Monday November 6, 2017 at 6:00 p.m. Lisa Oelke and Tanya Deer from Solar Majengo will be presenting “Energy Poverty and Sustainable Solar”.
Day & Time: Monday November 6, 2017
6:00 p.m. – 9:00 p.m.
Speaker: Lisa Oelke
Solar Majengo in Lights & Electricity Program Manager
Former Manager Marketing and Business Development hb Solar Canada
Currently Regional Sales Manager for Almita Piling
Tanya Deer
President of Relsol Inc.
Technical Project Manager for Solar Majengo in Lights & Electricity
Location: Room 202, Galbraith Building
35 St George St, Toronto
Contact: Vasily Grigorovsky
Organizers: IEEE Toronto Young Professionals
Register: https://events.vtools.ieee.org/m/47693
Abstract: This talk illustrates a model for creating sustainable energy projects in developing countries, utilizing the presenter’s recent experience with an off-grid solar installation in Africa.
Majengo Children’s Home, Tanzania, East Africa is the site of a 6.25 kilowatt off-grid rooftop solar system.
The presenters will draw on their experience of designing a solar system for sub-Saharan Africa to supply the electrical load requirements for 85 orphaned children and 20 staff. They will touch on the 2.5-year process of raising the funds, sourcing a partner in Tanzania to supply the components, and maximizing local involvement.
The financing model used for this project will be explored in addition to the methods currently being used in other projects to enhance sustainable solar projects in communities at risk in both the developing world and within our own Indigenous communities.
Biography: Ms. Oelke brings international experience in her present role as Manager Marketing and Business Development for hb solar Canada having lived in Canada, France and Jamaica and travelled extensively throughout her career. Her work with at risk teens in Jamaica W.I. in 2004 and volunteering with the Majengo Children’s Home, Tanzania in 2013, were the inspiration for the Solar Majengo project. Ms. Oelke is a graduate of the University of Western Ontario. This is her eighth year in the solar industry. In August she will travel to Iqaluit to do research in identifying a future not for profit solar project in Nunavut.
Having established the first photovoltaic certification lab in Canada, Ms. Deer is a veteran of the solar industry, with experience spanning from testing products to qualifying solar systems of various sizes. Ms. Deer was responsible for the technical aspects of the Majengo Children’s Home Off-grid PV System, including interacting with suppliers and on-site personnel for the design, component sourcing, and installation of the off-grid system. She is heavily involved with standards development to increase the reliability of PV systems, including those for off-grid and rural applications.