Solar Powered Computers for Africa

A business based at The University of Nottingham Innovation Park (UNIP) has developed a solar-powered computing solution which is being used by students in South Africa and Ghana

Sustainable Computers was founded by Tony Winfield, a former Head of ICT and Business at a local secondary school, who recognised that one of the issues holding back the use of ICT in developing countries was the availability and cost of electricity.

Working in partnership with Solar Ready Ltd, technology has since been developed which operates completely “off-grid”, using direct and stored power from renewable energy sources. Speaking about the benefits of the solar-powered system, Tony said: “The solution we’ve developed is ideal for schools and other organisations that have unreliable or no access to mains electricity. However, it can also be used with mains supplies, providing savings of up to 70% on electricity costs.

“Each component in the system is designed to maximise efficiency. The power is distributed directly to each computer and screen, doing away with the need for wasteful power inverters, enabling the solar-powered systems to operate in both daylight and dark hours.”

Bob Scott, Director of The University of Nottingham Innovation Park (UNIP), added: “It’s great to see that Sustainable Computers is developing and growing at UNIP. There are lots of entrepreneurs based here who find the dynamic environment and the access to academic expertise and talented students invaluable as a means of sparking new ideas, thinking and working more innovatively."