Sagalla Talio Rukanga (Site 002)
Sagalla
Talio is located on the Hills of Taita-Taveta in the Coast province
of Kenya. The evidence of heavy and constant wind patterns is depicted
by the trees, which are permanently bent on one side of the hill. I
have installed one WindCruiser CST18DR 12VDC in that village.
Its a dual rotor machine with 18 poles capable of delivering more than
1000 watts at peak speed. It has a tail-furling system controlled by
the thrust of wind energy. The wind machine is serving five houses in
one homestead with lights and power for TV and radio. It has one 100AH
and 70AH battery with a 1250-Watts UPS we converted to an Inverter and
wiring to bulbs and power points covering a distance of approximately
250 meters. There is also a small Solar Panel of 12 watts to supplement
the wind. The WindCruiser is able to turn itself toward the direction
of wind from either side of the hilly area.
The
five houses run their lights plus two security lights. The wind machines
virtually runs smoothly overnight according to their observation especially
when the winds are less noisy. The battery bank and inverter are located
at the bottom of the machine pole where they have constructed a shed
for them.
This
project has proven successful, as it has provided the five houses with
light and access to information through radio and TV. In addition, as
Mobile phone network is available, the demand of mobile phone charging
has invaded the village. Many homes have turn to using car batteries
in their homes as the machines provides a place for them to recharge
their batteries at a lesser cost compared to taking the batteries to
the nearest town Voi 40 kilometers away considering bus fare and other
charges. Hence, the wind machine system here has opened up economic
activities we earlier never envisaged.
As
can be notably seen the machine is mounted on a eucalyptus pole with
steps provided (wooden cross plunks) for climbing up the pole to inspect
and do greasing to the machine. A tilt-tower is being constructed soon
to replace the climbing up and down hence doing away with the steps
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