2.4.2. Wind pumps
Wind pumps harness the power in the wind to drive a
mechanical pump to lift groundwater. They have low
operating costs so can be cheaper to run than a diesel
powered pump. They are suitable for village and livestock
water supplies, and irrigation. Wind pumps are effective at
lower wind speeds than SWTs. There are manufacturers in
several developing countries promoting wind pumps on a
commercial basis, including the Kijito wind pump in
Kenya.30
The Kijito wind pump in
Kenya: Practical Action
2.5.
Human powered water pumping technologies
A wide range of human-powered water pumping technologies is in common use to
gain access to groundwater. Foot, hip and hand operated pumps are used for
household water supply and irrigation in developing countries. Most of them are
positive displacement pumps using reciprocating pistons or plungers.31 Human
powered pumps are low cost, simple and cheap to maintain for a trained operator.
They have lower pumping heads and volumes than other water pumping devices
(diesel, solar, water or wind powered). Human powered water pumping
technologies are suitable in most regions.
Hand pumps are commonly used for household supply. They can pump water from
a depth of up to 45m. Foot and hip pumps are more suitable for irrigation because
they are more comfortable for the operator to use for prolonged periods. They have
lower pumping heads than hand pumps but can deliver a greater flow.32
Treadle pumps have proved to be very popular with poor farmers’ in Africa. They
have been successfully promoted on a commercial basis by a number of NGOs
and businesses. Kick Start is an NGO promoting foot and hip pumps to farmers’
across Africa through offices in Kenya, Tanzania and Mali.33 IDE is another
organisation promoting treadle pumps. 34 IDE has been very successful in South
Asia and now has operations in Africa. IDE works with local micro-finance
organisations to allow poor farmers to gain access to finance to purchase the
product.
2.6.
Liquid fuel technologies
The internal combustion (IC) engine has been used for many decades in
developing countries playing a very important role in providing power for rural
communities. Many stand-alone units are used for milling, small-scale electricity
production, water pumping, etc. They are readily available, off-the-shelf in most
major towns and cities in a range of sizes to suit various applications. There is
usually a well-established spare parts and maintenance network, both at urban and
rural centres.35
Renewable Energy to Reduce Poverty in Africa
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