The IEEE Sarawak Subsection’s Humanitarian Technology team have recently executed the alternative lighting project 2, known as ‘Free Energy: Calories for Electricity’ at Sekolah Kebangsaan Salak, Kuching, Sarawak. The team was co-led by Dr. Then Yi Lung, the Chair for Humanitarian Technology Activities of IEEE Sarawak Subsection and Dr. Tay Fei Siang who deployed and installed streetlights to light up the school compound at night using free energy powered by a rechargeable generator with bicycle at the school’s innovation corner (Sudut Pusat Sumber).
“The main purpose for this project would be to generate clean and sustainable energy while engaging students of SK Salak with exercising activity.” Dr. Then explained. The proposed mechanism is to harvest electricity using the pedal power from the bicycles and perform energy conversion from kinetic to electrical energy by using the alternator installed on the bicycle. The students at SK Salak can then cycle during exercising activity at the same time charging the battery to supply electricity to the lighting during night time.
The Alternative Lighting Project (ALP) is in line with Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) initiated by the United Nations (UN) to provide quality education (Goal 4) and affordable and clean energy (Goal 7). With that, the students at SK Salak will be able to have a better learning environment, knowledge and skills about generating renewable energy by using pedal power from the bicycles. This is also an attempt and initiative to promote clean and renewable energy among rural communities and educate students in more physical and practical way, particularly in STEM education in conjunction with the Sarawak STEM initiative in tertiary education.
Source: The BorneoPost
