Reinventing the Waterwheel

In the foothills of the Himalayas, a group of villagers hauled a sturdy metal waterwheel into place. Its horizontal blades soon caught the rushing water of the stream directly below it. The machine began to spin, and electricity began to flow.

A waterwheel installed in rural Nepal. Photograph: Michael Erhart

The roughly 2-metre-tall waterwheel, installed in a village in Kashmir, India, was the result of years of design work and development by researchers at the Technical University of Munich (TUM) and partners.

“You have this continuous power flow,” said Michael Erhart, the chair of renewable and sustainable energy systems at TUM. “It’s not intermittent like the radiation of the sun or wind power.”

Waterwheels have been around for thousands of years. Formerly used to drive mechanical processes such as milling or hammering, they were a crucial component in the industrial revolution. Today, waterwheels connected to generators can produce zero-carbon electricity as they spin.

An Archimedes screw-style waterwheel was installed along the River Wandle in London in 2012. The 8.5kW system generates enough electricity to power 18 homes.

Some experts argue that greater adoption of electricity-generating waterwheels could help to decarbonise energy systems. For the Kashmiri villagers, their new waterwheel offered energy independence. It was installed alongside other renewable energy resources, including a microgrid, between 2022 and 2024.

Erhart’s colleagues had previously supported the deployment of a similar waterwheel in Nepal, as well as a demonstration prototype in Tegernsee, southern Germany.

The waterwheel in Tegernsee. Photograph: Michael Erhart

Before the new waterwheel arrived, the community in Kashmir had to rely on a centralised electricity grid that often let them down. “They had power cuts of weeks or even months,” said Erhart. The renewable energy kit meant the village could now survive off-grid.

The climate crisis and bouts of extreme weather are putting additional strain on power grids in India and Nepal. Decentralised microgrids connected to a mix of renewables including solar and waterwheel devices could, in theory, help remote communities to become energy self-sufficient.

The generating capacity of such wheels ranges from about 300W to 1kW, according to Erhart, depending on the flow of water. During flooding, it is possible to set up the wheel so that torrents of water can bypass it, meaning electricity generation may continue uninterrupted.

Erhart’s instructions for building the waterwheel are freely available online. The cost of assembling one could come to as little as $1,000 (£819), he estimated.

Separately, another kind of electricity-generating waterwheel was set up in Northern Ireland recently. The historic waterwheel attached to an old mill in Co Fermanagh was fully restored and now provides electricity to a restaurant within the building.

The Tully Mill restaurant’s waterwheel outputs roughly 1.5kW, according to Patrick Drumm, group treasurer of the Killesher Community Development Association. The wheel powers about 10 strong outdoor lights at the restaurant, though Drumm added that the cost of installing the system was significant at about £49,000. The project was made possible thanks to funding from the National Lottery.

It would be advantageous to use waterwheels even more widely, said Gerald Müller at the University of Southampton. Müller said a handful of companies in Germany currently restore or build waterwheels for electricity generation. “I was talking to the owner of one [of those companies] the other day and he was saying his books are pretty much full for the next three years – interest has increased because of the rise in electricity prices,” he added.

Müller’s research indicates that the efficiency of waterwheels, in terms of converting water power into electricity, can be as high as about 85%, .

One possible downside of waterwheels is the risk they might pose to aquatic life. However, research indicates they have a minimal impact on fish, for example.

Müller said that besides supplying private homes and buildings such as restaurants or hotels, waterwheels could also power pumps designed to move water up hills and irrigate fields on mountainsides.

Source: The Guardian

DOE: P72 billion needed for full Philippine electrification by 2028

The Department of Energy (DoE) said it is seeking P72 billion for its total electrification program, and estimated the economic benefit of providing power to the entire country at P315 billion.

On the first day of the US Embassy’s 16th Media Seminar on Monday, Energy Undersecretary Rowena Cristina L. Guevara said that the estimate for the funds needed to achieve total electrification covers the period to 2028.

“A portion of that budget will be taken out of a loan because we already have a budget allocated for total electrification — around P3 billion to P5 billion per year,” Ms. Guevara said.

“So that’s around P25 billion, and we need P72 billion … so we might need to borrow because we have a deficit and the budget cannot increase suddenly,” she added.

She said that the DoE is in talks with the World Bank and the Asian Development Bank (ADB) for the loan. The program will seek to build distribution lines, electrify remote barangays and sitios, and install home solar systems.

Ms. Guevara said that the department presented the program and its economic benefits to the National Economic and Development Authority and the Department of Finance last week.

“We presented to them our request, and they seem to be happy about the numbers that came out of our study, particularly the economic benefits,” she said.

“Nobody reported (the estimated economic benefits) to them before. So, because of that, we’re thinking of a possible loan from ADB or the World Bank and thinking of government appropriations through the Department of Budget Management (DBM),” she added.

According to the study, giving low-income families access to up to eight hours of electricity a day will boost their income by 17.9%, while their expenditure is expected to increase by 17%.

If access to electricity were increased to eight hours to 16 hours per day, income and expenditure are expected to increase by 33.3% and 33%, respectively.

If low-income families are given access to electricity for 16 to 24 hours a day, their income and expenditure are projected to increase by 49.4% and 52.2%, respectively.

“If we are able to do total electrification, the economic benefit (of) P315 billion… (is equivalent to) 1.8% of our gross domestic product (GDP),” Ms. Guevara said.

“And the total electrification program is just P72 billion. If you invest that but get P315 billion back, wouldn’t that be a win?” she added.

According to Ms. Guevara, more than 2 million households currently have no access to electricity.

The DoE estimates the current household electrification rate at 93.12% at the end of March, while the target for this year is 94.83%.

President Ferdinand R. Marcos, Jr. said in his State of the Nation Address last year that the target is to achieve full household electrification by the end of his term.

Source: Business World

Improve Your Home's Lighting, Room by Room

The right fixtures—and bulbs—can make all the difference

Most rooms require more than one type of fixture for optimal lighting.

Have you ever sat in your living room squinting over a crossword puzzle, struggled to find your way to the bathroom at night, or noticed at midafternoon that your morning shave missed half your chin? The answer may be that you need better lighting around your house. Creating a safer, more functional lighting scheme can be as easy as replacing or moving a few fixtures (such as lamps, pendants, and sconces). And as LEDs replace traditional incandescent lightbulbs, using the unique qualities of this new technology to your advantage can vastly improve how every light in your home functions.

Find Your Fixtures

To begin with, every space in your home needs both overall illumination and focused lighting that lets you see well in a specific area. Using a combination of fixtures can help you create these "layers" of light, so we’ll start there.

1. Recessed Lighting

Sometimes called "can" lights, these appear flush with the ceiling and provide overall illumination. Today’s LED versions can be tiny and unobtrusive. Some come as a single integrated unit (instead of a housing and a removable bulb). Be sure to choose models with replaceable components in case something breaks. If you don’t already have recessed lights, you’ll need an electrician to install them.

2. Undercabinet Fixtures

Mounted beneath upper cabinets, they brighten countertop work areas. Choose hardwired or plug-in LED strips, or low-profile LEDs that mount with double-sided tape.

3. Ceiling Fixtures (Flush, Semi-Flush, Pendant)

These come in variations on a theme: an enclosed or semi-enclosed light source, often with a globe, drum, or ornamental surround, sits flush against the ceiling, extends on a rod, or hangs on a cord. They typically provide overall illumination, but ceiling pendants hung above a kitchen island or table can also offer task lighting or add decorative impact. Pro tip: Choose a pendant with a frosted globe to avoid the glare of a bare bulb.

4. Chandeliers

A multilight unit is a classic choice above a dining room table, and because LEDs offer exceptional miniaturization, you can now find many sleek, sculptural styles. Dimmability is a must.

5. Sconces

Wall-mounted lighting bounces light to walls and ceilings for overall illumination or to highlight a design feature.

6. Table and Floor Lamps

A lamp with a fabric shade will cast light up, down, and even to the sides (if the shade is light in color). A style with an upturned bowl-like shade (an "uplight") can create a pool of illumination on the ceiling. And a style with an articulated arm can offer just the light you need for reading, writing, or project work.

Get the Right Mix of Lights

Every room in your house has a specific function. So, too, every room in your house has specific lighting needs. Choosing the fixtures and lightbulbs that best meet those needs will help you achieve the right combination of lighting for every space.

Kitchen

Here you’ll need plenty of overall brightness, accented with focused task lighting on surfaces (counters, cooktop, sink) for the work of meal prep and cleanup. Achieve these lighting layers by using either existing or replacement recessed, flush, semi-flush, or pendant ceiling fixtures, updated with 2,700 or 3,000 Kelvin LED bulbs. Then add undercabinet LED task strips in a Kelvin of 4,000 or above for sharper acuity.

Bathrooms

Provide general illumination with overhead fixtures so that you can see well in the whole room (including inside the shower and above the tub), then add extra lighting at the vanity for grooming. A pair of frosted glass sconces on either side of the mirror—or a mirror with a built-in LED "frame"—will do the trick. If you’re calling in an electrician, consider adding LED strip lighting to the toe kick at the base of a sink cabinet to illuminate the floor. If it’s on its own switch, you can just turn on the kick light at night for safety without glare. When choosing bulbs, stick with a Kelvin number of either 3,000 or 2,700. Schmidt says your choice depends on your complexion and what hue you prefer for applying makeup, shaving, and other grooming tasks. For intensity, especially for the mirror surround, you’ll probably want between 1,200 and 1,600 lumens, depending on personal preference.

Hallways and Staircases

Stairs and hallways can be dangerous without adequate illumination, particularly at night. Jennifer Brons of the Light and Health Research Center also says that no one’s eyes adjust quickly from full darkness to bright light, so motion sensor lighting isn’t ideal in this area. Instead, plan lighting that’s ample but not too glaring. Think shaded wall sconces, table lamps, and night lights placed throughout the space.

Living Room/Family Room

There’s a paradox to these areas, Brons says. You want to create ambience—people tend to like warmth without brightness in rooms where they relax—but you also need greater light intensity for tasks like reading. Schmidt recommends tackling this with table and floor lamps that cast light up to ceilings and walls as well as at your lap for reading or hobby work. To create a cozier vibe, try experimenting with Kelvin temperatures as low as 1,800. The lumen count you’ll need will vary because a room with only sconces and table and floor lamps could still be bright enough if each fixture uses higher lumen bulbs, while more light sources enables lowering the lumen production of select fixtures.

Bedrooms

You’re here to sleep. To encourage that, you want bulbs with Kelvin numbers in the range of 1,700 to 1,800, ideally at a relatively dim 600 lumens or so. In a bedside table lamp, that’s enough warm light for bedtime reading at a temperature that encourages rest. Brons says not to sleep with the lights on, either. "Our eyelids are translucent, so they do allow light penetration," she says. If you’re worried about getting out of bed in the middle of the night, it’s better for sleep to have plug-in night lights in the hallway or bath than leaving a bedside lamp switched on.

Source: Consumer Reports