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If you were to know one thing about Selva Negra, is our desire to be self-sufficient and diversified in a sustainable way. Our biggest obstacle to achieve this goal is energy needs. In a previous newsletter we discussed the research we've done in generating wind power. As it turns out the infrastructure in Nicaragua is not adequate for importing and installing the windmill, so we had to investigate other means of generating our own power. Which brings us to our current venture of a water turbine. |
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On May 3, 2006 it all began with a proposal send in by Mr. Georges Ives Op Den Bosch. There was no turning back; this is something we had to do. We hired a geographer engineer to do the plans on were and how the pipeline could go. We realized from his study that we didn't have the drop required to generate the electricity needed. So, we had to invest our savings into purchasing part of the property beneath Selva Negra.
- Stage 1: Make a "Y" out of the 8" pipeline from the lake. One side will have a cover (leading to stage 2) and the other with a reduction to 6", so we could continue with a 6" PVC pipe up to the middle of the drop. PVC is less expensive, more accessible but holds less pressure. This way we will generate about 45 kw.
- Stage 2: Create the next 6" pipeline to the same middle point in the drop. This stage could generate another 45 Kw, and will be done in a few years once we're sure we have enough water.
- Stage 3: We will use an 8" pipeline with steel starting in the middle jointure where stage 1 and 2 end. The 8" pipeline will lead to the new land bought at the bottom of the farm, were the same turbine would be placed. Hopefully by the time we reach this third stage the steel pipeline will be available. Since the additional drop generates such pressure that PVC pipeline would never stand it. This stage will generate an additional 110 Kw.
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Stage 1&2 will end in the middle point of the drop, dropping approximately 150mts. Here we will build a Pelton turbine. When we're ready for stage 3, we will take it from this Pelton to the final drop of 300mts in the new property purchased. |
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The work that was performed to get us to where we are is amazing, not just in sheer volume and scope, but the fact that we have accomplished it with in house personnel. The coffee pickers, bricklayers, carpenters and others that work permanently in the farm have been performing the bulk of the work, with supervision and guidance from Eddy Kuhl and other professionals in the field. We have built roads; built houses, the Pelton house, dug the trenches for the pipeline, cleared the trenches, and installed the pipe from the bottom of the Pelton house to the Hotel lake. We've run into problems along the way, including the aerial part that the pipes have to go through, for this we build columns and made beams to hold it as a bridge. We've cut the road on several places, hold the passing of vehicles and placed the pipe; we have now 3 months doing this job with ups and downs and need about 1 more month to finish, as we have 2 sections that we have to make bridges and have not finish that yet. The most valuable part of having our own personnel perform this work, is that they know and love this farm, and in their great efforts we've only lost 5 coffee trees, even tough the pipeline cuts directly trough the plantation. |
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We've also done the work on the pond, the bricklayers made the mouth for receiving of the water, here we will place the 8" pipe and join them with the 6" coming from the bottom. The draining of the lake posed its own set of challenges, with the beginning of the rainy season collapsing some of the work. Needless to say, this is a major investment. We were fortunate to secure financing thanks to the guidance of our coffee buyers. It will take a while to breakeven, but we have no doubt we will. |
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Between the hotel and the farm we use about 30 Kw. This is while we're not in the picking season, while we're processing the coffee, we can expect to utilize an additional 20 Kw. Theoretically, stage 1 will cover most of our demand. But with stage 2 we might be able to start our cut flower business again, which on its own draws an additional 45Kw when all the greenhouses were in use. This is one of the ventures that had to be discontinued due to the high cost of electricity in Nicaragua. When all three stages are complete, we will not be limited on projects due to electricity, this is not only an amazing thing for our little farm in Nicaragua, but for anyone, anywhere in the world to feel free of the constraints of energy usage. |
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Our goal doesn't end with stage 3. We plan to continue with the windmill just as a back up so we never have to lack electricity and depend of the national grid. Another reason for doing the windmill is that the wind is more permanent, and the supply will not decrease every year. The problem with wind is that it is more expensive, so we have to wait until we pay all this off, and by then we will hopefully not have the infrastructure restraints. With this complement we can guarantee a permanent and sure supply of energy. Stay tuned for more developments in future newsletters. |
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Return to 2007 2nd Quarter Newsletter
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