A review of community-based solar home system projects in the Philippines

Solar Home Systems (SHS) are easy to deploy in island and in remote communities where grid connection is costly. However, issues related to maintenance of these systems emerge after they are deployed because of the remoteness and inaccessibility of the communities. This study looked into community-based programs in the Philippines and investigated the following: (1) social preparation, (2) role of the community in the project, and (3) sustainability of the program. In this paper, three communities under two government programs offering SHS are presented. These programs are the Solar Power Technology Support (SPOTS) program of the Department of Agrarian Reform (DAR) and the Household Electrification Program (HEP) of the Department of Energy (DOE). A focused group discussion and key informant interviews were conducted in two communities in Bukidnon province and in a community in Kalinga to obtain information from the project beneficiaries and SHS users on the preparation, implementation and maintenance of the projects. The results revealed that emphasis on the economic value of the technology, proper training of the locals on the technical and management aspects of the project, as well as the establishment of a supply chain for replacement parts are crucial factors for the sustainability of the programs

Gross alpha-particle activities in the ground waters in Western Anatolia

WOS: A1996UZ29700015PubMed ID: 8759158The purpose of this study is to present data on gross alpha-particle activity, pH and conductivity in the ground waters in Western Anatolia. The gross alpha-particle activities in 27 ground water samples were determined by radiochemical carrier-precipitation methods. The gross alpha-particle activities of water samples were measured by using a ZnS (Ag) detector system. Measurable alpha-particle activity is present in all ground water samples, with one ground water sample having a gross alpha-particle activity > 0.55 Bq/L. Copyright (C) 1996 Elsevier Science Lt

Natural Radioactivity Measurements Around a Coal-Fired Thermal Power Plant İn Turkey

2nd International Colloquium on Gas Geochemistry -- JUL 05-09, 1993 -- UNIV FRANCHE-COMTE, BESANCON, FRANCEWOS: A1995BF33B00034Univ Franche Comt

Radon concentrations in thermal waters related to seismic events along faults in the Denizli Basin, Western Turkey

WOS: 000247802200013The aim of this study is to investigate the relationship between the earthquakes and radon concentrations in thermal waters along faults in the Denizli Basin, an area in Turkey known for its high seismic activity and thermal waters. This area was chosen because it exhibits active crustal movements combined with seismicity and there are numerous outflow thermal waters and gas outputs. In addition, this region has the type of tectonic activity where graben groups and faults take place. Measurements of radon levels and of some chemical and physical characteristics of thermal waters were made at seven sampling stations in the region. Radon concentrations were measured by a ZnS(Ag) scintillation counter in a collector chamber. The activity levels varied between 0.67 and 25.90 kBq m(-3) during the period of May-December 2000. In the evaluation of the results, the seismic data reported by Bogazici University Kandilli Observatory and Earthquake Research Institute, Seismological Laboratory were used. The increases observed in radon concentration at two stations were probably related to the earthquakes that took place in the region during the study period. (c) 2006 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved

Energy Management for Grid-Tied PV Systems Using Particle Swarm Optimization

The main purpose of an Energy Management System (EMS) is to determine the hourly energy dispatch of the microgrid and the main utility grid. An optimization algorithm is needed in order to minimize the cost of operating the distributed generations in a microgrid. This paper is focused on developing an EMS model that can determine the hourly optimal operating strategies of each distributed generation in the microgrid system with regard to energy cost minimization, system constraints, and better utilization of renewable energy resources through daily load demand. The proposed system utilized Particle Swarm Optimization. Its effectiveness was demonstrated using a full-day load demand profile of a grid-connected microgrid as the case study