Solar Ideas

So we met with Rosario and members of the communities yesterday. They love the micro solar idea, but they also want solar thermal to heat water and solar cooking - so two new areas to explore.

They're very entrepreneurial and highly organized, so it should be no problem setting up a micro solar business here. When I asked Rosario how many solar chargers she thought they could sell, she instantly replied 'around 20,000 to 40,000, because each family will want several and because we can sell to other areas too'.

They also want larger systems and we've been discussing helping them set up a solar business here that would sell such systems. The only solar companies are in Buenos Aires and they have no interest in this region, so one option could be for us to help Warme set up a solar company that would sell and install solar systems on homes, schools, medical centres, etc.

The promising element is that the government is legally obliged to provide electricity to everyone in the country, even those with no grid access. Hence the government may pay for all solar systems installed - a direct subsidy for any solar company that Warme sets up.

So that's it for now. Better go as we're about to have a meeting with 160 leaders of local communities to discuss all the above.

The sun's now shining brighter outside - it's going to be another very sunny day!

Solar regards,
John