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Renew Crew

The costs involved with providing these experiences for students are significant.
Additional support is needed to defray expenses associated with student travel and
accommodations, and to create opportunities for students who otherwise would not
be able to participate. Support for RECA is support for Penn State students’ future!

The cost of the trip is $2,500 per student, which covers travel, lodging, and food. All
other costs are covered by a combination of funds from Penn State donors, Vegas
Electric, and others.

The best way we know to prepare Penn State students to become world-
class engineers, capable of changing the world for the better, is to give them
opportunities to go out into the world, get their hands dirty, and tackle real projects.
Unfortunately, the number of courses currently available for Penn State students to
gain these kinds of hands-on, immersive experiences is low.

One exceptional example of a course that does meet these criteria is the Renewable
Energy for Central America (RECA) program, offered through Penn State’s
Center for Sustainability. This program provides a transformational learning
experience, and a chance to demonstrate global leadership in the field of renewable
energy. RECA students are challenged to apply their knowledge, technology skills
and creativity towards solving real-world problems, by working with at-need
populations in Central America. http://www.cfs.psu.edu/programs/reca.html

The mission
Developing countries face significant challenges to affordable, reliable, clean
energy. Electricity is unreasonably expensive in Honduras, $.50/kW vs. $.15/kW
in the United States. Additionally, the grid is supplied by burning diesel fuel, an
unsustainable, non-renewable, even though Roatán has on average, seven hours of
sunshine a day—enough solar energy to supply most of the island’s electrical needs.

Student teams are challenged to design, build and install a solar photovoltaic system
in partnership with a local community, during a service-learning Solar PV Design
and Construction course offered in the spring. These systems offset demand on the
grid and money saved by the communities can in turn be used on basic necessities
such as food, water and medical care.