What forms of alternative energy do you know about and how can it be applied in Africa? I feel Africa is in an excellent(sp?) position to take advantage of alternative energy sources. I'd love to utilize wind power and geo energy back home. A combination of all sorts would be suffiecient, and probably rid us of power outage issues. Just plug into the ground or harness the sea breeze while not polluting the air.

Sothe only thing you people can talk about is global politics,popular entertainment, messageboard cliques,African heritage, and western culture.?confused3



Can't be too revolutionary without science.





***kicks rocks**

DSP....i believe the only people who will be able to survive well in the future are the people who will be at one with their environment. Therefore ANY African country thats serious about modernising will have to have Environmental careas one of their top ten priorities.

I've only just seen this thread now, but i will read up some more on what other environment friendly countries are doing to learn about how they use alternative energy.....having grown up in the country side, i know the value of a good greener and healthier environment, which can only happen if we do not polute our environment with harmfull ways of getting energy.

Good thread....and for the first time in a long time we are not arguing over a thread, this sucks:P:P:P

DSP

I'm not sure if you're aware of this but some african countries have alternative energy sources already,for example Nigeria generates its electricity by using Dams(hydro-power)..

u're biting ur tongue..

why may i ask??

anyway apart form the obvious energy sources like solar and wind which we have in abundance in the North of Africa, as far as I know harnessing them is still not quite worth it yet,because they still cost alot of money,which africa could afford but probably would choose not to invest in due to corruption and offtopic.gifother stuff...



what exactly are you planning/proposing here, alternative energy sources that u intend to intoduce how?? are you intending a revolution ,how would you by-pass the govts to implement anything..or is this justa mild chat with no deep intentions..

Something to think about.

Well here is a electronic book on making homemade solar cells.

http://rapidshare.de/files/13752862/...cells.pdf.html


Kid's stuff Just paint a large piece of metal black and your in business

http://www.eere.energy.gov/kids/sola...g_and_you.html

Some strategies I have been thinking for now.

Checking out the environments in West Africa in particular. I would focus on converting these natural stuff to usable energy.

In the Sahel or Sahara just dry grasses and cow dung. With the right combination with proper attention that can be converted into fuel. Or I would use some simple homemade solar stuff but the biggest drawback is how to store it. All you can do is use it, not enough sources to store it but as long as it get the job done no complaints.

Now if I am in area such as Southern Niger Northern Nigeria where enough green exist with peanuts being planted everywhere convert those peanuts to oil and use it as fuel for motorbike house car etc. If I am into the interior where rain is plentiful and palm trees grow I would use the oil from the fruit and with the proper combination convert it to fuel. There are probably other sources I could list but this looks like enough.

I think alternative fuel is all over Africa just waiting to be used but there hasnt been proper communication between the technocrats and the regular people to get it started.

There are other ways to generate fuel but the resources today isnt just how to create these source but how to store them in great quantities quickly and easily. If you can store them easily as you make or create them then you will see alternative energy spread like wildfire.

I wonder with the geothermal energy that means there must be hot springs in Africa to soothe sore muscles and bones from a hard day of work? It get quite cold in some parts of Africa when the sun goes down for the night. Wonder if these are secret tourist places.

It remarkable how much of a difference these researchers ie (white) in South Africa have in pursuing global research over the average South African (black) who given the same attention would probably produce similar result. That is what Jim Crow/Apartheid have caused in our communities with different results and values placed instead of cooperative one when such social restrictions ended. We are left with dealing with Apartheid/Jim Crow effects still while these problems are evaded and not dealt with by the top caste to produce more economically and scientific pursuit.

Still his work should be recognized-- cheaper more efficient solar cells
http://www.int.iol.co.za/index.php?s...0132138C184427

But we would think that something as great as this would benefit your everyday South African first...but his quote below says it all

http://www.iafrica.com/pls/cms/iac.p...mp;p_site_id=2

“It wouldn’t be practical to set up here in South Africa right now for several reasons. We do have the raw materials and will also have to import all the critical production equipment from Europe, which poses considerable technical risks at this stage. We also don’t have access to world markets to the same extent as the companies we have become involved with. Once the technology is established and distribution networks have been established, it’s a different story, of course.�

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This has several meanings. This already shows that inventions made in Africa if not easily produced will have to be made elsewhere. So any African would be inventor would most like find better opportunity for their know how abroad contributing to the "brain drain". It also showed that government policies and pursuits past and present do affect how people especially operate and develop. And in this case Africans will not benefit from something pursued on the continent until many years to come. By that time something else could be conjured up.

This is a prime example of how much we lost in our development towards our needs with a a very plot out malicious intent but I dont believe we are out of the race. We just have heavier weights to deal with and to lift away.

Yes I would second defyear and say that solar power is the most abundant source of natural energy. Hydro-electric is good but very costful to the landscape.

batteries are also able to be made by using various natural citrus acids/ The price of solar panels (that generate electricity) is still quite expensive/ but solar panels that produce hot water /or drive/assistindustrial processes/ are very cheap to make. Even a black painted storage tank will do the trick. There are also places where you can draw hot water out the ground (geothermal) to do the same..

Tidal/hydro-electric/ are very costly but whole villages can be run on solar/ you just have to have 12V appliances/ although thats not strictly true.

I hear Kenya has the biggest market in Africa in solar panels.Their Nakumart (supermarkets) have solar powered cash tills. Refrigeration can be done without power hungry machines also.

But solar panels are still quite expensive/ and short term in life/ 15 years if lucky.. but if manufactured in Africa / and new techiniques of manufacture could be found then the possibilities are limitless in such a sun blessed continent.

Its one of those things that if people apply their natural genius towards then the technical problems would be overcome. All it would take is a team of scientists backed by any African government.Cant blame the WTO and IMF for these thingsneither as the leaders should recognise the importance of such a strategy/ and pursue iton the slyif neccesary. African leaders should do alot of things...

Damn/only just read the link. This is big news.