School Dropout Connects 9 Homes With Electricity From Air-Powered Transformer: “Life Is Simple”
- Ernest Andrew's innovation largely seeks to save the money villagers spend on buying torches and batteries
- Andrew, an 18-year-old secondary school dropout said his generator produces 1,000 volts of electricity
- However, experts complain about Andrew's inability to articulate how he is using air to generate electricity
They say necessity is the mother of invention, and, for centuries, industrial-era necessities have sparked inventions that continue to shape the world around us.
Source: Twitter
For instance, inventor Ernest Andrew's innovation largely seeks to save the money villagers spend on buying torches and batteries to light their homes.
"After realising that we were facing a lot of problems without having electricity, I thought about inventing electricity. Now here we are," Andrew said.
The 18-year-old secondary school dropout said his generator produces 1,000 volts of electricity.
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VOA reported that Andrew has now connected nine houses from his self-made transformer
"This system generates electricity using air. To make a bulb illuminate, I use power stored in batteries. I experiment with magnetic power to determine how much electricity I can produce, and after that, I generate power based on the number of houses I want to supply," Andrew explained.
Why experts have poked holes in Andrew's innovation
However, experts complain about Andrew's inability to articulate how he is using air to generate electricity.
The experts say he must be purposely concealing it to prevent others from copying it.
"What type of air is he using? We don't know. What is the air doing to produce power? We don't know, and he is not saying. How is he using the air in his system to produce electricity? We don't know," said Allie Katumba, an electrical engineer.
Katumba said if it were proven real, Andrew's innovation would be rated among the most extraordinary in the world.
The innovation has convinced skeptical neighbours.
"I was among those who were doubting his ability to generate electricity, which we can use in our homes. But when I saw that he had managed to connect to his parents' house, that is when I asked him to connect to my house too. Now life is simple," said Mary Phirim, a neighbour.
The villagers use the free electricity to charge phones and plug in shaving machines.
Andrew's mother, Everlyne Chinguo, says he dropped out of school in 2018 due to a lack of school fees.
"I am appealing to well-wishers to help this boy to continue with his education by sending him back to school to improve on his innovative ideas because the knowledge he is using now is inborn," said Chinguo.
How Andrew received Malawi's gov't support
Minister of Energy Ibrahim Matola recently expressed appreciation for the invention.
"Such innovations can make us achieve access to electricity. But not only access but also affordability and sustainability," Matola said.
Already, authorities in Malawi's Lower District have conducted training and donated electricity wires, protective gear, and a gadget for measuring electricity footage.
"One thing we are going to do as a district is ensure that whenever he is working on the appliances he is safe," said Mercy Mpakule, the director of planning and development.
The Malawi government has organised a group of experts and identified areas to assist.
In the meantime, Andrew wakes up to connect the entire village and fulfil the government's request to illuminate the nearby public school.
Innovative taxi driver opens a tuck shop in his vehicle, peeps impressed
In a related story, YEN.com.gh reported on an innovative taxi driver who opened a tuck-shop in his vehicle, selling chips and sweets.
The taxi driver didn't see any reason why he couldn't run a tuck-shop in his taxi - two in one.
He placed his crate full of chips between his seat and the passenger seat. He also sells scones, sweets, Grandpa, airtime, and more.
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Source: TUKO.co.ke
Berlinda Entsie (Copy Editor) Berlinda Entsie is a Copy Editor at YEN.com.gh. She has worked as a proofreader and editor since 2016. Berlinda has over 5 years' experience editing and writing for leading publications in Ghana. She previously worked with Graphic Communications Group LTD, Business Insider SSA and Pulse.com.gh. She obtained a B.A in English Studies from the Methodist University College in 2016 and a Diploma in Broadcast Journalism from the GH Media School in 2019. Reach out to her via berlinda.entsie@yen.com.gh
Jessie Ola-Morris (Human-Interest Editor) Jessie Ola-Morris is a Human Interest editor at YEN.com.gh. She has over three years of experience in journalism. She graduated from the Ghana Institute of Journalism in 2022 with a Bachelor's degree in Communication Studies. Her journalism career started with myjoyonline.com, a subsidiary of The Multimedia Group Limited, where she worked as a writer. Jessie also previously served as a multimedia journalist for The Independent Ghana. In 2024, Jessie completed Google News Initiative News Lab courses in Advanced Digital Reporting and Fighting Misinformation. Email: jessie.ola-morris@yen.com.gh
