Deng Ltd, Ghana, Solar electricity for rural communities - Ashden Award winner

This video can be downloaded here: http://www.ashdenawards.org/winners/deng Deng won an Ashden Award for Sustainable Energy in 2007.

You can follow us on:
Facebook http://bit.ly/9GKbIM
Twitter http://twitter.com/AshdenAwards
Blog: http://www.ashdenawards.org/blog/latest

Deng Ltd, an established engineering company in Accra, has developed a viable and sustainable business model for the provision of solar-home-systems to rural areas where access to grid electricity is limited. Deng has done this by venturing out of the capital and setting up a network of dealers to service the more remote areas. Deng has also set up a training centre for solar technicians in order to further expand the business and ensure the future sustainability of the scheme. The training centre, which has already trained 120 people from various sectors, is in itself a significant driver for growth of the solar PV market in Ghana. Whilst Deng does sell and install PV-powered grid backup systems around Accra, the mission and focus of Deng is in providing solar electricity to rural areas that do not have grid access. Since 1998 Deng has supplied 1,000 fixed systems and 6,000 solar lanterns to communities across Ghana.

Category:

Nonprofits & Activism

Tags:

• Deng
• Ltd
• Ghana
• Solar
• panel
• power
• pv
• electric
• electricity
• rural
• communities
• ashden
• awards
• sustainable
• renewable
• energy

[jblay4]

please sir, I belong to Siloam Gospel Clinic in Bonyere, Jomoro District, western region. Please I am interested in the installation of Solar panel since the electricity in Ghana has become unreliable here. The indiscriminate power outages is seriously affecting a smooth health service delivery. So I am appealing to Deng to furnish us with the cost of installing one so that we could appeal to people who would help us raise the funds for that. God bless you all

[AshdenAwards]

@jblay4 Contact details for Deng are on the Ashden Awards website.

[NastyChuck]

I wonder how long those solar panels that they are using work? I've heard that they can last anywhere from five to twenty years, and extending the lifespan of those solar panels by even a few years would be a lot more practical than just increasing their energy yielding potential.

[AshdenAwards]

Most crystalline panels come with a 25 year warranty, amorphous panels are usually less, maybe 10 years. However, after this length of time the panel doesn't stop working, the efficiency just slowly falls. They could still be producing useful power in 50 years...

The important thing is the casing that contains the panel - if water can get in, then the panel could be damaged, so as a panel ages it's probably worth checking it's still well-sealed to prolong its life.

[modernhumble]

I am thinking of getting one for my hotel and I was wondering how much it is for a solar panel backup

[AshdenAwards]

You should probably look for a local supplier and get a quote from them. If you want to operate off-grid you'll need batteries and a type of inverter that will do that - some inverters only operate when the grid is on.

[DADANYE]

Very impressive keep it up Ghana!

[TheMZLEXUS]

I think the solar pannel ideas is EXCELLENT for Ghana ....GOD BLESS MY DEAR MOTHERLAND!!

[Kalydosos]

I have a friend who is moving to Ghana to build his own small home he's got a pure sine wave inverter which are supposed to be the most efficient. A couple of 24 Volt battaries and three good solar panels the guy has paid a fortune for this kit, but I think it will pay for itself in terms of his independence.

[LANMANET]

Nice hat at the end