An evaluation of the use of renewable energy to pump water in Sacala las Lomas, Guatemala

Abstract

An evaluation has been conducted to establish if using renewable energy is technically and economically feasible to pump water in Sacala las Lomas, Guatemala. A deep groundwater well has been proposed and a multistage pump system is being considered to distribute groundwater to users' homes. A weather station was erected in Sacala to collect site-specific data. Wind velocity, wind direction, solar insolation, temperature, precipitation, and barometric pressure data were collected over a 1-year study period. The analysis of the data indicated that the potential power generated by a photovoltaic array or wind turbine would be insufficient to economically pump water to the village under current conditions. Although there may be reasons other than economics that make the potential renewable energy applications attractive, the space and maintenance required to install and operate a sufficient off-grid system outweigh the benefits. A grid-intertie system would allow any number of solar panels to be used in the system while still providing the electricity demand using grid-power.

Design, Construction and Implementation of Low Cost Photovoltaic Water Pumping System for Agricultural Irrigatin

“…It was concluded that the generated electrical energy was not sufficient for the pumping system. It was also concluded that this system was not economical, but it could be economical when compared with the installation of the grid line in the areas where there was no electrical grid system [18]. By Dursun and his colleagues, the performance analyses of the photovoltaic, wind turbine and fuel cell power generation systems were made for the Aegean region [19].…”

Multidisciplinary Service Learning In Guatemala Course Description And Lessons Learned

“…This aspect differentiates the course from traditional engineering service learning courses that are project driven. 4,6,7,8,10,11,14 One of the main goals of the course is to integrate social, engineering, and professional issues. More specifically, the course examines the following issues through field study including:…”

“…The sponsor, the Redevelopment offices of the San Lucas Mission prefers that the project fully or partially utilize alternative energy sources such as geothermal, solar, or wind. In a feasibility study for a similar project in Guatemala, Granich and Elmore found that for economical and land utilization reasons, alternative energy for pumping water was not practical 14 . Nevertheless, the feasibility portion of project in San Lucas will continue because the circumstances of the land use and the terrain of the region are different.…”