Suntech Power Holdings, the world's leading solar energy company, has supplied solar panels for 19 remote schools in Lebanon working with local partner Asaco General Trade & Contracting.

Sponsored and facilitated by the Country Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy Demonstration Project for the Recovery of Lebanon (Cedro), established through the United Nations Development Program (UNDP), the combined systems represent the largest solar initiative in Lebanon.

'Cedro's adoption of solar power for these schools will brighten the lives and enhance the learning of children who will define Lebanon's future,' said Nader Jandaghi, Suntech's director of Middle East.

Because of the locations of the schools in rural villages spread across the Bekaa Valley and Northern Lebanon, grid power can be intermittent and unreliable.

In the past, teachers and administrators at these 19 schools have persevered through the blackouts; now they will be able to rely on the sun to provide classroom and library lighting as well as reliable access to a computer or fax/copy machine.

Integrator Asaco designed custom systems using Suntech solar modules for each of the 19 schools, with power outputs ranging from 1.2kWp to 1.8kWp.

'This is the largest set of solar projects in Lebanon to date -- not only in terms of power output but also because of the large number of sites spread across the country,' said Ramzi AbuSaid, CEO of Asaco.-TradeArabia News Service