Cappa+++ is a Japanese mini hydroelectric generator designed by Norio Kikuchi, CEO of the Ibasei company. It is a small power turbine, intended primarily for private use.
In 2011, northern Japan was hit by a devastating earthquake and tsunami that severely affected the lives of many households. Ibasei then developed the Cappa+++ mini hydropower plant to respond to the emergency situation in the region. A few years later, Ibasei, in collaboration with the Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA), used the mini hydroelectric generator in a pilot program to help Nepal become self-sufficient.
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Clean energy for remote villages in Nepal.
As part of the pilot project, six generators were installed in four different locations in Nepal. In the town of Kalika, a mini-generator was installed in a river near a school.
It allowed students to take advantage of the lighting in their classrooms, but also to recharge electric lanterns that they could then take to their family huts. At the time, the school’s principal, Jaman Bahadur Gurung, said the Cappa allowed classes to continue even if it was raining.
When it rained, they had to close the wooden shutters, which darkened the classrooms. Thanks to the electrification of the school with a hydraulic microturbine, more and more children come to study. This prompted the school to construct another building. In addition to the school, the Cappa+++ also allowed villagers to recharge their lanterns and mobile phones.
local manufacturing
Thanks to the transfer of technology and knowledge from Ibasei, a Kathmandu company, Nepal Yantra Shala Energy, has also started manufacturing Cappa miniturbines.
According to the company’s project coordinator, Suman Pradhan, the goal was to independently manufacture and export mini hydro generators. It should be noted that the very purpose of the pilot project was to make Nepal self-sufficient with the help and experience of Japan.
Features
Hydroelectric power generation uses the force of a stream of water to spin a turbine.
The turbine is connected to a dynamo, which produces electric current.
Cappa is a small turbine that can operate with moderate water flow, unlike conventional hydroelectric devices, which require fairly large amounts of water to produce power.
This invention only needs one thing to work, your immersion.
Cappa has a conical shape which helps to speed up the flow of water to the blades, thus optimizing efficiency. The mini generator can produce up to 250W of clean, sustainable power.
Although it cannot fully meet the needs of a household, it is an innovative alternative to fossil fuel powered generators during power outages.
