Solar-powered PC lab is completely off the grid
Umhloti Primary School in KwaZulu-Natal no longer has to worry about Eskom’s load shedding interrupting its IT lessons, thanks to a solar-powered PC lab which runs completely off the grid.
The lab is housed in a modified shipping container and runs off of batteries which are charged by solar panels attached to the unit.
“The lab has thermal insulation and ceiling fans for temperature control. There are 21 desktop PCs in the lab, one of them being a file and print sever. Lighting is provided by means of LED light tubes,” said founder of giveITback Jonathan Michael.
The self-powered lab is the first of its kind in Africa, said Michael, and is aimed at non-affluent schools with a lack of infrastructure.
Internet connectivity is also included with the lab by means of a 3G connection – the speed influenced by the lab’s location.
“Despite the technology used in the Solar PC Lab, it is currently the most economical solution available, retailing at only R450 000,” Michael said.
The series of photos below shows the PC lab’s construction, from an empty container to a functional classroom.
The lab begins as a container
Lab container
A lick of paint is applied and a window installed
Work begins on the inside of the lab
The lab takes shape
The PCs are installed
Lab complete
Pack it onto a truck, and we’re off
Ready for scholars to enter
Let the learning begin
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