Solution proposed by : Chemins de Faire
Ekolo Mundo does not control the feasibility or viability of the proposed solutions
Contributor email : contact@cheminsdefaire.fr
Structure : Paths to Follow
France
Difficulty level :
difficile
A few years ago, we launched the “Fabricoleurs” program to raise awareness among young people in the town of Grigny-en-Essonne about the topics of making and low-tech solutions. One of the projects led to a collaboration with the Low-tech Lab on the topic of energy; we then worked on building a 5V domestic wind turbine. Based on a low-tech system sourced by the Nomades des mers expedition in Senegal and the work carried out with the Fabricoleurs, Chemins de faire designed a wooden domestic wind turbine presented here. The electronic components are easy to find, and the motor can be salvaged from an old printer.
Today, changing the way we consume electricity—how we use it—is essential. No scientific breakthrough will allow us to sustain our current level of consumption while remaining environmentally neutral. Here, we’re not suggesting you build a power plant, but a small wind turbine that can deliver 5V to power small USB devices or 12V to charge a car battery, for example.
The wind turbine, through the rotational movement of its blades—the rotor—drives a motor—the stator—which, thanks to a complex copper winding, causes electrons to move and creates what is known as alternating current. It is this alternating current that we can convert into usable electrical energy to charge small devices via USB or a 12V car battery. With this type of wind turbine, energy yields aren’t huge but are sufficient to slowly charge devices. It’s also a great way to understand how electric current works.
