How do you get electricity to undeveloped places at a cost that makes it truly viable? Sometimes the answer is not in a high tech application of newer technology, it is sometimes the answer is really far more low tech and genius in its simplicity. First off, we put solar panels all over the place and to make sure that they are as efficient as possible, we have come up with a variety of technological solutions. However, to make these solutions, you have to add thousands of dollars to the cost of solar power. This starts to put it out of reach for many. If you are living in an undeveloped country, then it is practically impossible. We take electrical production for granted here in the US. But in places like Africa, they often do not even have enough reliable electricity to power simple units that make it possible to operate hospital equipment or to keep blood or medications refrigerated. Enter Chris Clark and his company Sunflower Solutions.
While in college getting his degree at the University of Miami Ohio, Chris worked with some classmates to create a way to power an electric well. The plan was to help his buddies find a way to support developing nations who had little or no access to water. His idea was the simple solar panel. The problem with solar panels is not the cost in itself, but really the cost of making them efficient. A stationary solar panel is far less efficient than one that tracks the sun. The problem with the systems that track the sun is that they are cost prohibitive for most people, and for places like an African village, practically impossible. Chris came up with an ingenious answer. Figure out a way to make a stand for a portable unit that could be used by anyone, regardless of location and language barriers.
These solar panels together will generate about 16.8kwh, that is enough electricity to power about half of the average American household. For a hospital in a developing country that means incubators, stable blood supplies, and medications that need to be kept cool. For a school that means better food or computers to learn on. For a village, it might mean a water pump for a well or irrigation for a dry field, providing food for those in need.
What makes them so productive is the way they can easily track the sun. The complex calculations of the seasons, global positioning and time of day have been reduced to an easy to understand series of markings. These units are designed to be portable, which means they can be deployed all across the planet and even moved to where the need is greatest. The stands are also designed to be easily assembled and have few parts that are easily broken. This means that when deployed to the middle of a country like Chad, that there is little chance of the unit being rendered unusable for long periods of time-a problem with some hi tech systems. The simplicity of the design also means that you can train villagers to use the systems themselves and help to make them self sufficient.
So who are Chris’s clients? He is marketing to charities and those around the world that are doing good works. These are the folks who are already doing the work to help those in need in underdeveloped countries. The units are fully customizable based on the needs of the client. The price for one of these units ranges from about $10,000 to $14,000. The low tech solution keeps th price within reason, and allows a charity in Africa to produce a heck of a lot more electricity than they would otherwise be able to produce for their money. It also allows them to ship them nearly anywhere and leave them to be operated by the locals. What is amazing is Chris’s passion for solar power. He gets excited in what he does and shows a dedication that is rarely seen these days. Just read the Sunflower Solutions mission statement:
Around the world, 1.6 billion people do not have power. One in 12 people is malnourished, 1.1 billion are without clean drinking water, 2.4 billion are without proper sanitation, 2.1 billion do not have an education, and 1 billion people do not have appropriate medical care.
That’s hard to imagine since most of us will never know what it’s like to be a part of one of those statistics. Still, around the world these problems persist and threaten the lives of millions of people every day. But how do we provide health care without first powering health centers? How do we educate without having access to lights, computers, or the internet? How do we bring clean water without a means to power the water pumps? How do we feed the hungry without first helping farmers irrigate their fields?
Sunflower Solutions’ mission is to eliminate life threatening conditions around the world by bringing low cost and reliable power to areas where it is needed the most. We seek to EmPower education, health, clean water, agriculture, and businesses that struggle around the world. Using the flexibility of solar technology to generate power, along with a little practical ingenuity, Sunflower Solutions sells the lowest cost power solution for the developing world.
Come see for yourself! Next month Chris will be the featured speaker at Eco Tuesday. Eco Tuesday is a group with a three year history of gathering, educating, and promoting sustainability across the country. Last week was the launch of the Cleveland chapter and the speaker was Brad Masi of the New Agrarian Center. Held the 4th Tuesday of the month, March’s event will be held at the Key Club. Come and hear about Chris and his company Sunflower Solutions. Already written about in the Plain Dealer, this is likely to be a packed event, so RSVP right away.
