Smart Grid on Main Street

Project start date: 5/1/2015

Smart Grid on Main Street

Haiti

EarthSpark International has developed a solar-diesel hybrid micro-grid system to increase access to affordable, reliable electricity for value-added agricultural processing in Les Anglais, Haiti.

Proof of Concept

1-3 years

Last update: October 05, 2023

Challenge

Seventy-five percent of Haiti’s population lacks access to electricity, and farmers frequently lose value of their crops due to a lack of infrastructure and processing equipment. Existing facilities are typically diesel-powered and expensive to operate, limiting farmers’ ability to maximize the value of their products.

Description

EarthSpark’s project in Les Anglais involves a town-scale distribution system powered by a hybrid generation system, including solar PV, battery storage, and a diesel generator. The project first focuses on breadfruit crops that rot due to a lack of processing, converting them to flour or chips to extend shelf life and increase marketability.

SDGs

AFFORDABLE AND CLEAN ENERGYDECENT WORK AND ECONOMIC GROWTHSUSTAINABLE CITIES AND COMMUNITIES

Outcomes

EarthSpark has managed to connect 430 households and businesses to grid electricity for the first time in Les Anglais, helping start a women-run cooperative and testing new agro-processing methods. The project has enhanced the reliability and affordability of electricity in the region.