Four team members spent the months of July and August researching water pumping options, solar electricity production, micro-hydro power production, equipment procurement possibilities, and shipping options. In addition, lots of time and mental energy went into understanding the dynamics and characteristics of the site in Chile, including groundwater recharge rates, solar insolation, elevations and land contours, physical structures already in place, water storage capacities, lay of the land relative to compass directions, and watering needs of the pomegranate trees. We also established contacts and explored resources relevant to our project, including renewable energy and pumping experts, renewable energy conferences, books, and vast online resources.
All of our efforts throughout the initial research phase were aimed at: 1) determining the best equipment for our objective of pumping water with renewable energy, 2) determining logistics and budget for procuring equipment and getting it to Chile, 3) expanding our general understanding and knowledge of the renewable energy field, 4) further establishing our individual roles and group processes for our on-site efforts, and 5) identifying issues of concern relative to the Framework for Strategic Sustainable Development (SSD) being utilized to guide our project analysis and planning.
In line with our primary goal above, we purchased 32 photovoltaic panels from two different manufacturers with the intent to compare and contrast the functionality of each brand. These PV panels will be wired into arrays to power a series of Grundfos SQFlex solar powered water pumps (in the picture above). These high-tech pumps are specially designed to run on off-grid, irregular power, such as wind or solar. The four pumping stations will move water progressively uphill to supply all reaches of the orchard. The equipment is traveling by rail from Chicago to Baltimore, and then onto a container ship to the Panama Canal and on to San Antonio, Chile, from where it will be trucked to our site.
Initial design ideas and images were drafted into a “System Diagram” that visualized how the components we were purchasing would unite with the components in place to create a functioning, renewably powered irrigation system. With initial system specifications identified, main components purchased, personal knowledge acquisition well on its way, individual roles designated, and SSD always on our minds, the team enjoyed relative relaxation as we prepared for our respective journeys south.
