Ideas for Alternative Power

In many countries around the world access to a reliable source of electricity is a luxury. Recently, I was discussing the state of power supply in Nigeria with a few friends from Hive. We were lamenting the lack of stable service delivery in both South Africa and Nigeria. Nigerians are far more challenged than South Africans and they say that they regularly go without electricity for weeks at a time. So what are the alternatives? Are there any inexpensive, readily available, easy to use systems to replace government issue power (we’re jokingly calling it non-power)

Solar Power

For sun-rich countries solar power is the obvious option, but it’s not a cheap alternative by any means. However, the great thing about it is that you can buy a basic system and build on it. These days most people know a lot more about solar than they did a few years ago, we all understand that to benefit from the sun we need to buy an inverter, battery and a few solar panels.

To work out the cost of a solar system for your needs use this Energy Calculator here

If you’re serious about organizing a reliable off grid solution and you’re prepared to pay the cost, solar is one of the best options. These days many providers offer a rent-to-buy option, which allows you to pay a deposit of 10% of the total cost, and then pay off the balance over a period of seven or eight years.

Generators and Gas

Weirdly, even in South Africa where the sun shines 90% of the time, many have invested in very expensive generators to obviate the effects of intermittent load shedding (I know that the same goes for Nigeria). Generators, although reliable, are extremely expensive to run and they’re also very bad for the environment. With the current oil and gas prices across the globe, gas appliances and generators are not the solution to encourage.

Innovative Cheap Water heating systems

Hot water is essential - just try and do your dishes in cold water, haha! 🙃

A geyser uses the most electricity in a household and solar geysers cost around $2000 - 3000 to install. However, a few meters of black irrigation piping mounted on a board in coil fashion can supply a constant stream of hot water very economically. The piping is inexpensive and any board will do, you can even use something salvaged from a yard or another project. The concept is simple: feed cold water through a multiple coil system of black pipes set out to catch the sun, and get awesomely hot water as an outlet. This system is so easy, so well suited to sunny countries and so inexpensive that it’s a travesty that it isn’t the standard method of heating water for households and businesses. This system can be built for around $60, a bargain indeed.

Additionally, with a little imagination and work, pipes running hot water could be conducted throughout a house or building to provide internal heat during the winter months. Who needs a heater? 😯🔥💥

Stoves and Cooking

Obviously, we’ve all got to eat and microwaves, stoves and ovens consume vast amounts of electricity. Gas for cooking is dangerous and expensive, while wood and coal are messy and expensive. So the ideal thing to do is to take advantage of the sun, once again, and build a solar cooker. The concept is relatively simple and an effective oven can be built using nothing more than a cardboard box and silver foil. Naturally, if you want something more robust you can build a solar oven using wood and glass. See the videos below for different designs and builds.

Conclusion

There are many ways to circumvent the lack of electricity by employing the power of the sun, you’ve just got to think outside of the box and look for non-traditional methods. Oh and, haha, you might have to do a bit of work.

PS: both the black pipe hot water system and the oven would make good commercial products. I think that both could be manufactured and marketed successfully. Who knows what nature of success might be achieved in the face of necessity.