Mgcawezulu school project

NMMUGREEN are proud to have been able to asssist the "Touch Africa" charity organisation with this project. Touch Africa support a number of rural schools in the former Transkei. This particular project involved giving the school a wind energy derived power supply capable of running one light in each classroom and one TV set. The turbine chosen was a helical savonius (developed at NMMU). The reason for choosing this type of turbine was primarily due to the low capital cost (can operate without a control system).
The turbine was lifted into position yesterday with the school children watching. All the kids were neatly dressed in school uniform and very excited (on a sunday in school holidays!). As the power was turned on they all crowded into a classroom to watch TV and were never seen again!

In a light wind yesterday the turbine was charging the 12V battery bank at between 3 and 6 amps and the usage was 9 amps. Considering the good position of the turbine (9m high on an unobstructed hill) it looks as though the turbine will be able to satisfy the school's needs. This project is a pilot and if successful Touch Africa plan to replicate it at other schools in the area.