What it does
CEPs help solve energy poverty by helping communities with self contained power hubs that can generate electricity from human movement and solar. It stores this energy in thermal systems while constantly giving clean water
Your inspiration
The crisis of the Syrian refugees showed people had to go through years of electric power apathy. Short term relief is habitually provided by conventional aid through a means of supplying diesel powered generators. In Kenya, communities naturally create their villages around readily available water. This shows that energy infrastructure can serve as a community center that promotes empowerment. With this understanding, the research question was triggered to incorporate the energy potential of humans with the other available known renewable resources, which led to the development of systems that are collectively owned and self-operated.
How it works
1) Thermal storage by means of phase-change paraffin wax saves 48 hours of power at 1/10 the cost of batteries. 2) Piezoelectric tiles are used on kinetic harvesting floors where power is generated a result of walking and community events. 3) Atmospheric water generation is a solar source powered because the production of 1000 L/day drinking water takes place by the process of condensation. 4) Smart microgrid AI optimizes power distribution and storage. Solar and kinetic energy in surplus is stored in the form of heat into central thermal core containers made with paraffin wax which is later retrieved later to be used by thermoelectric generators. The water system releases the water with peak solar hours with storage undertaken in insulated tanks. Touch screen interfaces ensure that communities monitor the power and water and distribute energy credits in a democratic manner.
Design process
Started with disaster relief research in Jordan refugee camps (2023), identifying need for community-controlled power. Developed thermal storage prototype using paraffin wax achieving 48-hour duration with 85% efficiency. Tested kinetic flooring system in Kenyan school generating 50W per student daily. Collaborated with Bangladeshi communities to design water generation system producing 1000L/day. Built first integrated prototype (2024) combining all systems in 3m x 3m module. Tested in simulated disaster conditions achieving 4-hour deployment time. Improved AI control system through 6-month field trial in rural Uganda powering 200 households. Redesigned modules for tool-free assembly using community feedback. Developed community training program enabling local operation and maintenance. Created financing model allowing communities to own systems through micro-payments. Final prototype tested in Hurricane Helene aftermath, providing power to 500 people for 3 weeks. Achieved manufacturing cost of $15,000 per unit through partnership with modular construction companies.
How it is different
CEPs use thermal energy storage, kinetic energy harvesting and water production in deployable pods that will be part of community energy systems. Compared to traditional photovoltaic systems, CEPs promise to provide 48 hours of non-stop power without lithium-ion battery infrastructure, which is expensive to implement. The units are without fuel, without emissions, and can be erected within four hours which is considerably faster than other microgrids. Their uniqueness is that they combine the harvesting of the energy of human motion and the generation of the drinkable water at the same platform and this way taking care of two urgent needs of the society. Further, its equipment parts are predicted to be about 90 % less expensive than comparable battery-based solutions and, thus, CEPs is a cost-competitive, sustainable energy supply offering to be used toward the future.
Future plans
Deployment in refugee camps through partnership of UNHCR. We can scale it to multiple communities using the manufacturing hubs and establish training centers in key countries like Kenya, Jordan etc for local production. We can develop a financing platform for the community which enables the ownership through micro payments. Expand to lots of communities and hoping to serve thousands of people. This technology can go further to include wind and micro hydro molecules.
Share this page on