Photovoltaic systems installed in Mexico and Nicaragua.Field research about small businesses, mexican families and american expatriates. reporter@orange.fr

Other research http://exploration-solar.eu.tc

Goals of the field researchTo know what systems are used by mexican families, small businesses or american expatriates.

Client's needsTo produce electricity and hot water in desertic places, outside of urban areas.To provide electricity and hot water with conscience of green tourism and responsible development, example of the Ranch of Desierto de los Cirios. Signing Charter.

Response to client's needsMost of the mexican families I met have built their own photovoltaic system. Some of them are using batteries coming from lighthouses.Small businesses are using photovoltaic energy because they are located outside of urban areas, for example Baja California, Mexico.

Cost of photovoltaicFamilies are investing in some photovoltaic elements because they need light for children and mobile equipments.Small businesses need electricity to serve their clients. Then, they invest in photovoltaic system with additional power generator with fosil fuel.

Strenghts and advantagesEvolution of needs enable families to see progress in their children's school results. Learning how to manage solar electricity, remote families can understad better what tourits need, specialy in natural parcs. Rural families are using computers and mobile phones daily.

How develop this technologyFinancial grants are not so many, but mexicans are clever and they kow how to get relevant equipment.In Mexico, 12 volts/110 volts transformers for trucks are spreading and also powerfull photovoltaic panels (+240 watts) because USA is close to this market.

House close to roadDriving south by main road of Baja California, I met this familly wich is using four panels for loading old batteries of lighthouses. A truck transformer is used for powering tv set. 12 volts supply is enough for charging truck batteries and providing light.Garage for repairing truck wheels attached to this house.

Small business at the edge of road

This new coffee shop is receiving lorry drivers daily. They are supplying tourist towns of Guerrero Negro et La Paz.This equipment have gas driven sun-tracker, efficient and inexpensive to use, four panels, four batteries, one regulator, one ondulator and one gasoline generator.

Forgotten mining villageThe village of El Arco is located on the dirt road of Desert of Cirios and it is abandoned. Nevertheless, because of new japonese mine spot some inhabitants are living in this solar equiped house. I could not enter for visiting.

Ranch for green tourismThis ranch is originaly shelter for cows and became meeting point for people living in the Desert of Cirios. Installations are using the sun for water pumping, power supply of VHF radios and hot water for small houses.Sanitation room is using dry effect of heat.

Baya de Los AngelesEquipments set-up by this american fireman captain are surprising. Settled at more than 40 km of Baya Los Angeles, he enabled me to connect internet by WIFI and I climbed-up on the roof later for pictures.This retired man is an extreme experiment character in this warm, humid and windy region.

Cortes sea borderThis small house is inhabited by hondurian man. He get some usefull accessories that allow me to survive at desert of Cirios side. Foreign travelers gave him batteries and solar panels, he prefers gaz for cooking mexican food.This man helped me out of ambiguous situation with mexican militaries, also by repairing my flat tire.

Site at frontier sideMany of places are used by migrants to cross over the desert. It is leading up to USA/Mexico border and this installation is supplying equipments in this sector with electricity.The Natural preserve zone is also forbidden to visitors, including tourism reasons.

Natural preserve and tourismThis father is living at the edge of Somoto canyon, north west of Nicaragua. He is testimony of family use of this installation. His children have better results at school because they can work at home with electric light.Two panels, two batteries, transformer and regulators are allowing the load of mobile phones, computer and video/TV set.

Technology solutionsMundo solar technology is vacuum thermo gravity, very great efficiency within small size device.This business is right in shopping center of Nicaraguan capital. It offers a large range of items and material for renewable technologies.

Environment point of viewInstallation of these little photovoltaic systems is avoiding the use of fossil fuel gas wich were usal ressource in remote areas.By meeting local actors of green tourism and sustainable development I could realise that similar rules are promoted in both Nicaragua and Mexico: Charters agreements.

Equipment for field researchBlazer Chevrolet 1985 Truck offered to managua airport fire-brigade, Nicaragua.Laptop computer, ondulator 12 volts.Foto camera 3Mp, GPS/compass.Paper road maps of Mexico, Guatemala and Nicaragua.