Schneider Electric's MiCROSOL project aims to develop a standard technology for producing electricity, drinking water and heat simultaneously.
The project looks to benefit micro-industries located in rural areas with high levels of sunshine, making Africa the perfect location. By applying a new approach to a technology that is already widespread - solar thermodynamics - MiCROSOL technology involves the cogeneration of electricity and heat.
"This technology can help Africa's poorest countries," said Pradeep Monga, director of the Energy & Climate Change Branch of the United Nations Industrial Development Organisation (UNIDO), at the unveiling of the MiCROSOL solution.
The purpose of the initiative is to meet three basic needs: providing communities with reliable, efficient and inexpensive electricity; clean, economically and consistently produced drinking water; and heat generation that is continuous and environmentally sound.
A MiCROSOL solution produces 50MWh per year of electricity, 1 000m^3 per year of drinking water and around 800MWh per year of thermal energy. The solution has a lifespan of at least 20 years.
MiCROSOL helps micro-producers across various industries to process their raw materials by automating various functions. Within the hospitality industry, for example, MiCROSOL can provide the energy needed for services like heating, security, laundry and cooking. When situated in a rural setting, MiCROSOL tech is able to meet the production needs of local residents.
The solution guarantees zero greenhouse gas emissions, reduced deforestation and curbs health problems owing to its clean production of heat and electricity, and comprises steel and aluminium components that are easy to recycle.
"All countries with high levels of sunshine are potential targets for marketing MiCROSOL. However, because of its infrastructure needs, geographical location and economic models, Schneider Electric and its partners decided to focus their efforts on Africa," says Gilles Vermot Desroches, senior VP for Sustainability at Schneider Electric.
Kenya was selected as the pilot country for the industrialisation and commercialisation of the technology because it boasts favourable conditions for the development of the solution.
The commercialisation phase of the MiCROSOL project is set for 2015.
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