The Renewable Energies and Energy Efficiency group of the IDM of the Universitat Politécnica de Valencia together with 3 members of the Department of Rural and Agroalimentary Engineering DIRA, are implementing in Kenya the fourth and fifth pilot plants as a result of the R&D contract “Greening humanitarian responses through enhanced solar energy harvesting”. In addition, Practical Action Kenya (and Practical Action Zimbabwe) staff are supporting the project on the ground.
This contract, which has a budget of 360,000 euros, arises from the collaboration between the Universitat Politécnica de Valencia (UPV) and the International Organization for Migrations (IOM-ONU), being financed by the EU through ECHO funds and by USAID for International Development.
The project has also been supported by the companies TECHNO SUN and SOLAX POWER, which have provided some equipment and collaborated in various technical aspects.
The project involves the development and deployment of standardized kits of photovoltaic water pumping systems including high-voltage lithium batteries for water supply and other basic electricity uses in vulnerable populations in Zimbabwe and Kenya.
Compared to conventional PV pumping, where not as much electricity is generated as the PV array can produce, the inclusion of a battery maximizes the energy generated by the PV array, which can be used for consumption or stored, providing basic access to electricity in a community that previously had no access to it.
The pilot plants are also equipped with an advanced intelligent energy management system and allow remote monitoring and control.
