Solar Power

The sun is the ultimate, renewable energy source . Solar energy is available from sunrise until sunset. Sunlight is an excellent source of heat and electricity, the two most important forms of energy we consume. Sunlight is composed of photons that contain various amounts of energy corresponding to the different wavelengths of the sun's rays.

Did you know that the amount of energy from the sun that hits the surface of the earth every +/- hour is greater than the total amount of energy that the entire human population requires in a year?

The intensity of the sun's radiation changes with the hour of the day, time of the year and weather conditions. Photovoltaic cells, are used to convert sunlight to electricity.

In some very remote locations in Kenya solar power may be the only practical solution since reliable power can be provided virtually anywhere. It can be used to provide back up power whenever there are frequent electricity black outs as is the case currently in most areas in Kenya, it can cut down on the high energy costs and enable a factory to operate independent of an electricity grid.

This year, the US petroleum industry warned that conventional energy sources will not be able to keep up with rising demand over the next 25 years and this has led to an increase in the investment of renewable energy sources.



The basics of producing solar energy.

You need four primary components for producing electricity, which provides common 120 volt AC power for daily use. These components are: photovoltaic panels, charge controller, battery and inverter.

Photovoltaic panels charge the battery, and the charge regulator insures proper charging of the battery. The battery provides DC voltage to the inverter, and the inverter converts the DC voltage to normal AC voltage.

A photovoltaic panel is made of silicon, which becomes charged electrically when subjected to sun light. When photons strike a photovoltaic cell, they may be reflected, pass right through, or be absorbed. These panels are directed at solar south in the northern hemisphere and solar north in the southern hemisphere at an angle dictated by the geographic location and latitude of where they are to be installed.

This electrical charge is consolidated in the photovoltaic panel and directed to the output terminals to produce low voltage (Direct Current) - usually 6 to 24 volts. The most common output is intended for nominal 12 volts, with an effective output usually up to 17 volts. A 12 volt nominal output is the reference voltage, but the operating voltage can be 17 volts or higher.

Photovoltaic panels have no moving parts. You just put them out in the sun, hook up the wires, and collect power, without adding fuel or replacing worn-out parts. It's amazing that nobody knows for sure how long a panel will last. That's because many of the very first photovoltaic panels are still producing power up til today.

Solar power in Kenya

The reason why most homes in Kenya do not rely on solar power is because the cost of the power components is too high. Last year, an 80 watt monocrystaline photovoltaic panel cost Kshs. 39,000, a 600 watts MOSFET inverter was worth Ksh. 15,000, a 100Ah lead acid battery was sold for Kshs. 16,000 and a 10Amp charge controller for Kshs. 4,000 inclusive of value added tax (VAT).

Due to these high buying and installation costs, most Kenyans have to rely on electricity from the monopolistic Kenya Power and Lighting Company that is quite expensive or forgo the luxury of electricity all together. All this can be changed if the following measures are undertaken:-

a) Most Kenyans should be provided with access to loans from investors or microfinance companies in order to be financially able to afford photovoltaic panels and get access to electricity.

b) There should be provision of cheaper photovoltaic panels panels, the Kenyan government should also waiver the import duty on solar energy equipment so that it can be affordable for those who want to utilize it.

But in some rural areas in Kenya some of the residents are able get loans from co-operatives therefore they can afford to buy some of these expensive photovoltaic panels. The main reason for the increase in demand for solar energy is because the rural electrification programme set up by the government is taking way too long to be incepted due to low funding. Therefore, deriving energy from the sun is a serious and fast option for those rural households with limited power demand and enough money to afford it.

Only in periods of extended rains or cloudy conditions that last entire days will the solar supply falter, photovoltaic systems are still able to generate electricity under such conditions but not as much as on a sunny day. Rural households do not consume much electricity thus the power that is generated from the panels is more than enough for cooking, watching television and lighting the house.

This form of renewable energy can be market driven i.e. if more Kenyans choose solar power over regular electricity supply then there should be access to solar power shops that can provide them with these components that suit their needs. Furthermore, competition should be encouraged by opening the energy supply market to all potential investors because the idea of having a monopoly like Kenya Power and Lighting Company providing sub-standard and yet expensive services is absurd.