ADVISORY REPORT
An advisory on the best technique to generate
sustainable energy on the farms of San Cristóbal
Joris van de Glind
26-12-2016
Advisory Report
An advisory on the best technique to generate sustainable energy on the farms of San Cristóbal
Author: Joris van de Glind
[email protected]
HAS Den Bosch University
Client: Local Dreamers
Contact person: Aldert Schriemer
26/12/2016
Foreword
This advisory report has been realized on the island of San Cristóbal, the easternmost inhabited
island of the Galápagos archipelago. On the Galápagos Islands, which are known for their beautiful
nature and of course Charles Darwin, farmers are still living without access to energy. This report
provides a recommendation on how to provide these farmers with sustainable electricity.
Although this report gives a clear recommendation on how farmers can be supplied with the amount
of electricity that is currently needed, it is possible that you as a reader may come to a different
conclusion. This report therefore also gives attention to cheaper as well as more expensive
techniques for the generation of electricity for the farmers. If for example not enough money is
available a cheaper technique may be chosen. On the other hand, when due to an increase in
prosperity more electricity is needed in the future, a more expensive technique may be chosen.
Finally, I would like to end this foreword by thanking a few people. I would like to thank Eduardo for
his hospitality and his assistance in collecting the required information from the farmers, Aldert
Schriemer for his support from Quito and for arranging my stay on San Cristóbal, and finally, Joep van
der Helm for his support from the Netherlands.
Joris van de Glind
Puerto Baquerizo Moreno (Isla San Cristóbal)
26-12-2016
Table of contents
Summary ................................................................................................................................................. 3
1.
Introduction ..................................................................................................................................... 4
2.
Roadmap ......................................................................................................................................... 5
3.
Methods to generate energy in a sustainable way ......................................................................... 8
4.
5.
6.
7.
8.
3.1.
Solar energy ............................................................................................................................. 8
3.2.
Wind energy ............................................................................................................................ 8
3.3.
Biomass.................................................................................................................................... 9
3.4.
Hydroelectric energy ............................................................................................................... 9
3.5.
Geothermal power ................................................................................................................ 10
3.6.
Most appropriate forms of energy on the farms .................................................................. 10
The effect of the locale climate on solar and wind energy ........................................................... 11
4.1.
Location of the farms ............................................................................................................ 11
4.2.
Local climate .......................................................................................................................... 12
4.3.
Impact of the climate on renewable energy sources ............................................................ 13
The farms on San Cristóbal............................................................................................................ 14
5.1.
Observation ........................................................................................................................... 14
5.2.
The survey ............................................................................................................................. 15
5.3.
The needs of the farmers ...................................................................................................... 16
Applicable techniques for the farms on San Cristóbal .................................................................. 17
6.1.
Required amount of energy .................................................................................................. 17
6.2.
Techniques to generate energy............................................................................................. 18
6.2.1.
Expensive but future proof solutions ............................................................................ 18
6.2.2.
Lights, battery and solar panel combined in one product ............................................ 21
6.2.3.
Portable lamps combined with a solar panel and battery ............................................ 22
6.2.4.
Overview of techniques to generate energy ................................................................. 23
6.3.
Best solution for the farms of San Cristóbal.......................................................................... 24
6.4.
Impact of the Solar Home System D20 on the lives of farmers ............................................ 25
Financing opportunities................................................................................................................. 26
7.1.
Possibilities at the companies that produce the different solutions .................................... 26
7.2.
Charities ................................................................................................................................. 26
7.3.
Other ways to raise money ................................................................................................... 26
Conclusion and recommendations ................................................................................................ 27
Sources ..................................................................................................................................................... I
Appendix................................................................................................................................................. VI
Appendix I:
Farmers without energy ................................................................................................ VII
Appendix II:
Method to calculate the size of the battery ............................................................. VIII
Appendix III:
Mini-Lynx Home lamp ................................................................................................ IX
Appendix IV:
Batteries ...................................................................................................................... X
Appendix V:
Costs of solar panels ................................................................................................ XVII
Appendix VI:
Wind turbine........................................................................................................... XVIII
Summary
The archipelago of Galápagos Islands is one of the most prosperous regions of Ecuador. Despite of
this prosperity there are still farmers on these islands who live without electricity. Their farms are
located far away from the existing electricity network of the island, making the cost of connecting
these farms to the grid too expensive for the Ecuadorian government. To provide these farmers with
electricity, this report gives a recommendation on a sustainable electricity supply on the farms
considering both the current and future needs of the farmers.
There are a few steps leading to an advice on which technique can best be used to provide the
farmers with electricity. First, research is done into the most commonly used renewable energy
sources. Afterwards, it is determined based on the climate, geographic location, costs and interviews
with the farmers which energy source is most suitable for the farms. In the interviews, it also is asked
where the farmers want to use the electricity and for which purposes, which is used to determine
how much electricity is needed. Lastly, it is examined which technology can be used to extract energy
from the most suitable energy source in an affordable way.
The research in this report shows that, of the five most used renewable energy sources (biomass,
wind energy, solar energy, hydroelectric energy and geothermal power), solar energy is best suited
for a farm on San Cristóbal. Due to a lack of running water, which is required for the generation of
hydroelectric energy, and the high cost of geothermal power, these are not suitable sources of
energy. Furthermore, it appears from the interviews with the farmers that 16 out of the 19 farmers
without access to electricity regard solar energy as the best energy source and the remaining three
farmers regard wind energy as the best energy source. The investigation of the local climate shows
that the sun shines plentifully during the year, while there are only three or four months per year
during which the wind is strong enough to generate sufficient energy. Therefore, based on this
research, the best way to provide the farms on San Cristóbal with electricity is by using solar energy.
The interviews with the farmers show that all farmers need electricity and they want to use the
electricity initially for the illumination of their homes. However, some of the farmers also want to use
the electricity in the future for other appliances like refrigerators, television or radio. The houses are
generally not larger than 30 square meters, which is the area that the farmers prefer to be able to
illuminate throughout the whole day.
There are several techniques to generate energy on the island of San Cristóbal. In this report, the
techniques are grouped into three categories. The first category contains more expensive solutions,
which can be used to generate enough energy for the use of a refrigerator, television or radio. The
second category contains cheaper solutions, where lights, a battery and a solar panel are combined
in one product. Finally, the last category contains portable lamps combined with a solar panel and
battery. To provide the farmers in an affordable way with light, it is best to choose a solution where a
solar panel, battery and lights are incorporated into one product.
Of the investigated products, the Solar Home System D20 seems to be the best solution, because this
system also has a single lantern alongside two fixed lamps. This separate lantern can be used for
extra light wherever needed. The Solar Home System D20 costs $160, adding up to a total amount of
$3,040 for the 19 farmers without energy.
3
1. Introduction
This advisory report has been commissioned by the Local Dreamers foundation in Quito. Local
Dreamers is a foundation that supports various projects in Quito and other locations in Ecuador,
including a conservation project on San Cristóbal, one of the Galápagos Islands. The main purpose of
this conservation project is to protect the endemic plant species and removing invasive species.
Besides this, the foundation cooperates in this project with farmers to build an infrastructure to
make the farms self-sufficient. (Local Dreamers, 2016)
The archipelago of Galápagos Islands is one of the most prosperous regions in Ecuador. Despite of
this prosperity there are still farmers on these islands who live without electricity. The farms are
located far away from the existing electricity network of the island, making the cost of connecting
those farms to the grid too expensive for the Ecuadorian government. To provide these farmers with
electricity, the Local Dreamers foundation asked for a recommendation for an appropriate solution.
The purpose of this report is therefore to give a recommendation on a sustainable electricity supply
on the farms, considering the current and future needs of the farmers.
The main question of this research is:
 What is the best technique to provide the farms on San Cristóbal with electricity considering
the current and future needs of the farmers?
The sub-questions in this research are:
o Do the farmers need an electricity supply?
o With which methods is it possible to generate energy in a sustainable way? And which of
these methods are suitable for the farms on San Cristóbal?
o What is the geographical situation of the farms?
o What is the climate on San Cristóbal? And what is the consequence of this climate for the
possible ways to generate energy on the farms of San Cristóbal?
o Where and for what is the electricity required at the farms? And in the future?
o How much electricity is required at the farms?
o What does a farm on San Cristóbal look like?
o Which techniques to generate energy in a sustainable way are most suitable for the farms?
And what are the costs of these techniques?
o In which ways can the techniques be financed?
The goal of the recommendation is to provide a sustainable energy supply only to the farmers
without access to electricity. To keep the recommendation affordable, the total cost of the
recommended technique should remain below $10,000. Also, due to strict Ecuadorian import rules, it
should be possible to buy the product(s) required for the application of the recommended technique
in Ecuador or the size of these products must be small enough to carry in the luggage of future
volunteers and interns at the office of Local Dreamers in Quito.
This report will start with an explanation of the used methods in Chapter 2. This chapter provides a
roadmap, indicating which sub-questions are answered at every step and the method used for this
step. Then, in Chapter 3, a general description is given of the five most commonly used ways to
generate energy in a sustainable way. The weather has a great influence on the generation of wind
and solar energy. Therefore, in Chapter 4 the local climate will be described. Chapter 5 is focused on
the farms, containing a description of what a farm looks like and a short survey in which it becomes
clear what the needs of the farmers are in terms of energy. Then, in Chapter 6, an overview is given
of a few techniques that meet the needs of the farmers. In Chapter 7 there are a few tips to help
finance the project. Finally, in Chapter 8 the conclusion follows, with in this chapter the answer to
the research question.
4
2. Roadmap
This chapter describes the various steps leading to an answer to the research question and subquestions. The first step is to examine the most common methods for the generation of renewable
electricity. In the subsequent steps it is examined which of these methods is the most suitable for a
farm on San Cristóbal. In the sixth step, this information can be used to find the best techniques to
generate energy on the farms of San Cristóbal.
Step 1: Literature study for methods to generate renewable energy (Chapter 3)
There are a few possibilities to generate energy in a sustainable way. However, these options will not
all be suitable for the farms of San Cristóbal. A method may not be suitable at the location where it is
needed, or a renewable energy source may already be too expensive to be financed in advance.
Therefore, literature research is conducted into the five most used renewable energy sources to
generate energy. A brief explanation of each source is given, the advantages and disadvantages of
the energy source are examined and the literature research examines the suitability of the location.
Step 1 addresses the following sub-questions:
o
o
With which methods is it possible to generate energy in a sustainable way?
Which of these methods are suitable for the farms on San Cristóbal?
Step 2: Literature study of the locale climate (Chapter 4)
The local climate may have a large influence on the choice of the appropriate method to generate
energy. For a wind turbine, it is important that there is enough wind, and for solar energy, the sun
must shine sufficiently. The geographic location can also affect the climate. For example, on a farm
on the top of a mountain it will be cloudy more often than on a farm along the coast.
To investigate the effect of the geographic location on the local climate and the effect of that local
climate on the possible use of wind and/or solar energy, a literature study is conducted.
Step 2 addresses the following sub-questions:
o
o
o
What is the geographical situation of the farms?
What is the climate on San Cristóbal?
What is the consequence of this climate for the possible ways to generate energy on the
farms of San Cristóbal?
Step 3: An observation of the farms (Chapter 5)
To determine the appropriate method to generate energy, it is important to know what a farm on
San Cristóbal looks like. When the roof of a farm is in the shadow of trees, there will not be enough
sunlight for the generation of solar energy. Or when the farm is located in a valley, there is probably
not enough wind for the generation of wind energy. To determine the amount of energy needed, it is
also important to observe how the farmers work and live, and when farmers use different devices,
which may perhaps be replaced by electrical appliances. Finally, for the purpose of illumination it is
important to know the size of the house.
Therefore, a short observation is made of the farms, which examines what the farms look like and
how the farmers work.
Step 3 addresses the following sub-questions:
5
o
o
o
Where and for what is the electricity required on the farms?
What does a farm on San Cristóbal look like?
Which techniques to generate energy in a sustainable way are most suitable for the farms?
Step 4: An interview with the farmers (Chapter 5)
The people who know most of the farms are the farmers themselves. To find out which form of
energy is the most suitable for the farms it can therefore best be asked to farmers. Also, it is
important to ask if there is a need for electricity and where it is going to be used when it would be
provided.
A short interview is held with the farmers without access to electricity to find out their needs. Due to
a huge language barrier, the interview is conducted in the form of a short survey, to avoid any
ambiguities about the answers.
Step 4 addresses the following sub-questions:
o
o
o
Do the farmers need an electricity supply?
Where and for what is the electricity required at the farms?
And in the future?
Step 5: Calculation of the required amount of electricity on the farms (Chapter 6)
The required amount of electricity (watt-hours) depends on how many devices or lamps are used and
how much electricity these devices or lamps use. Information on the total electricity consumption of
the farms is necessary to find an appropriate solution in the next step.
The following steps are taken to calculate the total amount of electricity required per day:
1. To investigate the amount of electricity (wattage) used by a device, a literature study is done
on the internet.
2. The required number of lamps and the total wattage of these lamps is calculated. (Philips,
2016)
a. Literature review on the recommended light intensity in lux/m2.
b. By multiplying the number of lux found by the number of square meters that needs
to be illuminated, the required number of lumens can be calculated.
c. Research on the Internet for suitable lamps that meet this number of lumens.
d. Add up the wattage of the lights to obtain the total required wattage.
3. Multiply the wattage per device or lamp by the number of hours the device or lamp is used
daily, to calculate the daily required amount of electricity. (Save on Energy, 2016)
Step 5 addresses the following sub-question:
o
How much electricity is required at the farms?
6
Step 6: Literature study into applicable techniques for the farms (Chapter 6)
Based on the information found on the Internet in the previous steps, research is done into
techniques to generate electricity in a sustainable way. Depending on the needs of the farmers, offgrid systems may be sought for. Alternatively, when only illumination is needed, solutions may be
sought where a solar panel, battery and lamp are sold as a single product.
An overview is made of the techniques which are found. In this overview, a division is made between
the expensive off-grid systems and the cheaper techniques that can be used only for the illumination.
This overview includes a calculation of the total costs of each technique if it would be applied to all
the farms without electricity.
Step 6 addresses the following sub-questions:
o
o
Which techniques to generate energy in a sustainable way are most suitable for the farms?
What are the costs of this techniques?
Step 7: Literature study to find ways to finance the project (Chapter 7)
The farmers and the Local Dreamers foundation do not have the money to implement the final
recommendation. Therefore, ways to raise money to finance the project should be sought for. In this
step research is done to find ways to collect the money to realize this recommended solution.
Step 7 addresses the following sub-question:
o
In which ways can the techniques be financed?
7
3. Methods to generate energy in a sustainable way
There are several ways to generate energy in a sustainable way. In paragraphs 3.1 to 3.5 of this
chapter the five main ways to generate energy are described, with their advantages, disadvantages
and applicability on the Galápagos Islands. Lastly, in paragraph 3.6 a conclusion is provided on the
most appropriate forms of energy on the Galápagos Islands.
3.1.
Solar energy
The earth receives enough solar energy every hour to satisfy the world energy demand of an entire
year. This energy can be transformed by solar panels into electricity or with a solar collector into heat
(in the form of hot water) (National Geographic, 2016).
The biggest advantage of the use of solar energy on the Galápagos Islands is the location of the
islands near the equator. The solar radiation is the highest at the equator and decreases towards the
poles (NASA, 2016). This ensures that solar cells and/or solar collector generate a relatively large
amount of energy around the equator. This is clearly visible on the map in Figure 1. Another
important advantage is that the solar panels are easy to install. An important disadvantage is the
dependence on the weather. It is possible that after a couple of cloudy days, the panels and batteries
are no longer able to meet the demand of the farmers.
Solar panels and/or solar collectors are very suitable as an energy source on the Galápagos Islands
due to their location close to the equator.
Figure 1 Global solar radiation (British Business Energy, 2016)
3.2.
Wind energy
Wind is caused by differences in air pressure, which causes the air to move from areas of high
pressure to areas of low pressure. Low pressure occurs when the sun heats the surface and as warm
air rises, cold air will fill the emerging space (National Geographic, 2016). The wind can be converted
into electricity by using wind turbines.
A great advantage of wind turbines is the low maintenance that is required once the wind turbines
are installed. Another advantage is that a wind turbine requires little space, resulting in a minimum
8
impact on livestock grazing or crop production (Daniels, 2015). A major disadvantage is the reliance
on the weather: when there is no wind the wind turbine produces no electricity. Additionally, a wind
turbine can be a threat to birds and the turbines can produce a lot of noise. (Rinkesh, 2016)
Wind turbines are suitable as an energy source on the farms. However, research needs to be done on
the impact of the wind turbines on the birds, because there are several protected bird species on the
Galápagos Islands (Galapagos Conservancy, 2016).
3.3.
Biomass
Biomass is any organic material that
contains stored sunlight in the form of
chemical energy. There are many types
of biomass that can be used to generate
electricity, such as agricultural crops and
residues, sewage, animal residues or
forestry crops and residues. The biomass
can be converted into biogas by using a
digester as shown in Figure 2. By using a
combustion engine, the gas can be
converted into heat or electricity.
The use of biomass for the generation of
energy has several advantages. A great
advantage is that the residual flows
(Manure and vegetable waste) on the
farms can be used to produce energy.
Also, the biogas can be used for cooking. Figure 2 A digester to produce biogas (Home Biogas, 2016)
A major disadvantage is the need for a
combustion engine to produce electricity.
When only heat is required on the farms, the use of biomass is a good solution. To production of
electricity also requires a combustion engine, therefore the costs will probably be too high.
3.4.
Hydroelectric energy
By placing a turbine in moving water, electricity can be produced. Although this is a clean form of
energy, this often gives a lot of damage to the immediate environment (Maehlum, 2014). There is no
moving water on San Cristóbal, thus hydroelectric energy cannot be applied here.
9
3.5.
Geothermal power
The earth’s internal heat can be used to
produce energy. This heat can be found from
shallow ground to miles below the surface
(National Geographic, 2016). Figure 3 shows
how this heat can be used to produce
electricity.
Geothermal power offers several advantages.
The main advantage is that the geothermal
power plants are not affected by the weather
and they work day and night. Also, because of
the location of the islands on a geological
hotspot, the heat will be located relatively
close to the surface. The main disadvantage of Figure 3 Dry steam power plant (Blodgett, 2014)
geothermal energy is the high costs of the
installation of the power plants (iAltEnergy, 2016).
Because of the high costs of the power plants, geothermal energy is not a suitable form of energy for
the farms. This is despite the fact that the Galápagos Islands are a good location for geothermal
energy because of their location on a geological hotspot.
3.6.
Most appropriate forms of energy on the farms
Due to the lack of running water needed for hydroelectric energy and the high costs for the
generation of geothermal power, these techniques are not suitable for the farms.
Wind energy, solar energy and biomass are suitable energy sources for the farms. Wind and sun
energy have the disadvantage that they depend on the weather, while biomass has the disadvantage
that it requires an additional combustion for the conversion into electricity.
10
4. The effect of the locale climate on solar and wind energy
Of the five methods to generate energy, solar and wind energy are most depending on the local
climate. Therefore, paragraph 4.1 elaborates on the location of the farms and the effect of the
climate on the location. Paragraph 4.2 will discuss the local climate with a focus on the sun and the
wind. Lastly, paragraph 4.3 gives a conclusion on the impact of the potential renewable energy
sources.
4.1.
Location of the farms
The farms without access to energy are all
located on the highlands of San Cristóbal
northeast of the small village El Progreso. This
area lies between 300 and 600 meters above
the coastal areas as shown on the map in
Figure 4. Due to this height, it is cloudier in
this area than along the coast. In the dry
season the wind on the Galápagos Islands is
usually blowing from the south. The
Humboldt current transports cold water from
Figure 4 The formation of clouds in the dry season on the
the South Pole to this area, making the wind
Galápagos Islands (Trueman & d’Ozouville, 2010)
coming from the south of the Galápagos Islands
also colder. This cold air lingers at an altitude between 300 and 600 meters and forms an air layer
where the moisture that evaporates from the ocean forms clouds. (Ader, 2000) As a result, the sun
shines less often in the areas located at a greater height than those along the coast. Figure 5 gives a
brief explanation of the formation of clouds on the Galápagos Islands. Because of these clouds, the
sun shines 1 to 2 hours less per day in the highlands than in the coastal area (Trueman & d’Ozouville,
2010).
Figure 5 Topographic map of San Cristóbal (Wikipedia, 2016)
11
4.2.
Local climate
The Galápagos Islands are located almost directly below the equator. Therefore, there are high
temperatures, lots of sunshine and equally long days and nights throughout the whole year.
However, as explained in paragraph 4.1, there are still differences between the wet and dry season.
Sun
Table 1 Solar potential Ecuador (Jaramillo, 2011)
As seen in Figure 6, the number of sunshine hours
is the lowest in September with on average 4.6
hours of sunshine per day (highlands 2.6 hours)
and in May the highest with on average 7.7 hours
of sunshine per day. On average, there are 2,343
hours of sunshine per year (ClimaTemps, 2016).
This is significantly higher than for example
Amsterdam, where the sun shines an average of
1,586 hours per year (ClimaTemps, 2016). Because
of its location close to the equator the solar
radiation is relatively high with 4.5 kWh/m2 per year (Table 1).
Wind
The average wind speed at San Cristóbal is never higher than 3 on the scale of Beaufort (3.4-5.4 m/s)
(Figure 6). Wind turbines can operate starting from about 4-5 meters per second
(windmeasurementinternational, 2016). During the interviews with the farmers the low wind speed
on the island has been confirmed. One farmer stated that the wind blows only 3-4 months per year.
The low wind speed may also explain the low yields of the windfarm on the island (Lewis, 2013).
Figure 6 Climate statistics San Cristóbal (ClimaTemps, 2016)
12
4.3.
Impact of the climate on renewable energy sources
Although it is not exactly clear how much the sun shines in the highlands of San Cristóbal, there are
almost the whole year round enough sun hours to generate energy on the farms. Even considering
that the sun shines less in the highlands than in the coastal area, the sun still shines more than for
example in Amsterdam.
The wind seems an uncertain source of energy, since there are only a few months per year when
there is enough wind to generate enough energy. The rest of the year, depending on the type of
wind turbine, the yields are likely to be too low.
13
5. The farms on San Cristóbal
In the search for renewable energy sources on the farms, it is important to know the specific needs
of the farmers. To find this out, paragraph 5.1 provides an observation of the farms on the island San
Cristóbal. A brief survey completed by all farmers without access to energy is discussed in paragraph
5.2. Paragraph 5.3 gives a conclusion about the needs of the farmers.
5.1.
Observation
On the island of San Cristóbal there are approximately 200 farmers of which 19 farmers have no
access to electricity. The farms without electricity are located about halfway between Puerto
Baquerizo Moreno and Puerto Chino as shown in Figure 8.
The farms usually consist of a small house or
cabin with one room where the farmer
sleeps on weekdays. Around the house lies
the land where the food (meat, chicken,
eggs, milk and fruit) is produced in an
ecological way, with little or no use of
machinery. On the farms the livestock is
frequently among the (fruit)trees, so there is
a system of mixed farming. A photo of a farm
at San Cristóbal is shown in Figure 7.
The placement of either the wind turbines or
the solar panels on the farms should also be
considered. The possible wind turbines will
due to the many trees be standing in the lee.
Therefore, a wind turbine should rise above
the trees. Also, when placing solar panels, it
Figure 7 Farm on San Cristóbal
is important that they are not placed in the
shadow of a tree.
Figure 8 Location of the farms (Google, 2016) (The locations of the farms are marked by small circles)
14
5.2.
The survey
This paragraph contains the questions and answers given by the 19 farmers without energy. Because
of the language barrier, the choice has been made to ask the questions in the form of a survey,
whereby the farmer is asked why he chose a particular answer. Appendix 1 contains a list of all
farmers without access to electricity on San Cristóbal.
1. Do you use electricity?
a. Yes:
0
b. No:
19
2. Would you like to have electricity?
a. Yes, solar:
16
b. Yes, wind:
3
c. Yes, biomass: 0
d. No:
0
The farmers who indicated that they would like to use wind power, did this because a wind turbine is
more visible than solar panels. Some other farmers, however, stated that there are only 3-4 months of
wind per year, which is not enough for the generation of wind energy for the entire year, while the
sun is shining all year.
Also, several times the farmer asked when the wind turbines and/or solar panels would be placed,
indicating the need for energy.
3. What would you like to use electricity for?
a. Light: 15
b. First only light and maybe in the future more: 4
Some of the farmers would also like to use the energy in the future for a television, radio, computer
and/or refrigerator.
4. How many hours per day would you like to have access to electricity?
a. 6 hours: 7
b. 12 hours: 2
c. 24 hours: 10
Most farmers want to have access to electricity all day for lighting. This does not mean the lights need
to be on continuously during the whole day.
5. In which place would you like to use the light?
a. The whole house: 19
b. One Room
0
c. Outside
0
All farmers want to have light in the house and a few steps around the house.
6.
Would you like to share the electricity?
a. Yes:
5
b. No:
14
The farms are often too far away from other farms to share electricity.
15
5.3.
The needs of the farmers
The greatest need of all the farmers is light. Besides light, some farmers would also like to use
electricity in the future for a television, radio or refrigerator. All farmers want to have light in the
whole house and a few steps around the house. Because the houses usually consist of one room, two
or three lamps should be enough for one farm.
Most of the farmers want to use solar panels to generate the energy needed for the light. In addition
to the preference of the farmers, solar panels are also a better solution than wind turbines because
the farms are often in the lee of trees.
16
6. Applicable techniques for the farms on San Cristóbal
This chapter provides an overview of various techniques to provide the farmers on San Cristóbal with
energy and/or light. As shown in previous chapters, solar energy is the best method to generate
energy on the farms. Therefore, research has mainly been done to find solutions with solar energy,
although there are also some techniques with biomass and wind energy included in the overview. To
find the best solution, the required amount of electricity is first researched in paragraph 6.1.
Paragraph 6.2 discusses several solutions, after which a recommendation is given in paragraph 6.3
about the best solution. Finally, paragraph 6.4 provides a prediction on the impact of the solution on
the farmers.
6.1.
Required amount of energy
For the installation of techniques to generate energy, it is important to know how much energy is
required. On this basis, the required capacity of the battery and the required numbers of solar panels
or wattage of a wind turbine can be calculated. The calculations were made using the method
described in appendix 2.
Required amount of light
The farmers mainly need light; therefore, an estimation is made of many light sources are needed.
The calculations are based on a single room with a size of 30 m2. Although there is a difference in the
sizes of the houses, most of the houses are smaller than the mentioned area. The recommended light
intensity in houses is 150 lux/m2 (National Optical Astronomy Observatory, 2016). Therefore, in total
4500 lux or lumen is needed per house (30 m2 * 150 lux/m2 = 4500 lux).
Lamps of the brand Sylvania (frequently sold on San Cristóbal) provide 1370 lumens per 23 watts
(appendix 3). Illuminating the house therefore requires a minimum of three lights and when also
considering the outdoor lighting, calculations are made based on 5 lamps of 23 watt.
Required amount of electricity
Table 2 gives an estimation of the amount of energy needed on the farms. The amount of energy
required is of importance for the determination of the required strength of the battery and the
necessary output of the solar panels or wind turbine. The number of hours that a device is used is
based on assumptions. With the assumption that the lights burn all night margin is incorporated, so
that there is always enough electricity.
Table 2 Required amount of electricity in five situations (Feilo Sylvania ,
2016) (Appliances Direct, 2016) (Wholesale Solar, 2016)
Situation
Light
Light + Refrigerator
Light + Radio
Light + TV
Light + TV + Radio
Number
Watt
Light
5x
23 X
Light
Refrigerator
5x
1x
23 X
75 x
Light
Radio
Total
Light
TV
5x
1x
23 X
60 x
5x
1x
23 X
188 x
Light
TV
Refrigerator
5x
1x
1x
23 X
188 x
75 x
Number of hours Watt hours per day
12 =
1380
Total
1380
12 =
1380
24 =
1800
Total
3180
12 =
1380
1=
60
1440
12 =
1380
3=
564
Total
1944
12 =
1380
3=
564
24 =
1800
Total
3744
17
6.2.
Techniques to generate energy
There are several techniques to generate energy on the island of San Cristóbal. Since the previous
chapters have shown that solar energy is the best source of energy for the farmers, most solutions
presented in this chapter will be based on solar energy. The solutions are grouped into three
categories. The first group contains more expensive but future-proof solutions, where enough energy
is generated for the use of a refrigerator, television or radio. The second group contains cheaper
solutions where lights, battery and solar panel are combined in one product. The last group contains
portable lamps combined with a solar panel and battery.
6.2.1. Expensive but future proof solutions
Because the farms are not connected to the electricity grid of San Cristóbal, an off-grid system is
required. An off-grid system means that a house is self-sufficient in terms of energy. Figure 9 shows a
system with the sun and wind as energy sources and Figure 10 shows a system with the sun and
biogas as energy sources. As can be seen in the figures, an off-grid system requires a battery, so that
when there is no wind or sun, there is still enough energy available. In Ecuador, various components
for an off-grid system are available at Code Solar in Quito (CodeSolar, 2016).
Figure 9 Off-Grid energy system with the sun and wind
as an energy source (Whole Salesolar, 2016)
Figure 10 Off-Grid energy system with the sun and
biogas(biomass) as an energy source (Whole Salesolar, 2016)
The battery
Table 3 shows the required battery capacity. The higher battery voltage, the smaller (and therefore
cheaper) size copper wire can be used to connect the solar panels to the batteries (Free Sun Power,
2016). The cost of a battery with a voltage of 12 V varies between $485 (210 Ah) and $2,990 (845
Ah), a battery with a voltage of 24 V costs $8,826 (1375 Ah) and a battery with 48 V costs $11,975
(845 Ah) (Wholesale Solar, 2016). An overview of available batteries is shown in Appendix 4.
Table 3 Required battery capacity with different battery voltage (12V, 24V and 48V) in the five situations. The required
capacity is calculated by dividing the watt-hours from Table 3 by the voltage of the battery. For example: 1380 watthours/12V = 115 ampere hours.
Watt hours per day 12 V
Light
1380
Light + Refrigerator 3180
Light + Radio
1440
Light + TV
1944
Light + TV + Radio 3744
24 V
115
265
120
162
312
48 V
58
133
60
81
156
29 Amphours
66 Amphours
30 Amphours
41 Amphours
78 Amphours
18
Solar panels
For generating electricity using solar energy one or more solar panels are required. The number of
panels depends on the number of hours the sun shines in one day and the wattage of the panel. As
mentioned in Chapter 4, the sun shines the least in September with an average of 2.6 hours per day
and the most in May with an average of 7.7 hours a day. The number of solar panels needed and
costs of three different solar panels (100, 190 and 300 W) are given in appendix 5 and the cheapest
among these panels is shown in Table 4. The 190 W panel can also reduce the cost of the system as it
does not require an MPPT charge controller. A charge controller is often necessary to change the
electricity output of a panel in a suitable voltage for the battery. (Wholesale Solar, 2016)
The values in Table 4 are calculated by dividing the number of watt-hours by the number of hours of
sunlight multiplied with the wattage of the panel. For example: 1380 watt-hours/(190 watt * 2.6
hours)
Table 4 Required number of solar panels
190 W
190W Monocrystalline Module, Topoint JTM190-72M
145 Dollar
Watt hours per day 2.6 hours of sun Costs
7.7 hours of sun Costs
Light
1380
3 $435,00
1
$145,00
Light + Refrigerator
3180
7 $1.015,00
3
$435,00
Light + Radio
1440
3 $435,00
1
$145,00
Light + TV
1944
4 $580,00
2
$290,00
Light + TV + Radio
3744
8 $1.160,00
3
$435,00
Source:
http://www.freecleansolar.com/190W-solar-panel-Topoint-JTM190-72M-mono-silver-p/jtm190-72m.htm
Wind energy
A wind turbine with a height of 10 meters can be
purchased for $3,970 (appendix 6). With an
average wind speed of 5.4 m/s this turbine
produces 12,900 watt-hours per day. (Ecodirect,
2016) As mentioned in Chapter 4, there are per
year on average five months of wind with a wind
speed between 3.4 and 5.4 m/s. On average, the
wind turbine will therefore produce less than
4,800 watt-hours per day in these five months.
In the other seven months with a wind speed
between 1.6 and 3.3 m/s, there is generally not
enough wind to generate energy, as can be seen
in figure 11.
Figure 11 performance graph wind turbine
(Skystream, 2006 )
19
Biomass
With a biogas system, it is possible to produce biogas
using the fermentation of biomass. An installation as
shown in Figure 12 can be purchased for $1,090
(HomeBioGas, 2016). The installation produces 600
liters or 0.6 m3 biogas per day when using a daily input
of 6 liters of food waste or 15 liters of animal manure.
With 600 liters of biogas, it is possible to cook three
hours per day. Also, the gas can be used in a biogas
lamp for lighting as can been seen in Figure 13. The gas
consumption of a biogas lamp is 0.07 m3/h (Nideco,
2016).
To produce electricity with biogas a combustion engine
is required. To produce 3000 watts, 25 liters of gas are
required (Mola , 2016). An engine can be purchased for
an amount between $800 and $2,000 (Alibaba, 2016).
Figure 123 Biogas lamp (Superflex, 2002)
Figure 132 Biogas system (Off-Grid Spirit, 2015)
20
6.2.2. Lights, battery and solar panel combined in one product
In this group, a solar panel, battery and lamp are sold as a single product. A solar panel lies on the
roof, which is connected to a battery inside the house. The battery is connected to a few lamps which
will be operated with a normal on/off switch. Also, it is often possible to charge a telephone with the
battery.
Barefoot Connect 600
With the Barefoot Connect 600 (Figure 14), it is
possible to illuminate a house for six hours with four
lamps with a full battery. The lamps provide 30
lumens of light, totaling 120 lumens. The lamps are
connected to the battery with a cable and can be
operated with an on/off switch. In addition, it is also
possible to charge a radio or telephone. However, this
will be at the expense of the lighting duration of the
lamps. (Barefoot Power, 2016) The Barefoot Connect
600 can be purchased for $130 (Mamamikes, 2016).
Solar Home System D20
Figure 14 Barefoot Connect 600 (Barefoot Power,
2016)
The Solar Home System D20 (Figure 15) gives 7 or 15
hours of light per full charge depending on the selected light intensity, which can be selected using a
light switch. The Solar Home System D20 contains two lamps giving 170 lumens on the high intensity.
In addition, a mobile light is being supplied and a mobile phone can be charged. (d.light, 2016) The
Solar Home System D20 can be purchased for $160 (GoodPeople, 2016)
Figure 15 Solar Home System D20 (Lumi, 2016)
21
Sun King Home 120
With the Sun King Home 120 (Figure 16), it is possible to illuminate three rooms each with 200
lumens (total 600 lumen). These lamps each have a light switch, with which the lights can be set to
turbo (200 lumen), normal (100 lumen) and low (40 lumen). A fully charged battery gives more than
24 hours of light on the lowest setting. Also, it is possible to charge a telephone. (Sunking, 2016) The
Sun King Home 120 can be purchased for $150 (Preparewise, 2016).
Figure 16 Sunking Home 120 (Amazon, 2016)
6.2.3. Portable lamps combined with a solar panel and battery
The cheapest solution to provide farmers with light, is a lantern that can be recharged with solar
power. An advantage of this solution is that farmers can take the lamp to the place where the light is
needed.
Wakawaka light
The Wakawaka light (Figure 17) has three settings
between 5 and 25 lumens. The battery is full after 510 hours of sunlight and gives 80 hours of light. It can
be purchased for $39. (Waka waka, 2016)
The $79 Wakawaka power lamp can also be chosen.
This lamp gives between 5 and 75 lumens of light for
150 hours and is recharged after 12 to 24 hours of
sunlight. This lamp can also charge a phone (Waka
waka, 2016)
Figure 17 Wakawaka light (Team SDO, 2015)
22
Solar Lantern BG-BL03
The Solar Lantern BG-BL03 (Figure 18) has three settings
between 6 and 100 lumens. On the highest setting the
lamp gives 6 hours of light. After six hours of sunlight the
battery is fully charged. Also, the lamp can be used to
charge a telephone. (Panasonic, 2013) The price of this
lamp is unknown.
Sun King Pico portable solar lantern
Figure 18 Solar Lantern BG-BL03 (Panasonic,
2015)
This lamp gives 25 hours of light after a single day of
charging. The Sun King Pico (Figure 19) gives between 2
and 25 lumens, depending on the selected light intensity.
(Sunking, 2016) The Sun King Pico can be purchased for
$20. (the level market, 2016)
Figure 19 Sun King Pico (Mark, 2016)
6.2.4. Overview of techniques to generate
energy
Table 5 gives an overview of the costs of the different techniques to generate energy.
Table 5 Techniques overview
Technique
Expensive but future proof
solutions
Lights, battery and solar panel
combined in one product
Portable lamps combined with
a solar panel and battery
Solar panels + Battery
Wind turbine + Battery
Biomass + Generator
Barefoot Connect 600
Solar Home System D20
Sun King Home 120
Price ($)
per farm
920
4,455
1,890
130
160
150
Total price for the
19 farms ($)
17,480
84,645
35,910
2,470
3,040
2,850
Wakawaka light
39
741
Solar Lantern BG-BL03
Sun King Pico portable
solar lantern
20
380
23
6.3.
Best solution for the farms of San Cristóbal
The solutions from paragraph 6.2.2. with lights, battery and a solar panel combined in one product,
are the best options to illuminate the farms properly and in an affordable way. Of the products in this
group, the Solar Home System D20 seems to be the best solution, because in addition to the fixed
lighting in the house it also supplies a separate lantern. This lantern ensures that the farmer always
has extra light wherever necessary.
A far less suitable solution but therefore a cheaper solution is the group of portable lights from
section 6.2.3. These lamps give the farmer light but do not meet the demand of farmers to illuminate
the entire house.
The solutions in section 6.2.1
are not suitable. Although these
solutions are better calculated
on a welfare growth, in which it
is also possible to provide
devices such as a refrigerator of
energy, these solutions are far
more expensive and therefore
more difficult to achieve. In
addition, as can be seen in
Figures 20 and 21, the prices of
solar panels and batteries fall
quickly. This probably makes it
cheaper to only select a solution
for lighting at this moment,
Figure 20 Predicted battery costs in the future (Weaver, 2016)
while later on a more expensive
system can be purchased to
which heavier devices such as a refrigerator can be connected.
Figure 21 Predicted costs solar energy (Naam, 2015)
24
6.4.
Impact of the Solar Home System D20 on the lives of farmers
The company d.light together with Shell, USAID and UK aid, has investigated the impact of the Solar
Home System D20 on the lives of the farmers in Uganda. This study shows that the lighting especially
has a positive effect on the number of accidents. However, it does not provide an increase in incomegenerating activities. The main results of this study are given in Figure 22.
Figure 22 Summary of the d.light Solar Home System Impact Evaluation (IDinsight, 2012)
25
7. Financing opportunities
Depending on the chosen solution to provide farmers with electricity or light, a certain amount of
money is needed to finance this. When choosing the Solar Home System D20, this is a total amount
of $3,040. This chapter briefly discusses a few options to obtain this amount of money. Paragraph 7.1
will first explain the possibilities at the companies that offer the different solutions described in
Chapter 6. Then, in paragraph 7.2, charities that could support this project are investigated. In
paragraph 7.3 other ways to raise money to fund this project will be looked for.
7.1.
Possibilities at the companies that produce the different solutions
The companies that produce the solutions mentioned in Chapter 6 have several projects in which
they provide light to families and farmers in areas without electricity. For example, solar lamps of
d.light are used in Bangladesh and Haiti (d.light, 2016), Barefoot Power supports projects in Kenya,
Uganda and Rwanda (Barefoot Power, 2016) and the organization behind the Wakawaka light helps a
family in an area without electricity per lamp sold (Waka waka, 2016).
Because the archipelago of Galápagos Islands is a world-famous location known for its special nature,
it is possible that the above-mentioned companies would like to invest in this area because this can
be good for their advertising.
7.2.
Charities
A second option for financing the project is to request financial assistance from one or more
charities. Below are some organizations that fund similar projects:
-
-
Practical Action: This organization helps with similar projects in Peru and Bolivia, while in
Ecuador they mainly perform consulting work at present. (Practical Action, 2016)
Solar Electric Light Fund: This organization, as the name suggests, focuses on financing
sustainable lighting in South America, where they are now operating in Colombia. (Solar
Electric Ligth fund, 2016)
WWF: This organization has done a project with a fully sustainable boat in the archipelago of
Galápagos Islands in the past. (WWF, 2016)
7.3.
Other ways to raise money
In addition to the above-mentioned options, it is possible to collect money using a crowd funding
action. For example, the Local Dreamers foundation has raised more than $10,000 for the victims of
the earthquake that hit Ecuador in April 2016 by crowdfunding. Also, the Ecuadorian government
may be asked for a contribution.
26
8. Conclusion and recommendations
To generate energy in a sustainable way, wind energy, solar energy, biomass, hydroelectric energy
and geothermal power are most often used as renewable energy sources. Of these renewable
sources wind energy, solar energy and biomass are best suited for a farm on San Cristóbal.
Hydroelectric energy is not suitable because there is no flowing water at the farms and due to the
high costs geothermal power is also not suitable for the farms.
The local climate has a major impact on the energy yield which can be extracted from wind power or
solar power. Solar energy is a secure source of energy during the entire year. Although on the higher
parts of San Cristóbal the sun shines much less than along the coast, there is plenty of sunshine
throughout the year. The wind on the other hand is a very uncertain energy source because there are
only three or four months of wind per year on the island.
The interviews with the farmers show that all farmers need electricity and that they need this initially
for home lighting. However, some of the farmers also want to use the electricity for other appliances
like a refrigerator, television or radio in the future. The houses are generally not greater than 30
square meters, which the farmers prefer to be able to illuminate during the whole day. Also, 16 of
the 19 farmers prefer to use solar power as an energy source.
Therefore, the best way to provide the farms on San Cristóbal with electricity is by using solar energy.
To provide the farmers in an affordable way with light, it is also best to choose a solution where a
solar panel, battery and lights are incorporated in one product. Of the investigated products, the
Solar Home System D20 is the best solution, because this system alongside two fixed lamps, also has
a separate lantern. This lantern can be used wherever needed for extra light. The Solar Home System
D20 costs $160, giving a total amount of $3,040 for the 19 farmers without energy.
27
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Skystream. (2006 ). Skystream 3.7 Owner’s Manual. Arizona: Southwest Windpower.
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https://www.greenlightplanet.com/shop/home-120/
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https://www.greenlightplanet.com/shop/pico/
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http://www.superflex.net/tools/biogas_ph5_lamp
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https://waka-waka.com/mission/
IV
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V
Appendix
Appendix I:
Farmers without energy
Appendix II:
Method to calculate the size of the battery and the required number of solar panels
Appendix III:
Mini-Lynx Home lamp
Appendix IV:
Batteries
Appendix V:
Costs of solar panels
Appendix VI:
Wind turbine
VI
Appendix I:
Farmers without energy
VII
Appendix II:
Method to calculate the size of the battery
Detailed Instructions for the System Sizing Estimator.
Step 1 is to calculate the daily watt-hour usage of each item. This is done by multiplying the item wattage by
the number of hours it is used each day. The wattage of a UL listed/approved appliance can usually be found
near the AC power cord. Sometimes only the voltage (120) and amps (example 1.5) are given. This is no problem.
Simply multiply 120 1.5 and you have the watts of the appliance, 180 in this example. P=E*I This is the power
formula from Ohm's Law.
SPECIAL NOTE: In the case of refrigerators, freezers, and similar appliances, keep in mind that although they are
on 24 hours per day, they actually cycle on and off and really only run about 1/3 of the time. The more times
you open the door, the longer they run. In the Estimator, this is figured into the equation.
Step 2 is to add up the watt-hour results for all of your appliances. This will give you the total daily watt-hours
required.
Step 3 is to assume that you want at least 3 days of operation before the batteries need to be recharged. So
you multiply the total daily watt-hours with 3. In practice, you will only have to be concerned about this in bad
weather or during the winter. See Meters and Monitors for more about keeping an eye on things.
Step 4 is to find the total battery capacity required by multiplying the 3 day watt-hour figure with 2. This way,
if you run for 3 days without recharging, you will only discharge the batteries to about 50% capacity. You can
greatly increase performance and battery life by not going below 50% charge (except of course for
emergencies). Get more information about this in the Storage Batteries tutorial.
SPECIAL NOTE: You can combine step 3 & 4 by simply multiplying the total daily WattHours (from step 2) by 6.
Step 5 will calculate the size of the battery bank in AmpHours. We use AmpHours because this is how batteries
are rated. (Kind of how much fuel they can hold). This is figured by dividing the total battery capacity required
(from step 4) by your system battery voltage, usually 12, 24, or 48 volts. Simply stated, the higher battery voltage
you use, the smaller (and therefore cheaper) size copper wire can be used to connect the solar panels to the
batteries. (The Wires and Cables tutorial has a chart for calculating wire sizes.) Here is an example of this
calculation: The default values in the Estimator give you a total battery capacity of 21120/12 volts = 1760
AmpHours. Then divide the 1760 AmpHours by the 105 AmpHour rating of a typical 12 volt battery (1760/105
= about 17). In this example you would need about 17 batteries rated at 12 volts & 105 AmpHours each. More
information is available in the Watts & Power tutorial.
Step 6 is to determine the number of solar panels you'll need. For this step you will divide your total daily
WattHours by your solar panel wattage times the hours of sunshine. Example: 3520/(90*5)=8. The Estimator
uses the value of 450. This assumed a 90 watt solar panel times 5 hours average daily sunshine for mid latitudes
in the US. So, using the Estimator's default selections as an example, you get 3520 daily WattHours divided by
450 = 8 solar panels rounded up to the next panel. See Solar Radiation to find the number of average daily hours
of sunshine for your area.
(Free Sun Power, 2016)
VIII
Appendix III:
Mini-Lynx Home lamp
IX
Appendix IV:
Batteries
X
XI
XII
XIII
XIV
XV
Source: (Wholesale, 2016)
XVI
Appendix V:
Costs of solar panels
100 watt, high voltage frameless thin film amorphous (a-Si)
solar panel, SUNGEN SG-HN100-GG
100 W
100 Dollar
Light
Light +
Refrigerator
Light + Radio
Light + TV
Light + TV +
Radio
Source:
Watt hours per day
2.6 hours of sun
Costs
1380
6
$540,00
3180
1440
1944
3744
(Free Clean Solar, 2016)
190 W
13
6
8
$1.170,00
$540,00
$720,00
15
$1.350,00
7.7 hours of sun
2
5
2
3
5
Costs
$180,00
$450,00
$180,00
$270,00
$450,00
190W Monocrystalline Module, Topoint JTM190-72M
145 Dollar
Light
Light +
Refrigerator
Light + Radio
Light + TV
Light + TV +
Radio
Source:
Watt hours per day
2.6 hours of sun
Costs
1380
3
$435,00
3180
1440
1944
3744
(Free Clean Solar, 2016)
300 W
7
3
4
$1.015,00
$435,00
$580,00
8
$1.160,00
7.7 hours of sun
1
3
1
2
3
Costs
$145,00
$435,00
$145,00
$290,00
$435,00
Canadian Solar 300 watt panel CS6X-300P poly-crystalline
260 Dollar
Light
Light +
Refrigerator
Light + Radio
Light + TV
Light + TV +
Radio
Source:
Watt hours per day
2.6 hours of sun
Costs
1380
2
$520,00
3180
1440
1944
3744
(Free Clean Solar, 2016)
5
2
3
$1.300,00
$520,00
$780,00
5
$1.300,00
7.7 hours of sun
1
2
1
1
2
Costs
$260,00
$520,00
$260,00
$260,00
$520,00
XVII
Appendix VI:
Wind turbine
XVIII
Source: (Ecodirect, 2016)
XIX