Solar energy use for alternative transportation in rural areas

Abstract

The Colombian countryside is experiencing an isolation situation derived from the lack of road infrastructure that allows its interaction with the main urban areas and the mobilization of agricultural products. For this reason the initiative to develop a transport system by aerial cable (tarabita) fed by a hybrid system with photovoltaic solar energy as the main source. To achieve this objective, an investigation of social conditions, public order situation, topography and economy of the community to impact was carried out. With the identified problem and the defined input variables, a design process was developed, characterized by a constant review and optimization of the results. The designs were reviewed based on technical documentation, consultations with expert advisors and tests performed on the low fidelity prototype, which was constructed in order to verify the operation of the system.