Sadly, it pretty expensive, so sticking one in every decent-sized Third World village is out of the question. Pity. Power for things like health clinics and education is what’s needed to help people raise themselves up out of poverty. IBut considering the billions of dollars given in aid every year, I wonder if that money couldn’t be better spent on something like this? That old ‘give a man a fish’ scenario.

Or maybe a better use is for every western household to have one of these, or some similar technology. Reduce our consumption, so reducing our detrimental impact on the world, which ultimately has a knock-on effect on the Third World.

Either way, a unit that embraces two forms of alternative energy is a terrific step in the right direction.
Steve N. Lee
author of eco-blog
and suspense thriller ‘What if…?’