Solar Island

A LITTLE HISTORY 

In 1988 we introduced solar energy to Taquile Island with a tiny 10w photovoltaic panel. We hooked the wires directly to a radio and THE MUSIC PLAYED! A Eureka moment—you can get electricity from the sun! Next we sent a 40w panel. Then the Taquile community created a system for families to finance and install photovoltaics. We brought panels and controllers in our suitcases to trade for textiles with families who didn’t have the cash to buy into the system. 

Now

Now two large arrays provide 220v inverted power, a community micro-grid, to nearly every household on Taquile. 

About 250 panel array with clean building housing inverters and batteries, as well as a backup diesel generator.

TOUR

We got a personal tour of Taquile’s solar electric micro-grid, hosted by Anilson, the local technician/maintenance man. State-of-the-art technology. Our host graciously opened every cabinet of cable connections, breakers, inverters. My head is still reeling. 

The cabinets mounted on the wall are inverters.

Those huge boxes on the floor are the batteries.

Each panel. 

BACKUP DEISEL GENERATOR

Anilson starts up the generator every couple of weeks just to keep it working.

Outside view 

Northern Array

The north side of Taquile Island has a second big array (see previous post) serving this end of the island. We are pretty sure the blue boxes are inverters and that the gray cabinet sends high voltage power which is later transformed into 220v to the houses. The south array has that big building with batteries; power from this northern array is used during the day, and also charges the batteries on the south array. 

WIRES

High power lines of 380v are transformed to 220v into meters and to the houses.