Community members stand outside the room built under the donated Unirac ground mount system to house the SimpliPhi batteries and STUDER power electronics. Many community members pitched in to help construct this room and lay the foundation for the array with panels donated by Signal Energy Constructors.
“Tenemos luz!” - Apu Miguel (We have light!! - Community Leader Miguel)
PROJECT OVERVIEW | MUSHUK LLAMAS - SHAPAJA, PERÚ
Though the name Perú means “land of abundance”, more than 10% of the rural population is still left in the dark without access to modern electricity and left further behind after the country’s recent boom of economic development.
The indigenous people of the Mushuk Lamas community are amongst the 2 million Peruvians without sufficient access to electricity. Living adjacent to the protected area of the Cordillera Escalera, members of the community are engaged in conservation efforts and help bird watchers and nature lovers responsibly explore the high cloud forest of the Amazon. With four solar panels at the nearby government school being the only source of electricity for this community of 25 families, expensive kerosene-fueled lamps and battery-operated flashlights illuminate essential after-dark activities.
Through the dedication and expertise of 15 volunteers from the PV industry and beyond and the generosity of family, friends and industry manufacturers, a 7.2kW system was planned, designed and installed to the high standards of the US National Electrical Code in the high Peruvian jungle.
Having light after the sun goes down means that not only is there greater capacity to earn, work, create, and learn, but there is also increased opportunity for social and leisure activities, leading to an overall increased quality of life.
The prohibitive cost of bringing grid connection to remote, hard to access communities has kept utility companies from investing. However, solar can scale the Andes and empower communities wherever the sun shines.
