PV Projects
We try here to give an idea what is involved in a DIY (Microsolar) project
Starting a Project
Many people have difficulty starting a DIY Solar (microsolar) project.
We do our best to help though it is not often easy. The most important aspect is communication.
It is NOT necessary to get big funding! If you were intending to sell a new sort of radio, for example, you might need to spend money on hiring a stall etc toexplain how it is better/different but with something unknown but useful you can start by selling it to friends and neigbours!
We are willing to do everything possible to ensure good outcomes but contacts often fail to fully communicate with us. They often seem to think they are too much bother - but it is our job to answer questions!
DIY Solar is not like other projects and it often needs a lot of 'chat' with us, and maybe others, to decide how best to go ahead.
Confusion can be much reduced if just one person is put in charge - this is important!
It is essential that one person communicates and concentrates their mind on deciding how to start things off.
It is also essential to start 'small'. Only when you have proved to yourself that this DIY Solar technique really works will it be easy to persuade others it is worth consideration!
Later you might look for funding but don't be in a hurry! It is not easy and often the demands of the funding agency are not simple to conform to! And loans often have very high interest rates.
Much better to make 'products' for local sale and use some of the proceeds to buy in more pv parts.
This is usually better than getting a loan which is often unaffordable!
What so many people ignore is the funding of a project!
Unless someone is offering finance you will need to make and sell pv devices so as to raise money to buy more pv parts from us or another supplier!
What to first solar convert? Once a project is underway other people can be brought
in - but not too soon! Ideally you need to convert existing devices, like radios, by adding a small pv module. You should have used the sample sent to power a radio so this is an obvious first step.
It is best to have the pv module on a long lead so it can be put in the sun while the radio stays in the shade. You don't even need any batteries to start off!
Opposite is a radio with pv module stuck on its casing for transporting.
The other easy starter is charging mobile (cell) phone batteries. People often have to be persuaded to open their phones and take out the battery - but it is the easiest and only certain way of charging all models! And so cheap!
All it then needs is a pv module connected to the battery terminal via a terminal block connector mounted on plywood.
Ask for a leaflet about making them!.
There are lots of other things that can be done (see leaflet DIY Simplified) and we do encourage people to later at least consider importing Chinese desk lamps etc.
These can be easily solar-converted. The one shown here costs about $8!
It is also quite possible to charge car batteries - but very slowly!
Where people understand electricity we recommend them but there are limitations that many do not understand!
Someone Needs to Know
Whoever takes charge of a DIY Solar project must make sure that they first fully understand how the free sample works. Then they can consider using it in different ways or increasing the size of the battery, pv panel, number of LEDs, etc!
A Project that went wrong
Below is an account from an African NGO of their efforts to start a DIY Solar project. It is typical in many ways.
The main problem was their expectation that having been given $100 to research the project by a benefactor there would be more money coming! I had sent some extra pv parts "on loan" but they assumed it was a gift.
Many people expect that Westerners should be generous to people in developing countries but as the inventor of Grameen says,
"I deeply believe that offering charity is not the way to redress the problem of the poor. To me, that ignores their problem and lets them rot. The able-bodied poor don’t want or need charity: the dole only increases their misery; it robs them of initiative and, more importantly, of self-respect.!
We offer DIY Solar not just because it gives some power but also because offers a chance for the poor to start the sort of small enterprises that Muhammad Yunus has helped to introduce into many countries!
Trading
This NGO made lots of assumptions and did not ask for advice before handing out pv devices at the same price that we normally sell them to NGOs.
Imagine you want to start a small business.
Suppose you wish first to make and sell 10 pv units (LED, battery, pv module etc) that are listed as costing $10 in total per unit from DIY Solar.
With postage of say $10 (airmail) the total cost to you might be $110. (All your savings?)
But these are for a business so you will have to charge customers more!
You will have to spend time assembling units and need to buy food, etc and perhaps also pay rent for a stall/shop.
But if this is all the extra that you charge your customers how will you get more parts to assemble and sell for more customers? You cannot wait until you have recouped the money before ordering more parts that might take two weeks or more to arrive!
Maybe you will have to get a loan!
Do you know someone who imports goods - such as dry cell batteries, for example? Or plastic buckets. Or Coke.
They have a similar problem so search out such people and learn from them.
We are often told that the solar pv item is then too expensive. It may well be expensive initially but it has to be recognised that pv provides power at no more cost for a long time!
