EL PEDREGAL, NICARAGUA - SOLAR SCHOOL PROJECT
On March 19, 2009 Power to the People installed a 1kW DC solar electric system on the roof of the public school in El Pedregal, Nicaragua. The solar electric system is an off-grid battery-based system with eight 123Wp modules, an inverter, 8 batteries, 11 lights, and 4 outlets for the 2-room school. The solar system has not only brought light to this small community, it has also provided a place to hold community meetings, given adults who are taking classes in other towns a place to study in the evening, allowed people of all ages a chance to attend televised distant learning classes, created income for the school by selling electricity to charge cell phones, and has made it possible for more advanced teaching aids during the day. To learn more about this project click here.
LAS CUCHILLAS - SOLAR SCHOOL AND LIBRARY PROJECT
On April 15, 2010 Power to the People installed a 680W photovoltaic system on a rural 2-room school with Schuco modules and a 225W PV battery charging station on a small library on the side of a volcano on the island of Ometepe, located in the middle of Lake Nicaragua. Surrounded by beautiful island culture and ambiance, Las Cuchillas was the last community on the island without electricity due to its remote location on Volcan Maderas. The installation of solar electricity on this school and library has not only brought lights and power to these classrooms, it has give the community a place to study at night, recharge cell phones, and charge car batteries that provide power to the houses in the village - improving the quality of life for the residents of Las Cuchillas and surrounding communities and creating a revenue source for the school. Click here for more information.
LAS LAJAS - SUN-POWERED HEALTH CARE & EDUCATION
From November 20-27, 2010 Power to the People will be installing a 1.35kW photovoltaic system and a 450W PV battery charging station on a 4-classroom elemantary school in central Nicaragua to bring light, electricity, and refigeration to these community buildings. In the same community, we will also be installing a 340W PV system on a rural health care center, bringins lights and power to this much needed health post. Many people living in rural areas have little or no access to doctors, medicine, or basic health care and educational tools are limited when no power is available. In some towns, health care facilities and schools exist, but they have no access to lights and power which limits the benefits they can provide to a community. Solar Power can help the community of Las Lajas significantly improve the quality of these public services, providing more oppotunities for positive development for the 5,000 people in Las Lajas and the surrounding communities. Click here for more information.
If you would like to go to Nicaragua to install this system with us please email us and check out our Voluntourism program. If you would like to donate equipment or funds to this project, please email info@powertothepeople.org.
"SOL" SCHOOL - AGUA FRIA, ESTELI
In February 2011, Power to the People will be installing a 1kW photovoltaic system on a school in Esteli, Nicaragua through our partnership with Seeds of Learning and SunPower Foundation. The PV system will bring lights and AC power to the school and will also include a 225W battery charging station, allowing community members to charge car batteries at the school and take them home to have lights and power in their houses. Click here for more information.
If you would like to go to Nicaragua to install this system please email us at info@powertothepeople.org.
TWO SOLAR SCHOOLS - LA UVA AND EL CARIBE, BOACO
In mid 2011, Power to the People will be installing two photovoltaic systems on neighboring schools in Boaco, Nicaragua. The PV system will bring lights and AC power to the schools and will also include PV battery charging stations, allowing the two communities of La Uva ad El Caribe to charge car batteries at the school and take them home to have lights and power in their houses. Check back soon for more information about this project.
ELECTRIcCITY
Power to the People has a vsion to design a PV system for a village in Nicaragua that will power the entire town using 100% renewable energy and NO BATTERIES! Our goal is to not only bring electricity to this rural village, but in doing so, prove that it is possible to power an off-grid community using 100% renewable energy using storage methods that are more affordable,require less maintenance, and are less harmful to the environment than common battery technologies. Check back soon for more information.
If you would like to be involved in this project, please email info@powertothepeople.org.
