tshumbe solar project: completion report
DESCRIPTION
Reliable electricity and renewable energy skills for students in the Democratic Republic of CongoTRANSCRIPT
Notre Dame Initiative for Global Development 1
Tshumbe Solar ProjectReliable Electricity and Renewable Energy Skills
for Students in the Congo2011–2014
P R O J E C T C O M P L E T I O N R E P O R T
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F A C T S A T A G L A N C E
The Sherins
Djomo
Pattelli
Kilpatrick Cavadini Murphy
PROJECT NAME Tshumbe Solar Project
CITY / COUNTRY Tshumbe, Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC)
REGION Sub-Saharan Africa
IN-COUNTRY COMMUNITIES UNITSHU Diocese of Tshumbe
PROJECT DURATION 2011-2014
SPONSORS Keith and Janet Sherin Brad Pattelli General Electric
PARTNERS Lyman Technologies Sovereign Order of Malta
NOTRE DAME PRIMARY Notre Dame Initiative for Global Development (NDIGD)
NOTRE DAME PARTNERS College of Engineering Department of Electrical Engineering Department of Theology
NOTRE DAME FACULTY Dean Peter Kilpatrick, College of Engineering Professor Michael Lemmon, Department of Electrical Engineering Rev. John Cavadini, Department of Theology
PROJECT DESIGN & IMPLEMENTATION Patrick Murphy, NDIGD
TOTAL PROJECT COST $90,000
TOPICAL AREAS Energy, Environment, and Sustainability Education Human Development
F A C T S A T A G L A N C E
With special thanks to:
Keith and Janet SherinBrad Pattelli
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P R O J E C T C O M P L E T I O N R E P O R T
Tshumbe Solar Project Reliable Electricity and Renewable Energy Skills for Students in the Democratic Republic of Congo
SUMMARYNotre Dame successfully delivered and, with the help of local staff, installed a solar microgrid in January, 2014, in the Democratic Republic of Congo for the Université de Notre Dame de Tshumbe (UNITSHU). The system provides 5kW of electric power and 25 kWh of electricity per day for a computer lab, several study halls, security lighting, and a phone charging kiosk for students.
BACKGROUNDTshumbe is a diocese of nearly one million people in remote central DRC. While in another country a population of this size would indicate a metropolis, its remoteness and dire lack of infrastructure mean that Tshumbe is actually a very large—and impoverished—set of distant villages. Water, sanitation, and electricity are scarce and only intermittently available. Fuel comes in the form of expensive diesel, which must be flown in by seaplane.
The local Catholic diocese constitutes the largest and most reliable component of Tshumbe’s civil infrastructure. More than half of the village’s population is Catholic,
Figure 1. Aerial view of UNITSHU: A. administration building; B. library and old computer lab; C. satellite dish; D. classroom; E. tin-roofed classroom; F. hut with diesel generator; G. site of new, upgraded computer lab; H. upgraded classroom building; I. location of solar array and control system.
A
FB
E
G
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D
CI
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Figure 2. Diesel generator.
Figure 3. Circuit breaker box in generator hut.
Figure 4. Power cable riser and distribution connection.
and the Church is the largest landowner and employer in the region. The Diocese of Tshumbe is led by Bishop Nicholas Djomo Lola, who also currently presides over the Conference of Catholic Bishops of the Democratic Republic of the Congo. John Cavadini, associate professor and chair of theology and the McGrath-Cavadini Director of the Institute for Church Life at Notre Dame, has a longstanding relationship with Bishop Djomo.
It was through the relationship between Prof. Cavadini and the Bishop—as well as input from Father Emery Longanga, who recently returned to Tshumbe after completing his master’s degree at Notre Dame—that the University learned of the opportunity to help our sister university obtain reliable power.
The Université de Notre Dame de Tshumbe (UNITSHU) consists of several simple buildings used as lecture rooms and offices for about 800 students. Tshumbe offers an abbreviated, but highly relevant, menu of educational programs: computer science, management and economics, psychology and educational sciences, and medicine.
The lack of a reliable energy source to power computers and reading lamps for after dark presents a tremendous obstacle to student achievement. It is, moreover, not simply the lack of reliable energy that hinders Tshumbe’s students, but also the incredible cost of that energy when it is available. All of the electricity used to come from a diesel generator. Due to the challenging logistics, fuel in Tshumbe can cost $16-20 per gallon, and that means electricity from the diesel costs more than $2/kWh (compared to just $0.05-0.15/kWh in the United States). That 60-year-old generator has since failed.
The Notre Dame Initiative for Global Development (NDIGD), in an effort initiated by the College of Engineering’s Dean Peter Kilpatrick to help UNITSHU obtain reliable power, and with input and research coordination with Professor Michael Lemmon of the Department of Electrical Engineering, designed and installed a solar hybrid microgrid, complete with battery storage and energy monitoring systems on the grounds of UNITSHU.
Generous donations from Keith (ND ‘81) and Janet Sherin, matching funds provided by General Electric, and an additional donation from Brad Pattelli (ND ’88), underwrite this effort. In addition, Lyman Technologies provided hardware, design, and integration for the solar microgrid at cost.
PLAN AND PROGRESS The PlanNotre Dame’s plan was to design, build, and test a custom solar power plant that could be shipped, installed, operated, and maintained with resources in country. This would provide reliable, renewable electricity and minimize the need for expensive diesel fuel. The lack of technical expertise and materials in country demanded a robust, integrated solution that could be rapidly and easily connected in Tshumbe.
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Figure 6. 40 panels installed on concrete and rebar tower, UNITSHU.
Figure 5. ZeroBase Re-Generator, originally designed by Lyman Technologies.
At the initiation of this project, electricity at UNITSHU was supplied by a 14.4KW diesel generator (Figure 2). This generator is no longer operational, and UNITSHU has managed without electricity for several months. The wiring for the existing generator and distribution circuit is ad hoc, and was not recommended for connection to the solar microgrid to be installed in summer 2013. Figure 3 shows the circuit breaker box in the generator hut. While functional, the lack of a bus bar and breaker panel was troubling. The power cable runs underground for 50 meters from the hut to the southeast corner of the administration building, where it rises to a 3 meter high pole, and is twist-connected to several distribution lines that lead to classrooms and the administration building (see Figure 4).
As the priority load is the computer lab and a study area, we recommended building an independent circuit that powers the computer lab and a study hall—either in an existing classroom, or in several new buildings.
Although the existing site of UNITSHU is temporary, it may be some time before the permanent site is ready. As such, we installed the array where it supports UNITSHU’s current operations. The main quad of the university runs from east to west, with the administration building (building A in Figure 1) on the eastern end. Buildings B, D, E, G and H are all approximately 10m x 25m. Buildings E and B are constructed of timber and mud, with tin roofs. Buildings D, G and H were timber and mud with thatched roofs buildings, but G and H have since been replaced with brick walled, tin roofed structures. Building G will now house the UNITSHU computer center. Location I was selected for the solar installation in order to minimize the distance to the electrical loads.
System OverviewNotre Dame has delivered an integrated package that was assembled and tested in the United States and disassembled for shipping to DRC such that we can guarantee a successful installation. To achieve this, the system consists of:
• One (modified) Lyman Technologies ZeroBase H-Series ReGenerator (Figure 5), including:
– Gel finish composite housing
– (1) 5kVA Inverter
– 28.8kWh battery storage
– European power outputs (230V/50Hz) and additional outputs (12VDC, USB)
– Integration for external solar, diesel generator and ultra- capacitor inputs
– Software and controls for integrating solar, diesel, and batteries
– Data capture, logging and communications system (GSM capable)
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Part of the route to Tshumbe.
• External Solar Array: 5040W of solar, including racking, mounting, wiring (~16 x GE GE-CIGS140 solar panels)
• A concrete and rebar tower for supporting the solar panels
• A small shed for securing and protecting the control system and batteries
The system has been integrated to provide reliable power from the sun and from diesel when the sun is not available or more power is needed. The battery storage system allows for storage of excess solar energy for later use. The communications package will allow for remote monitoring and data logging, both for maintenance and research purposes.
TransportDelivery of the gear to Tshumbe proved challenging. The journey began in June, 2012, from the Lyman Morse plant in Thomaston, Maine, and was completed 16 months later. Transport within DRC took more than a year; the route is highlighted in Figures 8 and 9. In-country travel included several months of delay in Kinshasa while the Diocese of Tshumbe procured a suitable truck to carry the gear overland on the sometimes non-existent roads.
As shown in Figure 7, the road infrastructure is not maintained well enough to easily facilitate the delivery of two tons of solar gear, nor do the bridges support their weight.
Figure 7. A typical bridge in DR Congo. The passengers in an SUV (from left, Sister Rebecca Walo, Bishop Djomo far ahead, and Father Leonard) must dismount and cross on foot, in case the bridge cannot carry the combined weight.
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Above: Figure 8. Delivery to DRC from Thomaston, Maine, with the route highlighted in red.
Right: Figure 9. Delivery inside DRC to Tshumbe took a year.
JUNE 2012
AUG 2012
DEMOCRATIC REPUBLIC OF CONGO
LODJA SEPT 2013
SEPT 2012
OCT 2012MAR 2013
AUG 2013
Maps ©Google
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InstallationInstallation of solar panels and control gear was completed in January, 2014. UNITSHU provided three people to assist in the installation, additional resources for ongoing operations and maintenance, and a larger team of laborers to build a small hut to protect the control gear. Additional volunteers assisted on their own initiative. Key assistance was provided by:
• Michel Tshodi, Information Systems Lecturer, UNITSHU
• Pa Leon Pongo, Blacksmith and Foreperson, Tshumbe
• Ben Manya, Assistant Director, UNITSHU
• Mark Wetshokonda, Driver and Mechanical Technician, UNITSHU
• Pa Daniel Ekindelo, Foreman for Construction, UNITSHU
The panels, batteries, and equipment were delivered to Tshumbe in September, 2013. Bishop Nicholas Djomo arranged for the construction of a concrete and rebar tower on which to mount the panels, which was completed in December, 2013. Mr. Murphy travelled to Tshumbe in January, 2014, to complete the installation, at which time it became operational. The installed solar array is shown in Figure 10.
Figure 10. Final panel installed on array. The building in the upper right will house the new UNITSHU computer lab (building G in Figure 1).
Final leg of delivery to Tshumbe, DRC, from Thomaston, Maine.
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A classroom with light!
IntegrationUNITSHU lecturer Micka Tshodi is leading the effort to complete the wiring from the solar generator to the new computer center and classrooms. Micka is also the lead for purchasing and installing the equipment for the new computer center. Funds for 10-15 computers and a projector were raised by Notre Dame and UNITSHU through a grant from The Loyola Foundation. Winning this grant would have been impossible without the foundational investment in solar power for UNITSHU.
Possible Future EffortsNotre Dame will continue working with UNITSHU and the Diocese of Tshumbe on several high-priority needs. Next steps include:
Student Service. We are exploring options for Notre Dame International Summer Service Learning Projects (ISSLP) in Tshumbe. This is a challenge, given the U.S. State Department country warning for DRC, but we will explore methods for ensuring student safety to enable this enriching experience. Student involvement also helps to increase faculty engagement on global development challenges experienced in places like Tshumbe.
Information and Communication Technologies for Development (ICT4D). UNITSHU will need additional ICT resources. Priorities include:
• Internet access. Currently the Bishop’s office is served by a slow satellite link that costs almost $2,000.00 per month. This method is both too costly and too slow for serving hundreds of students’ educational and research needs. 3G mobile phone modems may be a solution, and we will explore costs and methods.
Students and faculty from UNTISHU celebrate the grand opening of the solar microgrid.
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• Intranet services. High data demand, static data could be hosted on an intranet site at UNITSHU. This would provide quick access at a low cost to encyclopedia-like data for the students.
• More computers. 10-15 computers will not meet the needs of 800+ students; more will be required, and eventually more power for them will be needed.
Bridge across the Lukenie River. While not directly for UNITSHU, the broader community would benefit greatly from a bridge across the main river that separates the southern half of the diocese from the north, and especially from the town and airport of Lodja. There is a route around the river, but it adds 3-4 hours to the journey by car, and as most people travel by foot, it adds a day to most trips from Tshumbe to Lodja. The direct route crosses the river via dug-out canoe. The price for the canoe ride is only a few dollars, but that is a few days’ wages for the typical passenger. Notre Dame is exploring options for a foot bridge, and eventually a vehicle bridge, for this crossing.
Ben Manya, Pa Leon Pongo and Mark Wetshokonda led the work for installing the array and controls, including testing the circuit with the first solar powered light at UNITSHU.
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IMPACTPrior to implementation of this project, UNITSHU was completely dependent on a 70-year-old generator for its electricity (see Figure 2). That electricity cost the university more than 20 times what the same energy would cost in the United States. This meant they could only afford a few hours of power per week: studying in the evenings was difficult; computer classes were taught on a chalkboard, with little or no practical experience; students and faculty had to walk 4-5 kilometers to find a place to charge cell phones.
Notre Dame and UNITSHU, with the sponsorship and generosity of alumni and corporate partners, have addressed the immediate energy needs of the school. UNITSHU now generates up to 20kWh per day, enough to power their new computer lab, provide study halls after sundown, recharge phones for students and faculty, and begin to bring the remote university into the information age.
This is just a beginning. Data from the solar microgrid is collected and shared with Notre Dame electrical engineering faculty working on improved control systems for remote power generation. Notre Dame and UNITSHU have won an additional grant from The Loyola Foundation to upgrade the computers at UNITSHU. Future projects in development include Notre Dame student internships, faculty research, and service projects at UNITSHU and in the broader Tshumbe community to support the solar research, improve internet connectivity, and build bridges and other infrastructure to make Tshumbe more accessible and more connected.
More than one hundred and seventy years ago, a young priest journeyed to what was then the bush—remote Indiana—to establish the premier Catholic university on the new continent. Today, Bishop Djomo and Sister Rebecca strive to establish a Catholic university in remote central Africa, with the intent for UNITSHU to be a powerful force for good in Tshumbe, the Congo, and the world. We at Notre Dame, faculty, students, staff, corporate partners, and alumni, are a proud part of this heroic venture.
Sister Rebecca Walo introduces Patrick Murphy to the UNITSHU staff and the crew clearing the site for the new UNITSHU buildings.
