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Jessica Kline and Josiah Peck
Introduc on
Design Steps
Ekuphileni Bible Ins tute (EBI)
The Solar PV team (Figure 1) designs and installs solar
photovoltaic systems in developing countries where power is
either unreliable or unavailable. Lack of reliable electricity
significantly hinders the mission of our clients and, in the case
of our current client, prevents them from furthering their
education effectively.
This poster describes the steps performed to design a solar
PV systems for the Ekuphileni Bible Institute in Zimbabwe
including options supporting various levels of funding.
 First, the size of the system must be decided by analyzing power usage. This is done
through a load analysis which calculates the required production of energy, measured in
kilowatt-hours per day (kWh/day).
As funding for a Solar PV system is challenging, we
developed multiple proposals for EBI providing
tradeoffs between funding and functionality.
 Next, the components (Figure 4)
Level 1: $500 - $1,000 Remote start, automatic start
for water pump.
must be selected. This includes
Level 2: $6,000 - $7,000 Infrastructure for future
system. This would include panel mounts, the battery
box, a shed that would house the components and
batteries, the components, and the wires. Basically as
money is raised, batteries and panels can be
purchased and put in use.
solar panels, batteries, an inverter, a charge
controller, and a back-up power source
(such as a generator) if desired. The role
of each component is outlined below.
 The panels take energy from the sun
and convert it to electricity. The
wattage of the panels is chosen based
Figure 4: Diagram of a Simple Off‐Grid Solar Installa on
on how long the batteries take to charge.
Figure 1: The Solar PV team in Summer 2015
Client
 The charge controller monitors the energy that is going from the panels to the batteries.
It is selected based on the solar panels and batteries that are being used.
The Ekuphileni Bible Institute (Figures 2, 3 & 5) is located
in Mtshabezi, Zimbabwe. The electric grid in Zimbabwe is
very unreliable, and often shuts off unexpectedly, remaining
off for an unknown amount of time. Currently EBI has
reported they only receive power between 11pm and 4am. To
mitigate their unreliable power source, our team has designed
a solar photovoltaic system to power EBI’s library and
classrooms. Installation is planned for January 2017.
Figure 3: EBI Campus Layout Figure 2: EBI Loca on in Africa
 Batteries store energy from the panels for later use when the sun is not out or when the
loads require more power than is being produced by the panels alone. Batteries are
chosen based on the load (determined earlier).
Figure 5: The library at EBI
Level 3: $12,000 - $13,000 Small scale, fully
functioning system. Could power 8-10 computers and
2 projectors from 8am - 2pm. Occasionally, printer
use would be okay along with a dozen LED lights.
Level 4: $19,000 - $21,000 Larger system. From
6am to 10pm half of the desired load could be
powered, while from 10am-2pm everything could be
powered in both the library and classrooms.
Level 5: $30,000 - $35,000 the same as level 4, but
can power library and classrooms for longer. From
8am to 8pm, three-quarters of EBI’s load could be powered.
Figure 6: Classroom at EBI
 The inverter converts the DC electricity from the panels and batteries into AC for
electronic devices. Inverters are chosen based on the loads and the battery voltage.
 A MATE (not shown in Figure 4) can also be included in large-scale systems. The
MATE controls and monitors the system as a whole, managing the other components.
Finally, once the components are chosen, the system layout must be designed. The solar
panels must be placed where they will be in direct sunlight. This is determined by
conducting a shade analysis which accounts for shading from nearby trees and other objects
at all times of the year.
 The remaining components (charge controller, batteries, MATE and inverter) must be
protected from the elements and located as close together as possible to minimize power
loss due to resistance of connecting wires. It is suggested that the charge controller,
MATE and inverter be mounted on a wall for easy access.
Conclusions
With a growing power crisis in Zimbabwe, solar has become one of the most viable options for
reliable electricity. As funding becomes available for implementation, we hope to provide the power
needed for the students and faculty at EBI to further their education and continue in their mission .
Acknowledgements
We greatly appreciate Friends of TCZ and Rebekah Basinger’s assistance in raising funds for the
EBI installation, as well as Messiah College’s grant office. We would like to thank Chris Byers from
Advanced Solar Industries, Dr. Randy Fish, and Liam Tanis for their advice and support. The other
members of Solar PV—Andrew Floro, Scott Kerstter, and Steven Carpenter—must also be
acknowledged for their hard work and commitment to the project’s vision this past year.