Djibouti - ACTIVE
SUMMARY:
Liquidstar has won an unsolicited USAID development grant for Djibouti in North Eastern Africa. Working with USAID and the Ministry of Energy, an initial full Waypoint will be deployed and monitored over a 2 year program as means to test full scale implementation of the Liquidstar concept as applied to folks with little or no energy access in rural areas.
This project represents the first full demonstration test of Liquidstar’s electron-ecosystem/economy concept enabled by Waypoint charging stations. If successful it will allow us to expand critical utility support throughout USAID’s global network as well as establish the Waypoint concept as a well documented and tracked industrial scale infrastructure solution to energy companies and governments around the world.
PROJECT PARTNERS:
USAID - The United States Agency for International Development (USAID) is an independent agency of the United States federal government that is primarily responsible for administering civilian foreign aid and development assistance. With a budget of over $27 billion, USAID is one of the largest official aid agencies in the world and accounts for more than half of all U.S. foreign assistance—the highest in the world in absolute dollar terms.
UPDATES
Surprise walkthrough, 1 month into operation
Behind the scenes of the Djibouti Waypoint unboxing and setup
ACTIVITY CONTEXT
Location Locked
The Liquidstar team makes a first trip to Djibouti to survey three potential sites that come recommended by USAID and the Ministry of Energy. Following the site visits, the decision is made to deploy the activity in the village of Kalaf, Tadjoura.
Meeting with USAID, Ministry of Energy, and Local Partners
Liquidstar meets with the Minister of Energy, forming the beginnings of a good relationship on this innovative new project. As we move forward we will confirm and update the government’s involvement beyond their recommendation of pilot locations.
Initial Activity Site Visits
Liquidstar, USAID, and representatives from the Ministry of Energy journey to the potential pilot sites to determine the ideal location while conducting general observational surveys, later to conduct official surveys.
Local Community Research
Liquidstar meets with the local village leadership to better understand the current situation while forming good relations for future collaboration.
Existing Energy Infrastructure Review
We also observed a number of different aid projects that have been tested here in the past. It is unclear if any of them are still being maintained but at least some of the services are no longer/partially functional. One positive benefit is that we were able to identify an underutilized solar array that we will be able to build into our Waypoint stack.
Existing Water Infrastructure Review
Example of water sources with contamination. We are able to further observe the current water situation and how there is definitely potential for supplying clean drinking water.
Existing Generator & Mobility Review
Observation of current solutions for pumping water are diesel/gasoline powered generators and pumps. It is also observed that gasoline motorcycles exist but are rare in the communities.
Final Community Surveys
After confirming the village of Kalaf, a separate team returned later to reconfirm our understanding of the situation through conducting surveys.
Waypoint Deployment Location Located & Locked
We were able to determine the best location for deploying the Waypoint. It is located conveniently near to the derelict solar array that we will utilize. It is also in a location that does not conflict with the space of existing locals or pose a threat if the Waypoint were to experience an incident.
Waypoint Development
Big Things have Small Beginnings
The small humble beginnings of the broad concept of a ‘closed loop civilization in a box’.
Waypoint Core Computer Development
Building the initial consolidated prototype on our own time and funding while we wait for the USAID budget update and funding to clear.
Further Los Angeles Waypoint Development
The prototype Waypoint is complete with solar and dual starlinks along with various communications protocols that allow it to work as a solar powered, space connected multi band base station.
Swappable Battery Development
Batteries are designed and tested to determine if it is ideal to go fully custom on the initial deployment or to utilize off the shelf batteries to then determine the strengths and weaknesses and incorporate that into the design of a fully custom battery.
Atmospheric Water Generation & (LA Air Water) Ice Development
Atmospheric water generation is also tested along with the bonus goal of being able to provide ice from the atmospherically generated water.
EMOTO Electron Mobility Development
After a series of surveys across multiple countries it is determined that there is no perfect existing solution to an affordable, capable, durable, ‘Toyota Hilux’ style utility emoto. We have developed our own vision of what this could be, although many iterations are needed for it to meet our standards and that of the harsh operating environments.
Waypoint Design Initial Development
Final details of the design are ironed out for immediate build initiation with our partner Blackstump. This development is contingent on the approval and release of the first tranche of requested funding.
Waypoint Design Iteration & in Situ Rendering
Further design iterations are made to more closely match the final mechanical deliverable. Following this initial pilot, it is easy to visualize Waypoints deployed in various parts of the world to support USAID and other utility sector activities.
Waypoint Construction Begins
With funding approved and in, the Waypoint shell arrives to our partners in Australia and begins making progress towards its deployment in Djibouti.
Waypoint Painting & Schema
The Waypoint is painted to closely match the original design to best highlight the process from electron ecosystem concept to reality. We are also exploring various different design schemes that could involve local artists or materials.
Waypoint Solar Generation Development
The Liquidstar team inspects the progress of the Waypoint and plans for the next steps.
Waypoint Interior Development
Internal Waypoint mechanisms are designed and implemented with great consideration to the harsh environments it needs to withstand with minimal maintenance and maximum automation.
Custom Battery Management & Connectivity Development
Development of custom battery energy management and control/connectivity boards will allow us to track in detail the usage of the ‘electron buckets’ as they are deployed in the field. Development is also made on other aspects, such as the charge controller, which will enable the mobile batteries to also charge back into the station. This is something that is useful to test for future electron ecosystem use cases and much higher overall ability to balance demand and efficiency.
Battery Modification Implementation
Further modifications and implementation of the custom battery hardware begins.
Waypoint Development Continuation
Considerable progress has been made on the Waypoint. From the main roof mounted solar wing array to the electric motos to the glowing LED sign.
Testing of Aux Solar Arrays and Electric Mobility
Demonstration of auxiliary energy generation assets to USG officials as well as off the shelf UBCO electric utility motorcycles as the Waypoint nears completion.
USAID/Djibouti Waypoint Development Nearing Completion
Finalization of the Waypoint proceeds with demonstration of the shipping approved roof mounted solar wings. When stowed, the Waypoint can be shipped 9 containers deep without risk of damage to the solar panels.
The Waypoint is Loaded and Shipped from Australia
Finalization of Waypoint along with setup walk through procedure which should allow for rapid deployment. Setup video is also captured for greater ease of use and potential troubleshooting. Waypoint is packed and prepared for release to shipping company.
Delivery in Djibouti & Customs Approval!
The Waypoint arrives seemingly undamaged from its journey from Australia and other parts of the world. Customs also visits the Waypoint and grants clearance so we can begin activation.
Unboxing
Following delivery of the Waypoint and clearance from the customs inspector, we set to work unpacking the Waypoint and making sure that nothing had been damaged in transit.
Turn It On
After unpacking and checking the vital systems, we unfolded the ground based auxiliary W rack solar panels and extended the solar wings. This allowed us to activate the core Waypoint system for the first time in under 2 hours. This demonstrates the ability to rapidly deploy and activate a Waypoint while at the same time being able to rapidly reverse the process and leave no trace behind.
Checking Systems
Testing of power generation, water generation, and network connection is completed successfully. We have also tested the UBCO utility emotos as well as the backup generator. There are minor modifications to the Waypoint that are needed in order to better exhaust heat as well as insulate from the harsh temperatures.
Visit from USAID and The Ministry of Energy
Once tested with systems running well, we were visited by USAID and The Djiboutian Ministry of Energy to see the progress on the activity since deployment. They were able to sample the cold water and see the system in operation. The next stage is to receive shipment of the first 20 rental batteries so the model can begin testing.
Ebikes Actually Super Useful
Interestingly Harrison and Conor found it incredibly helpful to use the 2 solar charged UBCO utility bikes to commute to and from the Waypoint and the hotel. This was a first hand demonstration of such a utility with the neighboring town of Tadjourah. Also the fact that so much money could be saved on transportation cannot be understated.
Final Adjustments
Last minute tasks are completed before the end of the first trip. We will return once the initial shipment of batteries arrive.
How to use the Waypoint
We work with both the locals and the local employees to best understand the utility of the Waypoint. Anecdotally, we found that once people were offered the cold water of the AWG they did not want warm or room temp water. This established the value of cold water in such an environment (we recognized this value personally). Overall it was important that we had a direct technical connection to the Waypoint through the local Power Rangers and that everyone had reasonable expectations as to the uses of the Waypoint and the costs involved.
Battery Arrival and Micro Datacenter Setup
Although slightly delayed, the first ‘devices’ or first 20 batteries arrived along with additional hardware and the 2 x 2.4kWh recycled EV batteries. They cleared customs and were delivered to the Waypoint with unboxing, setup and labeling to follow. We were also able to complete the assembly of the core computer/micro datacenter as well as the immersion cooling process.
Activity Soft Launch
After the batteries were unboxed and set up, we began a soft launch rental trial of the first 20 batteries. It was an incredible success as all 20 batteries were rented out within the first few hours of the word getting out.
Batteries Renting, Water Selling
The Waypoint’s Power Ranger employees are now able to run the Waypoint and charge money without any direct intervention from ourselves. Batteries are rented for 50DJF per day and water is sold at half the price of a brand new water - 30-50DJF. Additionally, individuals are required to reuse bottles for the water, encouraging recycling and reuse. Currently over 100 rentals have occurred with individuals keeping the battery from 3-5 days at a time. This usage rate is interesting and will also be adjusted for daily payments in the future.