A 300 kW solar power system with an energy storage solution has been commissioned in Northern Iraq, financed by Stiftung Entwicklungs-Zusammenarbeit Baden-Württemberg (SEZ), which is attached to the German state of Baden-Wurttemberg. Though the solar project capacity is very small, it will make a huge difference to the 8,500 inhabitants of the Mam Rashan refugee camp who are the ultimate beneficiaries.
The project is an initiative of the non-profit organization atmosfair gGmbH that says it will allow the use of cooking, cooling and power other electronic devices during daytime as well. Previously, the camp had unstable and erratic energy supply which was available only during evening hours.
The system was originally scheduled to start operations by the end of June 2018, but it finally came online on November 8, 2018, according to O&M provider for the plant, Greentech GmbH und Cie. KG. The German company will provide backup to monitor and conduct data analysis for the project for another 12 months.
As per Greentech, several companies from the PV industry supported the project through their services and knowledge-sharing. On the website of atmosfair, along with Greentech, names of more companies are mentioned as Enerparc Power Plants, Meteocontrol. Solarpraxis, BayWa r.e., Emons Logistik, Brandhoff Obermüller Partner, Elin, Zimmerman PV-Stahlbau, and Initiative Flüchtlingsdorf Ruhrgebiet.
Internally displaced people (IDPs) were trained for installation and maintenance of the plant leading to job creation for the people living in the camp. Expansion of the project may be on the cards as atmosfair hinted that it would depend upon 'future financial and material donations' to be able to attain a 100% energy supply in the long run.
With solar power coupled with the battery storage system, providing a reliable and continuous electricity supply for the people in the camp, one hopes they have at least one less thing to worry about.