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We wanted to share the opportunity to the greater EarthSpark network. We love this and think it's critical to the success of microgrid expansion in Haiti!
Energy and Security Group is hiring microgrid field researchers to conduct a 100 town microgrid market study for Enèji Pwòp, S.A. in Haiti. Apply now for these 1 month field researcher positions, and join the cutting edge of innovation and engagement for energy access and sustainable energy for all.
Microgrid Field Researcher
Energy and Security Group is hiring microgrid field researchers to conduct a 100 town microgrid market study for Enèji Pwòp, S.A. in Haiti. Apply now for these 1 month field researcher positions, and join the cutting edge of innovation and engagement for energy access and sustainable energy for all.
Microgrid Field Researcher
- Published on
This blog post is a version of a press release.
The full release is available here.
On May 27th, 2015 the U.S. Trade and Development Agency awarded a grant to EarthSpark's spin-off Haitian social enterprise, Enèji Pwòp, for a feasibility study to assess and rank the viability of developing pre-pay microgrids in approximately 100 Haitian towns. This grant will support Enèji Pwòp and EarthSpark’s shared goal of building 80 microgrids in Haiti by 2020, which Rachel McManus announced at the UN SE4All conference in New York on May 21st.
“USTDA is pleased to support Haiti’s efforts to increase access to reliable electricity,” said USTDA Regional Director Nathan D. Younge. “Enèji Pwòp’s current microgrid operations and its plans for expansion demonstrate how industry can work with municipalities on innovative solutions to bring affordable power to rural and semi-urban populations.”
The grant was signed by U.S. Ambassador Pamela A. White and Rachel McManus, the President of Enèji Pwòp, at a ceremony at the U.S. Embassy in Port-au-Prince. Enèji Pwòp has selected Energy and Security Group – a small, woman-owned firm headquartered in Reston, Va., with extensive experience in energy access – to carry out the feasibility study. The main output from the study will be a detailed preliminary feasibility assessment and ranking of each of the 100 towns based on economics, physical infrastructure and community objectives. By determining the 40 best locations for near-term development of microgrids of approximately 100 kilowatts each, the study will enable Enèji Pwòp to prepare a fundable investment plan for microgrid expansion in Haiti.
To complete this feasibility study, Energy and Security Group is recruiting 40 Microgrid Researchers and 4 Regional Coordinators who are interested in diving into an exciting opportunity to gain hands-on experience expanding energy access in Haiti.
The full release is available here.
On May 27th, 2015 the U.S. Trade and Development Agency awarded a grant to EarthSpark's spin-off Haitian social enterprise, Enèji Pwòp, for a feasibility study to assess and rank the viability of developing pre-pay microgrids in approximately 100 Haitian towns. This grant will support Enèji Pwòp and EarthSpark’s shared goal of building 80 microgrids in Haiti by 2020, which Rachel McManus announced at the UN SE4All conference in New York on May 21st.
“USTDA is pleased to support Haiti’s efforts to increase access to reliable electricity,” said USTDA Regional Director Nathan D. Younge. “Enèji Pwòp’s current microgrid operations and its plans for expansion demonstrate how industry can work with municipalities on innovative solutions to bring affordable power to rural and semi-urban populations.”
The grant was signed by U.S. Ambassador Pamela A. White and Rachel McManus, the President of Enèji Pwòp, at a ceremony at the U.S. Embassy in Port-au-Prince. Enèji Pwòp has selected Energy and Security Group – a small, woman-owned firm headquartered in Reston, Va., with extensive experience in energy access – to carry out the feasibility study. The main output from the study will be a detailed preliminary feasibility assessment and ranking of each of the 100 towns based on economics, physical infrastructure and community objectives. By determining the 40 best locations for near-term development of microgrids of approximately 100 kilowatts each, the study will enable Enèji Pwòp to prepare a fundable investment plan for microgrid expansion in Haiti.
To complete this feasibility study, Energy and Security Group is recruiting 40 Microgrid Researchers and 4 Regional Coordinators who are interested in diving into an exciting opportunity to gain hands-on experience expanding energy access in Haiti.
- Published on
This blog post is a version of a press release. The release is downloadable here.
Washington DC—June 9, 2015 – On June 1, 2015, EarthSpark International inaugurated the EKo Pwòp micro-grid which provides clean, reliable power to 430 homes and businesses in downtown Les Anglais in the South of Haiti. The newly installed grid is powered by a state-of-the-art hybrid generation system, which includes a 93kW solar PV array, 400 kWh of battery capacity, and a small diesel backup generator. The system is also serviced by SparkMeter smart meters which enable customers to pre-pay for electricity and shift load limits, a ‘smart’ system that facilitates metering and billing and enables a more efficient grid operations. Over the period of building the Les Anglais grid, EarthSpark spun off SparkMeter, Inc. into a company that is now commercializing smart meters for grid operators in developing markets around the world. With 75% of the population of Haiti currently lacking electricity access, this town-sized, solar-powered, smart grid is providing residents and businesses in Les Anglais with clean, affordable, reliable electricity from a grid that can serve as a model to be refined and replicated in other rural towns across the country.
To further highlight the launch of the grid and those who made it possible, EarthSpark will host a ‘Spark Soirée’ fundraiser and celebration on Thursday, June 11 from 6 to 9 PM in Washington, DC. EarthSpark invites friends and supporters to join the team at the National Grange Building, 1616 H St. NW, and to please RSVP to Ms. Alex Fisher at alex@earthsparkinternational.org.
EarthSpark’s initial grid development began in 2012 with initial funding from Naitonal Geographic and from the Government of Norway through the UN and Coalition partners "Côte Sud Initiative (CSI). Through a partnership with Digicel, Haiti’s largest telecommunications company, EarthSpark was able to tap into underutilized capacity from the generator powering the telecommunications tower in Les Anglais to serve its initial customers who had previously relied on expensive kerosene lamps and diesel generators for lighting and electricity.
Now the grid is powered by sunshine. The construction of the solar hybrid generation system and the expansion of service from 54 to 430 customers was made possible by a United States Agency for International Development grant from Powering Agriculture: An Energy Grand Challenge for Development. Powering Agriculture supports sustainable approaches to accelerate the development and deployment of clean energy solutions for increasing agricultural productivity and value in developing countries. With over half of the downtown residents of Les Anglais working in the agricultural sector, EarthSpark is working with local agricultural entrepreneurs to ensure that increased electricity access translates into sustainable economic development.
Additional funding came from Linkin Park’s Power the World campaign, the 11th Hour Project, the United Nations Foundation, and individual donors.
EarthSpark will use the Les Anglais project as a model for the installation of future grids in Haiti. On May 21, 2015, at the United Nations Sustainable Energy for All Forum, EarthSpark and its Haitian social enterprise spin-off, Enèji Pwòp, S.A. announced a joint commitment to build 80 micro-grids in Haiti by the end of 2020.
The grid is a product of many partnerships. Haiti’s Ministry of Public Works provided a letter of support for the grid before its initial launch. Speaking from the small stage at the grid inauguration last week, M. Marc André Chrysostom, Energy Coordinator for the Ministry, observed, "This solar hybrid grid is the first of its kind in Haiti. It is a very good model and should serve as a pilot to allow Haitian students and technicians to strengthen their capacities for rural electrification and microgrid." Senators, Deputies, Mayors, and representatives from Haitian academia all played important roles. The generation system was designed and installed by ZeroBase Energy, LLC, a Michigan-based firm. The distribution system was designed and installed by GEMSA, a Dominican firm. Volunteers from the National Rural Electric Cooperative Association and specifically Shelby Electric Coop helped to install the pilot grid’s wiring.
More photos from the inauguration are available here. EarthSpark is running a fundraising campaign to pay for media and editing of film footage from the event to share across Haiti.
EarthSpark International is a non-profit 501(c)3 organization working as an incubator for clean energy enterprises that can deliver sustainable energy services in off-grid Haiti. EarthSpark is bringing together technology, business models, and community engagement to deliver clean, reliable, and affordable energy that is unlocking wealth and opportunities in rural Haitian towns. For more information visit www.earthsparkinternational.org
Enèji Pwòp, S.A. is a Haitian social enterprise launched in 2014 as a spin-off of EarthSpark International. It works closely with its non-profit parent organization and with local Haitian entrepreneurs and community leaders to increase access to clean and efficient energy products and services in underserved areas of Haiti. Enèji Pwòp has been involved in the development of EarthSpark’s micro-grid in Les Anglais, and took over operations and management of the grid in May 2015. For more information visit www.enejipwop.com.
Washington DC—June 9, 2015 – On June 1, 2015, EarthSpark International inaugurated the EKo Pwòp micro-grid which provides clean, reliable power to 430 homes and businesses in downtown Les Anglais in the South of Haiti. The newly installed grid is powered by a state-of-the-art hybrid generation system, which includes a 93kW solar PV array, 400 kWh of battery capacity, and a small diesel backup generator. The system is also serviced by SparkMeter smart meters which enable customers to pre-pay for electricity and shift load limits, a ‘smart’ system that facilitates metering and billing and enables a more efficient grid operations. Over the period of building the Les Anglais grid, EarthSpark spun off SparkMeter, Inc. into a company that is now commercializing smart meters for grid operators in developing markets around the world. With 75% of the population of Haiti currently lacking electricity access, this town-sized, solar-powered, smart grid is providing residents and businesses in Les Anglais with clean, affordable, reliable electricity from a grid that can serve as a model to be refined and replicated in other rural towns across the country.
To further highlight the launch of the grid and those who made it possible, EarthSpark will host a ‘Spark Soirée’ fundraiser and celebration on Thursday, June 11 from 6 to 9 PM in Washington, DC. EarthSpark invites friends and supporters to join the team at the National Grange Building, 1616 H St. NW, and to please RSVP to Ms. Alex Fisher at alex@earthsparkinternational.org.
EarthSpark’s initial grid development began in 2012 with initial funding from Naitonal Geographic and from the Government of Norway through the UN and Coalition partners "Côte Sud Initiative (CSI). Through a partnership with Digicel, Haiti’s largest telecommunications company, EarthSpark was able to tap into underutilized capacity from the generator powering the telecommunications tower in Les Anglais to serve its initial customers who had previously relied on expensive kerosene lamps and diesel generators for lighting and electricity.
Now the grid is powered by sunshine. The construction of the solar hybrid generation system and the expansion of service from 54 to 430 customers was made possible by a United States Agency for International Development grant from Powering Agriculture: An Energy Grand Challenge for Development. Powering Agriculture supports sustainable approaches to accelerate the development and deployment of clean energy solutions for increasing agricultural productivity and value in developing countries. With over half of the downtown residents of Les Anglais working in the agricultural sector, EarthSpark is working with local agricultural entrepreneurs to ensure that increased electricity access translates into sustainable economic development.
Additional funding came from Linkin Park’s Power the World campaign, the 11th Hour Project, the United Nations Foundation, and individual donors.
EarthSpark will use the Les Anglais project as a model for the installation of future grids in Haiti. On May 21, 2015, at the United Nations Sustainable Energy for All Forum, EarthSpark and its Haitian social enterprise spin-off, Enèji Pwòp, S.A. announced a joint commitment to build 80 micro-grids in Haiti by the end of 2020.
The grid is a product of many partnerships. Haiti’s Ministry of Public Works provided a letter of support for the grid before its initial launch. Speaking from the small stage at the grid inauguration last week, M. Marc André Chrysostom, Energy Coordinator for the Ministry, observed, "This solar hybrid grid is the first of its kind in Haiti. It is a very good model and should serve as a pilot to allow Haitian students and technicians to strengthen their capacities for rural electrification and microgrid." Senators, Deputies, Mayors, and representatives from Haitian academia all played important roles. The generation system was designed and installed by ZeroBase Energy, LLC, a Michigan-based firm. The distribution system was designed and installed by GEMSA, a Dominican firm. Volunteers from the National Rural Electric Cooperative Association and specifically Shelby Electric Coop helped to install the pilot grid’s wiring.
More photos from the inauguration are available here. EarthSpark is running a fundraising campaign to pay for media and editing of film footage from the event to share across Haiti.
EarthSpark International is a non-profit 501(c)3 organization working as an incubator for clean energy enterprises that can deliver sustainable energy services in off-grid Haiti. EarthSpark is bringing together technology, business models, and community engagement to deliver clean, reliable, and affordable energy that is unlocking wealth and opportunities in rural Haitian towns. For more information visit www.earthsparkinternational.org
Enèji Pwòp, S.A. is a Haitian social enterprise launched in 2014 as a spin-off of EarthSpark International. It works closely with its non-profit parent organization and with local Haitian entrepreneurs and community leaders to increase access to clean and efficient energy products and services in underserved areas of Haiti. Enèji Pwòp has been involved in the development of EarthSpark’s micro-grid in Les Anglais, and took over operations and management of the grid in May 2015. For more information visit www.enejipwop.com.
- Published on
by Arthur Jacquiau Chamski
LES ANGLAIS, HAITI — On November 20th, 2012, EarthSpark International launched Haiti’s first pre-pay microgrid. Called EKo Pwòp (short for Elektrisite Kominote Pwòp, or “clean community electricity”) the grid enabled the 14 pioneer customers to light their homes, charge their phones and listen to music for an average US$1.50/month. Given that most households had previously been paying ~$10/month just to light their homes with dim and sooty kerosene. This first tiny grid offered customers significant savings while greatly increasing their quality of service. The grid also enabled EarthSpark to prove the viability of efficient lighting and pre-payment for electricity in rural Haiti.
Leveraging EarthSpark’s work developing clean energy retail networks, EKo Pwòp customers could get updates on their consumption and top-up their energy account in the local “Clean Energy Store”. This payment system gave them the same flexibility as buying kerosene daily or paying a neighbor to charge their phones, while enabling cost recovery for EarthSpark.
In October 2013, EarthSpark expanded grid coverage to a total of 54 customers including a school and several local businesses. With this first expansion, EarthSpark started offering higher levels of service and introduced a new, automatic communication system and custom-made smart meters to improve billing and payment collection. The new service levels partially addressed the higher consumption needs of clients who had previously relied on expensive individual diesel generators or paid battery charging from a neighbor’s diesel generator.
Thanks to built-in load control and energy efficiency, these 54 customers only required about 1KW of power, powered by excess capacity from the nearby telecom tower thanks to a partnership with the telecom company Digicel.
With over 30 months of operation, these two initial grid developments allowed EarthSpark to accumulate significant feedback on its model – on social impact, financial sustainability, and social acceptance. The 54 residential and small business customers grew accustomed to reliable, 24/7 electricity and paid regularly for the high-quality service they received. Others in the community soon started joining the waiting list for expanded grid service.
On April 26, 2015, EarthSpark expanded service to 430 households and businesses, which represent most of Les Anglais downtown area, thanks to a “USAID Powering Agriculture: An Energy Grand Challenge for Development” grant. The newly installed grid is powered by a state-of-the-art hybrid generation system including 90 kWp of PV capacity, 400 kWh of battery capacity and a small diesel backup generator. EarthSpark has also developed a town-scale distribution system, including a medium-voltage line to ensure quality of electricity and future expansions, a standard electrical installation and our next-gen smart meters provided by EarthSpark spin-off metering company SparkMeter, Inc.
This town-sized, solar-powered, smart grid is transforming Les Anglais, unlocking economic and social potential while serving as a model for EarthSpark to replicate in future grids in Haiti.
LES ANGLAIS, HAITI — On November 20th, 2012, EarthSpark International launched Haiti’s first pre-pay microgrid. Called EKo Pwòp (short for Elektrisite Kominote Pwòp, or “clean community electricity”) the grid enabled the 14 pioneer customers to light their homes, charge their phones and listen to music for an average US$1.50/month. Given that most households had previously been paying ~$10/month just to light their homes with dim and sooty kerosene. This first tiny grid offered customers significant savings while greatly increasing their quality of service. The grid also enabled EarthSpark to prove the viability of efficient lighting and pre-payment for electricity in rural Haiti.
Leveraging EarthSpark’s work developing clean energy retail networks, EKo Pwòp customers could get updates on their consumption and top-up their energy account in the local “Clean Energy Store”. This payment system gave them the same flexibility as buying kerosene daily or paying a neighbor to charge their phones, while enabling cost recovery for EarthSpark.
In October 2013, EarthSpark expanded grid coverage to a total of 54 customers including a school and several local businesses. With this first expansion, EarthSpark started offering higher levels of service and introduced a new, automatic communication system and custom-made smart meters to improve billing and payment collection. The new service levels partially addressed the higher consumption needs of clients who had previously relied on expensive individual diesel generators or paid battery charging from a neighbor’s diesel generator.
Thanks to built-in load control and energy efficiency, these 54 customers only required about 1KW of power, powered by excess capacity from the nearby telecom tower thanks to a partnership with the telecom company Digicel.
With over 30 months of operation, these two initial grid developments allowed EarthSpark to accumulate significant feedback on its model – on social impact, financial sustainability, and social acceptance. The 54 residential and small business customers grew accustomed to reliable, 24/7 electricity and paid regularly for the high-quality service they received. Others in the community soon started joining the waiting list for expanded grid service.
On April 26, 2015, EarthSpark expanded service to 430 households and businesses, which represent most of Les Anglais downtown area, thanks to a “USAID Powering Agriculture: An Energy Grand Challenge for Development” grant. The newly installed grid is powered by a state-of-the-art hybrid generation system including 90 kWp of PV capacity, 400 kWh of battery capacity and a small diesel backup generator. EarthSpark has also developed a town-scale distribution system, including a medium-voltage line to ensure quality of electricity and future expansions, a standard electrical installation and our next-gen smart meters provided by EarthSpark spin-off metering company SparkMeter, Inc.
This town-sized, solar-powered, smart grid is transforming Les Anglais, unlocking economic and social potential while serving as a model for EarthSpark to replicate in future grids in Haiti.
Footprint of the Les Anglais expansion town-wide.
The microgrid provides the infrastructure needed for a public lighting option
- Published on
by Allison Archambault
"YAYYYYYY!!!!" "Yahoo!" "Huzah!" "Hooray!" "Yessssss!"
The EarthSpark phones were buzzing with joy, relief, and congratulations when Arthur made a few changes to the microgrid configuration and brought the solar online. Arthur has since lead several weeks of testing and is planning the final steps before a soft launch to the expanded customer base.
Stay tuned for updates as the team continues testing and prepares to launch electricity service for an additional 366 customers in Les Anglais.
"YAYYYYYY!!!!" "Yahoo!" "Huzah!" "Hooray!" "Yessssss!"
The EarthSpark phones were buzzing with joy, relief, and congratulations when Arthur made a few changes to the microgrid configuration and brought the solar online. Arthur has since lead several weeks of testing and is planning the final steps before a soft launch to the expanded customer base.
Stay tuned for updates as the team continues testing and prepares to launch electricity service for an additional 366 customers in Les Anglais.
- Published on
by Allison Archambault
In the 1980's in the US, to buy a personal computer was to hire a talented integrator who would buy specialized components - a hard drive, a motherboard, memory cards, a monitor, etc. - from diverse suppliers and then fit together a customized, hand-built system.
In the early 2000's in the US, to buy a residential solar system was to hire a talented integrator who would buy specialized components - PV modules, racking, an inverter, etc. - from diverse suppliers and then fit together a customized, hand-built system.
Today, to build a town-sized, solar powered smart grid for energy access, is to hire (or employ) several teams of talented integrators who source specialized components to build several custom systems (a generation system, a distribution system) that can fit together to make pieces of a grid. While managing the process, logistics, and integration of the generation and distribution systems takes time, there are still other gaps to be filled. In EarthSpark's case, we needed to hire local electricians to install home wiring, and we needed to develop a whole new metering technology (and spin off a whole new company!) to fully realize the 'smart' part of smartgrid for our customers. Eventually, and soon, we will arrive at a customized, hand-built system.
There is a trend: Things get easier. Technology gets standardized. Processes get streamlined, but the early bits are lumpy.
EarthSpark is fortunate to have a world-class team working extremely hard with ever-changing variables in challenging environments to get this first smart solar grid expansion going. We are also lucky to count enormously talented and committed companies, organizations, government bodies, and individual supporters as teammates in this effort. Even so, the Les Anglais grid has taken longer to get online than we had planned. It has taken more time, more money, and more grit than any of us had envisioned.
This is the hard work of pushing through a first process. This is why EarthSpark emphasizes that while we are expanding energy access, the core of our work is doing the 'research and development' on the models that can eventually spin off and scale to solve energy access. We are, of course, not alone. Others are working on microgrids, and others are working in Haiti. But, together, we are very much still in the early days of streamlining how everything needs to fit together for this sector. The Les Anglais grid is an early actor in a long and well-known story of innovation and implementation, and this grid is almost on. The next one will be easier. The 10th grid will be easier still.
Building a world-class solar powered smart grid in rural Haiti comes with some real challenges. We'll spare our readers (and our suppliers) the agony of airing the details here. The stories will be better when they have neat resolutions and happy endings. While our initial 54 customers are still enjoying 24/7 electricity, our next customers are still waiting. Our new tentative turn-on date is the end of April. We'll be posting updates on this page as things progress.
In the 1980's in the US, to buy a personal computer was to hire a talented integrator who would buy specialized components - a hard drive, a motherboard, memory cards, a monitor, etc. - from diverse suppliers and then fit together a customized, hand-built system.
In the early 2000's in the US, to buy a residential solar system was to hire a talented integrator who would buy specialized components - PV modules, racking, an inverter, etc. - from diverse suppliers and then fit together a customized, hand-built system.
Today, to build a town-sized, solar powered smart grid for energy access, is to hire (or employ) several teams of talented integrators who source specialized components to build several custom systems (a generation system, a distribution system) that can fit together to make pieces of a grid. While managing the process, logistics, and integration of the generation and distribution systems takes time, there are still other gaps to be filled. In EarthSpark's case, we needed to hire local electricians to install home wiring, and we needed to develop a whole new metering technology (and spin off a whole new company!) to fully realize the 'smart' part of smartgrid for our customers. Eventually, and soon, we will arrive at a customized, hand-built system.
There is a trend: Things get easier. Technology gets standardized. Processes get streamlined, but the early bits are lumpy.
EarthSpark is fortunate to have a world-class team working extremely hard with ever-changing variables in challenging environments to get this first smart solar grid expansion going. We are also lucky to count enormously talented and committed companies, organizations, government bodies, and individual supporters as teammates in this effort. Even so, the Les Anglais grid has taken longer to get online than we had planned. It has taken more time, more money, and more grit than any of us had envisioned.
This is the hard work of pushing through a first process. This is why EarthSpark emphasizes that while we are expanding energy access, the core of our work is doing the 'research and development' on the models that can eventually spin off and scale to solve energy access. We are, of course, not alone. Others are working on microgrids, and others are working in Haiti. But, together, we are very much still in the early days of streamlining how everything needs to fit together for this sector. The Les Anglais grid is an early actor in a long and well-known story of innovation and implementation, and this grid is almost on. The next one will be easier. The 10th grid will be easier still.
Building a world-class solar powered smart grid in rural Haiti comes with some real challenges. We'll spare our readers (and our suppliers) the agony of airing the details here. The stories will be better when they have neat resolutions and happy endings. While our initial 54 customers are still enjoying 24/7 electricity, our next customers are still waiting. Our new tentative turn-on date is the end of April. We'll be posting updates on this page as things progress.
- Published on
by Ian Muir
LES ANGLAIS, HAITI — On a mild January day, Blaise Heromme is going house to house in the southwestern Haitian town of Les Anglais, marking mounting locations for future customer’s smart-meters. While a Les Anglais native, until recently, Blaise had been living in Port-au-Prince due to a lack of opportunities back home. Then late last summer, he received a text message from an excited cousin saying that EarthSpark was hiring certified electricians in Les Anglais. He jumped at the opportunity to be back with his family and, in no time, had an interview scheduled and was on a bus heading south. Fast forward to today and Blaise is part of a team of local electricians responsible for wiring homes and businesses in preparation for start-up of the expanded Les Anglais microgrid.
For some perspective, since late 2012, EarthSpark International, with its local affiliate, EKo Pwòp, has provided affordable electricity to a small but diverse group of residents in Les Anglais. EarthSpark and EKo Pwòp, which stands for Elektrisite Kominote Pwòp (“clean community electricity” in Haitian Creole), have had tremendous success with this pilot microgrid. With access to reliable electricity, eligible households switched from smoky kerosene lamps to efficient light bulbs which are safer and cheaper to operate, while offering much higher quality light.
Then in late 2013, the system’s success resulted in a grant from USAID for the expansion of microgrid coverage to the entire Les Anglais downtown area and support for the electrification of local agricultural processing. It was clear that such a system would require a sizeable new generation source mated with new distribution infrastructure that could bring power to customers farther afield. So the EarthSpark team set out to design a system that would generate, store, and deliver electricity to the townspeople in an affordable, reliable, and sustainable manner.
For some perspective, since late 2012, EarthSpark International, with its local affiliate, EKo Pwòp, has provided affordable electricity to a small but diverse group of residents in Les Anglais. EarthSpark and EKo Pwòp, which stands for Elektrisite Kominote Pwòp (“clean community electricity” in Haitian Creole), have had tremendous success with this pilot microgrid. With access to reliable electricity, eligible households switched from smoky kerosene lamps to efficient light bulbs which are safer and cheaper to operate, while offering much higher quality light.
Then in late 2013, the system’s success resulted in a grant from USAID for the expansion of microgrid coverage to the entire Les Anglais downtown area and support for the electrification of local agricultural processing. It was clear that such a system would require a sizeable new generation source mated with new distribution infrastructure that could bring power to customers farther afield. So the EarthSpark team set out to design a system that would generate, store, and deliver electricity to the townspeople in an affordable, reliable, and sustainable manner.
Today, the expanded microgrid is nearing completion. Over the past six months, installation crews have built out a near-100 kilowatt solar photovoltaic array and, in parallel, a first-class distribution system that will soon be transmitting electricity to some 450 homes, small businesses, and public buildings—each wired by Blaise and his team. The new microgrid will be the first of its kind in Haiti, generating power almost exclusively from the sun and employing batteries for storage and smart meters for both maintaining system stability and allowing pre-pay capability.
For the vast majority of customers, this will be their first time with a grid connection, and everyone is excited to witness the positive impacts that electricity–such a versatile energy source—can have here. Many customers will simply power lights and charge phones, but others will leverage this electricity to run small businesses. The project will also continue to provide employment to Blaise and other motivated individuals thanks to ongoing needs on the electrical, security, and maintenance fronts.
Start-up of the expanded grid is scheduled for early February, with full ramp-up in mid-March. And the entire EarthSpark team is excited to share updates with our benefactors as these milestones approach and beyond. We are exceptionally grateful for all the support we’ve received—financial, moral, and logistical. And we hope you’ll remain engaged as we work to make energy poverty a thing of the past in Haiti.
Start-up of the expanded grid is scheduled for early February, with full ramp-up in mid-March. And the entire EarthSpark team is excited to share updates with our benefactors as these milestones approach and beyond. We are exceptionally grateful for all the support we’ve received—financial, moral, and logistical. And we hope you’ll remain engaged as we work to make energy poverty a thing of the past in Haiti.
- Published on
by Sara Eisemann
SILOE, HAITI — Enèji Pwòp visited this Port-au-Prince community last month to bring a little extra brightness to the girls of Center for the Arts, Port-au-Prince, which works to empower its students through arts education. Thanks to a partnership with EarthSpark and a generous donor, Enèji Pwòp was able to present 50 girls and their mothers with an afternoon of energy literacy education and a special bonus: one of our Lanp Enèji Pwòp.
Education is one of the cornerstones of Enèji Pwòp’s retail business, from training our clean energy entrepreneurs in financial and energy literacy to providing them with the tools to teach those same concepts to their customers. At Center for the Arts, Market Development Agent Sandra Marcel contrasted traditional energy sources like kerosene and charcoal with clean energy like solar power, discussing with an enthusiastic audience the social, health, and economic benefits the Lanp Enèji Pwòp would bring to their lives.
SILOE, HAITI — Enèji Pwòp visited this Port-au-Prince community last month to bring a little extra brightness to the girls of Center for the Arts, Port-au-Prince, which works to empower its students through arts education. Thanks to a partnership with EarthSpark and a generous donor, Enèji Pwòp was able to present 50 girls and their mothers with an afternoon of energy literacy education and a special bonus: one of our Lanp Enèji Pwòp.
Education is one of the cornerstones of Enèji Pwòp’s retail business, from training our clean energy entrepreneurs in financial and energy literacy to providing them with the tools to teach those same concepts to their customers. At Center for the Arts, Market Development Agent Sandra Marcel contrasted traditional energy sources like kerosene and charcoal with clean energy like solar power, discussing with an enthusiastic audience the social, health, and economic benefits the Lanp Enèji Pwòp would bring to their lives.
One of the most striking things about the presentation was the students’ awareness about the ways energy and environmental issues affect their nation. The girls, most in their early teens, already know that charcoal production leads to deforestation and flooding and that using kerosene lamps hurts your eyes and can cause respiratory problems and even household fires.
Of course, this awareness comes from a daily confrontation of the energy poverty that surrounds them — and makes them eager to find solutions to problems as simple as not having enough light to draw or paint at night. At the end of the afternoon, each girl promised to take an active role in finding those solutions as a clean energy ambassador to her friends and community, teaching her peers about the benefits of her new lamp and encouraging them to save money, time, and energy with Enèji Pwòp.
Of course, this awareness comes from a daily confrontation of the energy poverty that surrounds them — and makes them eager to find solutions to problems as simple as not having enough light to draw or paint at night. At the end of the afternoon, each girl promised to take an active role in finding those solutions as a clean energy ambassador to her friends and community, teaching her peers about the benefits of her new lamp and encouraging them to save money, time, and energy with Enèji Pwòp.
- Published on
by Ian Muir
Thanks to the upcoming expansion and solarization of EarthSpark’s Les Anglais microgrid, affordable and reliable electricity will soon be available to nearly five hundred of the town’s homes and small businesses. The service will be life-changing for many residents. Smoky kerosene lamps will become obsolete overnight, replaced by efficient light bulbs that cost far less to run, provide much brighter light, and pose neither health nor fire risks. In addition, customers will no longer find themselves spending up to fourteen percent of their monthly incomes just to light their homes and charge their mobile phones.
Many residents have already expressed their interest in the new electricity service by “pre-subscribing” and making a deposit proportional to the level of service they desire. But while these deposits are sizable with respect to local monthly incomes, they cover just a small fraction of the cost of an electrical connection and associated materials. To overcome this, EarthSpark is teaming up with Kiva to crowdsource $300 loans that cover upfront installation costs for each of the microgrid’s customers. These loans will then be repaid over time via the proceeds from electricity sales, collateralized by a portion of the payments from the entire community. And, as a result, even those with limited means will have access to the tremendous benefits of the new solar-powered microgrid.
Thanks to the upcoming expansion and solarization of EarthSpark’s Les Anglais microgrid, affordable and reliable electricity will soon be available to nearly five hundred of the town’s homes and small businesses. The service will be life-changing for many residents. Smoky kerosene lamps will become obsolete overnight, replaced by efficient light bulbs that cost far less to run, provide much brighter light, and pose neither health nor fire risks. In addition, customers will no longer find themselves spending up to fourteen percent of their monthly incomes just to light their homes and charge their mobile phones.
Many residents have already expressed their interest in the new electricity service by “pre-subscribing” and making a deposit proportional to the level of service they desire. But while these deposits are sizable with respect to local monthly incomes, they cover just a small fraction of the cost of an electrical connection and associated materials. To overcome this, EarthSpark is teaming up with Kiva to crowdsource $300 loans that cover upfront installation costs for each of the microgrid’s customers. These loans will then be repaid over time via the proceeds from electricity sales, collateralized by a portion of the payments from the entire community. And, as a result, even those with limited means will have access to the tremendous benefits of the new solar-powered microgrid.
As part of the Kiva campaign, EarthSpark’s grid team has been speaking with each and every head of household in Les Anglais to learn how they expect reliable electricity access to impact both their lives and those of their dependents. Aside from simple financial savings, many are excited by the prospect of brighter, safer light for their children to study under. A number also anticipate leveraging power to start their own small businesses. For example, Les Anglais resident Luck Cheristal looks forward to making and selling ice, a good considered highly desirable locally and whose production requires a reliable electrical connection.
In the coming days and weeks, Kiva loan pages will go live for each of the Les Anglais microgrid’s future customers. These pages will tell their stories and give insights into how residents expect their family or small business will benefit from access to electricity. We encourage you to spread word of this campaign to friends, family, and colleagues, recognizing that loans as little as $25 can help bring modern energy to an entire Haitian household.
Just a few of the Les Anglais residents whose lives will change thanks thanks to the $300 loans.
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by Ian Muir
Last week, EKo Pwòp team-members Arthur Jacquiau-Chamski and Ian Muir spent six action-packed days in Les Anglais laying building blocks for the expansion of the organization’s existing 54-customer microgrid. Later this year, EarthSpark anticipates extensive research, planning, fundraising, and execution efforts to culminate in a new solarized microgrid serving over 400 homes and small businesses with affordable, reliable, and clean electricity.
Last week, EKo Pwòp team-members Arthur Jacquiau-Chamski and Ian Muir spent six action-packed days in Les Anglais laying building blocks for the expansion of the organization’s existing 54-customer microgrid. Later this year, EarthSpark anticipates extensive research, planning, fundraising, and execution efforts to culminate in a new solarized microgrid serving over 400 homes and small businesses with affordable, reliable, and clean electricity.
On Sunday June 29th, Arthur, with the support of community leader, Jean-Noël Paget, held a meeting attended by Les Anglais residents and business-owners where he outlined next steps in the microgrid expansion process. He explained the importance of pre-subscription to the service, the different levels of service being offered, and EKo Pwòp’s imminent house-numbering and surveying campaigns.
Over the following five days, the team visited nearly 500 homes and businesses, providing each with a much-needed fixed address—literally putting them on the map. In parallel, with the support of Les Anglais locals Rosanne Jean-Jacques and Juline Joint, they began administering in-depth surveys to determine how residents currently light their homes and how they expect access to electricity to change their behavior, their pocketbooks, and, more simply, their lives. The results of these surveys will be used internally for knowledge-building and system planning but also in a forthcoming Kiva campaign which will raise funds to cover the costs of connecting each customer to the expanded microgrid.
Over the following five days, the team visited nearly 500 homes and businesses, providing each with a much-needed fixed address—literally putting them on the map. In parallel, with the support of Les Anglais locals Rosanne Jean-Jacques and Juline Joint, they began administering in-depth surveys to determine how residents currently light their homes and how they expect access to electricity to change their behavior, their pocketbooks, and, more simply, their lives. The results of these surveys will be used internally for knowledge-building and system planning but also in a forthcoming Kiva campaign which will raise funds to cover the costs of connecting each customer to the expanded microgrid.
Residents Andrise Medina and Pierre Excellent Joseph both see great promise in the expanded microgrid.
The Les Anglais townspeople are excited to move away from expensive and polluting sources of light such as kerosene and candles. And, as always, we all very much appreciate any support you can provide in helping make this project a resounding success.