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Renewable Energy News

MONDAY 18 JANUARY, 2010 |

Solar Power To Help Light Earthquake Ravaged Haiti

by Dr Solar

Earthquake ravaged Haiti to get solar powered lights
The recent earthquake in Haiti has taken a still unknown number of lives, but estimates are in the tens of thousands. The disaster has also wreaked catastrophic damage to infrastructure of the impoverished nation and much of the affected area remains without power, complicating rescue and cleanup efforts.

US company Sol Inc. is rendering assistance to the Haiti earthquake disaster effort by donating solar powered lighting systems so that relief efforts can be provided during dark hours and to provide greater safety and security to those affected.

The solar lights will be used to light relief aid areas such as the triage, food distribution areas and along roadways leading into to Haiti's capital, Port-au-Prince. The company has also launched an initiative whereby people who donate a Tropical Solar Light System to the disaster relief efforts in Haiti, Sol Inc will make a matching donation of a second lighting system.

The Tropical Solar Light uses an ultra bright LEDs rated to 70,000 hours and include weather, corrosion and tamper proof security features for theft prevention, a critical feature now that looting is reported to be widespread in the area.

Using solar panels between 80 and 260 watts, it includes a battery backup for cloudy days with enough storage capacity for a minimum of 5 nights. Sol Inc says the Tropical Solar Light is easily installed and requires no scheduled maintenance for up to five years. An important feature for areas such as Haiti, which has also been ravaged by cyclones in the past, the TSL can withstand hurricane force winds.