What do lions, flashlights and solar power have in common?

23rd Apr 2012

Solar electricity has been used to power all manner of interesting inventions over the years, but one Kenyan boy has used it to help out his local community.

When most of us think of solar panels, we envisage fairly big installations of the roofs of houses and offices, but the truth is they can be just as handy on a smaller scale.

Aged just 11, Richard Turere decided to take action to prevent livestock in his local area being attacked by lions.

He lives on the edge of Nairobi National Park and realised that lions didn't go near the homesteads whenever anyone was walking around with a flashlight.

As a result, he grabbed a number of broken flashlights and rigged them up to a box of switches and an old car battery powered by a solar panel, reveals the Friends of Nairobi National Park blog.

At regular intervals throughout the night, the lights are switched on to give the illusion that humans are patrolling the area, therefore keeping those pesky lions at bay.

Since the solar power invention became operational two years ago, the family has not lost any of its livestock to lions – leading five other local families to ask for a similar system to be installed.

Richard has since been granted a scholarship for his adventures with solar power, with experts recognising just how great his invention is.

Not only is it cheap to produce, but is also locally made, cost-effective and easy to install and maintain.

There's even potential for the product to be scaled-up and used as an effective means of protecting livestock.

It just goes to show that solar electricity has more uses than many of us may realise…who knows what people will come up with next!

Posted by Mike Peacock

 

All solar power news categories

Government Rebate & Regulations
Solar Power & Technology


More Solar Power & Technology

Australia to be a part of huge Asian renewable energy growth
SunPower steps up to make solar more affordable
Canberra makes strides toward carbon neutrality
GTM puts solar's massive growth in perspective
Examining Australia's falling solar PV rooftop prices
Australia's shift toward renewable energy picks up the pace
Australia shines at solar decathlon
University of Queensland tapped as lead researcher on massive solar project
100 per cent renewable energy is possible in 10 years, environmental group says
Climate Commission releases report on solar progress
Aussie government actually shows spine for solar power
Be gone, skeptics: One million solar installations and counting
Australia embarks on its greatest solar journey ever
Australia looks to solar thermal for commercial success
Solar power helps King Island reach 100% sustainability
Australians 'heavy supporters of solar power'
Mildura solar plant officially unveiled
Solar power trumps other renewables in Australian minds
Sunshine Coast solar farm "fantastic initiative"
Sunshine Coast cashes in on namesake with solar plans
Energy storage 'could maximise solar power utility'
Solar powered family car - a world first?
Code of conduct for solar installers in the works
'Stop punishing households' for solar PV
Australian solar companies 'adjusting well'
Australian mining 'next solar frontier'
"Rooftop revolution" underway across Australia
Global PV market emerging from sluggish period
Royalla solar farm receives final approval
Leadership challenge a "debacle" for Australian solar power
Solar power giving global renewables a helping hand
Australia's largest CPV solar power plant up and running
Renewable energy misinformation "staggering"
CEC: Don't underestimate consumer desire for solar
Setting energy efficient examples on TV
Solar PV brightening up household bills
World's largest solar powered boat on the move
Climate change is heating up
The global solar power shift
New solar tech win for NSW
Industry orgs praise City of Sydney solar efforts
Clean Energy Council supports Regional Renewables scheme
Asian nations emerging as PV leaders
Solar PV demand continues to grow
Regional areas of Australia to receive more renewables
Australia's significant renewable energy growth
Solar panel reprieve for Queensland
New funding for solar research
Find love with sustainable speed dating
New Victorian solar power deal
 To get your quotes, please enter your postcode: