During my recent trip to South Africa as a travel agent exploring group tours to the region, I experienced something called load shedding. This is a frequent occurrence for the South African people, where the power is intentionally cut off for up to 12 hours every day. This situation makes life extremely challenging and even dangerous, as there are no street lights, traffic lights, and essential facilities like supermarkets, hospitals, hotels, and construction companies have to rely on portable generators. It's truly difficult for businesses to function and for people to simply live their lives.
I have been an innovative creative person throughout my life and I have developed a plan that has the potential to benefit not only the African people but also many other parts of the world.- Load Shedding impacts South Africa and is getting worse this situation is a problem that over time will effect other places in the world. The increasing global needs for energy and the shift towards more ecologicaly sound forms of production has led to a rapidly global industry expansion in areas such as solar and wind generation.
- My idea involves creating a mechanical wind generation system that operates independently from the grid. This generator is compatable to a solar system and could be added as another source or power or you could use existing solar technology in energy storage and distribution with the energy coming from a scalable wind farm. Importantly, this system will not be dependent on WIFI and will be easily repairable by the local South African community.
- The core principle behind this project is the placement of a ducted fan housed within a Venturi tunnel. This design includes a large mouth to efficiently capture more wind and will have the ability to mechanically shut down during adverse weather conditions. However, it will open again when the weather becomes favorable.
The system will be installed on a twenty-foot tower or on a suitable designed roof and can work seamlessly alongside solar power systems. With this innovative solution, we aim to provide sustainable and reliable wind energy to not only South Africa but also contribute to the global effort in combating global energy crisis. - My prototype will be initially constructed with wood for the following reasons.
- 1. Cost-effectiveness: Wood is a versatile material giving both relative light weigh and a great strength By opting for wood initially, I can save on material costs during the prototyping phase. This allows me to allocate my resources efficiently and test the viability of my design without incurring significant expenitures.
2. Iterative design process: Wood is a highly malleable material and can be easily shaped and modified. This flexibility enables me to quickly iterate and make adjustments to my prototype as needed. By having a tangible model, I can identify design flaws, test different configurations, and fine-tune the wind generator's performance before committing to the permanent and expensive construction of fiberglass production moulds. - 3. The perfected shape will eventuraly be used to create the moulds. The wooden prototype fourfills two functions , one areodynamic model and two, a production buck that allows moulds to be taken two produce the final product which will be made out of aluminium and fiberglass so as to be resistent to being outside in the weather for many years.
4. Visual representation: A wooden prototype can provide a realistic visual representation of my final product. This is particularly beneficial when presenting this idea to potential collaborators. The tangible nature of a working prototype allows others to better comprehend my concept, fostering engagement and support for this project.
5. Using wood for my initial prototype is a strategic choice that offers cost savings, flexibility, accessibility, and when complete a valuable test tool. It sets the foundation for a well-refined and optimized wind generator design before investing in the more specialized and expensive fiberglass construction.
Who is Craig Jones?
Craig Jones is a versatile individual with a diverse range of experiences and skills. Craig was born and grew up in Tasmania but emigrated to the United States in 2001. Craig now lives on Marco Island in South West Florida with his wife Bronwyn, who is also Tasmanian. Bronwyn and Craig are Airbnb super hosts and have a travel company specialicing in international live aboard scuba diving holidays. It was on a trip to South Africa in January 2023 when he experienced load shedding and all it's consequences, no internet, candles for light in the hotel, no street lights or traffic lights (called robots in Africa) shops unable to operate due to no light or registrars to pay for any goods you wish to purchase, hospitals often having to resort to manually respirating patients for up to 10 hours because there is no reliable back up power to cover these events. This experience is what inspired Craig to create a wind generator capable of operation in low wind speeds that could produce enough energy over a twenty four hours to provide power to cover the periods of load shedding.
Craig Jones has created many things in his life his last company in Australia created hand made body work (coachbuilding) mostly for pre war English and European exotic motor vecheles, since moving to the U S Craig has continued to restore old cars both for his own collection but also completed commissions for others. He has also completed numerous pieces of bespoke furniture and unique home interiors.
Craig has a particular passion for working on prestigious car brands like Ferrari, Lamborghini, Maserati, and Rolls Royce.
Our family gained American citizenship in 2014. Craig is determined to continue making a positive impact not only in his own community but also make a difference in other parts of the world. With your help Craig will take on the plight of Africa and the load shedding disaster.
What is load shedding?
Load shedding in South Africa refers to the deliberate and controlled interruption of electricity supply to different areas in order to prevent a total collapse of the power grid. It is implemented by the national electricity provider, Eskom, during times when there is a shortage of electricity supply relative to the demand. Load shedding is necessary to balance the electricity supply and demand, and to prevent a widespread blackout that could have severe consequences for the economy and infrastructure. The schedule for load shedding is typically communicated in advance, allowing people to plan for power outages in their area.
Load shedding in South Africa brings about a multitude of daily struggles for individuals and communities across the country. These struggles impact various aspects of daily life, including access to basic necessities, disruptions in productivity, safety concerns, and health implications.
Why is it necessary to "build" a wind generator, when there are so many wind generators out there in the world market place?
Firstly the wind generation systems available at the moment are almost all electronic and many are designed to distribute accumulated power back into the grid, as the grid is the problem that is not going to solve the lack of power available to the South African Community.
Craig Jones possesses an exceptional skill level in woodwork, metal work, and a general inventive ability to create customized items. He is truly a master craftsman who can bring any creative vision to life.
In woodwork, Craig's expertise is evident in his meticulous attention to detail and precision. Whether it's crafting intricate furniture pieces or creating stunning wood sculptures, his work showcases a high level of craftsmanship and artistry. His ability to work with different types of wood and create unique designs is truly impressive.
When it comes to metal work, Craig's skill level is equally impressive. He has a deep understanding of various metalworking techniques and can manipulate metal with finesse. From forging beautiful decorative pieces to constructing metal car body, his metalwork exhibits both strength and aesthetics.
What sets Craig apart is his general inventive ability to "create to order" anything that is required. He has a knack for understanding clients' needs and translating their ideas into tangible creations. Whether it's a custom-designed piece of furniture, or crafting classic car coach work (coachbuilding is the creation of a car body by hand), or any other innovative project, Craig has the ability to bring it to fruition with great skill and creativity.
Overall, Craig Jones is a true artist and craftsman who excels in woodwork, metal work, and the ability to create bespoke items. His talent, combined with his passion and inventive nature, makes him a highly sought-after professional in the field.
The photos below are examples of Craig Jones's ability to create whatever he wants, needs or desires to make.
