Development projects
Construction of a community center
Kemena - Burkina Faso - 2015
Danielle Jourdan
Project manager
Context
In close collaboration with local authorities, PVsyst SA has embarked on a transformative initiative aimed at constructing a multifaceted community center to serve the vibrant population of Kémèna, situated in the heart of Burkina Faso within the Mouhoun region.
Nestled amidst the Sahelian landscape, this village, home to approximately 4,000 residents, grapples with the challenges of remoteness and the absence of a reliable electrical grid, particularly pronounced during the rainy season when accessibility becomes severely restricted.
The genesis of this project emanates from a collective aspiration to address these pressing needs while fostering sustainable development within the community. At its core, the endeavor seeks to harness the power of photovoltaic energy to propel socio-economic advancement and enhance the quality of life for Kémèna’s inhabitants.
Purpose of the project
- To improve the functioning knowledge of an autonomous PV system in rural Sahelian areas
- To provide a well-equipped and lighted gathering place for numerous evening activities: Meetings, school tutoring, training
- To promote access and the rational use of photovoltaic energy in rural areas
- To promote the ancestral building techniques of Nubian vaults (earth constructions).
The 3 main axes of the project
1. Building axis
Goals:
- To favour the use of locally sourced materials that also respect the environment, such as banco and laterite stone;
- To minimise the use of materials such as concrete;
- To build a compost latrine with an easy-to-empty pit system.
The architectural framework:
- A set of two double arches connected by a canopy.
- The double arch incorporates a structural system of four pillars with a reinforced concrete beam.
- Washing facilities: latrines, showers, hand washing station.
2. Energy axis
Goals:
- To acquire data on the operation of an autonomous system.
- To study the effects of cooling batteries in order to improve their duration.
- To adapt energy solutions to the identified needs of a building’s operation.
- To promote an effective room temperature control through ventilation.
Composition of the system:
- 16 panels of 235 Watts / 60 cells, including 15 in series, and 1 independent panel to power a refrigerator with direct solar energy.
- Battery energy storage (24 units of 2 Volts)
- Inverter, Regulator.
- A measuring station for a detailed long-term operation analysis.
3. Social focus
Goals:
- To offer children after school tutoring sessions and fun activities.
- To welcome adults to literacy classes and practical information sessions.
- To provide a lighted awning for members of the community for them to gather in the evenings.
- To provide paid electric services (eg charging batteries, charging mobile phones, etc.)
- To teach Kémèna inhabitants various manual skills: train masons in the Nubian vault construction techniques, the soap making process, etc…