Displaced Gazans Build Wind Turbines from Scrap Metal
Engineering ingenuity provides essential electricity to families living in Gaza's displacement camps.
1Engineering Amidst Total Destruction
In the Khan Yunis displacement camp, former engineering student Kamal Al-Dabary is constructing homemade wind turbines. These devices utilize salvaged scrap metal and debris to generate electricity for families lacking access to the territory's shattered power grid. This initiative provides a vital lifeline for residents living in tents and makeshift shelters.
2Systemic Power Grid Collapse
The World Bank reported that over 90% of Gaza's power generation and distribution capacity was destroyed by April. Following the October 7, 2023, conflict, essential infrastructure was devastated by strikes. With the grid non-functional, displaced civilians face extreme energy shortages, making basic daily tasks and medical care increasingly difficult to manage.
3Economic Barriers to Energy
Solar panels, once a viable energy solution, have become prohibitively expensive due to supply chain restrictions. Prices have surged to at least 15,000 shekels, rendering them inaccessible for families without income for three years. Consequently, residents are forced to innovate with salvaged materials rather than relying on traditional commercial energy products.
4Mechanical Design and Assembly
The turbines are engineered using repurposed scooter motors and segments of old water tanks fashioned into blades. When wind rotates these blades, the motor generates current, which is then managed through circuits recovered from destroyed homes. The electricity is stored in batteries, providing a consistent, albeit modest, power supply for camp residents.
5Essential Daily Utility
The generated power supports critical small-scale needs, including charging mobile phones, powering lights, and running fans. These small comforts have become luxuries in the harsh camp environment. Beyond convenience, the electricity serves a humanitarian purpose by enabling the operation of essential medical devices like nebulizers for children during the night.
6Local Impact and Resilience
Residents like Saleh ben Hasan describe the system as a transformative development for camp life. Abu Ayman, as Dabary is locally known, has become a central figure for those requiring power for medical equipment. The project demonstrates how technical skills can be applied to mitigate severe shortages in humanitarian crisis zones.
7Territorial Control and Displacement
Nearly all Gaza residents have faced displacement at least once during the ongoing war. While Hamas maintains rule over the remaining small area, Israel controls over 60% of the territory along the perimeter. This geopolitical reality severely restricts the movement of aid and commercial supplies, exacerbating the reliance on local ingenuity.
8Sustainability of Small Solutions
While the energy output of these scrap-metal turbines remains modest, every watt provides significant relief in a resource-starved environment. The project highlights the necessity of localized, off-grid solutions when centralized infrastructure fails completely. These turbines represent a temporary but critical survival strategy for families waiting to return to their homes.
Original article: IOL News — Displaced Gazans Build Wind Turbines from Scrap Metal