Richard Komp has been building solar collectors around the world for the last few decades. He has set up local solar electric cottage industries in such countries as Nicaragua, Peru, Mali, and Haiti where he worked with two different groups, Enersa SA and Pasiance de Paypay. The report on his most recent visit in 2007 is here [pdf alert]:
http://www.mainesolar.org/...
Richard is in contact with Enersa and is preparing materials and supplies to send them now. He can be reached at
Richard Komp, PhD, Director
Skyheat Associates
PO Box 184 Harrington ME 04643
http://www.skyheat.org
Dear Everybody,
I will be working with Alex's brother to arrange to get some supplies to Enersa so they can go back into the business of making and installing PV systems. It is a pretty formidable task since we have to figure out how to get batteries there to run the tools to make the modules; but they have been through tht before when they started the cottage industry in a place that rarely had electric power, now they will have none to start with. The little factory was completely distroyed but I heard they got some of the tools out of the rubble. Skyheat Associates, a non-profit puiblic charity will be the conduit for the money necessary, but I have no idea at this time how much will be needed. We will also look for donations of already finished PV modules and other things like sealed batteries, 12 volt compact fluorescent lamps, switches, wire and charge controllers. The PV modules can be off-spec or even broken ( We know how to fix them.) since nobody will be asking if the systems are Oficially Certified.
I'll try to keep you informed as our plans develop. I don't plan to go to Haiti until the extreme food and water crisis is over, since I would simply be another mouth to feed. If you wish to donate money to this project you can make out checks to Skyheat Associates at the address below.
Thank you,
Rich
Light Haiti, a Clinton Initiative, is sending solar LED lights to Haiti, $10 for a small light and $20 for a larger one. These lights use standard size rechargeable (AA) batteries and thus allow battery switching, charging one set of batteries while using another.
Solar cookers and Solar Water Disinfection would also be useful in Haiti now:
More at
Solar Water
Survival Design in NYC
Solar IS Civil Defense, Illustrated
cross posted at dailykos.com, eurotrib.com, and globalswadeshi.net