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Renewable Solar Energy Micro-Grid At the Center for Technical Environmental and Agroforestry Education in Wawashang, RACCS, Nicaragua

Installation of a renewable solar energy micro-grid in a Center which develops local capacities in agricultural innovation and organic production for local markets; production of quality seeds; conservation of biodiversity; and research and education. 30% of the teaching consists of theoretical classes and 70% practical application of skills in agroforestry, electricity, joinery and carpentry.

More than 220 beneficiaries

  • A technical education center for young people from the communities and ethnic groups of the Caribbean Coast of Nicaraguan.
  • Located on the shore of the Wawashang River near the municipality of Laguna de Perlas, Nicaragua, the center is set in the jungle, far from the national electric interconnected grid system.

A system with 288 panels of 144 watts, 96 batteries of 1200 amps, one generator + transformer, 8 inverters of 4.4 Kw, 8 charge controllers of 4.8 Kw, with a total installed capacity of 42 Kw of power, connected to 27 buildings, covering 96% of the center's energy consumption.

A renewable energy micro-grid in a place away from the national energy interconnected grid system

How did it come about?

blueEnergy, in partnership with the Foundation for the Autonomy and Development of the Atlantic Coast of Nicaragua (FADCANIC), started the efforts and began taking concrete actions in 2012, with the aim of providing a solution to the energy needs of the Center which develops local capacities in agricultural innovation and organic production in local markets; production of quality seeds; conservation of biodiversity; research and education; and which benefits an increasing number of students, with an average of 160 per year . More than 326 students have graduated since the inaugural year of Wawashang in 2004.

This project is a dream of almost 7 years for the manufacture of this renewable energy micro-grid, which will support the development of the student and staff who are pioneering sustainability in the region in the coming decades.

TIMELINE

2012-2014

Visit of Dr. Daniel Kammen in his capacity as representative of the first Alliance of Environment and Climate for the Americas (ECPA), under the then Secretary of State Hilary R. Clinton. CETAA in August 2012
2013 to 2014, the design conceptualization phase continues to bring the solar micro-grid project to life

2015-2018

Visit of the Board of Directors of blueEnergy in 2015, with representation from the EDF Foundation, who approved that same year, the first $ 60,000 to start the project
Arrival of a container with 2,248 solar panels, donated by Fondation EDF, of which 288 are installed in the microgrid.

In 2016, the energy storage solution was still being discussd. An additional fundraiser was organized with the support of Joshua Rogol, friend and part of the blueEnergy International Board. In the same year, the Nicaraguan Electricity Company (ENEL) was presented with the design of the solar micro-grid for WWS, which was subsequently approved with positive reviews of both design and compliance with standards for the construction of solar micro-grids.

In July 2017, the installation of the Solar Energy micro-grid officially began, with the construction of the Technical Site which would house the battery bank, inverters, charge controllers and other electrical components of the system.

Through the tripartite agreement signed in March 2017 between blueEnergy, Hermanamiento de Austria, and FADCANIC, the installation of the battery bank was completed. Austrian students of the HTL Braunau Institute participated in the installation in July of the same year.

From September to December 2017, the second and third phases were completed: installation of poles and distribution lines in the Center.

In 2018 the actions for the reinforcement of the roof in the sports field of the center began, with work ending on December 20. Following this, installation of the solar panels began, the last stage of the project.

2019

January: the installation of 288 solar panels began, which represented the last stage in the installation of the micro-grid.

MARCH 2019

End of the installation of solar panels, connections to buildings, configuration of monitoring systems and equipment of the network, start-up.

Officially, on March 27, 2019, the Renewable Energy micro-grid in the Center for Environmental Technical Education and Agroforestry in Wawashang is a reality.

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