Hi EnerNerds!
On a recent and enjoyable stumble through the internet, I came across a really cool non-profit that has roots in Canada and is pursuing community solar projects in West Africa. We often spend time talking about 50,000 foot discussions such as global policy issues or what needs to be done at COP-17/18/19. It’s important to balance that with passionate people that are on the ground, getting their hands dirty and making change on a local and regional level.
Simon Williams, Energy for Opportunity’s Executive Director, was kind enough to do an interview with us and we hope it will give you all some perspective into their organization.
The aspect of the EFO story I find so interesting is their focus on PROGRAMS not PROJECTS. A one-off project might feel good and make for a good PR snapshot but diving into a long-term program with sustained focus is a great way to impart lasting change.
On to the interview!
Question 1: Tell us about Energy for Opportunity. What is the overview and mission of your organization?
EFO’s mission is, Creating greater opportunities for the people of West Africa through the implementation of solar energy projects.
Question 2: Why did you create Energy for Opportunity?
EFO came out of work that Paul and I had done in Uganda and Sierra Leone with other local organisations. We saw the potential that solar power had to bring energy to the most isolated locations and the impacts that this power could immediately have on peoples lives. There were other organisations that were working with solar power in their project work but there was a lack of an organisation that specialized in solar power and we thought that by focusing, we could maximise the impacts and develop a needed skill set within the development community. A big part of what we are trying to do is bring the utilisation of solar power into the mainstream and we are starting to see more and more organisations working with us as our organisation grows.
Question 3: What have been your most successful projects? Why have they been successful?
One of the things we are proud of is that two years on, everyone of our installations is still working as sustainability is such an elusive goal in this field. This is more a result of a program, rather than a project model, which we try to stress. Our work in Kamabai is a good example of how this works. We started with a CCS and through the effective management of that site, the community has been able to contribute to installations at their clinic and secondary school as well as support maintenance along the way. This year, 10 students from the school passed the standardized test to get into university, the first time in the history of the school. (Sean’s Note: AMAZING!)
Question 3a: What have your biggest lessons learned been?
The program concept works and can be extremely effective in promoting solar and ensuring that the initial projects operate and can be maintained after the project funding is long gone. We have in-country training that has developed our own staff and those in the communities we work with, the CCS model is successful at generating revenue that can then be used to expand projects and for maintenance. This approach is much more effort than simple drop in projects but helps ensure that the projects are linked, are needed and wanted and can be providing benefits years after the funding is gone.
Question 4: Why has your organization selected solar power as your primary source or electricity for projects?
We felt it was the most appropriate technology for providing energy in the areas we work. Every technology has its pros and cons and they have to be considered before any application. In our case solar is modular, low maintenance and doesn’t require any real ongoing costs, which means it can reach and impact isolated communities immediately.
The frequent criticism of solar power is that it is expensive but compared to generator power, the payback period is only 1-2 years and with prices dropping so rapidly in the past year this is making the case for solar even stronger.
Question 5: What have been some of the most interesting and unexpected impacts of EFO projects?
The success of the students in Kamabai was certainly beyond our expectations and highlights the importance of energy! One thing we have seen in the communities we work in, is that the CCS changes the phone charging operations as prices drop and hours expand due to the presence of the solar.
Question 6: What do you see in store for EFO over the next 5 years?
We have established a strong group in the solar electricity field in Sierra Leone and we hope to make a two prong expansion over the next five years. Firstly, we want to expand our expertise into other alternative energy sectors and have started working on issues around fuelwood and micro-hydro. The other goals is to establish and expand into other countries in West Africa. We know the demand is there and we have some good partners we can work with, it is just a matter of funding and timing.
Question 7: What resources or readings would you recommend for students interested in developing world projects?
Solar Energy International is a USA based organisation that provides training in all types of energy technologies. I think it is critical that students, well anybody, who wants to work in this field has a solid tech base. We stress that our projects be done to international standards or more, so that they will be durable and have maximum benefit and this requires a solid understanding of the technology you are working with.
Question 8: How can students help Energy for Opportunity?
We are always looking for international partners that want to implement projects in Sierra Leone or West Africa in general and we appreciate the links that students can provide. Unfortunately we don’t take interns as we are a small organisation and it is hard to ensure they have a full experience with the resources we have.
To read more about Energy for Opportunity, please visit:
http://www.energyforopportunity.org/en/home/
EFO Program in Sierra Leone
great work being done by this group – good choice for an interview! I think this is also an organization that welcomes students in training who gain from the internship experience in many ways.