Projects

Humasol projects?
Humasol projects aim to increase the ability of the local partner to install and maintain renewable energy systems; and to increase the overall ability of local partners to design and install sustainable technology. We carry out projects on request from local communities, either directly or through a Belgian non-profit (non-governmental) organization. Doing so ensure we only undertake projects where a real need exists. We expect from the local population to show interest, commitment and participation to insure the successful implementation of our projects and to guarantee the proper maintenance of the installations after our departure. We try to return for several years to the same location to offer our local partner the possibility to become self-reliant and capable to realize its own energy and water supply installations. Our project are mostly implemented during summer after a thorough preparation in Belgium.

Project overview
Our first project has been the construction of a solar boiler in Humahuaca (Argentina) and was performed during the summer of 2007 by Humasol’s founding fathers, Dieter Duyck and Jeroen Devos. This project inspired them to create Humasol vzw in 2008. Our second project has been the construction of a wind turbine in Humahuaca. The project was implemented by Joris Van Steenwinkel and Stijn Behets, both K.U.Leuven engineering students. This project was the foundation for one of the concepts Humasol still uses today: Implement projects with excellent engineering students.

2010 was a great and ambitious step forward. Twelve students went to La Cascarilla (Peru) and Humahuaca (Argentina). In La Cascarilla, a small mountain village in northern Peru, eight engineering students from the K.U.Leuven worked on electrification and hot water supply for the local school. They build a solar boiler, a wind turbine, a pico-hydroelectric installation and an electricity grid to connect the two power sources with the school. In Humahuaca, three engineering student an a freshly graduated engineer implemented a second solar boiler and a biodigestor (gas production).

In 2011 twenty-one talented students were assigned to projects in Thiès (Senegal), Humahuaca (Argentina) or La Cascarilla (Peru). In La Cascarilla eleven students implemented two new solar boiler, did a follow up of the existing installations and tested a first version of our own Electronic Load Controller (ELC). In Thiès eight students worked to improve the living conditions in a shelter for women and children in distress. They implemented a small solar boiler, a few self-designed photovoltaic panels (PV) and an energy storage & control installation for the PV panels. In Humahuaca two students inspected, repaired and upgraded the existing installations.

Project selection
Humasol only accepts project requested by a local community. We do not want to impose projects. We require true and sincere support from the local community and eventually from a Belgian partner organization. Our project students will and cannot implement their designs without assistance from the local population.

Humasol wishes to coach the local population in the acquisition of the necessary skills to preserve, maintain, repair and reproduce our installations. This is impossible without a motivated and interested local community.

Humasol does everything in its power to funds the projects. We ask our local partner to provide safe housing and food for our project students (which does not have to be for free). In practice the local partner or its Belgian (European) non-profit partner funds more or less half of the project expenses.

Humasol must be able to guarantee to the project students their mission will be substantial enough to be integrated into their curriculum as a master thesis or an internship. A project should be achievable in six to ten weeks with 2 or 3 project students, after 8 month of planning, design and preparation in Belgium.

Humasol must guarantee the safety of the project students, projects in conflict zones will be rejected. If a region is marked as conflict zone during the preparations in Belgium or with students onsite, the project will be postponed or cancelled. More information on conflict zones can be found on the Belgian foreign affair website. We will use the Belgian government recommendations to take our decisions.

Project request
If after reading this page you think you have a suitable project proposal, please send a duly filled “project request form” to projects@humasol.be or contact us for further information.

Download the project request form

The deadline to submit the project request form is July 1st if the project is requested for the summer of the following year. Project requests submitted after the deadline are still welcome but will only be programmed two years later.