NCF 6: Promotion of solar PV cooling in Burkina Faso
Ref: NDF C83
Nordic Partner: Danish Technological Institute
Local Partner: ISOMET sarl
Other Partners: UniCool A/S
Total Project Cost: EUR 514,703
NCF Financing: EUR 402,352
Agreement Signed:
Project type: Combination
Duration: 24 months
By demonstration of the results from this project, it should convince the households and office-building owners to consider and invest in solar PV as an energy source, and in addition, the project should create a platform for creation of new businesses through a commercial partnership between Isomet in Burkina Faso and Unicool in Denmark and East Africa. In this way, the valuable practical experience with high quality appropriate cooling technology in East Africa will be used in Burkina Faso.
1. System for office buildings
The proposed energy service for these consumers will provide most of the energy needed in office buildings. It should cover the demand during the day and up to 2 h after sunset. The customers from this segment typically need energy in the ratio of 80% for cooling and 20% for light, computer, printers, etc.
The project period will only be used to test the system. When the system becomes mature and operational after the project period, this energy service will be offered through a leasing agreement (ESCO). In this case, the energy production equipment remains the property of the service provider. The systems will be installed by the
ESCO provider, which will take care of the maintenance, and be paid monthly the equivalent of the average energy bill paid to the grid promoter.
2. System for households
This system will be sold as an energy kit consisting of a smart air conditioning system equivalent to 1 HP split cooling unit, with autonomy of 6 hours, and a PV system for usual loads such as fridge, ceiling fans, lamps, and TV. This system can also be implemented in non-grid areas where power would otherwise be supplied by small and polluting generator sets. An important targeted output is the collaboration with the government to install complete solar PV energy systems on governmental office buildings.
Lack of power is specifically a problem for those many women creating their income in the cities by selling juice, grilled fish, ice, cold beverages, and all kind of food products that need cooling and thus electricity. Therefore, no electricity often means lack of income and empowerment. The strongly growing energy demand, linked with the lack of financial means, poses a general threat to a peaceful growth in many sub-Saharan cities. This project focuses on the urgent need for filling the gap between the offered and the desired power supply.
Using solar energy to produce air conditioning during peak load hours could improve the situation significantly; this is exactly what this project suggests. Climate change and the desire of indoor comfort means a growing need for air-conditioning. The project will design, laboratory test, monitor, improve and demonstrate the technical feasibility of solar cooling with thermal storage, thereby minimizing the use of expensive and environmentally problematic batteries commonly used in solar powered systems. Furthermore, a careful financial viability assessment as well as a complete business plan will be developed with the aim of creating a solar cooling business in Burkina Faso.
The project was cancelled before completion.
• Poverty reduction.
• Synergy with other multilateral environmental agreements.
• The cost /effectiveness.
it will lead to the reduction of rainfall:
Population will demonstrate. More energy will be imported; the trade balance will be affected; less money will be
invested in development projects; Overall poverty will rise. (A vicious circle)
fuels, secure and create jobs, reduce poverty and that in synergy with the multilateral environmental agreements,
by reducing CO2 emission promoting renewable energy, while improving livings conditions.
demonstrates the cost effectiveness of the project.
Economically the innovation will be to relief some of the burden for public investments in the energy sector by promoting private investments in energy saving equipment and introduction of an ESCO model for the relation between clients and service provider.
