Dear Editor,
Solar farms may not be the total answer to economic development in the hinterland, but they are an essential step. The dry and the wet seasons are regular occurrences that are only lengthened, shortened, or delayed (by causes that I have hitherto failed to persuade the Hydromet to research in the systematic way I proposed, because they said the few qualified staff had to be busy with the short-term stuff the political bosses wanted).
The next step would be to use local hydropower during the wet seasons while the solar farms take care of the dry seasons. Both require consistent strict management and the usual problem is that their initial success inspires overload, which then drastically shortens the life of the system. The initial popularity is often due to handing over ceremonies presided over by politicians more intent on winning votes than of instilling full awareness of the technicalities, disciplines and work needed to be responsible for these power sources.
In the case of solar power, the technicalities after proper installation must involve the consistent work of monitoring and evaluation when it is realized that the battery voltages should not be allowed to sink below a certain level and why. This will inform the disciplines of shutting down and doing without power, strictly and with no exceptions (even in the face of common uncouth disparaging remarks). The other work needed is the cleaning and preservation of the original conditions for as long as possible.
The first casualty of mismanagement is generally the battery, which loses capacity. Delay in its timely replacement will in turn contribute to the more rapid degradation of the solar panels not being cooled by outflow of electrical energy. There are systems that require less management, but they are all very, very expensive, and certainly not affordable by a country at our stage of development. Education and work can get us there when the opportunities are seized.
Yours faithfully,
Alfred Bhulai
