Thomas Edison said that to invent, you need a good imagination and a pile of junk.
And, it definitely holds some truth to it because Colrerd Nikosi from Malawi had all the necessary junk, but also the will to help his village get the much-needed electricity.
He achieved his goal which also won him an award from the Queen of England herself.
Malawi Inventor Who Brought Light to His Village
With a repurposed corn-shelling machine motor and a quick-moving river, Nikosi made an electric turbine which is now helping households have light, free of charge in his town known as Mzimba.
But it didn’t just happen at once. Nikosi had to do a lot of experimenting. At the beginning of his project, he placed a bike in the river and brainstormed about how the current moved the pedals and how this may be used for power.
After this, he used an old fridge compressor which converted power for six homes. The neighbors started clamoring so he continued his upgrading.
This self-taught inventor explains that the latest turbine has the capacity to produce sufficient power for electricity of 1000 homes and explained that an additional turbine will also be installed downstream so that the grid is expanded.
The hydropower has an additional benefit: it reduces deforestation by removing the need for the locals to cut down trees to get charcoal. In a country with only 11 percent of the population having access to electricity, a reliable and renewable energy source has been pivotal, particularly in schools.
According to one student, Gift Mfune, in the past, they had to study near a candle and when they didn’t have money to purchase candles, they couldn’t study. Mfune added that now with access to electricity, more students can pass the exams.
There Are No Hidden Costs, Explains Nikosi
The driving force behind the DIY power project of Nikosi isn’t profitable. And, there aren’t any hidden costs besides the charge for his service which is a $1 fee every month for maintenance purposes.
Thanks to this self-taught inventor, more than 2000 people have benefitted from this sustainable and locally generated electricity project. In 2018, his project won him the Point of Light Award given by Queen Elizabeth II for his dedication to innovation.
Nikosi isn’t just dedicated to helping bring light to his village, but also help them get enlightened through education. He’s already given lessons of carpentry basics and engineering to the kids from the village and he’s hopeful to expand his skills to others through advanced studies.
Nikosi is also wishing for a sponsor that would help him fulfill his plans of going back to school and expanding his knowledge and then transferring it to others.
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