William Kamkwamba: How I built a windmill

00:06:09
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=G8yKFVPOD6o

Summary

TLDRWilliam Kamkwamba, at 19, shares his journey of creating a windmill in Malawi. After dropping out of school, he used a library book on energy to construct a windmill with materials like a bicycle frame and pulley, producing 12 watts of electricity to power lights and radios in his home. He intends to build a larger windmill for irrigation to support his village and is seeking assistance with materials to realize his dream. His story highlights innovation and resilience despite challenges in a developing context.

Takeaways

  • 🌍 William Kamkwamba is from Kasungu, Malawi.
  • 💡 He built a windmill at the age of 14.
  • 🔧 Used a bicycle frame and pulley for construction.
  • ⚡ The windmill generates 12 watts of electricity.
  • 💡 Powers four bulbs and two radios in his home.
  • 🚀 He plans to build a bigger windmill for irrigation.
  • 🌱 Goals include supporting local agriculture with energy.
  • 🗣️ Speaking at TED to gain support and materials.
  • 📚 Inspired by a book on energy he read at the library.
  • ✨ A story of determination and creativity.

Timeline

  • 00:00:00 - 00:06:09

    In a conversation between Chris Anderson and William Kamkwamba, William shares his journey of creating a windmill at the age of 14 in his hometown of Kasungu, Malawi. Inspired after dropping out of school, he utilized a book titled 'Using Energy' to gather information and developed a unique design with four blades, aimed at generating more power compared to the book's design with three blades. He constructed the windmill using materials such as a bicycle frame and plastic pipes, ultimately generating 12 watts of electricity, which was able to power four light bulbs and two radios in his home. William expresses his desire to build a larger windmill for irrigation purposes, potentially benefiting his entire village, and discusses his hopes for collaboration with others to realize this vision.

Mind Map

Video Q&A

  • What did William Kamkwamba build when he was 14?

    He built a windmill to generate electricity.

  • What materials did he use for the windmill?

    He used a bicycle frame, a pulley, and plastic pipes.

  • How much electricity did his windmill generate?

    It generated 12 watts.

  • How many lights could his windmill power?

    It could power four light bulbs and two radios.

  • What is William's future goal for his windmill project?

    He wants to build a bigger windmill for irrigation.

  • Where is William Kamkwamba from?

    He is from Kasungu, Malawi.

  • How old is William Kamkwamba now?

    He is 19 years old.

  • Did William modify the windmill design from the book?

    Yes, he used four blades instead of three to increase power.

  • What does William aim to achieve with his windmill for his village?

    He aims to produce more than 20 watts for irrigation.

  • Why did William speak at the TED conference?

    He hoped to gain support and materials for his projects.

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  • 00:00:29
    Chris Anderson: William, hi. Good to see you.
  • 00:00:31
    William Kamkwamba: Thanks.
  • 00:00:32
    CA: So, we've got a picture, I think? Where is this?
  • 00:00:37
    WK: This is my home. This is where I live.
  • 00:00:41
    CA: Where? What country?
  • 00:00:43
    WK: In Malawi, Kasungu. In Kasungu. Yeah, Mala.
  • 00:00:46
    CA: OK. Now, you're 19 now?
  • 00:00:49
    WK: Yeah. I'm 19 years now.
  • 00:00:51
    CA: Five years ago you had an idea. What was that?
  • 00:00:54
    WK: I wanted to make a windmill.
  • 00:00:56
    CA: A windmill?
  • 00:00:57
    WK: Yeah.
  • 00:00:58
    CA: What, to power -- for lighting and stuff?
  • 00:01:02
    WK: Yeah.
  • 00:01:04
    CA: So what did you do? How did you realize that?
  • 00:01:07
    WK: After I dropped out of school, I went to library,
  • 00:01:11
    and I read a book that would -- "Using Energy,"
  • 00:01:15
    and I get information about doing the mill.
  • 00:01:18
    And I tried, and I made it.
  • 00:01:20
    (Applause)
  • 00:01:30
    CA: So you copied -- you exactly copied the design in the book.
  • 00:01:34
    WK: Ah, no. I just --
  • 00:01:36
    CA: What happened?
  • 00:01:38
    WK: In fact, a design of the windmill that was in the book,
  • 00:01:42
    it has got four -- ah -- three blades,
  • 00:01:46
    and mine has got four blades.
  • 00:01:49
    CA: The book had three, yours had four.
  • 00:01:51
    WK: Yeah.
  • 00:01:52
    CA: And you made it out of what?
  • 00:01:54
    WK: I made four blades, just because I want to increase power.
  • 00:01:59
    CA: OK.
  • 00:02:00
    WK: Yeah.
  • 00:02:01
    CA: You tested three, and found that four worked better?
  • 00:02:03
    WK: Yeah. I test.
  • 00:02:05
    CA: And what did you make the windmill out of?
  • 00:02:08
    What materials did you use?
  • 00:02:10
    WK: I use a bicycle frame, and a pulley, and plastic pipe, what then pulls --
  • 00:02:16
    CA: Do we have a picture of that? Can we have the next slide?
  • 00:02:19
    WK: Yeah. The windmill.
  • 00:02:21
    CA: And so, and that windmill, what -- it worked?
  • 00:02:25
    WK: When the wind blows, it rotates and generates.
  • 00:02:30
    CA: How much electricity?
  • 00:02:31
    WK: 12 watts.
  • 00:02:33
    CA: And so, that lit a light for the house? How many lights?
  • 00:02:38
    WK: Four bulbs and two radios.
  • 00:02:40
    CA: Wow.
  • 00:02:41
    WK: Yeah.
  • 00:02:42
    (Applause) CA: Next slide --
  • 00:02:52
    so who's that?
  • 00:02:54
    WK: This is my parents, holding the radio.
  • 00:02:57
    CA: So what did they make of -- that you were 14, 15 at the time --
  • 00:03:01
    what did they make of this? They were impressed?
  • 00:03:04
    WK: Yeah.
  • 00:03:05
    CA: And so what's your -- what are you going to do with this?
  • 00:03:07
    WK: Um --
  • 00:03:09
    CA: What do you -- I mean -- do you want to build another one?
  • 00:03:13
    WK: Yeah, I want to build another one --
  • 00:03:16
    to pump water and irrigation for crops.
  • 00:03:21
    CA: So this one would have to be bigger?
  • 00:03:23
    WK: Yeah.
  • 00:03:24
    CA: How big?
  • 00:03:25
    WK: I think it will produce more than 20 the watts.
  • 00:03:31
    CA: So that would produce irrigation for the entire village?
  • 00:03:35
    WK: Yeah.
  • 00:03:37
    CA: Wow. And so you're talking to people here at TED
  • 00:03:40
    to get people who might be able to help in some way
  • 00:03:44
    to realize this dream?
  • 00:03:46
    WK: Yeah, if they can help me with materials, yeah.
  • 00:03:50
    CA: And as you think of your life going forward,
  • 00:03:53
    you're 19 now,
  • 00:03:56
    do you picture continuing with this dream of working in energy?
  • 00:04:00
    WK: Yeah. I'm still thinking to work on energy.
  • 00:04:05
    CA: Wow. William, it's a real honor to have you at the TED conference.
  • 00:04:09
    Thank you so much for coming.
  • 00:04:11
    WK: Thank you.
  • 00:04:13
    (Applause)
Tags
  • Windmill
  • Malawi
  • Innovation
  • Energy
  • Sustainability
  • TED
  • Education
  • Irrigation
  • Renewable Energy
  • Inspiration