Mbinga, Vincentian Sisters’ Convent, school and workshop

The Church in Mbinga

 

Technical data

Solar array: 8100 Watt, Schott

Battery:115 kWh, Hoppecke

Solar inverter: 3 x 3000 Watt, SMA

Battery inverter: 3 x 4200 Watt SMA

Gen-Set. Multi-fuel, 17 kW; Perkins

 

 

 

Altogether, 120 people, sisters and boarders live and work in this area in Mbinga. Electricity is used for lighting, to operate computers and refrigeration as well as big machines in the joinery and in the locksmithery.

 

The energy supply for the convent, the school and the workshops is designed as a solar-hybrid-system.

 

The electricity for lighting and for the operating of computers and refrigeration is secured by the solar power plant. Only for driving the big 3 phase driven machines, planing machine and welding machine, it becomes necessary to start the generator-set.

 

The cooling water of the generator-set is used to heat a cistern up. From there, the hot water attains to the washing machines. So, an additional facility to save energy is generated (power-heat-coupling). In order to reduce the costs for fuel, the generator-set can be driven with diesel as well as with pure plant oil. The needed bio-fuel is grown as a hedge on their on fields.

 

 

Maintenance of the solar-hybrid-system of the Vincentian sister´s convent in Mbinga

The cooling water of the generator-set is used to heat a cistern up. From there, the hot water attains to the washing machines. So, an additional facility to save energy is generated (power-heat-coupling).

 

In order to reduce the costs for fuel, the generator-set can be driven with diesel as well as with pure plant oil. The needed bio-fuel is grown as a hedge on their on fields.