Peripherals/Hydro

Micro/pico hydro schemes could easily be used to charge multiple laptops, even in areas with variable flow, thanks to the capacity of the XO’s battery to handle a wide range of input voltage and power.

1. Power-share cables could be used to split the power generated by run-of-river schemes in communities with access to flowing water, with the potential for charging an entire class’ XO consignment in one go. A team participating in the 2008 International Design for Development Summit developed a rapid, low-cost method of converting a pickup-truck alternator into a generator perfectly suited to micro-hydro applications, see the article here.
2. Communities without access to flowing water, who rely on well-water, could implement a raft of pico-hydro generators that are designed for minimal heads, such as cross-flow turbines or the Beck Mickle low-head pitchback generator developed by Ian Gilmartin. The use of non-degrading/corrosion-resistant materials would enable the pumped drinking water to first be passed through the generator, providing an on-demand power source for charging XOs as well as other low-power electricals.