Nice article about DYI wind power project

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Teen’s DIY Energy Hacking Gives African Village New Hope
Some people see lemons and make lemonade. William Kamkwamba saw wind and made a windmill.

This might not seem like a mighty feat. But Kamkwamba, who grew up in Masitala, a tiny rural farming village off the grid in Malawi, was 14 years old in 2001 when he spotted a photo of a windmill in a U.S. textbook one day. He decided to make one, hacking together a contraption from strips of PVC pipe, rusty car and bicycle parts and blue gum trees.

Though he ultimately had big designs for his creation, all he really wanted to do initially was power a small bulb in his bedroom so he could stay up and read past sunset.

But one windmill has turned into three, which now generate enough electricity to light several bulbs in his family’s house, power radios and a TV, charge his neighbors’ cellphones and pump water for the village’s fields and household use.
Now 22, Kamkwamba wants to build windmills across Malawi and perhaps beyond. Next summer he also plans to construct a drilling machine to bore 40-meter holes for water and pumps. His aim is to help Africans become self-sufficient and resolve their problems without reliance on foreign aid.

“The problem we have is electricity and water problems,” he says. “I want to be tackling all of them at once.”
-Bill
Near San Francisco California: 3.5kWatt Grid Tied Solar power system+small backup genset

Comments

  • GreenPowerManiac
    GreenPowerManiac Solar Expert Posts: 453 ✭✭✭
    Re: Nice article about DYI wind power project

    He's the next up and coming Hugh Piggott success story. Neat !

    Now that's a passion to make things happen. Kind of sounds like my turbines. Once I made the first, the next 4 where a snap.
    Nature's Design & Green Energy on FaceBook : Stop by and "Like" us anytime.. Many up-to-date articles about Renewables every day.
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    Lots of DIY Renewable Energy Projects on ETSY : Solar Panel builds, Wind Turbine builds, Rain Barrel build,etc.  
  • micahv
    micahv Registered Users Posts: 19 ✭✭
    Re: Nice article about DYI wind power project

    http://wamu.org/programs/dr/09/10/04.php#29120
    An interview with this kid...what's even more amazing is the one book he had was in English, which at the time he did not know.
  • WillWinston
    WillWinston Solar Expert Posts: 45
    Re: Nice article about DYI wind power project

    he and his co-author gave a speech at Northwest u last week

    we attended --it was very inspiring

    his book is good too, worth buying


    here is his website


    http://williamkamkwamba.typepad.com/

    check out the Daily show interview at the above site

    the circuit breaker he designed is truly innovative

    those who are able -- let's help this young man out