the African Uptimist

How to make biodiesel

Graydon Blair of Utah Biodiesel Supply has posted an excellent article on how to make biodiesel.  It is one of the best I have come across on the Web.  Be sure to follow the links embedded in the post, one of which opens to this really helpful graphic illustration.  Blair also provides a useful guide on safety precautions. Though directed at an American audience, it should be possible to adapt and apply the technology in several African countries.  Local entrepreneurs can  play leading roles in making this happen--with a little help from governments (favorable policies, standards, financial incentives), donors (enterprise development support, start-up funds) and local banks (seed and growth capital).

Observing the ups and downs of poverty

Understanding a problem is often a first step towards its solution.  A growing list of online tools designed to enhance our understanding of poverty-related data are being made freely available on the Web.  One of these is the much loved Gapminder, which i covered here several months ago.  Now, Alex Steffen has identified several more, and posted comments and links to them on the WorldChanging site.  Very  convenient and informative. Ultimately, of course, it will take more than a few cool graphics to eliminate poverty.  But these tools can certainly help all concerned to see the big picture, making it easier to close the gap between understanding and effective action.

In other news...

• eHub points visitors to TutorLinker, a web application that connects local tutors and students for free. (By the way, is it just my machine, or does the eHub site indeed take forever to finish loading!).  Anyway, TutorLinker utilizes Google maps to help tutors and prospective clients connect to each other.  As internet access continues to improve in Africa, we expect to see such linkages becoming commonplace, bringing us closer to the goal of universal access to education.  The NEPAD e-schools initiative and the OLPC program could be great platforms for launching and coordinating TutorLinker type services.
• Critical Math points to a Time Magazine article titled "How to bring our schools out of the 20th Century".  The main thrust of the article is that American schools need to foster the following "21st century skills" in their students: 1) Knowing more about the world; 2) Thinking outside the box; 3) Becoming smarter about new sources of information; and 4) Developing good people skills.  Though presented with an American audience in mind,  these ideas are applicable--with suitable adaptations--to other countries.  Interestingly, it turns out that Singapore, Sweden, Belgium, Germany and others have been practicing these methods for years already, with remarkable results.  Their students routinely outperform American students on science and math tests.  "Classes in these countries dwell on key concepts that are taught in depth and in careful sequence, as opposed to a succession of forgettable details so often served in U.S. classrooms."  A number of organizations including the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation, the Carnegie Foundation for the Advancement of Teaching and the Asia Society are pouring money and expertise into model programs to follow these good examples.

Kalene's hydro power project (Update: new picture added)

A small-scale hydroelectric scheme is nearing completion in the Kalene area of north western Zambia.  According to Charles Rea of the North West Zambia Development Trust, the project will provide cheap, clean and sustainable power to the local area.

It will remove dependence on diesel generators and will supply Kalene Hospital, the local schools, clinics and orphanage.  In addition, there will be opportunities for Small and Medium Enterprise (SME) development.  Income from power would decrease dependency on expatriate income for the operation of Kalene Hospital and the other institutions at Kalene and the local area, freeing those funds for investment in other sectors of the local and national economy.  The project will create the basis of a self-sustaining, developing local economy.

The pictures below tell an inspiring story of work in progress (thanks to Charles Rea for all the photos).  Construction is expected to be completed in time for commissioning in April 2007.

Like many activities that are useful and worthwhile, the Kalene Project has not been without its ups and downs.  "It has been a long haul to get to completion in under three years of effort, " says Charles Rea.  But thanks to the strong support of the government and local leaders like the Honourable Chief Zengamina Nyakaseya and his senior wife, Charles and the project team knew that success in bringing clean, sustainable energy services to Kalene was only a matter of faith and time.

A new boost for sustainable energy in Uganda

The JCLOVE Group have posted excerpts of President Yoweri Museveni's New Year Message on their blog.  The text is quite comprehensive, touching on issues like peace in Northern Uganda, education, health, and several "key priority areas" including energy.

The first part of the section on energy sounded deceptively routine and very 1960ish to me, speaking as it did about the "construction of new hydro-power stations in Bujagali and Karuma...planned to start in February and September 2007, respectively."  As i continued down the page, however, it became clear that something new was happening here:  In addition to increasing installed capacity for power supply, the Ugandan government is implementing...

an energy-loss reduction plan in the power system, and further actions to improve efficiency in energy use and demand are being implemented through, for instance, the importation of energy saving bulbs. Moreover, support will be given to consumers, both private and commercial, in installing solar-lighting and water-heating systems. The use of bio-gas, improved efficiency stoves to cater for rural energy requirements and production of electricity from municipal waste for sale of power into the grid will be enhanced...We are also supporting the development of several projects including small hydro power options, co-generation in sugar mills (e.g. the Kakira sugar works project) and biomass-gasification plants that are being developed as public-private partnerships to generate at least 50MW for the grid. Mini-hydro projects will, for instance, electrify areas in Rukungiri, Masindi, and Kibaale.

What have we here? Strong evidence of a major shift in thinking about energy for development.  Museveni's new year message signals a break from the established energy paradigm which may be summed up as follows: "expand generation and transmission capacity, set tariffs, subsidize as expedient, problem solved."  Instead, Museveni seems to be walking the talk of a more balanced approach.  This includes commitments to increase the role of renewable energy, and the assignment of equal priority to efficiency and conservation.  And this is more than just talk. Museveni's new drive to promote the use of energy-saving light bulbs, for instance, is a first step in the right direction.

eCARE commissions 50th PV-powered business center

True to its word, the eCARE project has commissioned the 50th solar-powered rural business center at Sakora Wonoo, a small community in the Kwabre District of Ghana's Ashanti region.  Funded in part by the United Nations Foundation and Telecom Management Partner, eCARE was launched in December 2005 with the active support of local NGO KITE, Ghana's Ministry of Communications and the Ghana Commercial Bank. We reported on this project back in June 2006 and have been closely tracking it as an interesting example of public-private partnership for universal access to energy and ICTs.  Though starting up as providers of renewably-powered voice telephony and Internet access in rural communities, many of the entrepreneurs now want to grow their businesses into multi-purpose energy enterprises, capable supplying renewable electric power for a variety of other income-generating activities.  KITE is helping them prepare bankable business plans and to secure financing to make this happen.  Recent innovations in energy and information technologies, combined with innovative financing models and government support appear to be creating opportunities for small or medium sized enterprises in Africa to go where the big utilities fear to tread--rural and peri-urban communities "at the bottom of the pyramid" and beyond the grid.

Coming up: "20 Grand Challenges for Engineering"

John Daly over at Thoughts About K4D has posted a link to the National Academy of Engineering website, where they're inviting visitors to brainstorm about ways engineering can help shape the world’s future.  NAE will announce twenty Grand Challenges for Engineering in September, 2007.  "The ultimate determination will be made by a blue-ribbon committee with wide ranging expertise...  They are conducting research on cutting-edge areas of engineering and seeking input from people all over the world.  Please join the discussion..."

Contributions are being sought in 3 areas--"Hope," "Innovations," and "Grand Challenges." i counted 59 suggestions that have so far been made under Grand Challenges.  For example, Joel Rybacki, Pennsylvania, wrote:

Truly sustainable and affordable alternative energy sources will be the greatest challenge. We cannot continue to ride the roller coaster of oil supply and demand. We cannot realistically grow enough crops to supply our growing energy needs. We cannot continue to rely on centrally located power centers to reliably supply energy to the population. The real challenge in this will be to develop a reliable, sustainable, and affordable power generator that can be incorporated into either private dwellings or small-scale local power centers that are interconnected in such a way that it would be difficult to isolate entire communities from the power grid as has so often happened in the last decade.

And i think Peter Chamberlain, University of Portland, is right on the mark when he adds:

Sustainability must become the primary driver of engineering design, not consumption. Here are two of many examples. First, disposable packaging for food and consumer products wastes resources and fills our landfills. Why don't we design reusable packing that is returned by consumers via stores to the original manufacturers?...Second, the prevalence of cars in our transportation system is burning up our energy and material resources. Does it make sense to use a 3,000 lb machine to move a 160 lb person? If we slow down our vehicles (say 25 mph) and ban our SUV, we can all safely drive small vehicles that weight less than we do. It doesn't matter if these vehicles use gasoline, batteries, fuel cells, or our own legs. They will all be more efficient than cars. More of them will fit on our roads so we will be able to get to work faster. We will save energy, raw materials, and a lot of money. We will get to work faster. What ever happened to bicycles?

Victor Vovakes, Tempe, Arizona almost put me off when he said near the beginning of his piece "...as we are doing this, currently, there are many people throughout the world who wish the United States to fail. They are buliding nuclear materials, they are trying to smuggle all kinds of contraband through our purous borders and 'they' are dilligent(sp) and persistent in their endeavors..."  But i  had to agree with him 100% when he concluded,

...We all need to spend more time contemplating human relations. Is there a way we can bring done(sp) the "Wall" again? Remember the future is only as good as we make it. We cannot leave the world the way it is to our children's children. Can We? Gadgets are cool. Stem cell research is great. But without the proper ideals and morals, will any engineering accomplishment really matter?  (! Italics mine) Hopefully someone will be the Savior for all mankind.

Update: A tale of two PV companies

Citizenre, a renewable energy development company based in Delaware, U.S. has launched a program that lets customers rent solar photovoltaic systems for specified periods of time.  Users pay a per-kilowatt fee that replaces the normal bill from the local utility.

The monthly rate is locked in when the 1, 5 or 25-year contract is signed, so as energy prices go up participants are likely to save money while significantly reducing their output of greenhouse gases.  The rental program, called REnU, is billed as a cost-effective response to the challenges many would-be solar users face when confronted with the high costs of solar system equipment, installation, and maintenance. The program’s only upfront charge is a security deposit of roughly US$500, which is paid back—with interest—at the end of the contract.

Citizenre is offering their program in all but nine U.S. states that have adopted net metering laws that allows users of grid-tied renewable energy systems to receive retail credit for at least a portion of the electricity they generate.

Under the REnU program, solar energy captured during the day is fed into the grid and pulled back out again for use at night. Although the systems won’t be ready to install until September, thousands of homeowners have already begun signing contracts.

Would-be solar users in Africa face the same kind of problem that Citizenre appears to have solved--high upfront costs of PV equipment, installation and maintenance.  The 'PV-for-Africa ' movement has been talking about adopting this "fee-for-service" solution for years.  Though success stories are somewhat scarce, one South African company called Nura has quietly been seemed to be making significant progress with this  model.

NuRa has a total of 60 employees led by a local management team that is supported by RAPS. Six energy stores have been opened and they have 6,000 satisfied  customers. In August 2004 a 20-year contract was signed with the South African government, under which 8,000 SHS will be subsidised over a period of two years...NuRa's current target is to reach the break-even point with 14,000 SHS.

Citizenre and NuRa are good examples is an example of what the private sector can do to expand access to energy services based on clean, renewable technologies.  But they need friendly governments willing to invest public resources in support of innovative private operators.

Update: Since writing this article, i have made two surprise discoveries. First, NuRa's Website appears to be down. The URL points to the home page of 'Flux' rather than NuRA.  Second, it seems NuRA lost their contract with the South African government some years ago! I have so far been unable to contact NuRa representatives to find out more about what happened/is happening.

Motorola's cellphone-charging bike

World's number two cellphone manufacturer Motorola plans to roll out a bicycle that charges your cellphone as you ride, reports Darren Murph of Engadget, who watched Motorola's CEO Ed Zander ride one into a packed room at Consumer Electronics Show (CES) 2007 earlier this week.  The new bike sports a cradle on the handlebars that holds a mobile phone securely in place, while the motion of the pedals generates electricity to recharge its battery pack.  Depending on the price, this might be a good solution for the millions of cellphone users in Africa who rely on bicycles as their primary modes of transportation.  Here's a sampling of the more constructive comments on the bicycle (see the comments section of the original article):

tekdroid writes:

I think it's a great idea. When power goes out, too...most people are left stranded and have no options. Makes perfect sense for a market like China with so many bikes, and I suspect limited success in some other parts of the world (Netherlands, etc), too.  Especially with rising fuel prices and obesity issues today.  I think the bike looks great and the phone holder should be standard on many bikes (along with the fenders/mudguards). Bikes aren't just for recreation, and more people in the western world are waking up to the practicalities of actually doing daily travel with a bike (and getting fit in the process!).

Mike makes the following very good point about the engineering:

Why would they make the pedal movement charge the bike and not the wheel movement. Then it won't charge if you are coasting and might charge slower when in a higher gear.  I know I had a bike light about 20+ years ago that had a mini generator on it that was in contact with the wheel and when I was moving, the light was on. Was kind of neat.

My favorite comment was by Trickyny, especially the last sentence:

This is a excellent idea with poor execution. In developing nations cell phones could be very useful where infrastructure has not kept up with the rapidly expanding market. However, why Motorola chose to create a branded bike rather than a just an attachment (like the way most bike lights and speedometers are designed) is beyond me. Logically, people would much more readily buy something to use with the bike they already owned, rather than buying a whole new bike.

So, Motorola's cellphone charging is great innovation.  There is a potentially huge demand for it given the rapid growth in cellphone usage in Africa.  All its needs is some fine-tuning of the engineering aspects and the deployment approach to realize its full potential.  And, as the folks at Afrigadget and eCARE will tell you, there's no shortage of local ingenuity and business acumen in Africa to lend a hand with the needed technical modifications and market deployment of this excellent idea.

Bethlehem Hydro breaks new ground in South Africa

Bethlehem Hydro, an energy company in South Africa, today announced the start of construction on a hydro power project in the Free State Province of South Africa.  According to their press release, this project

"...is the first commercial power project to have reached construction in more than two decades and the first project finance transaction ever on a green field independent power project.  The project comprises two generating units of 3MW and 4MW, placed respectively on the As river and the Sol Plaatje Dam, both near the town of Bethlehem."  Construction will be completed by end of this year.  Full commissioning is planned for February of 2008.

Compared to the approximately 40 000 MW generating capacity installed in South Africa, Bethlehem Hydro’s 7MW might seem small, hardly visible on a chart.  But, from the standpoint of the 11 000 low income households whose annual power needs will soon be met by Bethlehem Hydro, this small project is a beauty--a "Small is Beautiful" kind of beauty!

Congratulations to NuPlanet (Pty)--the South African company behind this ground-breaking  example of renewable energy for poverty eradication in Africa.  Anton-Louis Olivier, a director of NuPlanet, has offered to send me an update with pictures when he visits the construction sites later in the week.  Stay tuned!