Transition Area
Fair Energetics
- Alternative energy supply
The Granja El Puente Foundation’s objective is to train small farmers, young people, men and women of limited economic resources in agricultural work, using theoretical and practical teaching systems for an adequate and efficient learning process that allows them to improve their standard of living, avoiding displacement to the cities.
In March 2021, the photovoltaic system, which is used to supply energy to La Granja’s dining room, kitchen, classrooms, audiovisual room and lodging houses, was put into operation. In addition to allowing economic savings, it is a demonstrative system of alternative energy, being of interest to people who visit our foundation, who see it as a benefit of renewable energy that can be replicated in their communities.
The Foundation’s photovoltaic system is used in alternative energy training processes that meet the needs of the communities at low costs.
Technical characteristics of the proposal
- Installation of solar panels: after a previous installation process, a structure composed of angles was assembled on which the photovoltaic panels were mounted and secured with bolts.
- Solar panels: two panels were installed with the capacity to generate 430 watts/day. The two panels were connected in series in order to increase the system voltage.
- Protection of the solar panels: A ground pole consisting of a cable connected to a 5-meter copper rod was installed to protect the panels from atmospheric agents such as lightning, which can melt the solar panels.
- Inverter and controller: the system installed is of the latest technological generation and includes a system that integrates the inverter, controller and blade; it is digital and can be programmed, operated manually or from a computer through remote software. The capacity is 3,000 watts, which is greater than that of the installed system. In the future, the system can be expanded by adding four 430-watt panels and two more batteries.
- Batteries: the system’s batteries are lithium batteries characterized by:
- Work exposed to high temperatures.
- 100% of the load can be discharged with warning of the need for charging.
- Its power is complete.
- The useful life is 2,000 to 4,000 cycles, i.e. they can be charged or discharged this number of times.
- The battery works in key with the inversion avoiding its total discharge.
- It has 3,000 to 4,000 thousand cycles and has a storage capacity of 4,800 watt-hours.
Productive, community, environmental, or economic processes or activities that were positively impacted by the implementation of the community experience of TEJ.
The Foundation’s photovoltaic system is associated with the lodging service and the learning center, which it offers to its visitors, whether for training activities or events held on the farm or for tourism.
The living, dining and kitchen areas are supplied with energy generated by solar energy panels.
Beneficiaries of the experience
30 women, 25 men, 14 youths (13 to 18 years old) and 8 boys and girls (0 to 12 years old)
Achievements and problems encountered during implementation
ACHIEVEMENTS:
- Harnessing solar energy: since they are in a suitable location where there is a constant supply of sunlight, especially in the mornings, charging the system is facilitated.
- Savings in energy costs: electricity at the foundation is expensive, because when El Puente farm was created as a foundation, it changed from paying as a residential zone to paying as an industrial zone.
- Promote the use of renewable and sustainable energies: the Foundation’s photovoltaic system has served as a model for visitors to La Granja, which covers about 19 hectares, to learn about the operation of their experience and also about alternative energies.
PROBLEMS:
- The problem identified by the Foundation is the technical dependence, since when there is any damage or failure, also when maintaining the photovoltaic system, there is no person specialized in the technology, making it costly to hire. As in the case of damage to system parts, it is costly to purchase replacement parts.
- High transportation costs for carrying, materials, or parts.
- High initial installation costs, the Foundation received support for this installation, but we identified that it is costly for the families in the area.
Women’s participation in the TEJ community experience
The participation of women has been active since they know the needs of the Foundation, that is why, at the time of planning the areas that would be supplied with solar energy, they contributed their knowledge, in addition to the fact that most of our visitors are women who are promoters of food autonomy, agroecological production and alternative energies.
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