Galápagos – San Cristóbal Island
June 28th - (Monday)
I arrived to Puerto Baquerizo from Guayaquil. I met with Kal Kallevig, Berenice Norris and David and Schoen
Hodges to catch up with
current items and to complete preparations for traveling to Santa Cruz.
We organized the equipment I brought and the equipment already
there, and we selected the tools and equipment to bring along to Santa
Cruz Island.
Kal, David, Schoen and I boarded the Galapagos
Archipel catamaran around 7:00 p.m.
Galápagos – Santa Cruz Island
June 29th –
July 2nd
The Archipel docked in
Baltra around 6:00 a.m. We
arrived to Puerto Ayora around 11:00 a.m.
We used this first day to settle down
in town and to introduce ourselves to the Director of Colegio
Nacional Galápagos, Ms. María López Balseca, as well as to some other
administrative staff and teachers.
We hold two meetings with CNG’s Director and
Vice-Director as well as with Mr. Ricardo Gavilánez, CNG teacher.
These meetings had the purpose to extend an invitation to the
school to participate in the MicroSolar Learning Program, as well as to
explore the possibilities to implement a sisterhood relationship with
Pacific Collegiate School (7th-12th grade) in Santa Cruz,
California. Maria López, CNG’s
Director, committed to present both ideas to the Board and return with feedback
from them on both issues. David
Hodges will be presenting the idea to the principal of PCS, Jan Keating,
by mid-August to begin preparing a formal presentation to the Board, and
eventually a proposal to CNG.
I requested a meeting with as many staff and
teachers available to introduce SolarQuest®
and myself, to explain the photovoltaic system renovation project, to
explore ideas related to renewable energy systems and sustainability and
to draft a schedule for the hands-on workshop on photovoltaics.
I lead a 3-hour conference each day with a broad
participation of the staff and teachers.
photos: Tuesday 29th
to Thursday 1st
Galápagos – Santa Cruz Island
July 2nd – July 20th
I lead a 75-hour workshop divided in two main
activities:
1): Fast course on the fundamentals of photovoltaic systems.
2): Renovation and improvement of existing photovoltaic system.
Both of the above mentioned activities were combined in two sessions each day.
The first session was dedicated to the theoretical course and the
second for practical work on the system.
Depending on everyday priorities each session could last longer
than the other. The
workshop hours were from 2:00 p.m. to 5:00 p.m. during weekdays (very
often extended until 6 or 7 p.m.), and from 8:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. on
Saturdays (2 days extended until 8 p.m.)
The workshop lasted 16 days with an estimated total of 75 hours
of effective work. Some
people were more committed in their participation than others but no one
abandoned the workshop.
The program of the course was as follows:
|
The Solar Geometry. |
|
The Solar Resource. |
|
Basics on photovoltaic processes in semiconductor materials. |
|
Overview of photovoltaic systems with emphasis
on CNG's photovoltaic system. |
|
Fundamentals of electrochemistry. |
|
Batteries maintenance and batteries parameters
(with emphasis on energy capacity). |
|
Load and PV system dimensioning. |
|
Wire Sizing. |
|
Training in the new equipment installed (OutBack
brand) |
Participants:
-
Alexandra Burgos Alay
-
Raimundo Tomalá Alvarado
-
Ricardo Gavilánez Yañez
-
Luis Rosero Silva
-
Bolivar Mazaquisa
-
Luis Oña Yauli
-
José Caicedo
-
Patricia Padilla Iñíguez
-
Federico Carrión Barrera
-
Enrique Torres Landivar
-
Walter Sibri
-
Christian Pérez Cando
-
Wilson Villacís Manzano
-
Eusebio Bohórquez Ascencio
Extra workshop activities:
- Preparation of each day class.
- Installation and configuration of DAQ for the PV system.
- Preliminary configuration and testing of PV equipment.
- Purchasing of specialized material.
- Supervision of teamwork at the end of the day.
- Planning of next day activities.
- Meetings with CNG's director and staff to discuss topics on the PV
system such as: the PV system as an asset to the school, documents
related to the donation of the system, the status of the PV system
workshop, specifics on the MicroSolar Learning Program and ways to
implement it at CNG.photos: Friday 2nd to
Monday 19th
Galápagos – San Cristóbal Island
July 22nd - July 25th
Thursday: I worked with Berenice advising her on technical
questions related to her work. I followed up fostering our
relationships with staff and teachers at CIH. I made delayed
payments related to my stay in Santa Cruz Island. I completed my
Galapagos residence procedures at Instituto Nacional Galapagos (Ingala, Galapagos
National Institute).
Friday: I checked wireless and instrumentation equipment at CNG.
I packed and transport all equipment, tools and materials from Casa
Blanca to the Yellow House.
Saturday: Detailed inventory of SolarQuest's goods in
storage at the Yellow house
Sunday: Packing of personal belongings and last arrangements before
departing to Guayaquil.
PHOTOS
TUESDAY 29th -
THURSDAY 1st
FRIDAY 2nd
- SATURDAY 3rd
MONDAY 5th
- WEDNESDAY 7th
THURSDAY 8th - FRIDAY 9th
SATURDAY 10th
MONDAY 12th - WEDNESDAY
14th FRIDAY
16th
- MONDAY 19th
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