FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS

What are the advantages to having wind turbines?

Wind turbines provide a very effective way to convert wind energy into electrical power. The wind energy that is converted is a clean fuel source that does not pollute the air like power plants who are reliant on the combustion of fossil fuels. In addition, wind power is cost effective, and wind creates jobs. “In 2016, the wind energy sector invested more than $8.8 billion of private capital in the U.S. economy to build projects and employed more than 101,000 workers More than 8,800 technicians were employed in 2015 to monitor and maintain wind turbines, and this profession is expected to grow by 108% in the next decade”

See link for more information: (https://energy.gov/eere/wind/advantages-and-challenges-wind-energy)

How far away from the villages should the wind turbines reside?

The best locations for wind turbines are places fairly distant from the population. There is no specific numerical value as to how far they should be placed, but wind turbines are generally located in open area far away from animals and trees that could potentially be obstructions and affect its functionality.

What is the most effective and affordable material needed to construct a turbine? (Base and blades)?

Constructing the base and the blades will require different materials should be affordable and effective. That being said, the base will be constructed of (material of base) to support the turbine and provide stability. This is different from the popular base tower, yet is cheaper and still effective. On the other hand, the blades will be made of pvc pipes or other light materials such as polyester. These materials are abundant, easy to use, and quick to set up. If for some reason, the blades of a turbine are damaged, pvc pipes are a great replacement. The process to replace and construct the blades is quicker and cheaper.

What factors could affect the functionality and the efficiency of the wind turbine?

The location, the composition of the turbine, and the weather are factors that could affect its functionality. As mentioned before, the best location for a wind turbine is an area distant from the population where it will not be a distraction and have a detrimental effect. The area should be of high altitude because the wind speed increases by 12% as the distance between the ground and the turbine is doubled. As a result, this will produce more energy that can be utilized by the village. The composition of the turbine is also vital. The base of the turbine should be constructed of a strong sturdy material such as metal or iron to keep it stable. However, for the blades, light durable material such as polyester is key to its performance. Furthermore, weather also plays a role. The weather should not fluctuate too much as the energy generated will depend on the wind.

Can we depend on Tanzania’s workforce to build the wind turbines?

In countries where the poverty rate is high and access to education is minimal, hiring a local workforce can be risky. Large numbers of adults may lack basic skills or have other personal challenges to work, such as a lack of affordable child care or adequate transportation. Young people may not be getting the college and career guidance or professional experience they need to prepare them for success in the workplace. But why would that not be a problem in Tanzania? Even though the country and specifically the city of Makambako lacks primary, secondary schools as well as universities, there are more than enough qualified students who will be the perfect fit for a job like this. The University of St Joseph Tanzania, which counts four campuses around the country today, offers many engineering degree programs to its students. Click here to see a list of their programs. (create a link that will take them to another page). Their mission is to meet the emerging challenges happening in the world today. Bringing such project to the country will ameliorate the social, technical, financial and educational system of the country and help the university reach their goal. Furthermore, the maintenance of the wind turbines is guaranteed since the local workforce will have the proper knowledge to either repair or upgrade the machines, saving us a few trips back to Tanzania.

Figure. 2: Showing the poverty ratio in the country

Frequency
Annual

Date range
1961 - 2025

Publication date
Thursday, 31 December 2015

Accessed on

Friday, 19 February 2016

Source
National Bureau of Statistics, Tanzania
Original data: http://www.nbs.go.tz


What effect does electricity have on education and the future of the country?

Worldwide, there are over 1.3 billion people who still lack access to electricity which is seen a major hurdle to economic and human development.  Electricity is the lifeline for families to meet their most basic needs and it’s the connection needed to plug Africa into the grid of the global economy. One of the major benefits of electricity is increasing educational attainment.

Christine E. Kimes, Acting Head, World Bank Bangladesh said, “Access to energy promotes economic growth and prosperity and has a positive impact on income, expenditure and education.”
The European Commission Development Commissioner Piebalgs said, “The benefits of rural electrification are manifold - by connecting people to clean energy, we’ll improve healthcare, education, and opportunities to make a living in the area.”

Access to electricity increases the number of students that stay in school. Without electricity, studying becomes difficult, which in turn leads to bad grades and decreases the college entrance rate. In the benefits of our project, if we cannot find a qualified workforce with a minimum knowledge on electricity and mechanical engineering, it would be required to either fly international engineers and work force or start a local workforce system. Either one asks to invest more money to the project thus increasing the prices of the wind turbines.

If you have any additional questions, be sure to reach out to one of our representatives at any of the emails below:

engrgrp07@gmail.com 
rao53@drexel.edu
srg92@drexel.edu