Solar PV at 12,000 ft in Ancash, Peru

Our commute to work, beneath the 22,200ft peak of Huascaran

My next tech exchange was with Pat Starr, an environment volunteer in Ancash. Pat developed a good working relationship with the huge Huascaran National Park – perhaps the most scenic and largest in Peru. The highest mountain in Peru is located in the park (also named Huascarán, reaching 22,205 feet high). The park is home to one of the most extraordinary high-mountain eco-systems on Earth: 663 glaciers, 269 lakes and 41 rivers, as well as hundreds of mountain peaks, 26 of which top 6,000 meters (19680 feet) . This park is home to many species of animals and plants, Cougars, Jaguars, Vicunas, the adorable spectacled bear, the Peruvian Tapir, and many 100’s of species of birds. Snow covers the magnificent sharp peaks all year. See: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Huascar%C3%A1n_National_Park

Pat with a PV solar panel atop the Visitor Center by a glacial lake

It was to this extraordinary setting that I travelled (9 hours) by bus from Lima to Huaraz, to help Pat install solar panel systems at 2 of the remote park facilities. We spent our first day just locating all the needed supplies. What would have required about 15 minutes at a Home Depot, took us all day of searching the small hardware stores (ferreterias) of Huaraz. Most sold wire no thicker than 14 ga – what we call zip cord (lamp cord) in the states – since normal 220V wiring here carries less amps and can be thinner than in the States. We needed #8 for the solar panels and #4 for the batteries, but could only find #10 and bought some jumper cables at an auto store for the battery connectors. Unable to locate wire nuts ANYWHERE, we used small cable clamps for connectors. Most Peruvians just twist and wrap with scotch tape and pray. The last elusive bit were the 12VDC compact fluorescent light bulbs, which use ¼ the power and give twice the light of an incandescent.

I had to use a headlamp and glasses to see the wires

With materials in hand, we first stopped at an entrance station to repurpose some unneeded panels and equipment. Working with used equipment is always harder, since it must be tested before use.

Pat did a great job of organizing the field trip, with the Park Service providing a study 4x pickup and driver. Our first driver Edson, shared his memories of growing up during the time of the Shining Path terrorists. He was witness to executions and knows first-hand the suspicions and distrust that terror brings. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Shining_Path

All smiles after the job is done

Our first installation was at the very popular tourist site of Llanganuco lagoon. Mostly Peruvian tourists can rent rowboats and cross the lagoon to climb on the glacier at the far end. Despite the 1000’s of tourists who visit the site each year, the approach road is unpaved and very rough. We installed 3 x 125W panels on the roof and a 150aH battery, with 500W inverter inside. The whole building was wired for 220V, so we tied the inverter directly into the main breaker box, giving them (limited) use of normal power throughout the station. They had a beautiful teaching center which had not been used because it was so dark, which will now be OPEN. Also, the office will be able to use the computer, radios and cell phones, without carrying them back to the base station for recharge. We were slowed down by the many questions from passing tourists, but I’m always happy to explain the magic of solar power. As I was making the panel connections up on the roof, I glance up and saw a cobalt blue glacial lagoon in front of me, the mighty white peak of Huascaran to my right, and thought “I love my job”. 

Goyo with Peruvian Lilies (Alstromieria)

On the way home, we passed fields of Peruvian lilies and enjoyed a drink called chicha jora, which is a white corn based, slightly fermented brew, with a flavor akin to slightly hard cider. The lilies are collected and put on a special FedEx jet out of the Huaraz airport every night.

During my time in Huaraz, I stayed at a lovely B&B called Soledad. The Romero family treats guests like family, with fires and good conversation each night. The grandmother makes her own preserves for the breakfast table, including a marvelous Orange/papaya jam – a new flavor combination for me. The family asked me to join them for a delicious lamb dinner one night – some of the best food I’ve had in Peru or anywhere else. Her sister-in-law had hosted one of the earliest Peru Peace Corps volunteers in the Cusco area back in 1964.

An ancient dwelling is still in use today - some have electricity

The second installation was at the very remote guard station at Llaca quebrada, a canyon carved by a now retreating glacier. 30 years ago, the station was near the base of the glacier, which has since retreated miles up the canyon. This system has 2 panels, which now power lights in each of the dormitories, kitchen and meeting room, plus a small 150W inverter to charge the park radios, cell phones, etc. Before, the guards were often out of communication, when cells and radios went dead and had to be carried back to town for recharge. They also quickly figured out that they can bring a TV and DVD player out to relieve the isolation of 20 day shifts.

A plaque in honor of 2 Peace
Corps volunteers, who died
while working in the Park

Ironically, as I was waiting for the bus back to Lima, I visited yet another hardware store and found the elusive wire nuts. I also bagged some of the special local bread and cheese to share with the staff in Lima. The ride home was long, but scenic and very comfortable. Peruvian busses have 1^st “cama” class seats like international air seats – wide soft leather with foot rests and video consoles with headsets.

The trip was almost like a vacation for me – the brilliant high altitude sun was a welcome respite from the overcast Lima winter. I got to do construction, which I love, spent quality time with a wonderful young volunteer, saw the Huascaran Park up close and personal and made some park guards very happy. Like I say – “I LOVE my job.”

More photos at:

https://plus.google.com/photos/114324927553623472875/albums/6049990767113575617

Phase 3 of 3rd Year Service

Working on the biodigester exit ports

The last cycle of my 3^rd year as a Peace Corps  volunteer has begun. The first cycle was training and writing field guides for renewable energy technologies and climate change education. The second was assisting with applications for ECPA grants to implement the technologies and education in the rural volunteer sites. And now comes the really fun part for me : providing on-site expertise and assistance to the many renewable energy projects all over Peru.

The sparse Piura desert

My work travels took me to the delightful alpine village of Canchaque, in the state of Piura, far to the north of Peru, 5 degrees below the equator. Due to an accident enroute to the airport, I was forced to endure a 17 hour bus ride, made tolerable by the 1^st class seat. Piura City is the oldest citiy in Peru, founded by Pizzaro in 1532, just before he and his 150 soldiers captured the entire Inca civilization. It is by no means the prettiest place on the planet, being in the middle of a desert, with a vestigial at its center, now choked with garbage and sewage. The pre-dawn bus to Canchaque passed more coastal desert plain, before climbing into the Andes. The northern desert is quite a bit different from the southern desert, with which I am intimately acquainted. In the south, the desert is totally barren, while the north has widely scattered scrub and hardy trees – I’m guessing due to a subterranean water source.

One of many bamboo forests in the Piura mountains

As we zig-zagged into the mountains, the scene changed quickly. River valleys and bamboo and crops appeared and green, jungle-like mountains covered the horizon. Canchaque itself is a lovely little town of 2,500, nestled among the peaks, with scenic vistas in all directions. Glenn Harrington, a water/sanitation PCV, greeted me at the bus stop. He was one of my “shadows” during his training and attended one of the renewable energy workshops at Yachaywasi. We headed directly to the slaughterhouse, perused and took measure of the biodigester site and then went back to a nearby hardware store to buy all the job fixins.

Squeezing air into the biodigester tube to inflate it

Glenn and the Muni workers had done a great job of preparing the ditch for the digester tube and a nice enclosure for the gas storage bag. Both had to be lined with concrete, since the “soil” was more like solid rock. Their construction was all first rate and we got the gas bladder and biodigester inflated, set in place and plumbed the gas line in record time, breaking only for a 4 sole ($1.42) lunch overlooking the town plaza. Our only misstep was filling the gas bladder with exhaust from a motorcycle – a small bit of hot carbon, expelled from the exhaust pipe burned a little hole in the plastic, which was easily patched. It was another fantasy work site – sunny and located next to a small stream and waterfall, which made the job all the more pleasant.We retired to showers and a tasty dinner with Glenn’s host family, perched on a hillside high above the town.

Julio's wife roasted, ground and brewed coffee from their trees

Having completed the project in a single day, we visited the estate of one of his community partners, Julio, who also attended one of my renewable energy workshops. Julio grows coffee, bananas and oranges on a hillside with a serpentine irrigation canal that crisscrosses the entire property. He also has a house and guest cottage that look like something from the Swiss Alps. In an area with no natural fish, he raises Tilapia in ponds and sells to the local market. The fish poop enriched pond drainage feeds his crops, along with compost and worm castings, which he also produces. While we were there, his wife roasted some of their coffee beans, ground them and served us what is probably the freshest cup of coffee I’ll ever enjoy. She also make sand sells her own banana marmalade, which I’d never even heard of, and which was absolutely scrumptious. Julio also steeps the local cane alcohol in ground coffee to produce a coffee liquor – also yummy, if a bit strong. It was my great pleasure to visit this amazing and innovative man.

The "Drunk Tree" stands solitary and strong

The 3 hour bus ride back to Piura in full daylight was more revealing. I was particularly taken by a large Seuss-like tree, known locally as the “drunk tree”. And by the huge amounts of trash on the sides of the highway. The 1 and ½ flight back to Lima was certainly more pleasant than the 17 hr bus. Surprisingly, it only cost about $8 more than the bus ($53 vs $61).











More photos at : : https://plus.google.com/photos/114324927553623472875/albums/6049649109828392609