Provide electricity to 500 students in Belize

Greetings ---

Planning for our Phase 3 solar installation is continuing. We participated in the recent Microsoft YouthSpark Bonus Day and were successful in raising more than $500 in matching funds. To you, our donors, we are thankful. Our analysis of the current 10KW system shows that we are about right in estimating an overall 40% offset in power consumption, so that at least another 5KW will be needed. I say at least because we have also been communicating with a company that builds small scale high efficiency wind turbines which could help fill gaps in solar production when clouds are prevalent, especially during the rainy season, and at night. Long term such a mix may end up being crucial. Based on the more in-depth meeting with BRE, they now believe there is still plenty of head-room to continue net metering with BEL although it may require additional breaker installation. This is good news indeed.

In terms of financing, as of this report date, our base for Phase 3 is $54,670.60 and we have reached a total $64,875.00 for a net of just over $10,000.00 toward our Phase 3 goal of about $28,000.This means we need to raise about $18K or just a bit more from this date moving forward in order to complete our Phase 3 funding goal.

We have also planned our next site visit which will occur the last week in March. I will be looking forward to going back and beginning the planning process with the Principal, Miss Grace, and staff to help create an energy-saving plan for the school.Thank you all, once again, for your continued investment in the lives of the children served by Holy Cross Anglican School. Best wishes for a great holiday season for you and yours.

I have attached a couple of recent shots of the area where many of the students that attend Holy Cross reside. 

JohnnyMac

Greetings ---

Thanks to you, our many donors, our two 5KW solar panel installations are functioning extremely well at Holy Cross Anglican School. Analysis of the power curves being generated by both arrays shows little difference in overall average daily production, which means that the the slight differences in fixed angle-to-zenith (the angle at which the panels are oriented at the time the sun is at peak each day) between the arrays are not significant with respect to total power generated. As school has just returned to session and demands have increased after summer vacation, we will be looking closely at this fall's versus previous fall's power bills from BEL to quantify the savings being realized as a result of the Phase 2 installation.

Having said that, planning for Phase 3 is getting underway. An initial meeting with BRE (Baker Renewable Energy, Raleigh) was held this week and a follow-up, more detailed meeting will be held within the next several weeks. One of the most important items to consider, according to BRE, is the willingness of BEL to continue to allow net-metering, at least with the current breaker configuration at the school. At worst this could force us to install Phase 3 as an off-grid system with battery backups, but we are a long ways away from making that decision. In terms of financing, as of this report date, our base for Phase 3 is $54,670.60 and we have reached a total $63,215.00 for a net of just over $8500.00 toward our Phase 3 goal of about $28,000. I have added a little cushion in our overall funds goal published by the GG project website in order to provide for unforeseen costs, if any occur. As you may have read in earlier reports, we will also be investing in some energy efficiency changes and that may increase the costs somewhat. This means we need to raise about $20K or just a bit more from this date moving forward in order to complete our Phase 3 funding goal.

I have attached a screen capture of the power production curve provided by the real-time Enphase monitoring system for the Phase 2 array, which consists of 20 250W panels. We are looking forward to the upcoming in-depth meetings and will report the outcome of our planning in my next installment. Thank you all, once again, for your continued investment in the lives of the children served by Holy Cross Anglican School.