Solar Panel Workshop

Buying materials in the local market in Bamako for the solar panel workshop
Dr. Komp, Carolina Barreto Cajina and I went through the local Malian market and purchased
several materials needed for the project (e.g., wire/cable, breakers, wire clamps, circuit breakers,
extension cords for soldering irons, silicon, and duct tape). Purchasing of materials on the local
market with the Malians from Ji Duma is imperative to ensuring the project is sustainable. It is
the hope that in the future, only solar cells will have to be imported. As a result of the market trip,
the Malians from Ji Duma and the new micro-enterprise who are being trained will know how to
find the materials needed on the local market.

Buying materials for the solar panels on the Malian market

 

12 participants who learned how to build photovoltaic modules with all local materials,
except the cells. The training was meant to empower Malians to enjoy self-sufficiency after Mary
Graham, Dr. Komp and Carolina Cajina completed the training and departed and to help others
initiate similar programs in other countries.

 

Carolina Barreto giving a lecture in on how PV cells work and how they should be
cut for the 35 and 50 watt modules to be assembled. Carolina is fluent in French (the
Official Mali language) but the lecture was also translated into Bambara for the students.

 

Workshop participants learning how to cut smaller solar cells
Small cells like this are used for devices like battery chargers or garden lights The group started
working with single crystal Astropower PV cells, but since these are no longer available, they
then learned how to make 30 and 60 watt modules using the ribbon-grown Evergreen Solar cells,
which are much more fragile but able to be cut with care and are available in quantity.

 

Daniel Dembélé (the designated head of the new micro-enterprise), learning how to solder
ribbons to the cells in order to connect the cells for a small battery charger
It is necessary to learn how to solder smaller cells for technology such as a battery charger before
soldering larger cells, used for panels. Soldering is a technique and the participants had to get
used to soldering cells in order to avoid breaking more expensive cells used in panels.

 

Testing the soldered cells with a multimeter
This is necessary to make sure that the voltage of the entire string of cells is correct. If one cell
has significantly lower voltage, it will cripple the efficiency of the string, and therefore must be
replaced.

 

Alusine, an electrician for Ji Duma and a participant in the workshop, cutting a solar cell
that will be used for a 35 watt panel

 

Doumbia, soldering cells that will be used for the first 35 watt panel produced in Mali

 

Testing the voltage of the strings of cells that will be used in the 35 watt panel

 

Soldering the last string of cells that will be laid in the one of the two 35 watt panels being
constructed

 

Laying the protective cover on the back of the panel

 

Daniel Dembélé and Mamadou Kouyate test the voltage of the first, 35 watt panel
constructed by Malians in Mali

 

Laying cells for a 50 watt panel

 

Two locally produced 35 watt solar panels take in the sun
The group we trained learned so unbelievably fast and Thursday, they finished the
construction/assembly of the first solar panels EVER produced locally in Mali!!! They learned
how to cut, solder and assemble the cells to make the panels in less than 4 days.