Rural Electrication in Kenya
The Earth Institute today selected myself and four other members of the International Development Club at the Columbia Business School to consult for the Millenium Villages Project in Sauri, Kenya. The institute, run by Jeffrey Sachs, has asked us to help evaluate the costs of a system for bringing electricity to the rural village using solar panels and a battery pack technology developed by a Columbia engineering professor.
The Earth Institute draws scientists from many different fields to develop and implement effective interventions to fight extreme poverty. Our team will source components of the system in China and, if approved, help arrange for low-cost shipment to the village.
We'll primarily be sourcing components for the highly efficient and inexpensive battery pack, developed by Professor Vijay Modi of the engineering department. Fortunately, before applying to the semester-long project, I convinced a new classmate who owns solar panel factory in China to apply as well. You don't have to graduate business school to know the value of assembling the right team!! Richard (Xuesong) and I were both selected, along with three other current MBAs who we've not yet met.
All five us will be working on this project for 4-5 hours per week throughout the spring semester, in addition to 10 days travel during Spring Break (all expenses paid!). The break is March 2-10th, so we'll be outta here in a hurry!! I'm actually not sure if we'll travel to Kenya or to China. Given that we are most likely sourcing the product components in China, at this point it seems to make the most sense to go there.
Expect to read much about this project over the coming months!! Here are some links if you're interested in learning more.
Sauri Energy & Transportation Projects
Millenium Villages Project - Sauria, Kenya
Labels: Africa, Columbia Business School, Energy, International Development, Kenya
posted by Ryan Petersen @ 10:39 AM
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Greetings- I've had a great deal to do with cost effective"poor man's" electrical technologies (with http://www.usbwifi.orcon.net.nz perhaps THE most celebrated!),& am increasingly focused on PV charged LED based lighting. See some thoughts http://www.manuka.orcon.net.nz/gardlamp.jpg =>
Feel free to contact me -perhaps for my "Kiwi can do" lateral thinking. Stan. (semiretired academic!)in New Zealand.
A very applausable and brave trip you went on! I am seriously considering embarking on a volunteer trip with Leaders Today to Maasai Mara, (outisde Nairobi) Kenya next June. I'm almost one hundered percent about it. Obviously it is a huge and challenging adventure, but I know I want to do it. Do have any feedback or advice? Or even any stories would be appreciated!
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