Distributed pumped micro-hydro for transforming energy and water access

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Water Powered Technologies Ltd (WPT) range of patented zero energy pumps work 24/7, taking excess surface water from remote streams & lakes to allow a community to generate its own hydro power when their own renewables cannot. After installing +1000 of its pump systems in +22 countries, WPT noticed its systems were often installed and maintained by women, which now needs formal support to study how to include women right from start and even assembling the product in each community. Secondly, WPT needs support to develop its systems to be used in countries where drought limits surface water sources. WPT will donate and install up to 30x Papa pumps each in Uganda and Malawi; each site will move water long distances to elevated storage without needing any expensive or polluting fossil fuel. Where, thanks to the extra water able to stored, the community can manage their own water/ power choices, by releasing water to generate power when needed at night or keeping the water for agricultural use when drought returns. The project will study how different social groups could be involved in assembling and supplying systems to neighbouring communities - so the project will support not just a technical but also a pioneering 'business model innovation' to create jobs in groups prevously excluded.