Low-Cost Solar Energy Kit for Disaster Relief
2017
Role: Technologist
Team: Collaborative Voluntary Team
After Hurricane Maria, one of the most important issues was energy. And Solar Power is considered a logical step towards sustainable energy independence.
But the information of how to use it, or how to get even a basic set up is obscure. Since knowledge is fragmented, and installations are prohibitively expensive, I collaborated with Themis Garcia to make solar power more accesible.
Objectives
Find the cheapest solar generator that can power essential house appliances.
Synthesize information into easy-to-follow steps.
Create a document that can be distributed by local networks in Puerto Rico.
After doing research, we found that a basic kit can be set up for $200.
This setup can provide for essential energy needs; powering several light bulbs and a fan for up to 10 hrs.
Constraints
Once we gathered enough information to build a (relatively) inexpensive solar generator, the challenge was to figure out a distribution channel for this information. How do we get this information to the people that need it the most? How do we present this information in a way that people can understand?
Considering how limited electronic distribution was and how simple the presentation of information needed to be, we decided to create a one-page Ikea-styled manual, that provides a simple yet complete set of instructions that people in Puerto Rico can print and use to assemble a basic solar generator.
The manual was user tested in Puerto Rico and successfully used to assemble DIY Solar Energy Kits.
Instruction Details
The main goal of this instruction manual is to make it as easy as possible to assemble a Solar Energy Kit from basic components that people can find locally.
And since we are working with electricity, safety is of utmost importance.
The instructions emphasize that components have to be connected in the correct sequence and the correct polarity.
Conclusion
The intention of this project is to help people from Puerto Rico cover basic energy needs after a natural disaster such as Hurricane María. By organizing the information in one document, people can see that it's pretty simple to set up a basic solar generator, and perhaps gain confidence to expand it into a larger system that can cover more than just basic needs and ultimately provide energy independence.