Maroua, Cameroon April 8th, 2022 – Solarworx expands its new DC Microgrid technology to the village of Zalla close to Maroua in North Cameroon. Together with local installer Solkamtech SARL the Solar Home System based power grid now allows power sharing among 25 households. Within this year another 30 households will be connected. The RES (Renewable Energy Solutions) Project Cameroon is supported by the German Federal Ministry for Economic Affairs and Climate Action as part of the Renewable Energy Solutions Programme of the German Energy Solutions Initiative.
The Solarworx Microgrid is a 60V DC power grid that builds upon existing Solar Home Systems (SHS) in the village of Zalla. Solarworx SHS, those of other providers as well as stand alone battery systems are integrated into the power distribution. The technology enables households and SMEs to share excess solar power and battery storage capacity within their neighborhood. By building upon existing solar panels and batteries the grid connection costs drop to around 150 USD per household which is a fraction of AC minigrid or public utility connection fees. Around 30% of the connected households had no prior energy access. The power trading is conducted via the devices and a mobile App that are both integrated into the existing Pay-As-You-Go payment schemes.
“The DC microgrid technology allows villagers to become entrepreneurs by selling their surplus power to the grid. This creates additional income but also increases ownership for the microgrid.” says Solarworx CEO Felix Boldt
The installation of the microgrid is conducted by local solar company Solkamtech. All materials are sourced from local suppliers so that installation and maintenance can be easily handled. Since the operating voltage of 60V falls into the Extra Low Voltage class, even villagers have recently expanded the existing grid.
Solarworx
Solarworx was founded in Berlin in 2017 by two engineers Felix Boldt and Jakob Schily and the entrepreneur Franz Josef Buschmeier. The goal is to develop and produce a new generation of sustainable and affordable solar energy systems for countries in the global south. In doing so, the founders can draw on many years of experience in rural electrification in East Africa in areas without electricity supply. Solarworx systems enable the electrification of individual households, businesses and, through a novel smart-grid networking concept, electricity trading within entire communities. Local small business owners, such as barber stores, kiosks, and rural poultry farms, receive a reliable and clean power supply that reduces energy expenses and strengthens their economy.
Solkamtech
Lead by enironmental engineer Serge Bukam the company offers Solar Home System distribution, PV rooftop installations and AC/DC Grid projects. Based in Maroua in the North of Cameroon the company strives for energy access for everyone.
German Energy Agency (dena)
dena is the centre of expertise for energy efficiency, renewable energy sources and intelligent energy systems. As Agency for Applied Energy Transition we help achieve energy and climate policy objectives by developing solutions and putting them into practice, both nationally and internationally. In order to do this, we bring partners from politics and business together, across sectors. dena’s shareholders are the Federal Republic of Germany and the KfW Group. www.dena.de/en
German Energy Solutions Initiative
The transfer of energy expertise, the promotion of foreign trade and the facilitation of international development cooperation are part of the German Energy Solutions Initiative, which is coordinated and financed by the German Federal Ministry for Economic Affairs and Climate Action. The initiative offers networking and business opportunities in Germany and abroad, it showcases reference projects and facilitates capacity building. www.german-energy-solutions.de/en
Renewable Energy Solutions Programme (RES Programme)
With the RES Programme, the Deutsche Energie-Agentur (dena) – the German Energy Agency – helps German renewable energy companies enter new markets. The installation of climate-friendly energy technology projects in attractive target markets is accompanied by comprehensive information dissemination, marketing and training programmes. These flagship projects, supported by the Federal Ministry for Economic Affairs and Climate Action within the German Energy Solutions Initiative, aim to show-case high-quality German renewable energy technology and help participating companies gain a foot-hold in new markets. www.german-energy-solutions.de/en/res
