KUCHING: The Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers (IEEE) Sarawak Subsection’s Humanitarian Technology team recently executed an alternative lighting project known as ‘Free Energy: Calories for Electricity’ at SK Salak here.
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 rechargeable generator via bicycle at the school’s innovation corner.
“The main purpose for this project was to generate clean and sustainable energy while using exercise to engage with students of SK Salak,” DrThen 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 for exercise, while at the same time charging the battery to supply electricity.
The 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).
This is also an attempt and initiative to promote clean and renewable energy among rural communities and educate students in a more physical and practical way, particularly in STEM (science, technology, engineering, and mathematics) in conjunction with the Sarawak STEM initiative in tertiary education.
For more information, please visit the IEEE Sarawak Subsection website at http://sarawak.ieeemy.org.