Parama L.

RETURBINE

Affordable Wind and Solar Power for Remote Communities

The Idea in Short

During a youth camp in Chiang Rai, I experienced life without electricity, relying on candles and small batteries that lasted only a few hours. This inspired me to create an affordable energy generator for these communities to improve daily life with clean and sustainable power.

Where It Began

How It Started

When I joined a youth camp at Rai Ruen Rom in Chiang Rai, a remote mountain area, I saw many villagers still lived without electricity.

At night, they relied only on candles or small batteries that lasted just a few hours.

That moment made me wonder, what if people could create their own electricity without depending on the main power grid?

How It Started

When I joined a youth camp at Rai Ruen Rom in Chiang Rai, a remote mountain area, I saw many villagers still lived without electricity.

At night, they relied only on candles or small batteries that lasted just a few hours.

That moment made me wonder, what if people could create their own electricity without depending on the main power grid?

How It Started

When I joined a youth camp at Rai Ruen Rom in Chiang Rai, a remote mountain area, I saw many villagers still lived without electricity.

At night, they relied only on candles or small batteries that lasted just a few hours.

That moment made me wonder, what if people could create their own electricity without depending on the main power grid?

Spotted Problem

Many villagers cannot afford expensive power generation systems.

Thailand averages 111 rainy days per year, so relying on solar alone is not enough.

Spotted Problem

Many villagers cannot afford expensive power generation systems.

Thailand averages 111 rainy days per year, so relying on solar alone is not enough.

Spotted Problem

Many villagers cannot afford expensive power generation systems.

Thailand averages 111 rainy days per year, so relying on solar alone is not enough.

The Journey of Making

Idea Planning

My experiment applied various resources from collecting the leftover materials around me such as old PVC pipes, unused bicycle wheels and generators taken from broken appliances.

These leftover materials become valuable once again in terms of initiating a new form of device that can be developed a new usage of improving a quality of life.

Idea Planning

My experiment applied various resources from collecting the leftover materials around me such as old PVC pipes, unused bicycle wheels and generators taken from broken appliances.

These leftover materials become valuable once again in terms of initiating a new form of device that can be developed a new usage of improving a quality of life.

Idea Planning

My experiment applied various resources from collecting the leftover materials around me such as old PVC pipes, unused bicycle wheels and generators taken from broken appliances.

These leftover materials become valuable once again in terms of initiating a new form of device that can be developed a new usage of improving a quality of life.

Prototype #1

The idea

I used two bicycle wheels and PVC pipes cut in half as turbines to generate energy from wind.

What works well

It works well because it produces electricity when the wind blows.

What could be better

The rotation is still stiff, limiting the speed and reducing the amount of electricity generated.

Prototype #1

The idea

I used two bicycle wheels and PVC pipes cut in half as turbines to generate energy from wind.

What works well

It works well because it produces electricity when the wind blows.

What could be better

The rotation is still stiff, limiting the speed and reducing the amount of electricity generated.

Prototype #1

The idea

I used two bicycle wheels and PVC pipes cut in half as turbines to generate energy from wind.

What works well

It works well because it produces electricity when the wind blows.

What could be better

The rotation is still stiff, limiting the speed and reducing the amount of electricity generated.

Prototype #2

The idea

I adjusted the design from two wheels to one, hoping to reduce the turning stiffness.

What works well

This works well because the turbine runs smoother and the product cost drops by 50%.

What could be better

It could be improved by combining solar energy in the generator to maintain energy production in all conditions.

Prototype #2

The idea

I adjusted the design from two wheels to one, hoping to reduce the turning stiffness.

What works well

This works well because the turbine runs smoother and the product cost drops by 50%.

What could be better

It could be improved by combining solar energy in the generator to maintain energy production in all conditions.

Prototype #2

The idea

I adjusted the design from two wheels to one, hoping to reduce the turning stiffness.

What works well

This works well because the turbine runs smoother and the product cost drops by 50%.

What could be better

It could be improved by combining solar energy in the generator to maintain energy production in all conditions.

Latest Prototype

The idea

I installed a small solar panel and a battery storage system to provide power for nighttime use.

Latest Prototype

The idea

I installed a small solar panel and a battery storage system to provide power for nighttime use.

Latest Prototype

The idea

I installed a small solar panel and a battery storage system to provide power for nighttime use.

Looking Ahead

I aim to develop ReTurbine into an affordable clean energy prototype that communities can build using recycled materials. My goal is not for achieving the awards but to light the first bulb that truly changes lives. In the future, I plan to add an IoT energy monitor to track production and usage via a mobile app and design smaller, lighter units that can fit on any rooftop in remote villages.