In preparation for the World Cup 2010 in South Africa, SolarWorld launched its Sun-TV Station project and continued its tradition to this year’s World Cup in Brazil. The company developed the product for rural and urban areas, installing the TV in more than 35 communities across southern Africa in 2010. SolarWorld has also maintained the products over the past four years.
The station comprises of a 42” television set with DVD player and satellite receiver. The power for the station is supplied by two 260Ah batteries and an inverter which is built into the cabinet. These batteries are charged via 300 watts of SolarWorld solar modules and thus are all monitored by a charge controller, also built into the cabinet.
GregorKüpper, Managing Director of SolarWorld Africa, said: “We developed the Sun-TV system in 2010 in order to provide access for the communities to the Soccer World Cup in South Africa, with little or no access to electricity, to be able to watch the games and their soccer heroes. Further, our aim was to provide a long-term sustainable solution to education and information. We installed a system which could be used to watch educational programs within a safe space to learn, assisted by the use of new media, powered by the sun. Now, four years on, the Sun-TV Stations are proving their worth, by enabling these communities to be part of the Soccer World Cup again.”
The latest addition is in Gansbaai, where a community event was held on June 13 for local youth to watch one of the opening soccer matches. The project was funded and installed by SolarWorld at the Gansbaai Communal Sports Centre’s Dibanisa Project, supported by the Grootbos Foundation. Says LéanTerblanche, Managing Director at the Grootbos Foundation, highlighted that the TV was also used to provide educational material offering children coaching, HIV, environmental, and career training.
NDO-Altus sport director GertPotgieter said: “The youth and parents also enjoy educational videos as well as programs such as sports and nature. The installation of the Sun-TV has changed their view on life and the world. It has increased their general knowledge as they are able to see things which they did not know before. I see the Sun-TV as very positive as people do not depend on electricity to use it.”
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