CHI lang
A village in Chi Lang with an ambition to use solar energy
Project Chi Lang will be rolled out in an isolated village on the edge of Chi Lang District, Vietnam, called Pa Mi. Pa Mi is too isolated and far away to receive electricity from the main grid. Moreover, even if they did receive it, the voltage would be very weak.
Currently, a small hydro generator was installed in the village river to give some light to the houses.
Pa Mi, a small isolated village occupied by 10 very resourceful families, is 30 km from the center of Chi Lang district, 7 of which are a high-intensity hike on non-motorable roads through the mountains. The villagers live in very similar conditions as their Lung Thuoc counterparts but have some access to electricity, thanks to a small hydroelectric generator which lives in a bucket wedged between some stones on the nearby spring. The generator provides enough electricity to light 2-3 bulbs per household and is out of commission for 5 months a year during which the spring floods due to rains.
The Lotus team spent a few days surveying the site and interviewing the villagers and the local authorities in Pa Mi as well and we learned that all the children in the village make the 7 km hike to the nearest school regularly. A small off-grid solar PV system will have a big impact on the lives of the children and their families, they would like to use the electricity to further their education, buy electric stoves to reduce dependence on firewood which is very scarce during the rainy season, and buy farm equipment.