Solar panels brighten remote communities

Some 2,000 solar panels were delivered to remote communities in Veraguas, Coclé and Costa Abajo in Colón, a project organized by the government’s Proyecto de Desarrollo del Atlántico (Prodea).

Residents approached authorities with their request for the panels, noticing that they are often installed in schools and health centers in remote areas, said Prodea director Vielka Vásquez.

The program gave priority to impoverished households where students often had to travel several hours to and from school, and could not study at night for a lack of electricity, she added.

Each solar panel has a 75-watt capacity, enough to power four lightbulbs and a small television set. The kit came with a battery (for energy storage), a voltage regulator and cable, among other accessories, which families were trained to use. If maintained, the system can last up to 20 years or more.

Funding for the panels came from the Fondo de Inversión Social (FIS), which finances programs targeting the population’s health, educational and agricultural needs. Each panel cost around $1,000.