Status And Outcomes Of PV Systems In Rural Nicaragua

Every day most of the world turns on their computers, their phones, their lights, and takes for granted having access to electricity 24/7. For over 1.2 billion people living in energy poverty, this isn’t the case. A variety of organizations from governments to non-profits are working to alleviate this issue, one of which is North Carolina native non-profit, United Solar Initiative (USI). USI, founded in 2014, has been working to empower communities in underprivileged communities in Nicaragua through solar energy solutions. This study looks at 5 specific projects completed by USI over the last several years, comparing their design rationale to the project outcomes, and looking for ways to improve photovoltaic solar installations in the developing world. Specifically, we will delve into installation issues, differences between the design of the systems and their current use, and monitoring procedures to ensure project longevity. A survey was conducted using past USI monitoring experiences and lessons learned from literature to examine user experiences and the long term sustainability of the projects. The goal of this study is to find ways that United Solar Initiative can improve as an organization to make a greater impact on the communities they work in.