· Project name: Solar Community Lanterns & Mobile
Charging Stations.
· Dates: June – July 2013
· Location
(town/city/country & Map Link): Prakasam
District, Andhra Pradesh, India https://maps.google.co.in/maps?hl=en&authuser=0&q=verupalli%2C%20prakasam%20dist%2C%20Andhra%20Pradesh&um=1&ie=UTF-8&sa=N&tab=wl
· Villages: Bala kotaiah sangam, Indira Nagar Colony, Marrichettu sanagm, Ramakrishnapuram,
Verupalli.
· Contact person: Mr.C.V Rao ( Prakruthi power)
· Organizations involved: Global Telelinks ( Prakruthi Power) ,
TERI
· Sponsors: The Energy Resources Institute ( TERI )
· Number and type(s) of
lighting systems deployed: Solar Community Lanterns & Mobile Charging Stations.
· Project description
and results:
15 No’s of Community charging stations are installed with 300
No’s LED Lanterns for lighting the lives of 1500 peoples. People’s can also charge their
mobiles from SCS Junction box.
The Junction box
includes Charge controller with
required protections, accessories, cables with suitable connectors and Lithium
ion battery power pack 12.6V 11Ah,( Or Lead Acid Batteries depending on Affordability) and
can charge Lithium ion battery
based gadgets like LED Lanterns,
Mobiles, Head lamps, Flash Lights, ceiling lanterns etc., LED Lighting
Systems with 3Watt LED Bulbs.( See pictures
below)
Mobile phones and Lantern charging is a daily requirement
in Off Grid areas. The consumer can charge mobile and lantern by solar panel or
charging Station. LED Lighting is more efficient when compared to Fluorescent
and Incandescent Lighting. LED is efficient
uses less power, lasts
longer , trouble free and has
higher lighting levels on
per watt comparison.
LED lanterns with Li Ion Batteries are convenient,
produce less heat and No smoke when
compared to kerosene Lanterns. A kerosene lamp producing 37 lumens for 4 hours
per day will consume about 3 liters of kerosene per month. Kerosene price $2
per liter, $6 per month, $72 per year. Solar lantern with Panel and Mobile
charging accessories can retail for less than $ 50 and give backup of 20Hours
and 80-100Lumens lighting. Consumer can recover
his cost in
first year thus
enjoying benefits for subsequent years. Maintenance cost of Kerosene lamp
is 5 times> than Solar LED Lamp.
Arundhati lanterns from Global Telelinks is
approved by Lighting Africa and TERI.
These Installations are done in off grid or
Rural areas where there are power cuts. Main disadvantage of remote area’s is
low demand, hence transmission supply is more expansive than demand. It becomes
cheaper to generate one's own electricity rather than purchasing it from the
grid. Electricity can be generated on site by renewable energy resources like
solar, wind, biomass….etc.,
· Photos:
The
Charging station with Solar Powering can also charge Li Ion Powered Gadgets
like Lantern, Study Lights, Mobile, tabbies, Li ion batteries, flash lights,
etc,..