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Post by kandace on Sept 19, 2021 12:02:31 GMT -5
From The GoodNewsNetwork: “To invent,” Thomas Edison said, “you need a good imagination and a pile of junk.” Colrerd Nkosi had all the junk he needed—and the will to bring electricity to his small village in Malawi—and he not only accomplished his goal, but won an award from the Queen of England. Using a repurposed corn-shelling machine motor and a fast-moving river, Nkosi created an electric turbine that’s now lighting up homes for him and his neighbors for free in the town of Mzimba.
Just like Edison, he did a lot of experimenting. In the beginning, he put a bicycle in the river and brainstormed about how the current moved the pedals, and how it might be turned into power. Then, he used an old refrigerator compressor that converted power for 6 homes. His neighbors were clamoring, so he continued to upgrade.
According to the self-taught inventor, his latest turbine has the potential to produce enough power to provide electricity to 1,000 homes and says another turbine can be installed downstream to expand the grid. (Watch the video below.) The hydro power has the added benefit of lessening deforestation by negating the necessity for locals to cut down trees in order to obtain charcoal. In a country where only 11% of the population has access to electricity, having a reliable and renewable source of energy has been a game-changer—especially in the schools.
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Post by zenwalk on Sept 23, 2021 13:47:09 GMT -5
Sometimes it pays to re-invent the wheel.
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