Wind power for “Off Grid” applications in Africa
By K. Raghavan & Preben Maegaard, Folkecenter for Renewable Energy,
Kammarsgardsvej 16, 7760 Hurup, Denmark
& Jan de Jongh, ARRAKIS, De Olieslager 7, 5506 ER, Veldhoven, the Netherlands.
Info@arrakis.nl
Small and medium size wind turbines can make a substantial contribution towards
improving the quality of life in windy African villages that do not have any energy
supply at present. Various African initiatives, like Kijito in Kenya and LVIA (Tozzi &
Bardi) in Senegal have proven this. This paper examines the aspects and elements
that will help realize this untapped potential for “off-grid” wind power in Africa and
proposes a “Road Map” to make this happen.
Existing wind resource data for the whole African continent is presented, areas where
wind data is not available have been identified and a program for monitoring wind
data has been drawn up. Next, the potential for “off-grid” applications of wind energy
has been estimated based on wind speeds and the requirement for electricity, water
pumping, mechanical applications like grinding, ice making, etc. Wind turbine
technologies that can provide energy for these applications are described including:
 Small wind electric generators (up to 20 kW) using permanent magnet
alternators in Wind-PV hybrid configurations for battery charging
 Mechanical wind turbines for water pumping, ice making, etc.
 Medium sized wind turbines (up to 250 kW) using induction generators for
wind-diesel hybrids.
Inputs required for large scale utilization of “off-grid” wind power in Africa are then
examined, such as
 Implementation policies, including business approach and various
repayment schemes, based on wind & solar experiences in Africa and
elsewhere
 Institutional framework
 Training & capacity building in all aspects of implementation; from
resource assessment until operation & maintenance
 Technology transfer and local manufacture
 Financial needs & opportunities.
Lastly this paper proposes a “Road Map” that provides a strategy for realizing this
potential for “off-grid” wind power in Africa covering the next 10 years.
Short CV’s of Jan de Jongh & K.Raghavan
Jan de Jongh MSc
Consultant in renewable energy (1943), based in The Netherlands. Shipbuilding engineer, director of
ARRAKIS since 1998.
Broad industrial experience of which 11 years in shipbuilding in the Netherlands and 15 years in renewable
energy. Has worked as a designer and project manager at three shipyards. Activities included project and
R&D management, design, research & product development, specifications, acquisition and contract
negotiations.
Has built up experience in the renewable energy field since 1986, especially on wind energy. Worked until
1990 as the project manager for CWD (Consultancy services Wind energy for Developing countries at
Eindhoven University), covering Transfer of Knowledge as a specific area.
Started his private consultancy company RED Renewable Energy Development in 1990, focussing on:
human capacity building; design and organisation of training courses; seminars and workshops on
renewable energies; and consultancy in these topics. Since 1998 the RED activities have continued as
ARRAKIS.
Field experience in the following countries: The Netherlands, UK, Spain, Japan, China, Taiwan, India, Sri
Lanka, Philippines, Thailand, North Korea, Senegal, Kenya, Tanzania, Egypt, Ivory Coast, Botswana,
Burkina Faso, Egypt, Palestinian Territories, Costa Rica, Nicaragua, Curaçao.
Languages: Dutch, English: fluent; French, German, Spanish, good.
Krishna Raghavan BSc
Renewable energy specialist in hybrid systems, chemical engineer (1951). International energy consultant,
currently based in India.
Over 25 years of experience in: solar energy, wind energy and small hydropower, product development,
feasibility studies, project development, installation, repair and maintenance, measuring, end-use surveys and
training.
Former owner of RENCON and employed by the Tata Energy Research Institute, Greenpeace India and
Folkecenter (Denmark). With Tata, he developed the Small Wind and Hybrid Power Test Center in Gujarat.
With Greenpeace India involved in village electrification in the Himalayas.
Is a specialist in hybrid wind energy systems (diesel and diesel-PV), combining theoretical skills (modelling
and system design) with ample field experience. He is an expert on monitoring and performance evaluation,
including maintenance and repair issues.
Field experience in India, Nigeria, Ecuador, Canada, USA, Denmark, and The Netherlands.
Languages: English, Hindi: fluent; French: good.