Winds of Change: Man invents windmill to save diesel

Anu Jogesh , CNN-IBN
Posted on Aug 09, 2008 at 18:34 | Updated Aug 09, 2008 at 19:27

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New Delhi: Windmills are the oldest form of clean energy, but cost of commercial windmills have made it impossible for farmers to use - until now that is. One man has taken a low cost wind turbine and helped 100s of farmers in Gujarat cut down on diesel.

Electricity supply in many farms in parts of Saurastra is erratic and most farmers have taken to these soot spewing machines to draw water for their feilds - that is, all farmers but Thadubhai. Thadubhai has installed a wind turbine.

"Earlier farmers havested one crop. Now, since I got the pawan chakki two months ago, I hope to harvest for three per season," says he.

The man who brought this green innovation to Thadubhai and the masses in gujrat is Mahesh Patel, head of GIAN, an organisation that works to find practical applications of little known innovators across of the country.

Patel says, "Salt farmers in Gujarat spend Rs 75,000 on diesel expenses to pull water. This is a big social hurdle. For them, this windmill is perfect. It comes without any recurring cost and cuts down on expenditure."

The pawan chakki costs only Rs 15,000 to Rs 20,000 and it can be dismantled and transferred to another well or handpump in a matter of hours.

"In the next six months, 100 mills in the region will have the windmill. We are targeting 250 mills in Gujarat," says Patel.

Gujarat's Saurashtra region is an ecologically diverse region and the wind turbine is that much more relevant here. It's not just about fuel savings, but a cut in air and noise pollution, which can only mean a boon for the rich flaura and fauna of the area.

Mahesh knows that most of the electricity and diesel consumed in rural India is on farm equipment. One man's invention and another's vision could go a long way in clearing the air.

More on: assam, windmill, diesel, gujarat, saurashtra