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Food security through biodiversity

 
At MMRF, we believe strongly in the role that renewable energy can play in both conservation and development. Staying at MMRF offers people a chance to live completely with renewable energy. All of the buildings at MMRF use solar charged battery based renewable energy systems for lighting.    MMRF has been the venue for three Photovoltaic management courses, co taught by Mark Miller of Plenty, Belize. We live with renewable energy here. All of our buildings have lights powered by renewable energy. The Dorm and the Posh Pods, two of our buildings used for student housing, have small two panel 12 volt DC lighting systems of about 100 watts each. The two thatch houses separate from the rest of the buildings also have a small battery based DC lighting system. All of these buildings have DC lights to allow for relaxing in the evening, reading and studying. These are modest systems of minimal cost that enhance the quality of living at MMRF. The Garden House has a slightly larger system, with a 200 watt solar array and an inverter. This building is used for staff or for overflow when we have classes, and as a wood working shop. The Kitchen and Dining room run off of a solar/wind hybrid system. This system also powers the wireless LAN and satellite internet. The array is comprised of a mixture of solar panels, with six 75 watt panels, two 60 watt panels, and two large panels of 125 and 123 watt, and one 80 watt panel, for a total of 898 watts of solar panels. This system also has a small 400 watt wind turbine, which nicely compliments the solar array: when it is raining and windy, the panels are not getting any sun! Our latest system installation is at the new classroom, with an array of five 125 watt panels for 625 watts of power. These panels were donated to MMRF by BP Solar, and with a charge controller, inverter and hardware donated by Outback Power. This system enables students to use computers, and for audio visual presentations. This system was installed during a course on photovoltaic design and installation co-taught with Christopher Nesbitt of MMRF and Mark Miller of Plenty Belize. Because MMRF is a farm working in agroforestry, all of the systems are roof mounted to avoid shading by trees. We use renewable energy for more than lighting. All of the water at MMRF comes from a small spring some distance from the rest of the farm. The spring has been developed and is equipped with a submersible pump, powered by a 175 watt panel also generously donated to MMRF by BP Solar. This pump and panel keep our water tank full, pumping over 1500 feet in distance, and 80 feet in elevation from the spring to the tank. From the tank the water is gravity fed to the kitchen, the shower, the gardens and the sinks at the dorm, the Posh Pods and the composting toilet. Maya Mountain Research Farm is available for consultancies on renewable energy in Belize. In October of 2009, MMRF, working with Tumulkin School, IRISHAID and Outback Power was able to assist in efforts to light the boys dormitory at Tumulkin. We built a small system, 600 watts, at 24VDC. Help was provided by Mark Miller and Gary Boomgardt of Plenty Belize in the installation, the first grid backed up system we have installed. Big thanks to them for their invaluable help. This was tied to training MMRF and Plenty provided to people from the community of San Benito Poite, funded by UNDP.  Also in October of 2009, with the community of Medina Bank and Yax Che Trust, with support from BP Solar and Cara Huddleston, MMRF was able to install a water pumping system which will provide for the needs of over 250 people at Medina Bank. This project was only possible by the contribution of many people. Christopher Nesbitt, our renewable energy person, has installed seven photovoltaic/wind hybrid systems in marine protected areas (Bacalar Chico National Park, South Water Caye Marine Reserve, Paynes Creek National Park, Sapodilla Cayes Marine Reserve, Port Honduras Marine Reserve, Caye Caulker National Park and Glovers Reef Marine Reserve). He has installed dozens of private land owner installations, dozens of simple photovoltaic lighting systems and water pumping applications. He can be contacted via email : christopher.nesbitt(a)mmrfbz.org   http://www.plenty.org/Belize/Belize.htmlhttp://www.plenty.org/Belize/Belize.htmlhttp://www.BP.com/UShttp://www.outbackpower.com/http://www.plenty.org/belizeprojects.htmhttp://www.bpsolar.comhttp://www.outbackpower.com/http://plentybelize.wordpress.comhttp://www.bpsolar.xn--com-z13amailto:christopher.nesbitt@mmrfbz.org?subject=Solar%20in%20Belizemailto:christopher.nesbitt@mmrfbz.org?subject=Solar%20in%20Belizeshapeimage_2_link_0shapeimage_2_link_1shapeimage_2_link_2shapeimage_2_link_3shapeimage_2_link_4shapeimage_2_link_5shapeimage_2_link_6shapeimage_2_link_7shapeimage_2_link_8shapeimage_2_link_9shapeimage_2_link_10