Solar Selectives
This is a truly remarkable story that does include alternative energy but even more importantly the human spirit. Last week the BBC News Africa as reported by Jude Sheerin, found a truly amazing Malawian teenager by the name of William Kamkwamba who is inspired by global green energy efforts and climate change campaigns and now is featured in a new book. William literally saved his father’s farm and home village of Masitala by building two functioning windmills out of scrap and debris.
At age 14 William had to quit school and return to Masitala as his parents were unable to afford the $80 annual tuition. He has always dreamed of bringing water and electricity to his village and thwarting the hunger that has become so prevalent in his region.
After one of Malawi’s worst droughts in 2002, resulting in the death of thousands of people William and his family were on the brink of starvation. Now unable to attend school he continued to study by using his village library. William was intrigued by science and one day his life and the lives of many others changed when he located a used book containing the picture of a windmill.
William told BC news that: “I was very interested when I saw the windmill could make electricity and pump water. He thought this could make a difference with hunger and decided to build one for himself.
Now 22 years old, William concocted a turbine from spare bicycle parts, a tractor fan blade and an old shock absorber. He also used and fashioned blades from plastic pipes that were flattened by being held over a fire. It took several months of backbreaking work to complete his turbine project. The end result was a 16 foot high wooden tower resembling an oversized tinker toy creation.
But what appeared to be a novelty and was quite a curious structure to neighbors, soon turned from amusement to amazement when William scrambled up the windmill and hooked a car light bulb to the turbine. As the blades began spinning just like designed the bulb then began to flicker to life and a crowd of villagers went wild.
Later his original windmill capacity was upgraded to 48-volts and anchored into concrete after its original base was chewed away by termites. Then he built a new windmill, dubbed the Green Machine, which turned a water pump to irrigate his family’s field.
The popularity and amazing results of William’s story has led to great responses around the globe. He is often at guest speaking arrangements and is attending a prestigious school in Johannesburg, South Africa.
This is a great example of human dedication and the power to succeed. It also demonstrates how natural resources can be utilized to enhance civilization through application and determination. For more articles and information about solar energy and clean energy resources please visit http://www.solarselectives.com a great resource for outdoor solar powered landscape lighting.
