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    Dell Technologies leads corporate group developing 25 Solar Hubs in remote locales

    May 6, 2022
    The first such hub has been introduced in Boa Esperanca, Brazil.The hubs should improve access to technology, healthcare and workforce skills, particularly in remote areas.
    Image credit Dell Technologies
    Dell Community Solar Hub 6275350361703

    Dell Technologies, Computer Aid, Intel and Microsoft have launched a Solar Community Hubs strategy, wherein the firms will develop 25 solar-powered community hubs across three continents.

    The first such hub has been introduced in Boa Esperanca, Brazil.

    The hubs should improve access to technology, healthcare and workforce skills, particularly in remote areas. Dell technology-enabled solutions will be used at these hubs, which will offer services to suit the unique needs of each community.

    In general, the hubs will provide communities with access to electricity and water, healthcare and environmental preservation resources. Community members will also gain access to entrepreneurship support, technical skills training, career guidance, education and revenue-generating services, the companies say.

    The latest collaboration builds on Dell’s established Solar Learning Labs program with Computer Aid. In this project, shipping containers were converted into solar-powered computer hubs. Young learners gained access to first-hand experience with technology. Dell worked with 60 partners worldwide, including Computer Aid, to open 25 such labs in seven countries.

    At Boa Esperanca, Dell Technologies has partnered with the Foundation for Amazon Sustainability to bring tools, like computers, servers and projectors, to the solar community hub. Circularity has been incorporated into the hub design and so repurposed shipping containers, sustainably-sourced wood and solar panels have been used.

    "By introducing the Solar Community Hubs, communities will have access to resources and infrastructure to address their most pressing issues,” Cassandra Garber, VP of Environmental and Social Governance, Dell Technologies said. “This evolution puts community needs at the center, and we are eager to see – and be a part of – the impact these community partnerships will have around the globe."

    At present, Dell is working with 60 partners worldwide. Among them is Computer Aid, which helps identify the locations and local partners for the development of the hub. 

    About the Author

    EnergyTech Staff

    Rod Walton is senior editor for EnergyTech.com. He has spent 14 years covering the energy industry as a newspaper and trade journalist.

    Walton formerly was energy writer and business editor at the Tulsa World. Later, he spent six years covering the electricity power sector for Pennwell and Clarion Events. He joined Endeavor and EnergyTech in November 2021.

    He can be reached at [email protected]. 

    EnergyTech is focused on the mission critical and large-scale energy users and their sustainability and resiliency goals. These include the commercial and industrial sectors, as well as the military, universities, data centers and microgrids.

    Many large-scale energy users such as Fortune 500 companies, and mission-critical users such as military bases, universities, healthcare facilities, public safety and data centers, shifting their energy priorities to reach net-zero carbon goals within the coming decades. These include plans for renewable energy power purchase agreements, but also on-site resiliency projects such as microgrids, combined heat and power, rooftop solar, energy storage, digitalization and building efficiency upgrades.