By Rachel McManus | Executive Director
Dear Supporters,
EarthSpark has been hard at work, and we have some exciting updates to share. As much changes, much remains the same: we remain committed to solving the deep problems of energy poverty, we believe the solutions are within reach, and we are forever grateful to our friends, supporters, and collaborators who make our work possible.
Here are some updates on our work this quarter. As you read, please click on the links to read complete articles on our blog.
October 26th marked 6 months of operation of the solar powered smart microgrid in Les Anglais. Each month has been full of learning experiences that are invaluable as we prepare our future endeavors in rural electrification in Haiti. With the grid in its infancy, we are developing and streamlining processes for smooth daily operation and tackling a few technical hurdles. We are not just learning about the community’s needs but are learning together with the community. And we are not the only ones who are excited! Though the grid launched with 430 clients in April, we now have 440 customers, and over 30 residents have signed up and are eagerly awaiting a new installation for their home or business. We are also working on plans to extend the current footprint of the grid to include an additional street, which should be completed early next year.
We were thrilled to be able to expand the team this summer! Reozi Meisson is a resident of Les Anglais and a trained electrician who is now serving as the Grid Technician. On any given day, you may find Reozi climbing a ladder to repair a transformer, testing the circuits of a client’s home, or working with our Grid Ambassador Rosane on theft detection.
As we work to expand microgrid electricity alongside our retail efforts, our model is evolving. We have decided to divert more of our efforts towards focusing on microgrid development. We will continue to sell solar lanterns and cookstoves. After all, those just out of reach of microgrid development will still need access to these life-changing products. Even though we are changing our model, we are still extremely proud of our retail successes to date, having sold over 14,000 products and trained 109 entrepreneurs.
The Akademi Enèji researchers finished their field work in September and we are now analyzing the data collected for the final report. This data is crucial as we work to fulfill our commitment to build microgrids in 80 towns in rural Haiti. We expect that to be out early next year and will keep you updated!
Finally, December 1 is #GivingTuesday. Giving Tuesday kicks off the holiday season with the chance to give back and donate to charities you support. We hope you’ll consider a donation to EarthSpark this year and share with your friends and family.
With light and hope,
The EarthSpark Team
By Rachel McManus | Executive Director
By Arthur Jacquiau-Chamski | Microgrid Project Manager
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