WPNI Networking Activities

GEDA was selected to function as a regional forum to disseminate wind pumps information and  publish a quarterly Newsletter – FIRKI-WPNI for the Wind Pumping Network in India- WPNI (CSR< Auroville). Based on the success of FIRKI-WPNI Newsletter GEDA was entrusted to co-edit and publish the SSWES (Small Scale Wind Systems) biannually, which has been printed and distributed with FIRKI-WPNI for the Netherlands-based organization – Renewable Energy Development, now, ARRRAKIS. 

GEDA initiated publication to promote wind pumping in India namely FIRKI. With the extra financial inputs from SSWES and the supply of world-wide news. GEDA consolidated their initiative and improve the quality. ITDG also planned to include the SSWES in their existing HIDRORED magazine and offer information on both wind and hydro-energy to a large group of subscribers. RED worked on the important part of the newsgathering and act as a co-ordinator between both partners. 

The project foresaw in setting up an electronic version of the newsletter by the local partners GEDA and ITDC. While the initial goal were n\merely to make it accessible to people world-wide without the need for costly, printed copies, in the future the electronic newsletter may evolve towards some bulletin board to announce events, seek for project partners, and link to valuable information resources nowadays available on the web.

SSWES (Small-scale Wind Energy) Newsletter 

Since the last SSWES issue in December 1997, lots of things happened to get the newsletter continued. The idea was to bring the newsletter directly there where people may benefit and assist them in getting the news, finance printing and distribution, and stimulate the exchange of local experience and knowledge. By bringing the newsletter among the people, it is hoped to add the importance given to “small wind” by institutions in the region. Fortunately, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Netherlands has decided to support the newsletter for two more years, covering two issues yearly. 

RED has found two partners interested in co-editing and producing the magazine. They are GEDA IN Gujarat, India and ITDG’s local office in Lima, Peru. Both have been involved in wind energy since many years and are currently promoting the use of “small wind” in their region. GEDA is partner in the regional Wind Pumping network India, which maintains relations with Vietnam, China and the Philippines. ITDG has close contacts with CINER in Bolivia and many organizations involved in small hydro in Latin America.