Developing new solutions and building capacity to unlock the potential of solar thermal in East Africa

太阳能热能技术有可能极大地减少对化石和生物质燃料的依赖，以满足撒哈拉以南非洲的供暖需求。利用非洲丰富的太阳辐射和太阳能热能将降低终端用户的能源成本，降低对电网的需求，减少森林砍伐，同时改善能源安全和降低碳排放。然而，目前太阳能热能技术在非洲的普及率较低，原因是：*系统成本高*部件运输困难*安装复杂*缺乏熟练的安装人员该项目旨在解决阻碍撒哈拉以南非洲采用太阳能热能技术的主要障碍，重点是以下目标：*设计和测试完整的低成本太阳能热能系统。我们的目标是与目前可用的系统相比，将系统成本降低约40%。该系统将由SolarisKit的平板包装太阳能集热器、与高效泵兼容的新型低成本太阳能热控制器和塑料管道套件组成。*为家庭和商业应用对新的低成本太阳能热系统进行广泛的国内测试。*在斯特拉斯莫尔大学创建一个卓越的太阳能热中心，培训太阳能热系统的安装者。在之前由Energy Catalyst 7资助的工作中，SolarisKit成功地开发了低成本平板太阳能集热器，在提高其性能的同时降低了成本。虽然集热器是太阳能热水系统的核心组件，但也需要其他组件来贡献其总成本。本项目致力于开发一种新型的具有模糊逻辑的低成本太阳能水泵控制器，以及塑料液压管路套件，以进一步降低系统总成本。成本较低的系统面向国内和商业应用，国内测试将在肯尼亚和卢旺达完成。安装技能水平是阻碍太阳能热技术在非洲发挥其潜力的关键障碍。为了解决这个问题，SolarisKit将与斯特拉斯莫尔能源研究中心合作，建立一个卓越中心，培训技术人员安装和维护太阳能热水系统。该中心将是一个将知识从英国转移到肯尼亚的理想平台，以肯尼亚目前的太阳能热能能力为基础。到我们的24个月项目结束时，我们将开发一个适合非洲市场的新的低成本太阳能热能系统，创建一个太阳能热能系统安装卓越中心，完成10-15名技术人员的培训，并安装大约150个收集器用于培训和商业飞行员。

Solar thermal technology has the potential to drastically reduce dependence on fossil and biomass fuels to meet heating demand in sub-Sahara Africa. Harnessing Africa's abundant solar radiation with solar thermal will reduce end user energy costs, lower the demand on grid, decrease deforestation, while improving energy security and lowering carbon emissions. The current low penetration of solar thermal technology in Africa, however, is due to:* High system cost* Difficult transportation of components* Complex installation* Shortage of skilled installersThis project aims to address key barriers which have prevented the adoption of solar thermal technology in sub-Sahara Africa, focusing on the following objectives:* Design and testing of a complete low-cost solar thermal system. Our goal is to reduce system cost by approximately 40% compared to current systems available. The system will comprise of SolarisKit's flat-packable solar collectors, a new low-cost solar thermal controller compatible with high efficiency pumps, and plastic piping kit.* Conduct extensive in-country testing of the new low-cost solar thermal system for domestic and commercial applications.* Create a solar thermal centre of excellence at Strathmore University to train installers of solar thermal systems.In previous work funded by Energy Catalyst 7, SolarisKit successfully developed its low-cost flat-packable solar collector, improving its performance while reducing its cost. While the collector is a core component of a solar hot water system, other components are also required contributing to its overall cost. This project focuses on developing a new low-cost solar pump controller with fuzzy logic, and plastic hydraulic piping kit to further reduce total system cost. The lower cost system is targeted at both domestic and commercial applications with in-country testing to be completed in Kenya and Rwanda.Installation skill level is a key barrier preventing solar thermal technology reaching its potential in Africa. To address this issue, SolarisKit will partner with Strathmore Energy Research Centre to establish a centre of excellence to train technicians on the installation and maintenance of solar hot water systems. This centre will be an ideal platform to transfer knowledge from the UK to Kenya, building upon Kenya's current solar thermal capacity.By the end of our 24 month project, we will develop a new low-cost solar thermal system suitable for the African market, create a Centre of Excellence for the Installation of Solar Thermal Systems, complete the training of 10-15 technicians, and carry out the installation of approximately 150 collectors for training and commercial pilots.