We already spent five days in Adoni. Our Indian colleagues from EWB India also joined us and meanwhile one of them left us to return tomorrow from Hyderabad. The two members of EWB India are in the end of their Bachelor and also deeply in their preparations for the final exams, but nevertheless they contribute in a calm and productive way to the project.

We defined within the first days our tasks which have to be accomplished at first. We generally follow the knowledge transfer to the villagers and the generality of the solar thermal project with a higher emphasis, since the third task the knowledge transfer in the school cannot take place yet, since the kids are in holidays. The will return to the school and the boarding school within the end of next week. We mostly struggled with minor problems, like missing office equipment and additional measurement for the future construction site. But we also started to get in touch with local suppliers and tried to find out reliable sources for our solar thermal project. But it really seems that we have to get our delivery from either Hyderabad or Bangalore, since Adoni doesn't have any higher skilled industry like insulation or solar thermal manufacturer.

We also solved minor problems like additional consultancy in civil engineering purposes for the orphanage. The roof of the boys' hostel will be remade next January and so we discussed potential solutions. While this inspection we examined the poor condition of the flat roof where the solar plant should be installed. So we decided to remove the roof at this part of the building and to place the plant on a lower level, on a stable ceiling. This necessitates further caulking on this floor/ceiling, to transform it in a reliable roof condition. For the knowledge transfer we went to a scrap metal trader and gathered several items to build an L-stove which was later manufactured by a nearby welder.

We are doing well and we will test three different stove designs soon, as well as we will install a chimney at the steam boiler. Alternative fuel burning experiments in the boiler are scheduled for Monday. Since the scale of the orphanage is broken and will just be replaced the next Monday.

20.10.2012 16:56, David Norta