Solar Forward

I’ve been going on about the basic needs that Africa has been desperately trying to hold onto, food being the main concern. After which, it seems that a general education supporting sustainable elements is a very necessary tool in the process of bringing up the nation. However, with every good idea or observation links another issue to be addressed in order to increase quality of life. This issue effects the lives of citizens and specifically in this case teachers. This issue is one that connects most power problems in the nation, and it more importantly it addresses fundamental needs that can’t be afforded by many people throughout the nation. This issue is electricity, and the way to solve this without repeating industrial mistakes is solar power.
The people who run the power elements of the nation are very aware of solar power’s positive affect on life in Africa. Caroline Hombe is a 35-year-old teacher in Africa who’s life has greatly improved. She used to suffer from headaches, and stinging eyes because of the kerosene lamp she was forced to use while grading papers at night. She and anyone on the lower end of the income spectrum in the nation accept this as an affordable way to be productive after dark, (Madamobe). The problem is that only so many solar panels have been brought in because of the high cost of installation. While they are worth their value in both short term and long-term conditions, the price is generally just too high. So how can the installation of solar panels be supported? This is now a major question because its not the unhealthy discomforts of kerosene and other harmful chemicals, we’re talking about revisiting a national budget that had no room for flexibility or growth.
Solar panel prices range anywhere from $500-$1000 per installation, and this powers about 6-8 rooms plus a black and white T.V. (Madamobe). While this is far too expensive to be disbursed amongst the average African household, there is indeed hope. It’s already begun, and it’s likely that Africa has the potential to lead other more impoverished areas like South America and Brazil. These and Africa are estimated to reach their emission cap in 2012, Scientific Research and Essay Vol.3 (8), pp. 326-332, August 2008Available online at http://www.academicjournals.org/SREISSN 1992-2248 © 2008 Academic JournalsGroenwalde, Yolandi. Environmental News Network. March 28, 2008. Panos London.Sept. 11, 2008. <>">(Groenwalde).
The Upington Project in the northern part of South Africa has installed a solar unit that will produce the power equivalency of 1.5 million barrels of oil, Scientific Research and Essay Vol.3 (8), pp. 326-332, August 2008Available online at http://www.academicjournals.org/SREISSN 1992-2248 © 2008 Academic JournalsGroenwalde, Yolandi. Environmental News Network. March 28, 2008. Panos London.Sept. 11, 2008. <>">(Groenwalde). The region also remains holder of some of the world’s more prominent records of sunniest days, that’s a lot of solar power. While this is exciting and wonderful news for the power front, this means terrible hardships for the farmers of Africa, and leads us back to the devastating problems of starvation and irrigation inaccessibility.


Bibliography
Madamobe, Itai. Africa Renewal. Oct. 2006, page 10 of Africa Renewal. UN Africa. Sept. 11, 2008. <>

Scientific Research and Essay Vol.3 (8), pp. 326-332, August 2008
Available online at http://www.academicjournals.org/SRE
ISSN 1992-2248 © 2008 Academic Journals

Groenwalde, Yolandi. Environmental News Network. March 28, 2008. Panos London.
Sept. 11, 2008. <>