Ethiopian Energy Independence

[Bill Levine]

Please see the attached file for my Ethiopian Energy Independence Manifesto. I am in discussions with contacts from the EEPCo about getting the rural population contributing to the power grid with the latest technologies. So far they are only interested in the low cost Organic Roads.

[YILKAL]

mms://kaiserfam.wmod.llnwd.net/a2355/o23/globix/cgi2007/092707_cgi_plenary_climate.wmv

[Bill Levine]

Thanks for the link to the Clinton Global Initiative. i have been contacting someone in Addis who works with them about the Power Playground, but have had no luck in getting the $350 to make the first prototypes.

By the way,
I have some updated PPTs attached below.

[YILKAL]

I like the idea of the power playground. I think i have seen this deployed somewhere in south africa. I would suggest contacting directly here in the us the clinton iniative office and seeing if they will support putting a prototype in place on the ground for this.

[Bill Levine]

Thanks.
There's something called the PlayPump which is a great idea ,too. We've made our designs more efficient, they don't make kids dizzy, and easier to build.

I contacted the CGI they said they're not taking on any new ideas but have the MyCommitment.org website where I pasted it along with people who want to change light bulbs. Very frustrating.

This concept is ready to go in 3 months, for a small investment and would solve power and water shortages for BILLIONS of people worldwide, at least for the 1/3 of Africans who don't live near roads, water, or power.

[YILKAL]

One other thing to try may be the x-prize

check below:

http://www.economist.com/daily/columns/greenview/displaystory.cfm?s...

http://www.xprize.org/x-prizes/propose-an-x-prize

[YILKAL]

related news on renewable energy:

http://afp.google.com/article/ALeqM5hnhy_9ZX7TD3X8iNqhONLasX5YSw

Ethiopia signs deal for largest wind farm in Africa
Oct 9, 2008

ADDIS ABABA (AFP) — Ethiopia on Thursday signed a 220-million-euro (300 million dollar) deal with a French company for the construction of Africa's largest wind farm.

The contract was inked by representatives of the Ethiopian Electric Power Corporation (EEPC) and French wind turbine manufacturer Vergnet.

The wind farm is expected to produce 120 megawatts within two and half years, making it the largest such project on the continent.

"This is a very strategic project for us. The first (largest) in Africa for wind energy production with 120 megawatts, that is to say 15 percent of our present capacity," EEPC chairman Meheret Debebe said.

"This project will help us to fill the gap of hydrological risks we are facing in Ethiopia with the droughts," he explained.

Ethiopia has been chronically hit by droughts, affecting the humanitarian plight of millions as well as crippling its electricity production, which is heavily reliant on hydroelectric dams.

The landlocked Horn of Africa country -- Africa's second most populous -- is currently experiencing a severe drought and has been plagued by incessant power cuts in recent months.

[Bill Levine]

Don't be fooled by this. Vergnet was bought by Shell Oil. The power companies are buying land. Maybe you'll see a wind farm in 10 years. I'm cautious about this news.

[Bill Levine]

Thanks for the links. I'll submit the Power Playground to them.

[Bill Levine]

Update:

I have made a lot of progress since the original post. Some top Ethiopian officials have viewed the "Ethiopian Energy Independence" one sheet and are keen on all ideas proposed. I plan to travel to Ethiopia in June for meetings and this is what I propose to tell people:

All the solutions are available now, what are you waiting for? I suggest you invest $1-2 million in an applied research institution—and another $40-50 million allocated for projects listed on the pdf (see above)—with the intent to become energy independent in five years. Do it with 25% Waste to Energy, 25% Solar Thermal, 25% Geothermal (including low level heat exchange), and 25% combination of micro-wind, micro hydro, mini-gasification, and other techs.

[Bill Levine]

Ray Kurzweil: How technology's accelerating power will transform us

http://www.ted.com/talks/ray_kurzweil_on_how_technology_will_transf...