If you read some of the posts in the archives you will get a sense of solar in the DR. If you are connected to the grid (assuming you have a reasonable amount of time to charge your batteries), it will still be cheaper per kilowatt-hour to take it from the grid than to produce it with solar power (even with the losses in conversation). There are many variables that determine when wind and/or solar make more sense. If you live off the grid and use candles and kerosene for lighting, dry cells for your radio and a car battery for your black and white TV, solar is your answer. No doubt about it. About 200,000 families live under these circumstances and at least 20,000 of them are using solar as we speak. This is due to the fact that a group of committed Dominicans and people from many different countries have invested up to 20 years of their lives trying to make the free market work in the DR. No one and I mean no one is getting rich doing it. The inverter business is another story. Joselito who represents the major inverter company (I keeping thinking Trace, but there are two major ones and I forgot which is which) started small time in Moca and look at him now.
Try Soluz in Santiago, Cotui and Sosua, Cogram, Tecsol and Solelec in the Capital, Luz Cibao in Jarabacoa, and Solar Luz Cibao in San Francisco de Macoris. There are small businesses installing in Samana, San Jose de las Matas, El Partido (Dajabon), Barahona, Monte Plata and La Romana. These are the ones I know about.
The Dominican government is not giving out any 50% subsidies and solar panels pay a 10% import tax +, and the ballasts for lighting, charge regulator components, and other items pay 30% +. Just recently the government gave away 100w panels to families who were paying a monthly fee for solar electric services from Soluz. This happened in the Puerto Plata region. I doubt whether you really want to go into the solar business in the DR.
$20,000 is about the cost to have a complete setup (1000w) with 24-hour power and all the comforts besides air conditioning. 24v-ceiling fans will have to do the job. A complete kitchen, washer and dryer, and the entertainment equipment you would ever want. About half the costs are for solar panels with life spans of at least 20 years. No monthly bills. The highest cost for maintenance is in the batteries. People that do this tend to learn a great deal and maintain it themselves. I have set people up with a 200w system which gives them basic lights, music, TV and a few other things for $2000 and you can build up your system as you can afford to or as your needs increase. Your main concern is with energy efficiency when you purchase your lighting and appliances. DC is better and 24v is necessary if you have ceiling fans, refrigeration or other heavier motor. You look in the RV catalogues to buy a blender; the small washer and driers in the DR work fine but may require a panel or two be added. Go visit Soluz in Charamicos. Tell them Tomas sent you and ask them to explain the business. If they think you are a spy from Tecsol, they might not trust you. They are the competitors from the Capital who play dirty.
