US firms developing Solar-Storage Microgrid to power Nonprofit Food Factory in Haiti
U.S. engineering and on-site power generation firms are working together to help deliver a stable and clean energy microgrid for Haitian factory that helps deliver nutrition to anemic children on the island.
WSP USA and WestGen Power Solutions are close to completing a combined solar energy and battery storage system to supply the Med & Food for Kids (MFK) factory in Cap Haitian. MFK is a nonprofit which provides “ready to use therapeutic foods” for malnourished children and pregnant or nursing women.
The MFK factory is where the foods are produced, but it does not have grid access. The diesel generators are unreliable because of disruptions to fuel supply caused by weather, civil disorder and supply chain challenges.
Because of frequent power interruptions and resulting MFK production shutdowns, at least 23,000 children were not treated for malnutrition and at least 26,000 school children were not treated for anemia in an 18-month period, according to the report about the project
“MFK made the decision to switch 70 percent of its power needs to solar and began its search for the smartest and most cost-effective way to install a system,” said Dr. Patricia Wolff, MFK founder. “MFK scoured the world for consultants. Enter WestGen and WSP. There are not enough superlatives to describe their skills, understanding of the Haitian physical and technical environment, availability, endless patience with uninformed questions and their emotional commitment to MFK’s success.”
Less than half of Haiti's population has access to electricity, according to global data. Close to 85 percent of what the nation does generate comes from fossil fuels, according to reports.
WestGen worked with MFK to design a hybrid solar/storage microgrid system specifically sized and integrated to meet the needs of the facility. The new system has a 20-year projected lifespan — considerably longer than traditional diesel systems — and offers significant reduction in emissions and fuel consumption. The system also enables a much higher energy efficiency, where no power generated is wasted.
“MFK is on track to install a 300-kW solar system before the end of 2022, bringing better air quality, lower cost, more reliability and sustainability into MFK’s and Haiti’s future,” Wolff said. “WestGen and WSP set MFK on this path to success and MFK is very grateful.”
In addition to eliminating downtime, the upgraded solar powered microgrid system will lower MFK’s production costs. Thus, it can allocate more toward the therapeutic vision.
MFK’s website says its efforts have rescued more than 500,000 children from malnutrition.
The partnership is part of WSP’s Emerge program to partner with start-ups on innovating efforts.
“WSP USA is proud and humbled to be part of this important project alongside our Emerge strategic partner, WestGen,” said Pooja Jain, vice president of strategic innovations at WSP. “It is a perfect example of social impact resulting from strong collaboration between an emerging clean technology, engineering services to scale the technology and impact focused organizations where such solutions are the only option.”
