Kenya - Business creation project

Describe your project or startup in a few words

Lectrawind combines solar panels and wind turbines into one energy system to generate 6 times more energy than individual solar panels. Lectrawind is powered by an artificial wind concept that turns wind turbines in the absence of natural wind.

01.01 Describe your project in more detail

Lectrawind is a powerful energy system that combines bi-facial solar panels and Vertical axis wind turbines into one structure that can easily be integrated with existing architecture. Bi-facial solar panels act as the roof of the structure, while the wind turbines are housed in a cage. The cage is designed with the venturi effect, in that the speed of the wind is accelerated as it enters the cage, making the turbines turn faster while generating more electricity. The wind also cools the bi-facial solar panels increasing their productivity by 20%. Should there be no wind, we apply an artificial wind concept to turn the turbines. The artificial wind concept basically is electromagnetic repulsion that is powered by solar energy and powerful magnets fitted strategically on the rotor blades. The aim of this project is to create a plug to play renewable energy product that our customers can rely on for their energy needs.

01.02 What is the main problem you are trying to solve?

The Demand for Renewable Energy as part of climate mitigation and Electric vehicle adoption is very high. Solar panels alone can not fulfill this demand, and entities are left to rely on the National Grid, that is sometimes unreliable. Lack of access to electricity - In Kenya, 9 million households are not supplied with electricity. In Africa that number increases to about 600 million people. Intermittency- Renewable energy sources such as wind and solar often face intermittency that makes them complementary sources of energy.

01.03 Tell us the major benefits and/or advantages of using the product/service that your project intends to provide (at least 3).

6 to 10 more power than solar panels alone. Takes little space on the roof, while also expanding the surface area for solar panel installation by 20%. Reliable and affordable renewable energy - 1MWh/year facility costs roughly 6,000 USD to install.

01.04 Please describe who exactly your project is aimed at serving. Who are the targeted beneficiaries?

Electric Vehicle Charging Stations. Petrol Stations Residential Buildings, Minigrids, Factories

01.05 When did you start working on your project?

2024-01-01

01.06 How many other partners are associated with your business venture?

5

01.07 Among the other partners, how many are female?

1

01.08 Please describe the profile of each of the other partners (skills, experience, etc.)

Lawrence Muingai - Electrical engineering student - Solar energy Generation. - Was among the finalists at the University of Nairobi faculty hackathons. David Odhiambo - Electrical engineering student - Wind energy generation. Was among the finalists at the Jacob's Ladder Africa Greenlabs Program. Beth Moraa - Legal and Compliance - Lawyer and Energy law expert Antony Mong'are - Graphics Design Lead- Runs a virtual Assistance network called Amcy VA Brian Migosi - Social Media - Has over 120k (X) twitter followers and works as a social media assistant.

01.09 If you have a website, a social media page (Facebook, Instagram, Linkedin…), or app, please provide the link here:

https://x.com/lectrawind

01.10 Which industry best describes your project?

a) Energy (equipment, services, sustainable energy and fuel)

02.01.01 My project contributes to the No poverty goal

5

02.01.02 No poverty - Justification

My project can be installed as a minigrid in remote areas. Since it supplies steady and reliable electricity, community members can gain digital skills, power their homes, schools, and hospitals, subsequently improving their lives.

02.02.01 My project contributes to the Zero hunger goal

1 - Strongly Disagree

02.02.02 Zero hunger - Justification

02.03.01 My project contributes to the Good health and well-being goal

7 - Strongly Agree

02.03.02 Good health and well-being - Justification

Being a renewable energy product, Lectrawind offers communities in both rural and urban areas access to cheap and reliable electricity. This means that communities will stop relying on unclean means of energy, such as firewood, gases inter alia. In providing clean means of energy we contribute to the highest attainable standard of health and well-being.

02.04.01 My project contributes to the Quality education goal

5

02.04.02 Quality education - Justification

Schools in remote areas without access to electricity can install Lectrawind as an energy source. Through partnerships, which we are currently looking into, schools can get laptops, internet, and other devices that contribute to quality education.

02.05.01 My project contributes to the Gender equality goal

5

02.05.02 Gender equality - Justification

Women are almost entirely the ones who utilise unclean means of energy, when it comes to cooking, or even informal work. By eliminating unclean means of energy and providing clean means of cooking, we eliminate the gender inequality that women face in this regard.

02.06.01 My project contributes to the Clean water and sanitation goal

5

02.06.02 Clean water and sanitation - Justification

Lectrawind can be used to power water pump, ensuring every person has access to clean water. The energy produced by Lectrawind can also be used to clean/recycle water for communities to use.

02.07.01 My project contributes to the Affordable and clean energy goal

7 - Strongly Agree

02.07.02 Affordable and clean energy - Justification

Solar and wind energy are the leading sources of renewable electricity. This is because solar panels in particular, are easy and cheap to install and maintain. Solar panels, however, do not cater for all the energy consumption, this is as a result of low conversion rate, and the fact that they don't work at night. Wind turbines on the other hand, are more efficient but expensive to install as well as intermittent. What Lectrawind does, is that, eliminates intermittency encountered in wind and solar energy generation. This translates to a 6 - 10 times more power compares to solarpanels. Lectrawind also provides an increased surface area for bi-facial solar panels installation on top of a roof by 20%. This will increase solar panel energy output. By applying the artificial wind concept, we can control the speed of the wind turbines and allow it to produce power as per demand.

02.08.01 My project contributes to the Decent work and economic growth

6

02.08.02 Decent work and economic growth - Justification

Lectrawind will employ local engineers to install the product for clients, creating employment opportunities. Installing a mini-grid in a remote area will also require the hiring of local personnel for maintenance among others. Such a mini-grid will also open up the local community to the digital and green economy.

02.09.01 My project contributes to the Industry innovation and infrastructure

7 - Strongly Agree

02.09.02 Industry innovation and infrastructure - Justification

Industries and even petrol stations that want to transition to green energy can install Lectrawind to cut down on their electricity bills.

02.10.01 My project contributes to the Reduced inequalities goal

1 - Strongly Disagree

02.10.02 Reduced inequalities - Justification

02.11.01 My project contributes to the Sustainable cities and communities goal

7 - Strongly Agree

02.11.02 Sustainable cities and communities - Justification

Lectrawind can power up communities and cities. For cities, Lectrawind can power residential homes with renewable energy, generated with minimal harm to the environment. This sustainable is one that is closely tied to the vision of lectrawind. Rural Communities also can have lectrawind as a minigrid and hence stop relying on unclean means of energy. Petrol stations can also transition to charging stations easily with lectrawind.

02.12.01 My project contributes to the Responsible consumption and production goal

6

02.12.02 Responsible consumption and production - Justification

Parts of the lectrawind structures will be build used recyclable and reusable materials that allow for a circular economy. These materials might range from electronics, plastics, and even PV cells.

02.13.01 My project contributes to the Climate action goal

7 - Strongly Agree

02.13.02 Climate action - Justification

Renewable energy is among the climate mitigation strategies. Lectrawind, by providing access to affordable and reliable electricity will successfully deter harm done to the environment by unclean means of energy, effectively reducing the carbon foot print.

02.14.01 My project contributes to the Life below water goal

1 - Strongly Disagree

02.14.02 Life below water - Justification

02.15.01 My project contributes to the Life on land goal

1 - Strongly Disagree

02.15.02 Life on land - Justification

02.16.01 My project contributes to the Peace justice and strong institutions goal

1 - Strongly Disagree

02.16.02 Peace justice and strong institutions - Justification

02.17.01 My project contributes to the Partnerships for the goal

7 - Strongly Agree

02.17.02 Partnerships for the goal - Justification

As Lectrawind, we believe that our project will only succeed if we partner with other impact organisations to effect change in the lives of the global citizens. Only by collaborating, can we achieve our KPIs, including but limited to quality education, quality employment and gender empowerment.

05.01 There are a large number of customers who already use a product/service very similar to the product/service we envision creating.

1 - Strongly Disagree

05.02 The product/service we envision creating represents an entirely new type of product/service.

7 - Strongly Agree

05.03 The product/service we envision creating could be described as a new technology.

7 - Strongly Agree

05.04 The product/service we envision creating is an improvement on an existing product or service.

7 - Strongly Agree

05.05 The product/service we envision creating could be described as an extension of a range of products or services.

1 - Strongly Disagree

05.06 The product/service we envision creating responds to a demand or need that has not been satisfied by other products/services.

7 - Strongly Agree

05.07 The product/service we envision creating is a new version of an old product/service.

1 - Strongly Disagree

05.08 Justification

Our product is unique in two ways; 1. With artificial wind concept, we can easily control the amount of power generated per wind turbine. 2. We generate 6 to 10 times more power than individual solar panels. 3. Given the numerous system disturbances affecting the national grid, consumers have switched to solar to carter for their needs. However solar panels have low conversion rates, making our project a go-to solution.

05.09 Who are your main potential competitors and what makes you stand out from them?

Powernest from IBIS Power, Netherlands. We offer an artificial wind concept that turns wind turbines in the absence of natural wind, powernest does not have such a feature. Different Target Markets While we focus on charging stations in the African Continent, powernest focuses on the residential buildings market in the Netherlands

10.06 Are you initiating actions within your community to promote the role of female entrepreneurs?

Yes - I am currently leading an acceleration initiative, to provide female entrepreneurs with the mentors and support they need to turn their ideas into reality. Until last week I managed to get a female led team an expert in water hyacinth containment. I am also planning to work with female led agri-businesses to secure low risk affordable loans to expand their businesses.