Page 51 - Eggs and Ashes pages
P. 51
50 Eggs and Ashes
The essence of banality
The miracle of photosynthesis,
a billion microscopic organisms
living and dying in the sea,
layer upon layer of sediment,
the pressure of aeons ……
A drill,
a pipe,
a trip to the shops,
a plastic bag.
Gary Polhill
Grid-free power
(Wind generation for developing countries)
Wind power is now providing energy for rural communities in developing coun-
tries. For people in rural areas, a few tens of watts of energy are sufficient for provid-
ing lighting and a source of power for a radio or television. Small wind machines in
the 5-100 kilowatt range can supply this and form a small local power station.
Batteries can be charged and used at home then returned to the power station for
recharging. Battery recharging reduces the inconvenience of an intermittent
energy supply due to fluctuating wind speeds. Small wind generators in the 50-500
watt range can also be used for individual household connection. During times
when wind is insufficient, the system can be backed up by the use of diesel.
Adapted from Hands On Winds of Change
