A young man has created a windmill out of spare parts in Malawi.
William Kamkwamba says one day while reading he came across two books, Using Energy and How it Works, which are about generation of electricity using a windmill.
On a trial and error basis, he managed to make a small windmill which generated electricity enough to light his dorm. Seeing its success he planned for a bigger one so that his parents could benefit and some well-wishers gave him money to get some of the materials he needed.
In total, he spent a total of 2200 Malawi Kwachas, which is equivalent to $16. William is saving his family money on home lighting expenses, recharges people’s mobile phones and radio batteries, and also charges his own automobile battery for backup power.
Unlike most windmills, where the propellers turn the spindle connected to the turbines directly, William added pulleys to his machine to increase speed thereby generating more energy.
There are three pulleys and the last is connected to a bicycle wheel. When this wheel turns, it spins a dynamo which in turn generates electricity.
Story Link (via Hacktivate)
This is amazing. Has someone offered to pay for this young man to go back to school? Such ingenuity shouldn’t be allowed to sag into disillusionment.
A pulley will only give you more speed. This is not equal to more energy,
I am looking for advice on how to build a windmill in Masaka Uganda to pump water from a well for a village. They have an electric pump but the electicity only works a few days a week. Can anyone advise me?
I have been making windmills with bicycle wheels:
See my latest setup using these links:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DGFewAYrcjM
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8y0DS72B9Bw
http://www.thebackshed.com/Windmill/FORUM1/forum_posts.asp?TID=107&PN=1&TPN=1
William Kamkwamba will enjoy the video clip.
I was born in Haiti.
Philippe Paul
I Also want to know what items are requiered to make the homemade windmill, How to Connect &
how to produce electricity.
i want to know how to start
I know of many US windfarms that are about to undergo equipment replacement. Is there an opportunity to have older generation turbines shipped at cost to developing nations in Africa?
There may be organizations willing to take on such a venture.