Planning and Construction of the solar power supply
State of the Art - but simple as possible

Due to constantly increasing fuel costs, the diesel generator was only switched on for a few hours per day. The new system will change this situation by improving the availability of current and reducing distinctly the high cost of diesel. Under the existing circumstances in Mbinga, these requirements can be realised with a solar hybrid system and a pure plant oil generator. The system has been designed in such a way that a 24-hour energy supply with a total demand up to 40 kWh is guaranteed at anytime, only through the solar system. If the machines of the carpenter’s workshop or the mill require more power, the power generator will be started to support the solar system. The power generator can either run on diesel oil or Jatropha oil and produces not only electric current but also hot water for the operation of the washing machines. The combination of a solar power system with a pure plant oil generator is regarded in Mbinga as a forward-looking and sustainable technology. 20,000 Jatropha trees have been planted on the field of the convent. These trees will provide a sufficient yield of vegetable fuel in the foreseeable future.