Community-scale solar Water Pumping (THA-00-G01)

Project Details & Results

At present, the whole world has become aware of the urgency for conservation of environment and energy, both at community and global level. Ban Hin-Ngom , a medium-sized village of 331 families in the rural area of the northeastern region, has some basic information , has witnessed some development projects in its neighboring area and has become more aware of the potential of energy conservation/renewable energy use in day-to-day living of its members.

In order to fully put what has been learnt into practice, the Hin-Ngom Tambol Administrative Organization, a legitimate community governing unit , has planned with its members to propose a project which simultaneously conserve energy and promote the use of renewable energy. The project aims to reduce the consumption of electricity from grid in the existing community domestic water pumping facility .This would be accomplished by connecting in parallel with the grid a solar energy system , making it a two-way system. The system will reduce the grid electricity consumption through the timely use of electricity from the solar panels . Whenever the sunlight is available, electricity from the panels will replace the one from grid. When there is not enough sunlight, electricity from grid will be reverted into use. Evidently, the more sunlight during the year, the more electricity from the sun will be used and more grid energy conserved and quite definitely, Ban Hin-Ngom has not and will not experience any shortage of sunlight throughout a year.


Project goals or objectives (including GEF problem-area addressed by projects):

1.To conserve energy and environment by using solar energy in place of energy from grid
2.To reduce the grid electricity bill and establish community fund by using the amount saved
3.To promote energy conservation and renewable energy application at community scale


Activities to be carried out under project:

1.Procuring photo-voltaic solar panels and their accessories
2.Installing the equipment procured in 1.
3.Putting into operation the newly installed system
4.Organizing training/seminar on renewable energy for leaders of communities
5.Establishing community fund , channeling money from the margin between electricity bill of the organization and the sum of water bill of members

Project participants and/or beneficiaries:

1.Direct participants/beneficiaries are from members of 331 families of target population.
2.Staff members of local government units
3.Village Development Committee of Ban Hin-Ngom and Ban Silathong

Anticipated results of project/ Indicators:

1.Community members realize the importance of water and energy conservation which would be evinced by the quantity of water used and the electricity bill- anticipated at 50 % decrease from before.
2.More members of communities become aware of energy conservation – witnessed by their increased cooperation / participation in community development projects.

Project Results
1.The installation of 2 units was completed and were put into use. Both units saved the energy for the first month of operation at about 33 %. One unit performed excellently-with more than 50 % savings while the other seemed less well but correction and adjustment was being made.
2.People paying more attention to solar energy and environment by actively participating in training, study tours, asking questions and displaying interest in carrying other related projects.

Participatory Evaluation: ( On 12 and 26 January 2001 )

Methods: Meetings and seminars among members , project leaders / other CBOs/ NGOs in the neighbourhood:

1. Individual interviewing , family by family
2. Group meeting and processing of subsequent questionnaire
3. Additional group meeting and processing subsequent questionnaire

Impact:

1.People of the project location and surrounding villages learnt more about energy conservation and environment and planned to replicate the projects in their localities.
2.The Sangkhorm District Office provided support by designating the Hin Ngome Tambol Administration to be the central organization for energy conservation and environment amongst 4 other organizations under its administration.
3.Several agricultural projects such as traditional medicine, self-subsistent agricultural practice were initiated . Besides, the organization was planning to install road solar lighting for its communities.
4.One community situated 15 km. away from this project had learnt the approach and proposed to SGP for funding and was recommended by the NSC (THA-02-09 on-going ). The new project does not involve solar water pumping but solar –biomass for heat.

Future Plan:

1.Keeping records for one year the electricity bills against quantity of water use and collecting all savings for the establishment of community development fund.
2.Replicating the solar water pumping project to other villages under the administration of the TAO ( 5 remaining facilities ).

Latest Development: (as of August 1, 2003) The project leaders demonstrated their capacity and concern to save. Last month, They made decision not to switch on electricity from grid and to use only solar for one of the two installed pumping units. Only solar pump is being used to pump water . However, as this is rainy season, rainwater surely played some part to supply water. Figures would be available soon.