Bedouin Home Goes Solar

Six years ago, Mohammad Al Mansouri, a retired military officer, got tired of having his mobile phone ruined by the fluctuating current of his generator.

He looked around for options and found a company in China that sold solar-powered phone chargers. Unbeknown to him, that purchase would ignite a passion and start an attempt to convert the entire Al Mansouri retreat in the Empty Quarter to solar power.

At the moment everything at the retreat, apart from the air conditioning and one water pump, operates on solar energy. The TV and satellite receiver, lights, computer, phone chargers and refrigerators all run on solar power.

Last year it rained for three days straight and it was completely cloudy. The system ran beautifully non-stop with no problems for all three days. That was the ultimate test of the system and it passed with flying colours. Mohammad Al Mansouri

"My main motivation is that I want some peace and quiet. The generator is very noisy, not to mention how much it pollutes the area," says Al Mansouri.

"In winter, when we don’t need the AC, everything can run on solar power and we can enjoy the peace and solitude of the desert."

The retreat consists of three parts. The main area is a makeshift caravan, a precast house on an 18-wheeler truck where the Al Mansouri family resides. About a kilometre away is the camel pen where more than 80 camels, not including the ones roaming free, are cared for, and a little further away at the foot of a large steep sand dune is a palm field. All three areas operate on solar power.

The system he bought four years ago is now installed in the camel pen. "I bought this AC Delco battery four years for Dh140. It has been working perfectly this whole time even though it shouldn’t last more than two years. Today this battery costs Dh210." The system powers small appliances like phone chargers and energy-saver lights.

"I’m not the first one who has tried this," says Al Mansouri, "but I don’t know anyone who succeeded. They all complain that it doesn’t work but that’s always user error." He explained that one should always clean the panel for better results, and keep the controller, inverter and batteries out of the sun and away from the sand.

One panel connected to two 100watt batteries is enough to power everything but the AC in the caravan. "The new controllers are great, they show you how much charge is left in the battery, the amount of sunlight available and how much current is being used."

Al Mansouri said that his biggest obstacle is the AC which uses up 227 litres of diesel, costing Dh450, every four days. "I tried to set up a system to power the AC. I used 10 panels, but it could only run the AC for 3 hours. On the bright side I have found a solar-powered water pump from a German company and I should be getting it some time soon."

"In winter we set up four tents and a kitchen. Since the weather is cool we don’t need the AC, so we are totally reliant on solar power," he said.

"Last year it rained for three days straight and it was completely cloudy. The system ran beautifully non-stop with no problems for all three days. That was the ultimate test of the system and it passed with flying colours.

"The only problem I had with solar power is finding spare parts," he said. "But renewable energy is getting more and more popular. Just recently I heard that Abu Dhabi will set up a solar panel production factory, so this shouldn’t be a problem for long."

When asked how much he has saved by using solar energy, Al Mansouri said: "I think I’ve spent about Dh25,000 in total and it has saved me a lot of headaches and improved the cleanliness."

* Should the UAE go solar powered? Vote in our poll.

You Speal: What do readers think?

Li Bemon, Filipina

Using natural resources is cheaper. It can help prevent ozone depletion since there will be no release of harmful gases into the atmosphere.

Nabeel Al Ghati, Emirati

It is a good idea. Dubai has already starting using solar power such as in the parking meters. It will not be long before they use it for more things. This will benefit everyone and keep the air purified for us to breathe.

Emad Awaad, Jordanian

Alternative methods should be used more instead of traditional methods. It will reduce harmful things like the greenhouse effect. But we need to implement these systems everywhere, not only in certain areas.

Andrea Keaney, Scottish

Dubai is moving in the right direction by using solar power. If we use more such systems we can prevent happenings such as global warming.

Rebecca S., British

This is a great idea. Living in a country like the UAE where there is sunshine throughout the year we should take full advantage of this and install more solar panels, be it in offices or houses.

Jalal Boulahia, Moroccan

It is a good idea. We should use solar energy more often and also use other natural resources which will help save the environment.

Jeron Gangcuangco, Filipino

Systems such as solar power can save power and electricity. This is a must-use source. It will also create better surroundings to live in.

Made for the desert

• Amin Lakhani of Apex Power Concepts, the retailer who sold Al Mansouri his solar panels and systems, says the potential for solar energy in this part of the world is huge. "Here you have the maximum amount of sunlight and the land and means to invest in renewable energy. I think soon there will be major regulatory support coming especially after Live Earth. Sharjah and Dubai are on their way to having a renewable energy freezone. Every emirate is thinking about renewable energy but in different ways."
• Lakhani says that in the months to come we will see solar energy used more commonly in the UAE.
• However, at the moment due to federal laws it is prohibited to install a secondary power source to a building that is on the grid. "At the moment solar power can only be used for locations off the power grid."
• Lakhani says that most of his company's business comes from re-exporting to African nations."Three or four years ago there was high demand in Afghanistan, now it's Africans who show interest. Only about 10 per cent of our sales are to local customers."

Stories from the sands

Reaching his camel pen, Al Mansouri gets out of his car and begins to call out to a herd of camels feeding outside their pen: "Hai, Hayyar, Hoad," he keeps repeating.

Suddenly a large camel comes out from among the herd, walks up to him and touches his hand with its nose. A few seconds later the rest of the herd join him.

Recognising one’s camels from the many that roam the desert is something only someone who has lived with camels most of his life can do. People have heard of this Bedouin ability but very few have witnessed it. I’ve often wondered how the Bedouin who let their camels roam freely in the desert ever find them and tell them apart without branding them. Now I know.

Al Mansouri reminisces: "In 1970 a group of men came and told my father that they’re with a Shaikh hunting in the area and would like some camel milk so he obliged."

Later that day they returned to tell him the Shaikh would like them to come and join him for dinner. "It was only at dinner that we realised that the invitation came from [the late] Shaikh Zayed.

"After dinner he asked my father, ‘Do you send your sons to school?’ ‘No,’ said my father, ‘there are no schools near here, I teach them the ways of the desert like my father taught me and his father taught him.’

"Shaikh Zayed nodded and said, ‘Give me one year – you will have a school in Madinat Zayed where you will send your sons. That is not too far, is it?’ The next year I was enrolled in the first grade and attended school for the first time. I was eleven years old."