| General How do you choose the communities you work in? Why is it so important that solar energy be used in developing countries? With so much poverty still in the United States, why work in Latin American countries? While I appreciate Enersol's projects, you're only working in a few countries. Why not do work in more countries? About Solar Energy (Photovoltaics) What are photovoltaics? How are photovoltaic cells made? Can PV modules power regular appliances? What are the current uses of photovoltaics? What are the environmental benefits of photovoltaics? Training Does Enersol offer courses on solar energy? Where can I find training as a solar technician? Do you also teach people about conserving energy? Getting Involved I like what Enersol is doing. How can I help? What do I need to know before applying to become a volunteer with Enersol? Wouldn't Enersol be able to reach more people by taking on more volunteers? Are there any job openings at Enersol? I'd like to work with you. How do you choose the communities you work in? Enersol works in communities that are beyond the reach of traditional sources of electricity. In our AguaSol program, we work with villages where more common technologies (e.g. gravity-fed water systems) are not feasible. Generally, we will only work with villages where there is an expressed interest and need and where the community itself is willing to commit to the sustainability of the project. back to top Why is it so important that solar energy be used in developing countries? Developing countries want to develop further, and to do so, need energy. Given worldwide environmental concerns, it is critical to demonstrate that advancements are possible without relying on fossil fuels. Using solar energy instead of fossil fuels to meet energy needs reduces emissions of greenhouse gases and other pollutants. When solar energy displaces other energy sources with higher emissions levels, pollutants are reduced. Enersol's EduSol and AguaSol projects prove that solar electricity is indeed a viable source of energy, and we are committed to spreading the word so others will follow our lead. back to top With so much poverty still in the United States, why work in Latin American countries? More and more, we live in a global village. It is no longer possible to ignore the severity of poverty and its effects on health and educational/economic opportunity for those in remote areas of the planet. Responding to their needs with clean renewable energy benefits us all. Lesser-developed countries aspire to a higher quality of life that comes with development. In the western world, rising fossil fuel consumption (releasing carbon emissions) was once favorably looked upon as a measure of economic growth and development. Carbon emissions, estimated at 93 million tons in 1860, jumped to 525 million tons by 1900, and to 1.62 billion tons by 1950. At the end of 1994, the atmosphere contained 4 billion more tons of carbon than just 12 months earlier. It is therefore important that developing countries be encouraged to seek alternative means of development that do not continue this environmental impact, and that developed countries such as the U.S. reduce emissions to safe levels. back to top While I appreciate Enersol's projects, you're only working in a few countries. Why not do work in more countries? While Enersol's projects currently take place in the Dominican Republic, Honduras, and Haiti, there is a wider effect as well. By speaking and presenting papers at international conferences and government conferences, Enersol is committed to sharing experiences that will benefit people around the world. Enersol also maintains a Web site where we share lessons learned, as well as manuals, articles, and references to other sites that might be of interest. Enersol's early work in household electrification was acknowledged in the Worldwatch Institute Report on Progress Towards a Sustainable Society: "Enersol has parlayed modest grants ... into the creation of a nearly self-sustaining solar industry in the Dominican Republic. ... The subsidy in this case is modest. ... But the leverage has been tremendous. By 1993, it had brought solar power to 4,000 families and created local employment. Other organizations are now copying the approach in China, Honduras, Indonesia, Sri Lanka, and Zimbabwe."Enersol receives e-mails and calls daily from all over the world, with questions about replicating Enersol's programs in other countries. In 2002, we received inquiries from:
back to top What are photovoltaics? Photovoltaics are solar cells that produce electricity directly from sunlight. They are usually made of silicon the same material that makes up the common beach sand. The cells are wafer-thin circles or rectangles, about three to four inches across. Solar cells operate according to what is called the photovoltaic effect ("photo" light, "voltaic" electricity). In the photovoltaic effect, "bullets" of sunlight photons strike the surface of semiconductor material, such as silicon, liberate electrons from the material's atoms. Certain chemicals added to the material's composition help establish a path for the freed electrons. This creates an electrical current. Through the photovoltaic effect, a typical four-inch silicon solar cell produces about one watt of direct current electricity. back to top How are photovoltaic cells made? In the most common cell production process, very pure silicon is reduced to its molten form. Through a painstaking and time-consuming process, the silicon is re-formed into a solid, single-crystal cylinder called an ingot. Extremely thin slices cut from the ingot are chemically treated to form photovoltaic cells. Wires attached to the negative and positive surfaces of the cell complete the electrical circuit. Direct current electricity flows through the circuit when the cell is exposed to light. For efficiency and practicality, multiple cells are wired together in a series/parallel fashion and placed in a glass-covered housing called a module. The modules themselves can then be wired together into arrays. PV arrays can produce as much direct current electricity as desired through the addition of more modules. back to top Can PV modules power regular appliances? Photovoltaic modules and arrays produce direct current (DC) electricity. Because most appliances and equipment are designed to be powered by alternating current (AC), PV-produced electricity must be converted. This is accomplished by an inverter. Most of these solid state devices convert DC current to an AC current compatible with that sent over utility grids. back to top What are the current uses of photovoltaics? Many remote uses of photovoltaics are cost-effective and practical now, providing electricity to remote villages, and other isolated sites where the cost of photovoltaics is less than the expense of extending cables from utility power grids or producing diesel-generated electricity. These are the types of uses Enersol focuses on with its programs. Solar energy can save energy, money, and slow environmental degradation, because using less electricity generated from fossil fuels reduces greenhouse gas and acid rain emissions. back to top What are the environmental benefits of photovoltaics? Because they burn no fuel and have no moving parts, PV systems are clean and silent. This is especially important where the main alternatives for obtaining power and light are from diesel generators and kerosene lanterns. As we become more aware of "greenhouse gases" and their detrimental effects on our planet, clean energy alternatives like PV become more important than ever. The burning of fossil fuels degrades our environment. It even is managing to change the climate of the Earth itself. The supply of these fossil fuels is finite. Just, in the last century, humans have consumed nearly half of all of the oil that will ever be produced. Consider this in the context of 5000 years of human history. The hidden costs are immense, including tax breaks for fossil fuel companies, increased health costs, the long-term costs of climate change. Rising fossil fuel consumption (releasing carbon emissions) was once favorably looked upon as a measure of economic growth and development. Carbon emissions, estimated at 93 million tons in 1860, jumped to 525 million tons by 1900, and to 1.62 billion tons by 1950. At the end of 1994, the atmosphere contained 4 billion more tons of carbon than just 12 months earlier. Violent weather cost the world a record $130 Billion in the first eleven months of 1998- more money than was lost from weather related disasters from 1980 to 1990 ($82 Billion). Researchers from the Worldwatch Institute and Munich Re blame deforestation and climate change from Earth warming for much of the loss. The previous one year record was $90 Billion in 1996. Source – Associated Press, November 28,1998. Using solar energy instead of fossil fuels to meet some of our energy needs reduces emissions of greenhouse gases and other pollutants. When solar energy displaces other energy sources with higher emissions levels, it produces a benefit in the form of reduced emissions of pollutants. back to top Does Enersol offer courses on solar energy? Yes, we do, but generally only to community organizations and people living in developing countries. For more information about our training programs, click here. Training is an integral part of Enersol's work. Through training, we build local capacity to meet community needs and share our specialized knowledge in the areas of renewable energy, water supply, and rural development. EduSol program training includes:
Where can I find training as a solar technician? Most states or regions have solar energy associations. The American Solar Energy Society (ASES) is a national organization dedicated to advancing the use of solar energy for the benefit of U.S. citizens and the global environment. (www.ases.org) back to top Solar Energy International (SEI) is a non-profit organization whose mission is to provide education and technical assistance to empower others to use renewable energy technologies. SEI provides education and training to decision makers, technicians and users of renewable energy sources, as well as the expertise to plan, engineer and implement sustainable development projects. (www.solarenergy.org) back to top Do you also teach people about conserving energy? In our EduSol program, it is essential that teachers, students, and parents all learn to conserve energy. One of the courses offered at each school is "Solar Energy and the Environment." With only a few computers at each school, all must learn the dynamics of solar electricity, and the responsibility each has to conserve power so that as many people as possible can benefit from the project. I like what Enersol is doing. How can I help? There are a variety of ways you can help support Enersol's mission:
What do I need to know before applying to become a volunteer with Enersol? As an international nonprofit, Enersol is not set up to train and supervise many volunteers. Occasionally, the right match is made and we welcome and appreciate the help. Prerequisites for volunteering in Latin America are:
back to top Wouldn't Enersol be able to reach more people by taking on more volunteers? In an ideal world, yes. We have decided, however, that given our size, it is more effective to partner with other organizations to increase our impact. For example, Peace Corps volunteers have often been of great import to our projects. It requires a large commitment of time and money to bring a volunteer up to speed, and unfortunately, we have had to make the decision to turn away many wonderful potential volunteers, solely because of our limited staff size. Occasionally, a person with the right combination of language skills, technical skills, community skills, comfort in living in rural areas, and financial independence comes our way, and we appreciate these volunteers greatly. To others we have to turn away, we thank you for your interest. back to top Are there any job openings at Enersol? I'd like to work with you. At the current time, there are no job openings. If however, you speak, write, and read Spanish, and have other relevant skills and experience, you can send or e-mail us (info@enersol.org) a resume and letter expressing your interest. We will keep you on file and contact you should a position open up. |
