IP: bringing electricity to Al-Kaabneh

[Dave Farber <farber () cis upenn edu>]

Date: Mon, 14 Dec 1998 09:39:33 -0500
From: Jock Gill <jgill () penfield-gill com>

Dave,

Members of IP might be interested in this PV/IP economic development
project I have been lucky enough to work on for the past year and a
day:

http://www.greenstar.org/pressroom/index.htm

We had two press events in the Palestinian Territories today.  One at
the HQ of the Palestinian Energy Authority and the second at the
village of  Al-Kaabneh.  This was attended by the Palestinian
Ministers of  Education, Interior and Energy.  Photos will be up in
our 'pressroom' in a few hours.

What is unique about this event, and about the Greenstar installation
at Al-Kaabneh?

     The installation of components of Greenstar in the village of
Al-Kaabneh marks a number of "firsts" in the combination of solar
energy and allied technologies.

          This will be the first combination of solar and wireless,
real-time, two-way communications for a rural population, aimed at
improving the quality of life and at local wealth creation.  It will
be the first solar-powered wireless communication link that uses the
Internet to network a rural population to urban areas, and to
international sites.

          It marks introduction of the global "Greenstar" brand,
which is characterized by the use of clean, renewable energy to
generate local revenues, and concentrates on producing economic
independence as opposed to fostering a dependence on international
aid.

       Where is Al-Kaabneh? What is it like, and who lives there?

     The town is located within Hebron District, about 40 km.
southeast of the city of Hebron, 15 km. east of Yatta.  120 houses
are distributed right and left of an asphalt street, 10 km in length.
Most houses are built adjacent to each other in small groups of five
homes. Drinking water comes from a cement storage tank. The
inhabitants earn
     their living through raising cattle, tending herds of sheep and
goats, and in growing wheat and barley; some  residents also work in
nearby Israeli settlements.

     Al-Kaabneh has about 2000 residents; there are 86 children
attending a small elementary school. The village at present has no
electricity, and no running water, and there are no plans to bring
conventional electric service to the town.

     The whole story is on the Greenstar site:

    www.greenstar.com

Our next projects are in India, South America, and First Nations in
North America.

IP members who want to know more should feel free to contact me.

Happy Holidays,

Jock


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____________________________________________________________________
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www.penfield-gill.com
Infrared Internet Vision
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Pressroom


Greenstar Middle East Pilot Installation

background press information and FAQ
(Frequently Asked Questions)

updated 12-13-98


What is unique about this event, and about the Greenstar installation at Al-Kaabneh?

The installation of components of Greenstar in the village of Al-Kaabneh marks a number of "firsts" in the combination 
of solar energy and allied technologies.

This will be the first combination of solar and wireless, real-time, two-way communications for a rural population, 
aimed at improving the quality of life and at local wealth creation. 
It will be the first solar-powered wireless communication link that uses the Internet to network a rural population to 
urban areas, and to international sites. 
It marks introduction of the global "Greenstar" brand, which is characterized by the use of clean, renewable energy to 
generate local revenues, and concentrates on producing economic independence as opposed to fostering a dependence on 
international aid. 



Where is Al-Kaabneh? What is it like, and who lives there?

The town is located within Hebron District, about 40 km. southeast of the city of Hebron, 15 km. east of Yatta. 120 
houses are distributed right and left of an asphalt street, 10 km in length. Most houses are built adjacent to each 
other in small groups of five homes. Drinking water comes from a cement storage tank. The inhabitants earn their living 
through raising cattle, tending herds of sheep and goats, and in growing wheat and barley; some residents also work in 
nearby Israeli settlements.

Al-Kaabneh has about 2000 residents; there are 86 children attending a small elementary school. The village at present 
has no electricity, and no running water, and there are no plans to bring conventional electric service to the town. 

The settlement is also referred to as Arab Al-Kaabneh and Arab Kaabneh. See the attached map.



Where will Greenstar be installed, specifically? Who will run it?

The system will be installed on the grounds of the school and clinic, which are are about 50 feet apart. The water 
purifier is being installed in the school for the children's drinking water; the vaccine refrigerator will be used by 
the clinic. There is a teacher in the school to operate the computer and internet communications set-up.

Ongoing operations support is being funded by the United Nations Development Programme. Local logistics and management 
will come from the Palestinian Energy Authority, and from the village authorities themselves; a written agreement on 
sharing of responsibilities has been signed by the PEA and the President of the Al-Kaabneh village council.



How much electrical power will be produced by the solar array? Is it enough for the whole village?

20 kilowatt-hours per day of electricity will be produced by the pilot Greenstar solar array. This is the amount of 
power used by an average American urban home. It is more than one month's electricity for a rural home. The power from 
Greenstar will be shared among several systems used by the entire community of Al-Kaabneh, including a water purifier, 
vaccine cooler, a digital cellular antenna for access to data networks, a radio amplifier, recorder, TV, computer, fax 
and copying machine.

This pilot installation is not intended to supply the basic electrical needs of the population. To accomplish this, 
according to an October 1998 study by the Palestinian Energy Authority and EcoPeace, a total of 80 kilowatt-hours would 
be required.



Are there other Palestinian villages similar to Al-Kaabneh, which may also need Greenstar solar centers?

According to a study by the Palestinian Energy Authority and EcoPeace in October 1998, titled "Middle East Solar Energy 
Zone Project, a Scientific, Economic and Sociological Feasibility Study"', there are more than 75 villages, towns and 
settlements in the West Bank, ranging in population from under 100 to 10,000, which currently have no regular 
electrical power from a public utility. They are identified as possible beneficiaries of solar power; the total 
affected population would be more than 80,000 people. See the attached chart for details.

The study was conducted by Ghalib Shanti (Engineer) and Dr. Manvan Mahmoud of the Renewable Energy Research Center, and 
submitted to the Palestinian Hydrology Group, Shu' fat-Jerusalem.



What's next for Greenstar?

The next Greenstar installation is planned for India (where systems have been ordered, and scheduled for delivery in 
spring, 1999). The group also plans to investigate how Greenstar may serve "First Nation" peoples in the US Southwest 
and Alaska, and may provide assistance in the ongoing recovery from Hurricane Mitch in Central America.

In February, 1999, preliminary results of the Al-Kaabneh pilot will be announced by the Palestinian Energy Authority, 
the United Nations Development Programme and Greenstar.

 


Complete information available at http://www.greenstar.org . Press releases at http://www.greenstar.org/news.htm