In Trelew, Chubut, the students from the local Technical School have installed a new wind-solar hybrid system, capable of providing opportunity for energy self-sufficiency in the rural community.
Where the Winds Meet – Small Wind Turbines in Última Esperanza, Chile
One of our SEPS exchange activities aimed to create a local knowledge group for the self-construction of small-scale wind turbines in the south of Chile, through an international exchange of knowledge with Argentinian members of the Wind Empowerment network.
The activities were carried out in Puerto Natales, in the region of Magallanes in southern Chile, and seeked to build, strengthen and disseminate the local competences that are necessary to:
- Construct, maintain and repair small wind turbines
- Install small wind turbines for off-grid rural electrification
- Measure small wind turbine performances and local wind resources
During a workshop in June 2017, the participants were guided through the construction of a 350W small wind turbine (1.8 m diameter), based on the widely adopted Piggott open-source design. The turbine is installed in Estancia La Fernanda, a family farm around 13 km from Puerto Natales.
The farm has difficult access to electricity in the winter, when it mostly depends on a diesel generator. The family participated in the workshop, and is now responsible for the correct operation and maintenance of the system.
A detailed summary of the activities will soon be published on our SEPS project page: “Where the Winds Meet” – Local Construction of Small Wind Turbines in Última Esperanza, Chile.
More information is available on Wind Empowerment’s blog.
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