Micro Hydropower Turbines for Sub-Saharan Africa

There is a need for the development of new designs for 'run-of-river' micro hydropower turbines, more suited to the off-grid environment of Sub-Saharan Africa (SSA). The majority of the 660 million people in SSA who have no access to electricity, live in rural off-grid low-income agricultural communities which lack good roads, skilled manufacturing facilities, adequate telecommunications and other infrastructure common in 'developed' countries.

Traditional hydropower turbine designs rely on skilled precision engineering, a reliable supply-chain of maintenance engineers, and easy access to replacement parts. All of which makes for an expensive supply-chain. Something new, possibly achieved through advanced "3D" manufacturing, is needed.