blueEnergy
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blueEnergy is a non-profit organization building sustainable energy systems on the Caribbean coast of Nicaragua. The organization began in October 2002 with an award-winning class project by co-founder Mathias Craig while he was a graduate student at MIT. Since then, under the local lead of co-founders Lâl Marandin (2004-05) and Guillaume Craig (2005-07) blueEnergy has installed 8 small power stations in remote Nicaraguan communities that otherwise have no access to electricity, save for the occasional diesel generator. In order to make its systems truly sustainable, blueEnergy enlists the help of locals who help to build turbines and are then able to maintain them. Operations in Bluefields, Nicaragua are currently headed by Guillaume Craig (Mathias' brother), local Director of blueEnergy in the country.
blueEnergy also has an office in Paris, France, led by Pr. Michèle Grégoire, Mrs Maïté Niel and co-founder Lâl Marandin. It is backed by Linguist Colette Grinevald, Mr. Matthieu Poulet, and many others.
Nearly one hundred volunteers and local employees have contributed to the project.
The typical blueEnergy installation is based on a Hugh Piggott wind turbine, connected to a set of deep-cycle batteries. Depending on the community, the power generated may be used to charge standard consumer rechargeable batteries and/or provide regular electricity to a central community building such as a school. Installations also include solar cells (photovoltaic arrays) for additional power generation, particularly on days when there is no wind.
