4. Abstract
A disaster can hit anywhere in a second. A tsunami hits a coastal city with no
warning. The beach vacation in the Bahamas turns into surviving a hurricane. A
quiet morning in a forgotten city is changed as a city is shaken to the ground by an
earthquake. Heavy rains cause mudslides and floods that wipe out everything
recognizable. War torn countries displace thousands and many have to live in
refugee camps. When these disasters cripple the area’s infrastructure, how will
devastated people communicate with loved ones? How will makeshift hospitals and
clinics get the energy to power their much-needed electrical devices? This problem
is often not talked about and sometimes overlooked, but in the past few decades
there have been Non-Profit Organizations (NPOs) that have heard the call of people
in need and stepped in to help. These NPOs (ex: SunFarmer and Consolidated Solar)
have moved in mobile solar power stations and solar powered water pumps to help
restore radio communications, power medical facilities, and to help bring a little
light to a community that has suddenly gone dark.
From Hurricane Andrew to the earthquake in Nepal, there are many examples of
how mobile solar power stations can help ease the burdens and minds of local,
disaster-stricken communities and assist the victims get a head start on what to do
next.
5. Acknowledgements
I would like to show my gratitude to Scott Wiebensohn (Ecotech Institute), and
Jenny Schmitz (Denver Health) for their guidance, advise, support, and incredible
information on this subject. You have helped in the writing process of this thesis
more than you know.
6. Introduction
Photovoltaic (PV) technology, having the first conventional modules being created
in the early 1950’s, is still in its infancy. This technology is still being developed, but
has made a huge impact on consumers who are looking to cut their power bill or go
completely off grid at their homestead. PV modules have many uses other than
powering your home. They could be used to power water pumps, landscape lighting,
water heaters, small generators, even small vehicles and aircraft. With the versatile
applications of these PV systems, it is easy to see the increased use of clean, solar
power in many different sectors of the community.
Most of the applications for PV systems used in relief efforts are utilized in off-grid
systems. Some of these systems are designed as mobile units such as generators and
power trailers. These systems can be utilized in many situations including camping,
back-up power, additional power when needed, and a big presence in disaster relief.
Since mobile solar power generating devices are easily moveable, they can be
readily deployed to areas that have been recently struck by a disaster that has
disabled the power grid and displaced families. Hurricanes and earthquakes happen
every year and some are more powerful than others. From Hurricane Andrew to
Katrina and Sandy and also the earthquakes in Haiti and Nepal, PV systems have
helped ease the burdens of the unfortunate communities struck by these events. Not
only can these systems be found in disaster zones, but also they are located in
refugee camps throughout the Middle East and Northern Africa. These scenarios
7. prove that PV technology is not only useful for saving money on the electric bill, but
can also provide life saving solutions for people in need.
Case Studies
Hurricane Andrew
Hurricane Andrew landed in Florida in August of 1992. This was a category four
storm with 140 mph winds and created 18-foot waves that crashed the shoreline
(Young, W. R., Jr. 1995). After the storm had passed, over 85,000 buildings were
severely damaged and 34,000 homes had to be rebuilt (Young, W. R., Jr. 1995). More
than two hundred thousand people were displaced and another 51 were killed due
to the storm (Young, W. R., Jr. 1995). The damaged buildings were left without
electrical, water, and sewage services for days and weeks, and this included:
hospitals, police stations, fire stations, and clinics (Young, W. R., Jr. 1995). Several
buildings that sustained minimal damage were converted to makeshift shelters and
clinics to help the local communities in need (Young, W. R., Jr. 1995).
The Sandia National Laboratory (SNL) and Florida Solar Energy Center (FSEC) were
asked to supply any PV systems that would supply power to several temporary
medical stations (Young, W. R., Jr. 1995). The FSEC was not prepared to supply
many systems but was able to provide five 1-kWp systems with battery banks
(Young, W. R., Jr. 1995). These systems were used to power vaccine refrigerators,
8. lighting, radios, fans, and other electrical needs (Young, W. R., Jr. 1995). They were
in place and used for several weeks until the utilities were able to supply reliable
service to the affected areas (Young, W. R., Jr. 1995). These systems were not the
only PV modules in use in the area. After the storm passed, the only streetlights that
were still functioning were ones that used a small module for power (Young, W. R.,
Jr. 1995). Electric construction signs were converted to use PV modules to notify
people of damaged roads and to direct people in need to shelters and clinics (Young,
W. R., Jr. 1995). This small-scale use of the PV systems was an early example of what
this technology can do in relief efforts.
Hurricane Katrina
Figure 1 PV trailer poweringan emergency radio station in Kilm, Mississippi (Young, B. 2005)
9. There is a need for electricity in relief efforts in the affected area, but also the need
for communication becomes just as important. Bill Young, of the Red Cross, used his
knowledge of PV systems and HAM radios to help in several relief efforts, including
Katrina (Young, B. 2005). Mr. Young was assigned to Kilm, Mississippi to set
emergency communication services in the affected area (Young, B. 2005). The HAM
radio system he used was mounted on a trailer that is fixed with PV modules (Figure
1) (Young, B. 2005). This radio communications system was not only used for
emergency personnel, but also used for people to be able to get into contact with
family members (Young, B. 2005). Bill spent ten days in the Kilm area to train
volunteers to use the system and to evaluate various other communication systems
in southern Mississippi (Young, B. 2005).
Arguably the worst-hit area after this storm was New Orleans. Jeffrey Williams, a
physician at Charity Hospital in New Orleans, addressed the hospital’s situation
which included a lack of food, water, power generation, and communication with
CNN anchor Wolf Blitzer (Hellweg, E. 2005). “We’re not getting any information,”
(Hellweg, E. 2005) Williams told Wolf Blitzer. “Our lack of communication is a real
problem (Hellweg, E. 2005).” Freedom4Wireless is a wireless company based out of
Florida that immediately sent a team to the city to provide wireless networks for
emergency services and the general public (Hellweg, E. 2005). These networks
provided rescue workers with Voice-over-Internet Protocol (VoIP)-based phone
networks and police radio capabilities that ran off PV and battery bank systems
(Hellweg, E. 2005). Motorola also helped get communications back to the city. The
10. company sent 2,500 pieces of equipment that included radios, chargers, and
consoles (Hellweg, E. 2005). These systems were mobile trailers that were powered
by attached PV modules (Hellweg, E. 2005).
Hurricane Sandy
Figure2 Greenpeace's RollingSunlight PV truck. (Young, B. 2013)
Hurricane Sandy also saw relief efforts aided by PV systems (Young, B. 2013).
Greenpeace sent its truck, the Rolling Sunlight (Figure 2), to a New York City
donation center to help locals power their cell phones and other important devices
(Young, B. 2013). Louis Berger Group and SolaRover donated mobile solar
generators to help power a Greenpeace gym, a clinic, and also a soup kitchen in the
town of Rockaway Park, New York (Young, B. 2013). In Bayonne, New Jersey, the
11. Midtown Community School was converted into a temporary shelter that housed 75
residents (Young, B. 2013). This shelter was powered by a 232-kWp array, two
commercial solar inverters, and a backup battery bank to supplement the school’s
generators during the power outages (Young, B. 2013). Other organizations also
donated portable systems to power smaller loads such as TV, phones, and lighting
(Young, B. 2013).
Consolidated Solar has utilized 10-kWp generators that are powerful enough to
power tools, laptops, and heat food (Tweed, K. 2012). The larger 20-kWp generators
are used to power cell phone towers or entire buildings (Tweed, K. 2012). “My
biggest intention when the hurricane hit was to get these out there to help people,”
said Chris Mejia, Consolidated Solar founder (Tweed, K. 2012). “There are a lot of
applications and it’s just a matter of getting them out in front of people (Tweed, K.
2012).” With the stress of limited gas supplies after the storm, the renewable
community wants officials to consider adding solar technologies as an option for
backup emergency power (Tweed, K. 2012).
Haiti Earthquake
Before the earthquake, only about 10% of Haiti’s population were connected to the
power grid, one of the lowest percentages in the world. After the event, there was
relatively no power grid to support the local communities. Solar module
manufacturer, Sol, donated solar street lamps (Figure 3), some to be used in
12. hospitals so the injured can still be treated at night, while Sun Oven International
sent hundreds of solar powered ovens to Port-au-Prince (Chapa, J. 2010). A school,
working as an aid center in Croix-des-Bouquets, was being powered by an array that
Waterworld and Solar Technologies provided (Chapa, J. 2010). On the
communications side, Digicel sent many solar powered mobiles to the region
(Chapa, J. 2010). The Red Cross was also aiding in relief efforts by utilizing a solar
powered water purification system to purify more than 30,000 gallons of water
(Chapa, J. 2010). Solarworld also donated ten water-purifying systems, enough to
supply clean water for 175,000 people (Chapa, J. 2010).
Figure3 A view of solar streetlighting being used in Port-au-Prince. (Chapa, J. 2010)
13. Nepal Earthquake
Figure4 Basic solar lights and chargingstations (Tweed, K. 2015)
April of 2015 saw a 7.8 magnitude earthquake hit Nepal, which leveled much of the
capital, Kathmandu (Tweed, K. 2015). Not only did the capital sustain damage, over
1.4 million people were affected and in need of help in the surrounding villages
(Tweed, K. 2015). SunFarmer, led by Avishek Malla, usually deploys 2-kWp systems
to remote clinics, but has scaled up the size of deployments (Tweed, K. 2015). With
many 100-150-kWp systems located in warehouses around the affected area and in
India, additional 200-kWp systems were sent out to power health clinics with the
goal of helping 100 clinics (Tweed, K. 2015). SunFarmer also donated $25,000 of
their own money and collected donations to help the recovery efforts (Tweed, K.
14. 2015). The United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) donated an
additional 8,000 solar lanterns to Kathmandu and surrounding villages (Tweed, K.
2015). Gham Power, a solar micro-grid company located in Nepal, deployed solar
lighting and provided charging stations to rescue workers and the local community
(Figure 4) (Tweed, K. 2015). Many of the affected villages did not have reliable
power before the earthquake, so these systems will continue to be an asset as
rebuilding begins (Tweed, K. 2015).
Refugee Camps
In the country of Jordan, you will find the third largest refugee camp in the world,
Zaatari. With an estimated 1,000 displaced people entering the camp each day,
electricity is the last thing aid workers are worried about providing (Samuel, T.
N.D.). Sunna Design, along with the help of Electriciens Sans Frontières (ESF), has
moved in to provide much needed lighting (Samuel, T. N.D.). Sunna Design has
developed an all-in-one plug and play streetlight, the ISSL+, which contains the PV
module, electronics, and battery in one product that is ready to install at the top of
any light pole (Samuel, T. N.D.). 100 of these devices have been installed throughout
the camp, mainly around the built toilet facilities (Samuel, T. N.D.). This simple
element of light has not only reduced crime and vandalism, but has also reduced the
risk of sexual and gender based violence, many of which were against children
(Samuel, T. N.D.).
15. Figure5 Solar powered pumping station at the Nyarugusu refugee camp (Marwa, B. 2016).
Safety is not the only use for PV systems in refugee camps. The Nyarugusu camp in
Tanzania has a 207-module array that is used to pump clean water up to 60,000
liters an hour (Figure 5) (Marwa, B. 2016). Oxfam built this array that is one of the
largest solar pumping systems and is a more cost effective alternative to diesel-
powered generators that can also be found at the camp (Marwa, B. 2016). The
United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) has also implemented
several pilot projects in many camps (Lahn, G., Grafham, O. 2015). In Bangladesh,
the camp Kutupalong has received 160 streetlights. 124 of those lights are still
functional due to old technology and deterioration (Lahn, G., Grafham, O. 2015). The
Sag-Nioniogo camp in Burkina Faso has had 691 households fitted with solar ovens,
or “blazing tubes,” that are constructed out of previously installed mud and stone
ovens (Lahn, G., Grafham, O. 2015). These ovens are said to still be working but are
16. limited by daylight hours and have proved to not be durable during the rainy
seasons (Lahn, G., Grafham, O. 2015). In Iraq, Kawergosk has received 12 shelters
donated by the UNHCR and Ikea (Lahn, G., Grafham, O. 2015). These shelters are
fitted with PV modules to power lighting, charge small devices, and also come with
lockable doors (Lahn, G., Grafham, O. 2015). This project has not expanded due to
lack of funding (Lahn, G., Grafham, O. 2015).
Interview
The following is an interview I conducted with Mrs. Jenny Schmitz (Denver Health)
on August 4, 2016.
Q. Can you tell me a little about yourself and what you do?
A. My background is in International Studies; my Masters degree was from the
University of Denver, international studies with concentrations on homeland
security and global health. My background is on the homeland security but on the
healthcare and hospital side. I work at Denver Health here in Denver for about eight
years doing emergency preparedness and planning for the hospital. Now I work for
a consulting company called All Clear Emergency Management Group, and we do
emergency preparedness consulting across the country; not only for health care and
hospital, but for schools, universities, churches, businesses, safe base organizations,
17. government agencies, EMS, and fire departments. We really work with all sorts of
responders from all over the country. I also am the safety offer on the Colorado 3
Disaster Medical Assistance Team, which is an emergency response team that is
based out of Health and Human Services, that can be deployed to a disaster area, to
set up temporary hospitals and health care facilities to take care of the patients that
have been affected by the event.
Q. Have you been directly involved in any relief efforts?
A. On the hospital side, we have done hospital responses for a whole bunch of stuff.
I was a Red Cross volunteer for a long time. Part of the Red Cross, I was part of the
Hurricane Katrina response, part of the I-35 bridge collapse in Minneapolis, so I
have done some outside of the hospital field based responses as well.
Q. Do you have any experience with PV systems in disaster relief efforts?
A. Not really. The idea is intriguing for sure. Trying to get power to a devastated
area is difficult, until power supply companies like Xcel try to have rapid response
teams, but it still takes a long time to get basic infrastructure up and running. Most
hospitals and some of the critical buildings do have generators, but on the private
citizen side, the solar power idea is fascinating. I have not seen that in actual
response but I love that idea.
18. Q. Do you believe there should be an increase of PV system use in relief
efforts?
A. Yes. I don’t know the logistics of it but the practicality would be amazing. I know
the company Tide has created mobile washing machine stations that they send to
tornado areas, where people can go and wash their clothes. After something so
destructive like that or a large fire, people having clean clothes are one of those
things that are really important, fairly basic but really important. I see the easy
access to power to be along the same lines. Even if it comes to charging their cell
phones, or something along those lines, I think there is a great potential for that. I
don’t know that much about the technology but I see applicability use in the field.
Q. Who are some of the NPOs you have worked with?
A. I was a Red Cross volunteer. The Red Cross is still one of the big non-profit
organizations involved in this. The Southern Baptists and Salvation Army are also
really big on responding and a great resource for response.
Q. In your experience, how can PV systems be better implemented in these
efforts?
19. A. Hospitals are required by federal law to keep their operations running with
generators and back-up generators. Public service agencies such as the fire
department, law enforcement, emergency medical teams also are pretty strictly
prepared for back-ups. I could see a greater need for this on the community side.
Not necessarily the official responders side but the neighborhood that’s impacted
needing access to power. That would be a great area; the general citizens could have
access. The other side of this is the sheltering aspect. The Red Cross does this on a
day-to-day basis with either an apartment fire or the floods in Boulder a few years
ago and also wildfires. The Red Cross is usually the lead agency in setting up
community shelters, in churches, schools, or community centers, where people can
sleep on cots, get meals, basic health care, and a lot of these places don’t have a
back-up power source. This could be a really interesting use for this as well as a
potential for the shelter side.
Conclusion
Solar power technologies are an essential aspect of disaster relief. From lighting
shelters, powering temporary clinics, to cooking food and providing
communications, PV systems need to be on the front lines with the responders. If
disaster readiness responders are more knowledgeable and comfortable with these
systems, they can more readily be allocated to the areas that need them most. This
will bring simple luxuries and life-saving energy to affected communities sooner
rather than later.
20. PV systems not only help with natural disasters, but also with man made disasters.
Displaced peoples need access to electricity for cooking food, pumping water,
education, communication, and most importantly, safety. Many of the refugees are
fleeing civil wars and governmental warlords. To be able to enter a camp, have clean
water, a place to be able to charge a phone or use a radio to reach out to loved ones,
and a simple light bulb can make a life torn apart seem a little bit brighter.
21. References Cited
Chapa, J. (2010, January 21). Solar Energy Powering Reconstruction Efforts in
Haiti. Retrieved August 5 from http://inhabitat.com/solar-energy-powering-
reconstruction-efforts-in-haiti/
Hellweg, E. (2005, September 2). Technology Responds to Hurricane Katrina.
Retrieved August 1, 2016 from
https://www.technologyreview.com/s/404642/technology-responds-to-hurricane-
katrina/
Lahn, G., Grafham, O. (2015, November). Heat, Light and Power for Refugees
[PDF]. Page 36. London: The Royal Institute of International Affairs/Chatham House.
Marwa, B. (2016, June 10). 207 solar panels, plenty of clean water. Retrieved
September 1, 2016 from http://www.oxfamblogs.org/eastafrica/?p=8600
Samuel, T. (N.D.). Solar Lighting Technology used for emergency lighting for
refugees in Camp Zaatari (Jordan). Retrieved August 20, 2016 from
http://www.ruralelec.org/project-case-studies/sunna-design-solar-lighting-
technology-used-emergency-lighting-refugees-camp
22. Tweed, K. (2012, December 5). Can Solar Generators Get a Toehold After
Sandy?. Retrieved August 1, 2016 from
http://www.greentechmedia.com/articles/read/can-solar-generators-get-a-
toehold-post-sandy
Tweed, K. (2015). How Solar Is Playing a Role in Nepal’s Disaster Relief.
Retrieved July 14, 2016, from http://www.greentechmedia.com/articles/read/role-
for-solar-in-nepal-disaster-relief
Young, W. R., Jr. (1995, November 2). Photovoltaic Applications for Disaster
Relief [PDF]. Cocoa: Florida Solar Energy Center/University of Central Florida.
Young, B. (2005, October). Diary of a Hurricane Relief Volunteer. Retrieved
August 1, 2016 from
http://www.fsec.ucf.edu/en/media/newsletters/echron/archives/2005/Q4/disast
er-relief.htm
Young, B. (2013, March 21). Renewable Energy to the Rescue. Retrieved July,
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