Brazil: Solar Cookers and PV in Amazon Rainforest

Author(s)

• Phil Clauda, University of Dayton
• Michael Zimmerman, University of Dayton

Document Type

Report

Publication Date

9-7-2011

Abstract

During the summer of 2011 two University of Dayton engineering students lived in Porto De Moz, Para, Brazil. This community is located on the Xingu River in the Amazon Rainforest. An organization called the Xingu Mission worked with the students to identify and execute an engineering based project to bring appropriate technology to the region. A survey of the region’s socio-economic condition suggested that building solar ovens could be a viable cost savings project for people in the region. A solar oven was prototyped using local materials and tested for its ability to heat up food. The solar oven reached temperatures of 260 degrees Fahrenheit. Temperatures around 350 degrees were expected, however fish and other food items were still cooked in the oven. Implementing photovoltaic energy generation was identified as a second appropriate technology. The student’s organized a weeklong workshop that was taught by Dr. Richard Komp, an academic with expertise in bringing photovoltaic (PV) technology to developing regions. Approximately 12 Brazilians participated in the workshop. Together they built several solar cell phone and battery chargers. The two students went on to construct and test a 10 watt solar panel system to charge car batteries. On the last day the students were in Brazil, the group received the necessary materials to construct a 65 watt solar panel. The work was in progress as the students left. In the future, the knowledge transferred may allow the people in Porto de Moz to organize a micro business around the technology.

eCommons Citation

Clauda, Phil and Zimmerman, Michael, "Brazil: Solar Cookers and PV in Amazon Rainforest" (2011). ETHOS Technical Reports. 84.
https://ecommons.udayton.edu/ethos_reports/84