Links for Indigenous / Minorities

Indigenous Rights - Monash University
[ link ]

United Nations Millenium Goals Homepage
[ link ]

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Building a Wind Turbine

Dear Reader,

Have you been thinking, of late, of free energy?

Photovoltaic panels are expensive and probably need quite a sizeable investment in order to power up a house. Yet photovoltaic panels (solar panels) probably offer the easiest installation: Just install it, and forget about it. It is likely that wind turbines are more economical to tinker about with. With this in mind, I set out to understand a little more about these creatures which have evolved from simple windmills to present day "wind farms".

Some links I have found along the way:

Alton's Wind Turbine Page [click here for link]

From one man's efforts to create a wind turbine.

Windpower Workshop [click here for link]

A book on how to create your own wind turbine.

Hugh Piggott's Homepage [click here for link]

Quite a resource-laden page. Very useful with many links.

Rob Webster's Turbine Diary [click here for link]

This young gentleman managed to finish off quite a bit of the wind turbine making process. His diary with many helpful pictures (for those who would attempt the same).

Danish Wind Industry Association [click here for link]

From Europe, a chockful of information on how to get started.

I Built A Wind Charger For $400! [click here for link]

From Mother Earth Magazine 1973, an article by Jim Sencenbaugh about how he made his own wind turbine.

A Wind Powered Energy Charger [click here for link]

Kelly Isaac, a science teacher, reveals how she built her battery charger that uses a wind turbine. Of note: The turbine has a vertical axis (as opposed to horizontal axis).

Pico Turbine Educational Kit [click here for link]

Free downloadable plans available for the turbine as well as a convertor for AC (Alternating Current) to DC (Direct Current). This wind turbine also has a vertical axis.

Build Your Own 1000 Watt Wind Turbine [click here for link]

Similar to Rob Webster's page -- step by step process with lots of photos. Found via Make Magazine [click here for link]

This is all for now.

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e-Print Network

Generally a good place to get information on academic research on a subject matter (especially renewable energy et al).

Link:
http://www.osti.gov/eprints/pathways/index.shtml

Found via Pusat Tenaga Malaysia's Resource Page.

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Tapping into Wave Energies

The world's energy needs are increasing. How do we produce more energy without killing our natural resources? Burning hydrocarbons produces more global warming than we need. Witness the recent reports of glaciers melting in the Andean region. One solution is to harness the energy generated by sea waves.


Link: http://www.wavegen.co.uk/

Rising demand for energy and the finite nature of conventional fuels, are leading to increased prices. The problem of green house gas emissions continues. Harnessing the immense wave power in the world’s oceans can be part of the solution to our energy problems. At Wavegen we are delivering the wave energy technology to help make that happen.

Greenpeace website has an animated explanation of the Islay wave turbine.

Link: http://www.greenpeace.org.uk/Templates/template3_view.cfm?UCIDParam=20021121153111

In time, we may be able to generate enough electricity by using wave energies. Examples of possible applications are:

Power grids for seashore communities

Energy source for vessels

Energy monetization from otherwise inhabitable areas (e.g. mangrove swamps)

Creation of lighthouses with alternative energy source (solar, wave and wind)

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