Reusseina, a community actively in Ethiopa
Since 1997, parishioners from the village Rüsseina in Sachsen (near Meissen) together with their priest Dr. Jochen Hahn have occupied themselves with testing a self-constructed Wind Energy Turbine Unit. "CreaProtect", The projects name marks the true aims that the development team.- in the widest sense of the word. To create and secure a project. Through the exhibition of the installation in the German Protestant Church Day in Berlin 2003 contact was made with the Ethiopian engineer Wolde Georgis Demissie living in Berlin. The development team in Rüsseina consists exclusively of private people and is in principle a not profit-making organisation.
The non-profit-making organisation „Windenergie für Äthiopien e. V.“ in Reusseina
Our initial group from 2005-2012 worked together with the group „Selbsthilfe Äthiopien e. V.“ (“Self-help in Ethiopia”. Berlin) and in 2012 the non-profit-making organisation „Windenergie Äthiopien e. V.“ (Wind energy for Ethiopia), was founded. After we were already active in the village of Debo, in the highlands of Ethiopia, since 2005 in 2012 we began working independently setting up electricity sources in the village of Tula, in the mid-south of Ethiopia through wind and solar power.
Project-goal
In times of decreasing oil reserves and growing global environmental problems our goal is , to provide an energy source through virtually exclusively alternative energy in a large Ethiopian village. This has happend with wind and solar power. These two models within the village should represent a Reference object: One „ Big installation“, for approx. 200 homes (Wind-Solar) and a small solar support „Compact solution“, for about 70-80 homes. The goal is, to supply the complete approx. 280 families of the village, with electricity (230 V, 50 Hz). Since 2012, we are Partners with The Evangelical Mekane Yesus Church, whose foreign aid department can give the spread of this model a wider perspective in Ethiopia. In 2019, there were approx. 140 homes connected to the village network.
Instruction in project work
Each year, mostly January/February, a team of workers travel to Ethiopia (each year a different group, on a self-paid holiday) to Tula, to bit by bit, help complete the electricity network in the village. When possible, materials are obtained in Ethiopia (PV-sheets, different cables). The rest of the materials are transported in our Travel bags and suitcases and sometimes by ship (Tax-free through the Mekane Yesus Church). The cost of this is covered exclusively by donations. There are three young technicians in the Tula village, who after their training are now responsible for the maintenance and extension of the installation and network.
Electrification of Tula Village. Step by step.
The individual project reports contain extensive information about the run of and the results of each trip made.
The following covers further reading.
2010: We have been considering this project in Tula village since 2010. Tula lies in the south of Ethiopia on the North-west edge of the African Great Rift Valley. This project should be run with the flow of extensive experiences made in the village of Debo.
2011-2012: task list of wind measurements, topographical overview, meetings and discussions with the local community and the people of the village, investigations for organising masts and possible locations for the wind energy installation and the electro headquarters.
2013: After detailed measurements and investigations for locations, our team could take care of the first foundation work in Tula needed in Jan/Feb 2013, before the next step could be realised in 2014. Late 2013, six heavy transportation containers were shipped via Hamburg to Djibouti. Thanks to the support of the GIZ (Gesellschaft für Internationale Zusammenarbeit) (Organisation for International Cooperation) transportation was free of charge. Rolls of cable, components for the wind turbine, several electrical components, solar plates together with complete control engineering and tools to the value of approx. 23.000 Euro, Were all essential components for the realisation of this project.
2014: The installation should have been built in Tula in 2014. Due to endless formalities at the customs office in the port of Djibouti, the transportation containers were extensively delayed. The team was only able to complete, non-the-less very important preparation work in Addis Abeba and in Tula (building the mast for the wind turbine, completion of the electro house, accompaniment to training of our young technicians). More information about the Project trip 2014. After Easter 2014 Christian Preuß and Jochen Hahn travelled again to Ethiopia to check the quantity and state of the materials now stored in Hossana.
2015: In January / February 2015 working together with the Ethiopian evangelical church, the local community and the villagers of Tula, our team was at last able to complete the installation of the complete wind energy unit, the solar power unit and lay the cables through the village. This Action ran so very successfully. The Project report 2015 has detailed information about the current work in Tula.
2016: Further extensions to the electricity network and the connection of part of the village. Project report 2016
2017: Repair work after lightning struck. The installation of a new transformer. Project Report 2017
2018: Expansion of the solar installation; Organising materials; Exchange and expansion of a branch off to a remote part of the village; Maintenance work. Project report 2018
2019: Expansion of the solar unit, topographical recordings from parts the village that are not yet connected; Meetings with the local community about plans for further extensions; Tests for safety switches ie. fuse boxes and overhead cables; Tests to extend the durability of the masts in the earth; organisation of materials. Project report 2019
Information under „The project in Tula“.
Future of Project Tula
Connecting the village of Tula to an electricity network through an alternative „Island electricity unit“, will be followed with great suspense, not only by the local government but also through the foreign aid work of the Evangelical Mekane Yesus Church. Tula should be a modell village, an example for the possibility of similar energy projects.
As we do need considerable funds to realise this project, we are extremely grateful for every bit of financial support. As in these projects a great deal of private finances are bought in and our administrative department works on a voluntary basis, You can be sure that every Euro given will even increase in value when it arrives at the project location.
Why we do what we do.
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Dr. Joachim Hahn
What moves us internally is the conviction that there, at this small point on earth, we can make a difference. Something that brings a noticeable change. A change that radiates into the future.
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Uli Kretzschmar
The project fascinates me. It broadens my own horizons and at the same time leaves traces with us in Thula that are good for both. Between a thirst for adventure and the need to help meaningfully, at Creaprotect I particularly appreciate that we are close and can see that the help arrives. Anyone who has once looked into the grateful eyes of the villagers can no longer leave the project.
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Jürgen Mummert
It is a nice adventure for all of us. As we live together with the villagers throughout the project, hut to hut, we are part of the community for this brief moment and not tourists. It is important to me to leave something here and to meet people at eye level.
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Martin Menzel
So far I've been there 4 times and it was always a new adventure with many interesting people and experiences. What I like about the project is the simple structure and the idea of "smiling" the Ethiopian villagers with "little" effort.