum in repair, data entry, and programming. Our primary contact and the founder of the I.T.C., Dan Orao, was born and raised on Mfangano Island in small village accessible only by motor boat but currently lives in Grand Rapids, MI with his wife and two high school aged children. Miraculously, he beat the odds, achieved a college degree, and ultimately attended the University of Michigan earning a Masters degree.

Remembering the poverty, lack of opportunity, and disproportionately high rate of AIDS, and therefore orphans of his home, Dan was determined to share his good fortune. So, through fundraising efforts in Michigan, he was able to raise $70,000 to purchase 3 acres and a build a 1,500 sq.ft. facility to house the Island Technology Center which is set on a hillside that overlooks and the lake. Dan also organized a network of retired teachers and regional leaders forming a Board of Directors that are committed to supporting the I.T.C.’s mission of empowering of the local population through education.

At the same time, Dan contacted EWB-USA in 2008 to request that a local EWB Chapter take on the challenge of supplying a sustainable power source for the Center. In January of 2009, our Chapter accepted the task and began designing an off-grid solar electric system for the Center.

The Design

Prior to our Assessment Trip in June, our preliminary design called for a large, “off-grid” solar system with two days of reserve power. However, during the assessment, we found a utility line 500ft. down the hill and learned that it would cost ~$1,000 to connect to the grid. This information has caused us to reconsider the design.

The decision on whether to switch designs raised some interesting considerations. Could the I.T.C. afford the additional operating expense of a monthly electric bill? Wouldn’t it be more “sustainable” to provide power exclusively from the sun and not bother with the grid? What would happen if the “off-grid” system failed without the grid as back-up? What was our budget of each option? In the end, we have decided to redesign the project. We will connect to the grid once the school is ready to open. Despite the expense, grid power allows for future expansion and will bump up the school’s anticipated start date.

In the meantime, our Chapter will raise funds to design and construct a smaller sized PV installation – one that connects both to the grid and, if the grid goes down, will run directly off stored batter power. Based on the load analysis, we estimate this system will generate at least 50% of the Center’s electrical needs. A ‘Phase 2’
will be considered after this project is complete to determine if adding additional solar panels is necessary and can be maintained responsibly.

Regarding the installation, we are considering mounting the solar panels on poles or on a tall structure we design since placing the panels near the ground would increase the potential for theft. Unfortunately, the school’s roof was only designed can only hold lightweight sheets of corrugated metal.

The Budget

Included in our budget are the following expenses: all the solar equipment required to build a safe and reliable 4kW grid-tied/battery back-up PV system that can free from the grid for one full day, contracting a local electrician, tools, travel for three Chapter members, and other logistics…….. $60,000.

How You Can Help

Please consider making a financial gift and be part of a very worthy cause. Every contribution, no matter the size, is appreciated and well utilized.

If you are a business owner, we would like to
schedule a time to meet and discuss the other projects our Chapter is working on and demonstrate the benefits your company will enjoy through sponsoring our efforts.

Finally, if you want to help design, fund, or manage the project please come to our next meeting. Many members come from other disciplines including legal, academic, and marketing so you don’t need an Engineering degree. Contact us at project.coordinator@ewb-sandiego.org.

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