TTEC plugs into solar energy

SOLAR ENERGY is making its way to rural Trinidad and Tobago, as the Trinidad and Tobago Electricity Commission (TTEC) moves to bring those who have lived in darkness out into the light. It is all part of the move towards opening up the field of rural electrification, says TTEC. The project’s aim is  to bring solar energy into the homes of rural residents who are unable to get electrical power from overhead lines. It is already being tested in two rural homes in Trinidad, with plans in place to have a third solar energy or photovoltaic equipment installed soon.

Kavita Deonarine, Engineer 11 at the Generation Interface Department of TTEC, said that this project is a historic first for the country, since there has never been a similar project launched by any company or individual to provide solar energy to people’s homes. She explained that the company came up with the idea to conduct a rural electrification project, whereby solar energy is converted into electricity, after extensive studies and research on renewable energy sources. “We considered that it was  not practical nor conventional to install overhead lines,” she said. Two households, one in Chickland and another in Cumaca, were selected for a one-year pilot project, and based on the system’s performance during this period a decision would be taken on whether to upgrade them or remove the system.

Deonarine explained that if a decision is taken to remove them, each customer would be allowed the opportunity to purchase the equipment at cost price. Participants were selected based on several criteria, including their remoteness, the need for an electrical supply, children attending school as well as the system’s location, which must be at least six kilometres from the nearest electricity pole. Deonarine said  that the project details were forwarded to each utilisation district — East, West, North and South, for the selection of suitable candidates, and based on this, the Commission conducted sites visits and assessments after which the candidates were selected for the pilot project. On October 12, the commission installed the first photovoltaic equipment, which cost at $38,300 inclusive of installation costs, at a home in Chickland. On October 19, the second set of equipment was installed in Cumaca.

Following an extensive search, a local company,  DC Power Systems Limited, was selected te to provide and install the equipment. Each set, she said, carries an output of 550 watts, noting that while the system does not guarantee a continuous provision of power, it is capable of powering three 20-watts fluorescent lamps for about four hours, one 19” 80-watt television set for three  hours and one 10-watts radio for about six hours. 

With respect to the rates, Deonarine said that since there is no historic data on how to charge for the use of solar energy, TTEC set up  a $20-per month rental fee for these first- time customers. She said that the systems would be left in each household for one year. During this time a performance analysis and a study on the overall practicability of the system to generate electricity would be conducted. This, she said  would allow TTEC to advise customers on  alternative sources of electricity.