Let there be LIGHT!

As of October 17th, 2011 there is now electricity powering computers and lights at FECECAV's offices in Wome and Kpadape. Amoussokope is next, and should be completed with the next few weeks. Next comes training and presentations on how the systems work and how to take care of them - aka, please do not plug a refridgerator and/or AC unit into the battery bank. This will be a theme moving forward in 2012.

"I happened to walk up eight before they turned on the system (in Kpadape) and everyone was huddled around the one exterior light, and when it came on everyone cheered and danced. It was one of the bes tthings I've seen working on this project so far." - Ashley Lewis, PCV and Field Ops. Manager

"C'etait avec la joie que j'ai appris qu'il y a de la lumiere a Wome et Kpadape!" ("It was with joy that I learned that there was light in Wome and Kpadape!")- Daniel Barondibou, CEO, FECECAV

When Togo Gives You Lemons...

...SunPower Afrique makes lemonade! This year's project started with an unpredicted and lengthy delay of our container's delivery to the Port of Lome. Ultimately the container arrived nearly a month late and missed our engineer, Dave Staller, in Togo completely. However, equipment has arrived and installations are currently going on!

Our ever-present Field Manager, Peace Corps Volunteer Ashley Lewis, continues to handle general operations and has now perfected the art of negotiating shipping containers through Togolese customs. Until next year of course. Our technicians Koffi and Aminou were well prepped by Dave and Ron Celentano, SunPower Afrique's lead system designer, and are handling project management and installation on their own. Ultimately, making lemonade Togo-style to me translates to real sustainability.

Although there was no equipment on the ground, Dave's time in Togo ended up being very well spent and his contribution to SunPower Afrique was invaluable. With Ron's assistance via email, Dave made some important adjustments to the settings of the inverter installed last year. Several things have taken place over the last year without our knowledge - including new electrical equipment installed at the utility interconnection, a lightning strike on Kpalime's main transformer and an additional AC unit installed on FECECAV's roof - and we continue to teach Koffi and Aminou how to troubleshoot the Outback Inverter and perfect the system's operation.

Dave prepared Aminou and Koffi for the 3 off-grid installations at the Wome, Kpadape and Amoussokope FECECAV office and constructed teak racking and other tasks possible with local materials/items not in the container.

Together with Ashley, Dave gained an important perspective into SunPower Afrique's mission and its implementation. Since his return, the 3 of us have had important conversations about the strengths and weaknesses of SunPower Afrique's operations. The result is a back-to-basics approach, a revisiting of the business plan and budget and exciting plans for partnerships that will finally bring about the launch of the Solar Loan Program. In addition to the technical/construction contributions Dave made to SunPower Afrique, his input on how-to-do-what-we-are-doing-better may be the most important thing he has given this organization.

Photos of completed projects and future plans to come. SunPower Afrique must also reiterate our thanks to SIDI and Emmanuel Beau, for the financial support that made these projects happen and their belief in our mission.