LARA: Locally-Appropriate Rural Aquavoltaics for Cost Reduction and Increased Impact for Solar Energy Access in East Africa

Our project aims to address challenges faced by larger solar productive-use power and minigrid solutions in achieving commercial sustainability, affordability, and ease of installation for end-users. Based on our experience implementing community minigrids and powering boreholes and milling machines in Africa, acquiring the necessary infrastructure components, specifically mounting systems for solar panels, proves to be the most difficult aspect due to specialised skills required for welding and fabrication, and complex procurement and installation in remote rural areas.

The cost of mounting hardware for panels constitutes 40-50% of the total panel cost, and transportation and installation expenses amplify this burden. Surprisingly, there is limited competition in the supply of mounting systems compared to readily available equipment.

Our solution involves developing and testing a simple, locally-appropriate approach: floating panels above specially-dug ponds. This cost-effective solution, suitable for small rural minigrids, fills the gap left by expensive and complex floating mounting solutions designed for marine environments.

Implementing this solution costs only 5-10% of traditional metal racking, reducing the overall system cost by 10-20%. Shaded water surfaces in ponds maintain temperatures between 20-25 degrees Celsius, increasing panel efficiency by 6-10% according to Suntech specifications.

The integration of aquaculture in Tanzanian communities through our solution presents significant economic benefits for local farmers. By leveraging the shaded pool area surrounding the floating solar panels, farmers can engage in fish farming activities, creating an additional source of income and livelihood. The revenue generated from aquaculture provides farmers with a diversified income stream, enhancing their financial resilience and contributing to the overall economic development of the community.

Additionally, the availability of fish locally offers food security and reduces reliance on external sources, further supporting the sustainable growth of Tanzanian farmers.

We anticipate that this cost-effective solution will drive greater adoption of clean energy systems in Tanzanian communities and beyond.