Over 21,000 residents of Marchand Dessalines live without access to reliable energy. In this region of northwest Haiti, community members still use diesel generators for lights, wood-fire stoves for cooking, and an open water source for washing clothes. Energy affordability plays a key role in improving quality of life in the community. In partnership with local company, Alina Energy, Okra Solar offers plug-and-play energy access on rooftops, which can be interlinked into mesh-grids to boost power availability. To meet the community’s energy needs, households are supplied with a reliable source of solar power that can be used for clean cooking, lights, and power tools. As part of their energy package, each household has the opportunity to purchase essential appliances, helping residents overcome the high cost barrier to items such as e-cooking appliances, cell phones, or cold food storage appliances. The project is estimated to bring energy to 300 households, with an overall capacity of 65 kWp.
PROJECT TYPE: Electrification
VOLUME: 65 MWh/year
LOCATION: Marchand Dessalines, Haiti
RELATED SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT GOALS (SDGS): This project contributes directly to the achievement of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) set by the United Nations.
SDG 7 – Ensure access to affordable, reliable, sustainable and modern energy for all: This project supports SDG 7 by supplying green energy to villages which currently have limited access to electricity mainly derived from fossil fuels.
SDG 13 – Take urgent action to combat climate change and its impacts: The project serves SDG 13, by promoting power generation from solar energy and contributing to GHG emissions reductions.
The United Nations’ Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) are an urgent call for action by countries in global partnership to end poverty, protect the planet, and ensure that by 2030 all people enjoy peace and prosperity.
Co-benefits
Cutting wood for fuel has contributed to Haitian deforestation, which in turn leads to soil erosion. This project replaces woody biomass with solar power as the community’s primary energy resource.
By selling the RECs that are generated, the cost of energy is reduced by an estimated 20%.
Modern appliances save community members from excessive time spent on chores. The adoption of refrigeration or electric cooking often increases community members’ income.
