Developing nations across the globe deal with water scarcity at an alarming level. In these densely populated and underfunded areas, water scarcity and inadequate sanitary infrastructure pose a challenge in meeting all residents’ demand for clean water. At Healing Waters International, we do our part to help these countries by taking on the challenge of finding customizable water filtration solutions to provide clean water to even the most remote communities. This endeavor is supported by the use of solar energy, which has emerged as one of the cleanest, most resilient, and readily accessible power sources for driving our filtration systems.
Why are solar cells particularly suitable for developing countries? Solar energy is a life-changing, long-term resource that can fight the effects of climate change, boost local economies, and reach areas currently without a centralized form of electrical energy. In this blog, we’ll examine these benefits, the challenges solar energy brings to developing communities, and more.
Energy Challenges in Developing Countries
While implementing solar energy pumps in developing nations may pose challenges, it is undeniably worthwhile. Many of these developing countries encounter comparable obstacles with their existing energy systems, which makes transitioning to solar energy a more favorable option. Some of these significant challenges involve limited financial resources, reliance on traditional energy sources, and inadequate energy usage.
Lack of Funds and Resources
In many developing nations, a significant portion of the population often lacks any form of modern energy services. Hundreds of thousands of people in these countries live without access to electricity, for example. Even those with access to electricity face frequent interruptions caused by power outages or transmission failures. Sometimes the existing infrastructure simply cannot keep up with energy demand from growing populations or spikes in population in urban areas. Without the funds from the government to improve the existing energy structures, the citizens will continue to experience electrical failures.
Reliance on Traditional Energy
For those who cannot rely on electricity to power their cooking and heating needs, most resort to burning sources like charcoal and wood. These acts negatively impact deforestation and carbon emissions. The harm done to the environment affects not only the health of the residents but also the agricultural industry, ecosystem, and climate change as a whole. Lots can be done to help the health of the environment by switching to cleaner sources of energy, ones that can even reach those who must rely on traditional fuel sources.
Inadequate Energy Use
In developing nations, energy efficiency measures and conservation practices are often overlooked, resulting in wasteful energy consumption due to inefficient energy usage, outdated technology, and limited awareness of energy-saving methods. With a lack of education and monitoring of efficient energy practices, energy consumption remains uncontrolled, as many people are either unaware of or choose to ignore energy-saving practices, leading to unnecessary energy use. To tackle these challenges, promoting energy-saving habits, implementing efficient systems and equipment, and establishing better energy infrastructure, along with educating the public about renewable energy and energy-saving techniques, can pave the way for a cleaner community and significantly reduce energy consumption and costs.
Benefits of Solar Cells in Developing Countries
Solar energy can provide a more optimistic future for the people of struggling nations. Implementing solar cells means more jobs and economic growth, wider and consistent access to energy sources, and a healthier environment. These benefits allow for a more independent and healthier lifestyle for those in developing nations to truly see more development.
More Jobs
Installing solar cells won’t be done overnight, but luckily, it can quickly bring jobs to hundreds or even thousands. Solar panel installation needs workers to help implement and maintain the infrastructure. This will lower unemployment rates and encourage the education and skills needed for jobs to advance solar technology.
Consistent Renewable Energy
Solar energy can be implemented either off-grid or using smaller grids. Without worrying about the failure of a large main power grid, people can access power reliably. Now even the most remote villages or communities can use their own power grid using solar cells.
Healthier Environment
Burning non-renewable sources contributes to greenhouse gasses that pollute the environment. Because solar energy is renewable, it produces very little carbon emissions. Depending on burning wood as fuel directly correlates to unregulated deforestation, a practice that can be very dangerous to the environment in multiple ways.
Together, We Can Change Lives
With your support, we can continue to expand our reach and provide safe water solutions to more communities around the world.
How are Solar Cells Different from Other Power Sources
Solar cells stand out from other energy sources by being a true green energy source, contributing minimal greenhouse gasses to the atmosphere. While solar energy can be utilized globally, it notably benefits countries near the equator because of the ample sunlight they receive. Despite some limitations, the advantages of solar cells in developing countries typically outweigh any drawbacks.
Empowering Developing Countries through Solar Energy
Because solar cells mean less reliance on imported energy sources like coal or oil, solar cells grant a developing nation a sense of independence. Any country can harness solar energy by using solar cells, and with it, you can properly power much-needed infrastructure for all residents, like the water filtration systems we work on. At Healing Waters, we’ve helped many nations access clean water using solar energy filtration solutions to clean their water sources.
For some communities, like El Pajal and Cipresales in Guatemala, solar energy was their only option. Healing Waters staff worked with these remote communities to produce a solar-powered generator to control three different pumping stations and a centralized water treatment station to provide clean water to over 500 households. We trained leaders of the community to maintain the solar-generated power infrastructure themselves to empower the people to take pride in their own community-operated water treatment facility.
How is Healing Waters Helping?
Just like communities like El Pajal and Cipresales, we make it our mission to provide clean water for all those across the globe. Sometimes even the most remote communities can thrive with just a little bit of assistance. You can help make a difference today by joining our staff, providing a donation, or contacting us for more information on how you can help us.