Design Features

Solar Panels
The SolarBerry is powered by solar panels as a more reliable and cost efficient energy source. The frame angle is optimized to provide the best energy supply throughout the year.

Raspberry Pi
The SolarBerry hosts 11 raspberry pi computers that demand only 4W of power yet provide all the necessary functions of a desktop computer, including access to a wide range of educational resources. They are connected to low energy monitors, using only 11W to ensure that there is enough energy stored at the end of the day to allow the community to use the SolarBerry in the evenings.

Shade Cloth
The shade cloth prevents direct sunlight heating up the SolarBerry container while allowing air to flow under drawing the warm air away from the inside.

Exterior
Highly reflective white paint helps to keep the temperature inside the SolarBerry at an acceptable level.

SolarBerry Monitoring
The SolarBerry Monitoring System is a web-based tool that will gather a number of metrics about the performance of the SolarBerry and display this both real-time and historically. This tool will integrate fully with the existing learning material available through RACHEL and so allow students to access the information in the context of educational videos and articles on solar power already available. Furthermore, this monitoring can aid in the diagnosis of any performance issues and handle any low-battery conditions through safely shutting down apparatus as required.

Andrew Clark, a trustee of the Turing Trust who led the design, talks about some of the challenges here:

We have already established working computer laboratories in Ghana with networked Raspberry Pis. These are at Dodowa, Tatale and Zabzugu ICCES and allow students to access the wealth of learning resources available in RACHEL.

Prior to construction we also tested prototypes successfully in Edinburgh and Manchester.

Construction

Our SolarBerry started its journey as a container in Edinburgh, transporting computers and accessories to Malawi. It arrived in Mzuzu in December 2016 and was initially used to store computers securely pending distribution to schools. Local contracts were made to provide materials and labour and then the real work began.

Steelworks
The first step in the construction was to make a frame for the main doors and then fit them. They have been designed so that the lower half opens down to form a ramp, whilst the upper doors open outwards. All are secured on the inside to provide maximum security for the valuable IT kit when not in use.

Joinery
The inside of the container was fitted with white boards supporting the 11 workstations, but also ensuring as much light as possible in the classroom.

Electricals
The next step to transform the SolarBerry into a computer laboratory was to fit the batteries and solar controller and wire up lights and sockets for each workstation.

Training on Setting up Raspberry Pi Network
It is essential to equip the local team with the knowledge and skills to set up and run the Raspberry Pi network. Delivery of educational resources to the students and local community is dependent on a reliable network.

More information
If you would like more detail on the SolarBerry design we have made available an Information Pack to download (for non-commercial use only).

Download the SolarBerry Information Pack

There is still plenty to do to get the benefits of our solar-powered computer labs to other communities in Malawi, so please do support our work. If you would like to keep up with the progress of the SolarBerry, then please sign up for our newsletter.

Donate

Sign up for our newsletter

Related links
Why a SolarBerry?
Where is the SolarBerry?
The SolarBerry in Choma