Abstract:

Cambodia is a third world country that suffers from unreliable electricity. Naturally, Cambodians have seldom access to the Internet and to the vast pool of information that the Internet provides. In my specific case study, I visited a school called Village Development School (VDS) in Cambodia. Although community service volunteers already installed connection to the Internet, due to the unreliable flow of electricity and money, online learning was still an issue for students seeking education. The school often tries to conserve power by turning off the electricity during the day and in spaces where people are not congregating. The primary concern of the school is that it simply does not have enough money to sustain electricity at all times. Lack of electricity means no light, Internet, and power. Lack of power also means the inability to use various devices that require electricity. However, if a solar power system was installed within school grounds, it would be a much more reliable and sustainable source of energy. Investing in a solar power system would be a long term, sustainable solution, as its benefits would outweigh the initial costs in the long run. Additionally, Cambodia has a hot and humid climate with a lot of sunlight, which is favorable for solar panels. My hope is that with the help of experts and donors, I would be able to install a solar power system to produce renewable energy for the school. This project is a case study for schools in developing nations to sustain themselves with a renewable energy source for the betterment of basic education.

Keywords:

Solar panels, electricity, education, renewable energy, power.