Seeing is Believing

The ancient proverb “Seeing is Believing” is what the Project of Transformation of the Rural Photovoltaic (PV) Market involve to convey knowledge and create awareness to the rural masses on the significance and effectiveness of Solar Energy to their livelihood. In the following article the author outlines the installation of demonstration PV systems in public service institutions for the people to believe, learn and emulate.

Since ancient era, illustrations and demonstrations were essential in spreading new scientific ideas and it was often the case that new developments in the sciences were accompanied by corresponding developments in illustrative and demonstrative techniques.

These techniques are the subject of “seeing is believing” which complements the installation demonstration PV systems at public places including dispensaries, health centers and secondary schools in all districts of Mwanza region in order to sensitize the community about the value and utility of PV installations.

The overriding objective is to increase the awareness among the general public, especially decision makers, consumers and other end-users on the potential role of PV in meeting the basic energy needs of rural communities located away from the grid.

The Project recognizes that knowledge and awareness are important links in the process to successfully introduce PV for off-grid rural electrifications. PV Market growth has been limited by the extremely narrow band of familiarity with PV systems found among the population at large, and the potential market stakeholders in particular in Tanzania.

According to the project Coordinator Mr, Musa Mzumbe, in some places of Mwanza region PV systems are installed but the knowledge of its potential and benefits to the community is still limited to very few individuals.

Where PV systems were installed by pioneers, most of them are not working either through wrong information provided by the installers, lack of knowledge to operate and maintain the systems and in some cases the systems were undersized.

The Project’s initiatives:

In collaboration with district authorities the project has selected three sites in each district of Mwanza region where PV systems should be installed. The criteria for selection of sites are;

  • Easy accessibility of the site by a relatively big population per division.
  • Wide geographical coverage for selected sites. Number of allocated PV systems per district was limited to one site per division.
  • The place should be off-grid and do not expect grid connection in the next five years.
  • The place should have security guard to avoid theft of solar modules
  • Representation of selected sites for each district by one dispensary, one health centre and one secondary schools (preferably a boarding school)
District Selected site Status
Geita Katoro Dispensary
Chikobe Health centre
Bugando secondary school
 Installed
Installed
Installed
Sengerema Nyakaliro Health centre
Katunguru Health Centre
Bugando secondary school
 Installed
Installed
Installed
Missungwi Kolomije Dispensary
Mbarika Health Centre
Busongo Secondary School
 Not Installed
Installed
Installed
Kwimba Jojilo Dispensary
Malya Health Centre
Mwamashimba Secondary School
 Not installed
Not Installed
Not Installed
Magu Ngasamo Dispensary
Kabila health Centre
Kinango Secondary Schools
 Installed
Installed
Installed
Ukerewe Ukerewe Hospital
Kagunguli Health Centre
Bwisya Secodaryy school
 Not installed
Not Installed
Not Installed
Mwanza City Sawa Dispensary
Nyegezi Dispensary
Sangabuye health Centre
 Installed
Installed
Installed

Energy needs:

After selection of the sites the project team visited a number of them in order to determine their electricity needs and therefore size PV systems accordingly. The system sizes were determined after seeking consultation with the beneficiaries on their priorities on energy needs.

Specifications of PV systems:

The specified PV systems did not intend to meet all energy needs but to demonstrate the functionality and usefulness of PV systems for the beneficiary’s identified energy priorities so that they can do expansions at their own costs.

  • Dispensaries: A 100 Wp Systems was selected and installed for each dispensary to meet lighting needs in labor wards, examination rooms, dressing rooms and security lighting.
  • Health Centres: A 225 Wp system for lighting in maternity wards, labor wards, examination rooms, drug store and security was a priority.
  • Secondary Schools: A 225 wp system for lighting in at least two classrooms and an office.

Installation and maintenance arrangements:

The project team met with health committees and school authorities in order to discuss cost sharing arrangement and sustainability of installed systems.
The cost sharing aimed at creating a sense of ownership of the systems by beneficiaries which in turn would hold them responsible to maintain the systems.

The project agreed to provide solar modules, charge controllers, batteries and lamps. Beneficiaries were asked to contribute locally available materials including wiring accessories and installation charges for technicians.
To ensure sustainability of installed systems beneficiary signed a memorandum of understanding with the project and agreed to abide by the project conditions that:

  • There will be a security guard employed to take care against theft or damage of any solar electric system component that will be installed by the project.
  • Installed solar electric system will be used for agreed applications only.
  • Beneficiary will not be allowed to temper or to do modification of installed solar system without the project consent.
  • A technician appointed by the project will visit a solar system twice a year, after every six months to perform maintenance operations of solar systems.
  • The beneficiary will pay a labour charge to the technician for every maintenance activity carried out and cover material costs involved such as distilled water for topping up batteries.
  • The beneficiary will be responsible with costs of replacement of faulty solar system components beyond warranty period.
  • The beneficiary will sign against three copies of a maintenance form provided by the technician. Beneficiary will retain one copy, a technician one copy and the third copy will be presented to the project by technician.
  • Where the beneficiary fails to abide by the project conditions, the project can repossess the donated equipment and reinstall them at another location or use it for other purposes.
  • This agreement remains in effect for the entire period of the project existence

Installation of PV systems:

PV systems were procured by the project and installed after the project was satisfied that beneficiaries were ready for their contribution. Beneficiaries contracted technicians trained by the project to install the systems and maintain them. Project provided supervision role of technicians during installations.

It was also a good chance for technicians to build up hands on experiences and practice codes of practices of installation of PV systems. Contracted technicians were from respective districts so that systems can be easily maintained and repaired with local technicians in place.


Installation at Chikobe Health Centre in Geita district
Trained students had an opportunity to participate during installations.

Challenges:

  • For some of the identified sites, it was difficult to mobilize and raise contribution money because the community had some other commitments of development projects such as construction of secondary schools and other community donor funded projects which required their contributions. This caused a delay.
  • Some of the locations of identified sites were very remote with bad road infrastructure in such a way that regular physical contacts are difficult and costly to the project.

Lessons:

  • The community is aware of the need to contribute for their development projects. They were ready to contribute up to more than 20% of PV systems costs, similar to what they had done for other donor funded project.
  • PV has replaced use of kerosene at health facilities as well as secondary schools. Patients are no longer paying for kerosene when admitted at health centers. Lighting in delivery rooms was the first priority for all health facilities. Where these systems are installed about 5 new households have switched to PV.
  • It is too early to assess the sustainability of the installed systems which will be determined on how the beneficiaries are committed to abiding by the project conditions on maintenance arrangements.

Conclusion:

There is increased level of awareness of PV systems reflected by a number of sold PV modules in Mwanza town. More than 1000 systems were sold between April 2004 and June 2005 and about 70% of the sold systems were 12Wp amorphous modules.

The immediate market of PV system in rural areas is therefore for small systems (mostly 12Wp amorphous systems) as this is what they are able to afford.

The motive of rural households to acquire PV system is mainly for color TV although limited by costs of PV systems. If available in the market, Energy efficient televisions are likely to make a boom of PV business in Mwanza.