A photovoltaic power station was launched in June 2023 in Colon, Panama, with the name of the House of Providence, the first non-profitable children’s welfare house in Panama.
Shanghai Zhenhua Heavy Industry Co Ltd (ZPMC), a subsidiary of China Communications Construction Company Limited (CCCC), played a key role in development of the station.
The House of Providence has always provided general care, nutrition, medical care and education services to children in special need. As the number of children increased, power demands of the institute soared up, leading to shortages.
To meet those power demands, Rotary International initiated a donation for a PV power station project.
Learning about the donation, Qian Weiyong, head of ZPMC in Latin America, said the ZPMC branch decided to participate in the activity, donating the ZPMC-developed PV power facility.
When the project was approved by headquarters, the ZPMC in Latin America led by Qian held a negotiation meeting with Nancy Andrade Castro, president of Rotary Club Pacific (Panama City) and vice-president of Manzanillo Port Corporation, and decided that the ZMPC branch in Latin America would provide the PV panels and the Manzanillo Port Corporation would be responsible for construction.
A view of the PV panels produced by ZMPC [Photo provided to sasac.gov.cn]
On June 14, 2022, the PV panels produced by ZMPC departed from China to arrive in Panama on Sept 17.
Qian suggested installing the panels on the shed to collect sunlight as the PV power generation system was equipped with ultra-high-power double-glass PV components.
The ZMPC branch in Latin America was also responsible for the installation and adjustment of the PV panels.
In June 2023, the PV power station at the House of Providence started trial operation.
Consisting of 108 PV panels, the power station has a total installed capacity of about 60 kilowatts. It is expected to generate an average of about 84,000 kilowatt-hours of power annually once operational, equaling the power produced by burning about 28 metric tons of standard coal and a reduction of about 78 tons of carbon dioxide.
Later, the power station will be independently operated by the House of Providence with the ZMPC branch in Latin America providing technical support.
(Executive editor: Zhu Zeya)
