IMPLEMENTING SOLAR POWER SYSTEM AT ELIKIA SCHOOL : Electricity Generation for Education and Community Development in the DRC

Abstract: This report examines the feasibility and cost of installing an off-grid solar system for Elika School in the village of Lwengo, located in the Democratic Republic of Congo. Congo has one of the lowest electrification rates globally. Only 19% of the population has access to electricity, and almost none in rural areas. Solar energy offers a promising solution to generate electricity in areas without access to the national grid and can significantly improve the living conditions of the inhabitants in Lwengo. The primary objective of the project was to design and install a solar system to meet the school's electricity needs. However, due to time and financial constraints, only a feasibility study was conducted. The feasibility study aims to assess the energy that can be generated if a solar system is installed at Elika School and the associated costs. The solar system installation is based on an estimation of the school's electricity consumption. Additionally, the project aimed to evaluate how the solar installation in Lwengo can contribute to the global goals for 2030. To address the project's objectives, I completed an internship at Nuru, a solar energy company in the Democratic Republic of Congo. Two scenarios were developed using Homer Pro software, a solar system and a hybrid system. The annual energy output for both systems is estimated to be 8 MWh. The school's electricity consumption is projected to be 4 MWh. The recommended system for the school is the standalone solar system with a total cost of $30,000. Despite a 5% capacity shortage, it is considered manageable for the school and its inhabitants, especially considering the existing capacity shortages throughout the country. Another factor that influenced the choice of the solar system was the significant price difference compared to the estimated cost of $44,000 for the hybrid system. Access to computers and the internet is crucial for Elika School to support evening studies and create an optimal learning environment. Implementing a solar panel system would improve the standard of education and potentially enable more children to participate. Additionally, the solar energy system can promote economic growth through fee-based systems while contributing to the security of the local residents. The integration of solar energy at Elika School significantly contributes to the global goals for 2030.