Harnessing the power of Sun: Solar system enhancing education for Africa’s children

In summer of 2014, a group of Virginia Tech engineering students installed a new solar panels to expand the solar system at Hope Academy to meet the increasing demand for energy on campus. The original system was designed in 2008 when the school had only one building with less than 100 students and currently enrollment has grown to nearly 200 students. In recent years, dormitories and teachers’ housing have been added thus increasing the energy consumption load.

The system switches between solar and the grid power. It is also divided up into 3 segments running different facilities on campus including the new main hall, dormitories, as well the facility for welding and soap and jelly production. Thank you much EWB-VT team for your support and hard work.