The Solar Electric Light Fund (SELF) has been working to provide solar power to the Village Health Works facility in Kigutu, Burundi for over a year. This effort started with a project assessment in early 2008 to determine the needs, and was followed by their work at raising the appropriate funding. SunEnergy Power International’s Walt Ratterman helped SELF with the training and installation stages of this project.
Following the project assessment in 2008, SELF completed the fund raising, procurement and shipment of the equipment to Burundi. Burundi borders Rwanda where SELF has completed many projects, and has an experienced installation team. The group from Rwanda travelled to Kigutu to take part in the training and installation work there this past March, 2009. (see Gallery 5)
Our earlier trip to Rwanda in June 2008 was to make an assessment with USAID for a hopeful solar/hybrid energy system for the Nyabiheke refugee camp. The camp was created about 3 years ago when the Congo began evicting their citizens that had long ago emigrated there from Rwanda. These people are long time citizens of the Congo, but this fact did not matter. The refugee camp is now home for about 9,000 people and the numbers are growing. (see Gallery 4)
In May, SunEPI provided installation and training services to SELF’s project providing Renewable Energy systems for SELF's continuing solar work in Rwanda. To date this has included training and implementation work for the several health care facilities operated by Partners in Health. These systems range between 3kW DC and 5kWp DC and provide energy for laboratory equipment, satellite communication equipment, and critical lighting needs. In May, SunEPI and SELF provided a renewable energy system for the Elizabeth Glazer Pediatric hospital in Ngarama. The system includes approximately 5,000 watts of solar panels, a three-phase Outback Inverter system, and a 2,000 AmpHour battery bank.
The Rwanda work includes similar project installations at 15 additional sites in the western part of the country for health care facilities operated by the Columbia Health System based in the United States.
